News 17:00

BULLETIN 12 June 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The cost estimates of the KwaZulu-Natal storms exceed 1.3-billion-rand
# The MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal is ready for coalition talks with the IFP 
# And soccer: Fans pay thousands of rand to watch Cristiano Ronaldo train for Euro 2024 

# Initial cost estimates of the devastating storms in KwaZulu-Natal have exceeded 1.3-billion-rand, with eThekwini Metro accounting for over 480-million-rand. Over seven-thousand households, 20 schools, and significant infrastructure have been affected. Relief efforts include the delivery of building material, mobile offices for identity document replacement, and SASSA support with food vouchers, mattresses, and blankets. Provincial Cooperative Governance Department’s Sboniso Mngadi says they are conducting an oversight visit today:

# Former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal says it is ready to discuss a coalition deal with the Inkatha Freedom Party. MK secretary-general Sihle Ngubane cited shared political ideologies and interests between MK and the IFP in the province. Meanwhile, DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers says the party awaits national leadership directives before engaging in any coalition discussions.

# A 70-year-old man jumped out of a moving vehicle to flee from a gang who attacked his farm in North West. The incident began when four suspects killed his 60-year-old wife on the farm outside Swartruggens. They ransacked the house, kidnapped the man, and loaded stolen items into two vehicles. After his escape the man alerted nearby farmers, leading to the arrest of a 34-year-old woman for possession of stolen property. She will appear in the Swartruggens Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The search for the murderers continues.

# Soccer: Fans paid thousands of rand for a ticket to watch Portugal’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, train for Euro 2024 on Friday. The team is currently based in Westphalia, Germany, for the tournament in which they are grouped together with the Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia. The six-thousand free tickets for the training session were snapped up within minutes, leading to tickets being advertised for up to 16-thousand-rand each. Thirty-nine-year-old Ronaldo will play in his sixth tournament since making his debut in 2004.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-47-cents and the euro at 20-rand. One British pound costs 23-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-323-dollars-74-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-338-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The head of the Hawks in the Free State, Mokgadi Bokaba, is calling on all South Africans to continue to strive for social justice by protecting children’s rights, as the country commemorates the World Day Against Child Labour. Bokaba is urging citizens to identify child labour and other forms of exploitation, especially within communities. Hawks spokesperson, Christopher Singo, says they will continue to visit schools to raise awareness about child trafficking and related crimes:

Stay tuned for more news………….