News 17:00

BULLETIN 27 May 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IFP slams government’s last-minute SAPREF refinery purchase  
# There is ongoing collaboration with the SIU to address a NSFAS contract and employee issues 
# And soccer: Alexander-Arnold insists Liverpool had a good season 

# The IFP has expressed outrage over the Central Energy Fund’s sudden purchase of crude oil refinery SAPREF in Durban from Shell and BP. The party criticises the lack of transparency in the decision-making process, and suggests it may be a ploy to gain last-minute votes. The IFP’s Narend Singh highlights environmental concerns and says past health studies showed high cancer rates in communities near the refinery. Singh notes reports stating the refinery’s purchase price was just one-rand, saying this has sparked concerns over hidden taxpayer costs:

# The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is collaborating with the Special Investigating Unit to address irregular contracts and employee misconduct. This follows findings of fraud and maladministration within the scheme. The scheme has committed to implement SIU recommendations and taking disciplinary action against implicated employees to restore integrity in its operations. Briefing the media, the scheme’s administrator Freeman Nomvalo says the partnership aims to ensure accountability and transparency, safeguarding public funds:

# The Gauteng Department of Health has denounced attempts to discredit its efforts to clear historical surgical backlogs. Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba announced that 37-thousand surgeries were completed in nine-months through a surgical marathon project. Modiba says 14-thousand surgeries have been completed this month, reducing the waiting list to 24-thousand. He says the department is leveraging technology and partnerships to enhance surgical capacity and transparency:

# Soccer: Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold insists Liverpool had a good season despite a lacklustre end to manager Jurgen Klopp’s last campaign in charge at Anfield. When the Merseysiders won the English League Cup in February they were in contention for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies. But Liverpool then lost to bitter rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup and then dropped out of the Europa League before fading in the race for the Premier League title during two damaging weeks in April.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-93-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-44-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-793-dollars-3-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-349-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Freedom Under Law has praised the late Justice Laurie Ackermann for his contributions to the justice system. Appointed to the Constitutional Court in 1994, Ackermann was pivotal in building constitutionalism and asserting the rule of law in South Africa. In ten-years, he wrote 23 judgments, emphasising human dignity as a core constitutional value. The organisation notes that Ackermann’s dedication to the rule of law sets a lasting example for future legal practitioners and judges.

Stay tuned for more news………….