News 18:00

BULLETIN 9 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Patriotic Alliance demands an inquiry into the George construction site disaster 
# South Korea announces a new ministry to tackle the falling birth rate
# And the Olympic torch starts its journey from Marseilles to Paris for the Games 

# The Patriotic Alliance is demanding a thorough investigation into the building collapse at a construction site in George. According to the party, whistleblower allegations suggest silenced officials and changes in building plans since 2021. The party calls for scrutiny into possible financial links between the DA and key players in the Neo Trend project. They criticise the hiring of foreign workers amid a local jobs’ crisis, identifying one victim as an 18-year-old Malawian, Gift Kasonda. PA leader Gayton McKenzie urges president Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint an independent inquiry.

Meanwhile, minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi has urged employers of the construction company involved at the collapsed building to communicate with affected families. The tragedy, which occurred on Monday, claimed eight lives and left dozens injured and trapped. Nxesi called on leaders to unite and aid in the rescue mission, emphasising the need for social protection and compensation once all workers are rescued and identified:

# South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has announced plans to establish a new ministry to tackle the country’s birthrate, which is currently the world’s lowest. Despite significant investment in encouraging childbirth, the birth rate hit a record low last year. The proposed Ministry of Low Birth Rate Counter Planning aims to address this demographic crisis, with the country’s fertility rate dropping to 0.72 last year. Yoon’s announcement reflects the pressing need to reverse this trend and ensure a sustainable population for the future.

# Olympics: The Olympic torch started its 12-thousand-kilometre journey through France and its overseas territories in the southern city of Marseilles today after it arrived on a 19th-century sailing ship from Greece yesterday. The vessel was followed by hundreds of small boats while planes traced the Olympic rings and the French flag in the sky. The organisers of the Paris Games hope the relay, which will end in the capital on the 26th of July, will build enthusiasm among the French following a row over ticket prices.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-290-dollars-22-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-304-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-80-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Former three-time boxing world champion Dingaan Thobela, known as ‘The Rose of Soweto’, was laid to rest at the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg this afternoon. Thobela, who passed away last Monday at 57, is being honored with a Category 2 provincial state funeral for his significant contribution to sports. At the funeral proceedings, former boxing world champion Brian Mitchell hailed Thobela as one of South Africa’s greatest fighters and a dearly missed legend:

Stay tuned for more news………….