News 16:00

BULLETIN 20 May 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IEC says Jacob Zuma’s photo will remain on the ballot papers following the Constitutional Court judgment 
# The DA files a complaint against the National Health Insurance 
# And boxing: Oleksandr Usyk could lose his title within two weeks of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion 

# The Electoral Commission says former president Jacob Zuma’s photo will still feature on ballot papers for the elections, despite his name being removed as a candidate for the MK Party. This follows the Constitutional Court judgment clarifying the commission’s role in qualifying candidates for the National Assembly. The court ruled that Zuma, having been sentenced to 15 months in jail for contempt of court for disobeying a previous court order, cannot return to Parliament. The judgment allows the commission to proceed with election preparations without concerns of legal challenges.

# The DA has lodged a complaint with the Public Service Commission against the newly signed National Health Insurance. The DA’s Public Service and Administration spokesperson, Leon Schreiber, argues the NHI expropriates medical aid contributions without compensation and threatens public service efficiency and labour relations. He claims this move has caused panic among members of the Government Employees Medical Scheme, South Africa’s largest medical aid scheme:

# A multi-vehicle accident has occurred on the N12 West near the Edenvale Road offramp in Germiston on the Gauteng East Rand. All lanes are currently closed, while traffic is being diverted to other roads. The N12 eastbound has also been closed. Emergency Management Services are on scene to assess the situation, and motorists are urged to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

# The International Criminal Court is pursuing arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan disclosed this in an exclusive interview with CNN. Netanyahu’s charges include causing extermination, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict. Sinwar faces charges of extermination, murder, taking of hostages, rape and sexual assault in detention. A panel of ICC judges will now consider Khan’s application for the arrest warrants.

# Boxing: Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in 25 years. A rematch is planned for later this year, but it is unlikely that it would be for all four belts. The International Boxing Federation plans to strip Usyk of his belt if he does not face its mandatory challenger, Filip Hrgovic, next. Usyk’s reign as undisputed champion may last only weeks, but the Ukrainian does not want to think about boxing now:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-24-cents and the euro at 19-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-36-dollars-62-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-422-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….