News 17:00

BULLETIN 29 May 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Electoral Commission estimates voter turnout will exceed 66-percent, surpassing the 2019 elections 
# The commission also warns against attempting to remove the indelible ink
# And, fighting and bombardment rocks Rafah

# The Electoral Commission estimates today’s voter turnout will exceed 66-percent, higher than the turnout in 2019. Deputy chief Electoral officer Masego Sheburi highlighted this during a media briefing at the results centre in Midrand. Over 200-thousand people have been employed to facilitate the elections, with cardboard ballot boxes chosen for their environmental benefits. Sheburi emphasises the importance of treating each voter with dignity:

The commission has also warned voters against attempting to remove the indelible ink mark on their thumbs, emphasising that it is a key security measure in the election process. Any efforts to remove the ink or undermine the integrity of the election are considered electoral fraud and can result in penalties of up to ten years in jail. Sheburi reminds voters that the ink mark is crucial for maintaining the election’s integrity:

# Street fighting and Israeli bombardment has rocked Gaza’s far-southern Rafah, a day after Israeli tanks rolled into the centre of the city near the Egyptian border. The army pushed on with its mission to defeat Hamas despite a global outcry that intensified after a deadly strike set ablaze a crowded camp on Sunday night. The UN Security Council was set to meet for a second day of emergency talks in New York today, after Sunday’s strike sparked a raging fire that officials said killed 45 people and injured about 250.

# Motorsport: The Indian MotoGP scheduled to take place in September has been cancelled and will be replaced by Kazakhstan. Organisers announced the race in India has been scrapped due to “operational considerations” but will return early in the 2025 season. Kazakhstan’s planned MotoGP next month was postponed because of devastating floods in the country but will now take place on 22 September.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-35-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-38-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-748-dollars-26-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-344-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

# And, most of the country’s population are casting their votes, and there is nothing as good as a free doughnut and coffee from restaurants, merely thanking you for being a patriot. Wimpy and Spur are offering free coffee, dubbed the “Coalition Cups” with Mugg & Bean offering free Americanos, highlighting that democracy just became delicious. Krispy Kreme is offering an original glazed doughnut for those whose thumbs are inked, while a Mexican restaurant in Bryanston is offering a free shot of tequila.

Stay tuned for more news………….