News 17:00

BULLETIN 13 June 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Rescue efforts are underway after a building collapsed in KwaZulu-Natal
# SAPS launches its first missing persons police unit
# And soccer: FIFA will examine the possibility of a 64-team World Cup

# ALS Paramedics says more than ten people have been injured after a building collapsed at eBuhleni Village in Inanda in the north of Durban. Church members also started rescue efforts before emergency crews arrived. The cause of the collapse is still under investigation. Spokesperson Garrith Jamieson says at least eight people were taken to hospital before paramedics arrived, while about seven others are feared trapped beneath the rubble:

# South Africa’s first dedicated police unit for missing persons has been launched in Cape Town to strengthen the response to missing persons cases. The initiative brings together the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Faith and Hope Missing Persons organisation. Founder Veranique Williams says the unit will support police investigations by mobilising trained volunteers, assisting families, coordinating community searches, and raising awareness to improve the chances of finding missing people.

# The South African Social Security Agency has noted calls for national pickets against the agency circulating on social media. SASSA says the calls, reportedly led by a TikTok content creator, include planned protests in the Western Cape and other parts of the country. The agency’s Andile Tshona says it respects the right to protest and remains willing to engage with any interest groups in the best interests of social grant beneficiaries:

# Namibia and China have signed eight agreements covering infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture and economic cooperation during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s state visit to Beijing. Chinese president Xi Jinping pledged deeper collaboration, including the development of uranium, lithium and rare earth minerals. Namibia is seeking investment to create jobs and diversify its economy. The agreements also promote local mineral processing, technology transfer and skills development as the country expands its mining and energy sectors

# Soccer: FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, says they will examine expanding the World Cup by a further 16 nations to a 64-team tournament ahead of 2030 after being expanded to 48 teams this year. He says this will allow every nation to dream of qualifying for the sport’s biggest event. The 2030 tournament will be spread across six nations and three continents: Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay in South America will host one game each, with the remaining games split between Morocco in Africa, and Portugal and Spain in Europe.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-35-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-578-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-63-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-56-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….