News 17:00

BULLETIN 8 May 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Thirty-year Review Report will generate future government planning
# A police raid uncovers counterfeit petroleum oil worth 200-thousand-rand in Centurion
# And, soccer: Brazil out-scores Germany, Netherlands and Belgium’s joint bid for the Women’s World Cup 2027

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the 30 Year Review Report not only reflects on the past but also looks to the future. Speaking during the launch in Pretoria, Ramaphosa said this informs future government planning and aims to achieve the National Development Plan’s vision by 2030. The report contributes to improved policy implementation, acknowledging South Africa’s transformation and commitment to uplifting all citizens over the past three decades:

# Working South Africans are urged to seek professional retirement benefit counselling before the two-pot system comes into effect. The system, set to revolutionise South Africa’s 3.27-trillion-rand private retirement industry on September 1, raises concerns about consumer understanding. NMG Benefits advisor Natasha Huggett-Henchie says professional guidance is crucial amidst confusion, as the system could ultimately benefit by preventing short-term loans and improving retirement outcomes. The system aims to preserve retirement funds while allowing partial access during employment, pending regulatory readiness.

# A police raid in Centurion, Gauteng, revealed a stash of counterfeit petroleum oil estimated at 200-thousand-rand. The joint operation by the National Counterfeit Unit and Commercial Crimes Investigations, alongside brand protectors, resulted in the arrest of four Zimbabwean nationals pending residency verification by the Department of Home Affairs. Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk says over three-thousand litres of counterfeit petroleum oil, imitating well-known brands, were confiscated:

# Soccer: Brazil out-scored the joint bid of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup. World governing body Fifa released its bid report before the winner will be announced during its congress in Bangkok, Thailand, next Thursday. Mexico and the United States withdrew their bid last week in order to focus on the next World Cup in 2031. Technical evaluation gave Brazil a score of 4 out of 5 and the three European countries 3.7, but both bids qualify for consideration as host.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-65-cents and the euro at 20-rand-5-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-153-dollars-90-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-310-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

# And finally, today marks 99 years since Afrikaans was acknowledged as official language in South Africa, with plans afoot for next year’s centenary celebrations. On the eighth of May 1925, Afrikaans replaced Dutch as the country’s second official language alongside English. A committee named Afrikaans 100, consisting of organisations, companies and roleplayers from the Afrikaans community, was introduced last year to organise the centenary celebrations which will culminate with a festival at the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument in Paarl on this day next year.

Stay tuned for more news………….