News 17:00

BULLETIN 14 June 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA leader confirms Cyril Ramaphosa as the government of national unity’s presidential candidate 
# Mdumiseni Ntuli is appointed as the ANC chief whip in the seventh Parliament 
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus says a victory for the Bulls over Leinster will boost the Boks before the Ireland series 

# DA leader John Steenhuisen has confirmed ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa will be the presidential candidate for the government of national unity. In a media briefing, Steenhuisen said the challenges facing the country remain serious, highlighting high unemployment, crime, infrastructure decline, and endemic corruption:

The ANC has meanwhile announced the appointment of Mdumiseni Ntuli as its chief whip in the seventh Democratic Parliament. The former ANC head of elections and KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary, has held various leadership roles, including deputy chief whip in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature. In a statement, the ANC says Ntuli brings extensive experience and organisational skills to his new position.

# Former Limpopo Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba, has been elected as the new premier of the province, succeeding Stanley Mathabatha. In her acceptance speech, Ramathuba pledged to enhance various economic sectors and address service delivery challenges. She emphasised ensuring safe water, proper health facilities, improved education, and electricity availability. Ramathuba also called for collaboration with the EFF to improve residents’ lives and highlighted investing in the people of Limpopo:

# Experts say Gauteng’s escalating water crisis is due to aging infrastructure and rising demand. Some areas face prolonged water shortages, worsened by poor maintenance, pollution, and mismanagement. WaterCAN reports half of South Africa’s water systems are undrinkable, and 70-percent of wastewater plants are failing. The South African Water Chamber states that demand remains high and the system is leaking, stressing the need for urgent infrastructure upgrades and sustainable water management practices. The crisis has severe economic implications for businesses, agriculture, and public health.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus believes a victory for the Bulls over Irish team Leinster will boost the national team before next month’s two-match Test series against Ireland. The Pretoria team hosts former Bok coach Jacques Nienaber’s squad in the semifinal of the United Rugby Championship at Loftus tomorrow. Erasmus says although he would love to have the Bulls’ Boks in his camp for next weekend’s Test against Wales in London, he really wants them to advance to the final.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-34-cents and the euro at 19-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-79-dollars-2-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-331-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-17-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….