News 17:00

BULLETIN 30 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Electoral Commission warns against misinformation on special voting for over 60s
# The UDM says South Africa needs to empower people to become entrepreneurs
# And Soccer: A heavyweight showdown in the Champions League 

# The Electoral Commission cautions against misinformation urging voters over 60 to apply for early voting. A widely circulated message claiming everyone over 60 can cast a special vote at their polling station, is false. Special voting will happen on 27 and 28 May and voters can apply online, via SMS, or by visiting their local IEC office. Applications for special votes will close on Friday. Home visits are for those unable to travel, while voting station visits are for those absent on 29 May.

# United Democratic Movement deputy president, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa says under the ANC government, South Africa’s annual economic growth has stagnated at less than 1-percent, exacerbating the unemployment crisis. He says it cannot be that 5-percent of 61 million South Africans has to provide jobs for 80-percent of the population. Kwankwa says by fostering an environment where individuals can establish themselves as job providers, South Africa can create a more equitable and sustainable economy:

# International advocacy organisation Global Citizen is set to host an economic summit in the Ivory Coast later this year, as part of its efforts to address energy poverty in Africa. This is in partnership with the World Bank’s International Development Association. The summit will support the World Bank’s IDA21 replenishment in its ambition to improve living conditions and support social and economic development in 75 low-income countries, including lifting 250-million people out of energy poverty by 2030. Roughly half of Africa’s population lacks access to electricity.

# The UK’s Metropolitan Police have confirmed a 13-year-old boy was killed in a sword attack in Hainault, east London, this morning. Five people were injured, including two police officers. The 36-year-old suspect was arrested within minutes of the attack, after being Tasered. He had crashed a vehicle into a house before the attack. Police says the incident is not being treated as terror-related.

# Soccer: The Champions League semifinals get underway tonight as Bayern Munich welcome Real Madrid to Germany. The Spanish team is unbeaten in the competition this season, having won seven and drawn three. Bayern reached the final four following the penalty shootout elimination of defending champions Manchester City. Manager Thomas Tuchel says Bayern will have to be at their best:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-75-cents and the euro at 20-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-50-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-261-dollars-43-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-304-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….