News 17:00

BULLETIN 5 June 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC’s engagement efforts with the MK Party yield no response 
# Three government departments are urged to address inefficiencies in tackling gender-based violence
# And roadrunning: Correctional Services will have 271 runners at the Comrades

# The ANC believes election results show South Africans want leaders to work together. The party is keen to engage all parties to form a government ensuring unity, stability, transformation, and safeguarding democracy. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says the national working committee is reviewing reports from meetings with the IFP, EFF, DA, and Patriotic Alliance. In a media briefing, Bhengu-Motsiri confirmed the party reached out to the MK Party, but has received no response:

# The Public Protector has urged three government departments to address inefficiencies in tackling gender-based violence. Kholeka Gcaleka criticised the Justice, Social Development, and Police Departments for their inadequate programmes. Her report followed an investigation into 38 Magistrate’s Courts nationwide, highlighting government ineffectiveness in dealing with GBV:

# The Border Management Authority says 25 travellers were intercepted and deported by immigration officials at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park after they were trying to enter South Africa illegally. Spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi says 13 Bangladeshis and three Pakistanis were found to be in possession of fake visitors’ visas, whereas one Bangladeshi, a Nigerian, three Pakistanis and four Ghanaians failed to meet the relevant entry requirements:

# Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is prepared for a very intense operation along the border with Lebanon, where Israeli troops have exchanged near-daily fire with Hezbollah fighters. Exchanges between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, a Hamas ally, have intensified over the past week, with repeated Israeli strikes deeper into Lebanese territory. Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, National Security minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, have both called in recent days for urgent action to restore security to northern Israel.

# Roadrunning: The Department of Correctional Services will have 271 runners participating in Sunday’s Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal. The department’s athletes are known for their endurance and athleticism and hope to showcase their strength and resilience over the 85.91-kilometres between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Top runners such as Mbusiseni Yaka and Ziphindile Dlamini will seek to improve their personal finish times. A total of 20-thousand-600 runners from different countries across the globe will participate in the 97th edition of Africa’s richest marathon.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-87-cents and the euro at 20-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-89-dollars-59-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-343-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….