News 18:00

BULLETIN 23 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Saftu urges voter consideration of socialist alternatives
# The High Court orders a Gauteng department to pay non-profit organisations speedily 
# And tennis: Rafael Nadal faces Alexander Zverev in the first round at his last French Open

# Union federation Saftu is urging voters to consider socialist alternatives in the upcoming elections. The organisation notes the deepening social crisis, citing issues such as political killings, corruption, and high levels of unemployment. They criticise the ANC government’s adoption of neoliberal policies, which they believe have led to de-industrialisation and job losses. Outlining voting principles for workers, Saftu general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi calls on voters to support parties advocating for socialism and equality:

# The High Court in Johannesburg has ordered the Gauteng Department of Social Development to pay non-profit organisations speedily. The Gauteng Care Crisis Committee approached the court on a urgent basis, arguing an order was necessary to ensure the department finalises the process that provide social services to vulnerable people. The organisation describes the process as chaotic. Judge Ingrid Opperman ruled the department should conclude its funding adjudications by tomorrow, and issue service level agreements to all successful applicants by next Thursday.

# Salaries are expected to improve significantly in 2025, bringing much-needed financial relief and stability to employees across various sectors. Reduced load-shedding has improved the business environment, potentially allowing for inflation-related salary increases. Data from BankservAfrica shows the nominal average pay in April fell to 15-thousand-374-rand, but is still 5.6-percent higher than a year ago. Economist Elize Kruger notes a 6-percent nominal improvement in salaries for early 2024 compared to the previous year. Private pensions also saw a nominal increase of 6.6-percent year-on-year.

# Tennis: Rafael Nadal was drawn against world number four Alexander Zverev in a blockbuster opening match at his farewell French Open tournament. The Spaniard is the record 14-time champion at Roland Garros, but is unseeded this year after injury saw his ranking plummet to 276. He and Zverev met in the semi-finals in 2022 when the German was forced to retire with a serious ankle injury. Twenty-seven-year-old Zverev arrives in Paris after clinching the Italian Open title last weekend. The French Open starts on Sunday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-44-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-117-dollars-87-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-349-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-44-cents a barrel.

# And finally: President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed Justice Yvonne Mokgoro as an icon and a champion of human rights and gender justice. Addressing mourners at the Bryanston Catholic Church in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said Mokgoro was a pioneering jurist and the first black woman appointed to the Constitutional Court in 1994. Ramaphosa says her journey from student activist to esteemed judge symbolises resilience and principled activism. He hails her legacy as testament to her unwavering commitment to justice and equality:

Stay tuned for more news………….