News 17:00

BULLETIN 13 May 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile invites Donald Trump to witness South Africa’s unity amid genocide claims
# Rugby: Japan tightens its rules to give local players more play time
# And the South African screenwriter, director, and producer Ramadan Suleman is awarded France’s highest cultural honour

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has expressed hope that US president Donald Trump will accept president Cyril Ramaphosa’s invitation to visit South Africa, aiming to dispel allegations of a genocide against white Afrikaners. The US administration granted refugee status to 49 Afrikaners, citing racial persecution. Speaking on the sidelines of the African Travel Indaba in Durban, Mashatile emphasised the nation’s commitment to unity:

# The Department of Transport has extended the deadline for responses to its Request for Information on private sector participation in South Africa’s rail and port sectors to 30 May. The Department says that the extension follows overwhelming interest from stakeholders. The RFI focuses on key freight corridors, including those linking the Northern Cape to Saldanha Bay and Nelson Mandela Bay, as well as the Richards Bay Bulk Minerals Corridor. The initiative aims to attract private investment to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the logistics sector.

# AfriForum has asked national police commissioner Fannie Masemola over renewed delays at the Central Firearms Register. The civil rights group’s Jacques Broodryk says they are demanding transparency over the 30-million-rand allocated to improve the register’s system:

# Rugby: Japan has announced tightened eligibility rules in order to give local players more time on the pitch. More than half of the players who started last season’s final of the game’s top tier in the country, the Japan Rugby League One championship, were born overseas. From the 2026/27 season, Japan Rugby League One clubs will have to field at least eight locally-raised players at the same time. Exceptions will be made for players who have more than 30 caps for Japan.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-44-cents and the euro at 20-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-41-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-770-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-241-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

# And finally: South African film director Ramadan Suleman has been awarded one of France’s highest cultural honours, the title Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by French ambassador Elisabeth Barbier. The Order of Arts and Letters honours outstanding contributions to arts and literature. Recognised for his fearless storytelling and commitment to social justice, Suleman was hailed as a man of character, conviction, and friendship. He was also celebrated for his films including Fools and Zulu Love Letter, as well as his lasting ties with French and African cinema.

Stay tuned for more news………….