News 18:00

BULLETIN 5 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Dion George says over 100 rhinos were poached in just three months
# Cricket: Kagiso Rabada is cleared to play in the IPL after serving a one-month ban
# And one of Francis’s popemobiles will be converted into a mobile health clinic for children in Gaza

# Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment minister, Dion George, says 103 rhinos were poached between January and March this year. Most rhinos were killed in SANParks reserves, with KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo also recording notable losses. No rhinos were killed in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape, or the Northern Cape. George has welcomed the arrests of 15 suspects so far and says the government will continue strengthening anti-poaching strategies to protect endangered species.

# The DA has condemned the murder of Stellenbosch councillor and mayoral committee member for Community Service, Xolile Kalipa, who was gunned down in Kayamandi last night. The party says Kalipa was known as a dedicated public servant and served his community with compassion and commitment. The DA’s Tertuis Simmers has called for the swift arrest of the perpetrators:

# UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, and the vaccine alliance, GAVI, are calling on parents, the public, and politicians to boost support for immunisation. The appeal comes amid rising concerns over outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Speaking to SABC News, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa’s Paul Ngwakum stressed that strengthening immunisation systems is vital to protecting communities and saving lives:

# Cricket: Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was cleared to play for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League on his return from a one-month suspension for the use of a recreational drug during the SA20. The South African Institute for Drug Free Sports says he has participated in an education and awareness programme to prevent substance abuse and this cut his suspension from three months to one. Rabada could return to action as soon as tomorrow, when Titans face Mumbai Indians.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-28-cents and the euro at 20-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-33-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-898-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-316-dollars-22-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 59-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

# And finally: One of Pope Francis’s popemobiles is being converted into a mobile health clinic for children in Gaza, fulfilling one of his final wishes before his death last month. The vehicle, used during his 2014 visit to the Holy Land, is being outfitted with medical equipment by Caritas Jerusalem to serve communities lacking healthcare access. Caritas Sweden’s Peter Brune calls it a life-saving intervention amid Gaza’s collapsed health system. The clinic will deploy once humanitarian access is granted.

Stay tuned for more news………….