News 18:00

BULLETIN 16 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The commissioner of the Revenue Service urges unified action against global challenges
# Cell C may soon debut on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
# And cricket: Ben Stokes believes he’s in his best possible shape on his return from a long-term injury

# South African Revenue Service Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has emphasised the need for collaboration to tackle global trade challenges, including illicit trade and drug trafficking. He was speaking at the 31st World Customs Organisation East and Southern Africa Governing Council in Pretoria. Delegates adopted the 2025 to 2028 Regional Strategy to enhance trade facilitation and regional cooperation. Kieswetter called for leveraging resources, stability, and human capital through aligned policies and innovation:

# DA leader John Steenhuisen has commended Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s efforts on the revised national budget, known as Budget 3.0. Speaking at the Nampo Harvest Day expo in the Free State, Steenhuisen described the presentation as wonderful while welcoming the progress made in the process. He emphasised the collaborative approach in crafting a credible budget aimed at fostering investor confidence and economic growth. The revised budget is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.

# Cell C may soon debut on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Majority shareholder Blue Label Telecoms announced plans to restructure the mobile operator, aiming to streamline operations and enhance financial sustainability. The proposed changes include converting debt to equity and transferring assets to strengthen Cell C’s balance sheet. This move is expected to position Cell C for long-term growth and provide investors with clearer insights into its value. The listing remains subject to board, shareholder, and regulatory approvals.

# The DA in Limpopo is demanding the urgent release of the investigation report into last month’s Bloemfontein athletics fiasco in the Free State, where learners were forced to sleep on buses and went without food during the SA Schools Athletics Championships. Despite a public apology and a one-month deadline promised by premier Phophi Ramathuba, the report remains unreleased. The DA’s Franco Marx says this continued silence is unacceptable:

# Cricket: England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, hopes to shine with the bat and the ball again when he returns after an operation. The 33-year-old allrounder sat out since December, when he tore his left hamstring, and underwent an operation the next month to rectify an issue which plagued him for a long time. Stokes says he’s worked very hard and believes he will physically be in his best possible shape. England prepares for a busy summer, with series against India and Australia.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-10-cents and the euro at 20-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-862-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-180-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….