News 17:00

BULLETIN 27 May 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AgriSA calls for an urgent biosecurity reform amid the foot-and-mouth disease crisis
# FOSA demands the strict enforcement of immigration laws
# And: An Israeli strike in Gaza City kills the new head of Hamas’s military wing

# AgriSA has called for faster vaccine rollouts and long-term biosecurity reforms as the government continues battling the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. According to the organisation, more than eleven-million vaccine doses are expected in the country by the end of this month, but slower rollout in some provinces remains a concern. AgriSA CEO Johann Kotzé says the outbreak has already caused export losses of more than 5.6-billion-rand. Kotzé warns losses could rise sharply if the disease is not contained.

# As the protest against immigrats continue in the country, the Forum for South Africa demands enforcement of immigration laws and strengthened border security. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says government should be held accountable for weak and ineffective law enforcement, failed border control systems, and a lack of urgency in confronting organised crime. He says this has allowed illegal activities to expand unchecked, with organised syndicates exploiting gaps in enforcement and governance:

# The ANC in Cape Town says it strongly rejects the proposed sale of the metro’s shares of the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The metro’s current shareholding in the CTICC is 72.7-percent, with the Western Cape government holding 22.2-percent and Sunwest International having the remaining 5.1-percent. The ANC’s Judy-Ann Stevens says they are concerned about the lack of clarity regarding how any proceeds from the sale would be utilised:

# The commander of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Odeh, had been killed in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, days after his predecessor died in a similar attack. At least three Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured in the attack on a residential building in one of Gaza City’s busiest market areas. A local Hamas source and relatives say Odeh and his wife were killed along with their adult son. Violence has continued in Gaza on a near-daily basis despite the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire agreed in October.

# Water Polo: Schools Water Polo South Africa and South African Water Polo intend to enter into a formal association, aligning the schools’ participation base with national competition and governance structures. This is aimed at creating a coherent and structured pathway for the sport, ensuring continuity from schools through to senior and international representation. SAWP CEO, Robbie Taylor, says the long-term success of the sport depends on a coordinated approach to development:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-568-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-435-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….