News 18:00

BULLETIN 31 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Bheki Cele vows to safeguard election integrity amid the results announcements 
# Prime minister Narendra Modi meditates as the national elections draw to a close in India
# And soccer: Fans are encouraged to be safe on the roads on their way to Mbombela for the Nedbank Cup final

# Police minister Bheki Cele has assured the readiness of law enforcement for potential post-election disruptions. Speaking at the results operations centre in Midrand, Cele said the police are on standby to address any disruptions following the final election results. He highlighted KwaZulu-Natal as a particularly monitored area due to threats of disruptions. Cele praised the police for their swift actions in handling lawlessness during the elections. He anticipates no violence after the elections:

Preliminary results from the Electoral Commission a short while ago showed the ANC was leading with 41.7-percent after 71.3-percent of the voting districts were processed. The DA followed with 22.44-percent while the MK Party was on 12.38-percent. The EFF and the IFP are among the top five nationally, with 9.47- and 3.16-percent respectively.

Meanwhile, Cosatu has thanked all who came out to vote, saying democracy belongs to all South Africans irrespective of political view. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says at the end of the day, they all live together, and they need South Africa to work to be a prosperous nation. Parks says the unwavering commitment, dedication and professionalism of various stakeholders and role players were instrumental in ensuring that South Africa hold successful elections:

# Indian prime minister Narendra Modi was meditating on a rocky outcrop off the coast today in a final appeal to his Hindu voter base, as the marathon national elections drew to a close. Modi remains roundly popular and is widely expected to win a third term when the poll concludes, in large part due to his cultivated image as an aggressive champion of the country’s majority faith. Modi’s decade in power has seen the leader engage in regular meditations, fasts and temple visits to burnish his religious credentials, despite India’s secular Constitution.

# Soccer: Mpumalanga’s Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison is calling on those who will drive to Mbombela for the Nedbank Cup final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates tomorrow to do so cautiously, and obey the rules of the roads. The department’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, says tourism in and around the city will be bolstered by those who are coming to watch the sold-out affair Mmusi says these visitors are expected to especially spend money on accommodation and entertainment.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-69-cents and the euro at 20-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-845-dollars-15-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-342-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….