News 18:00

BULLETIN 9 June 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA reveals 12-billion-rand’s debt owed to NSFAS by higher education institutions
# The City of Johannesburg launches project Lokisa to recover billions in unpaid municipal debt
# And tennis: Boisson jumps to 65th and Swiatek drops two places in the world rankings after the French Open

# The DA says universities and technical vocational education and training colleges owe the National Student Financial Aid Scheme nearly 12-billion-rand. In a reply to parliamentary questions, Higher Education and Training minister Nobuhle Nkabane revealed the debt was accumulated between 2017 and 2023. The DA’s Matlhodi Maseko urges NSFAS to use recovered funds to ensure students receive allowances on time and to avoid mid-year defunding:

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube says South Africa must rethink its education system by prioritising skills development. Speaking at a policy dialogue on entrepreneurship education, Gwarube urged alignment with global standards like Germany’s, where learners are prepared from an early age for a skills-driven economy. The minister emphasised that foundational literacy and numeracy remain critical. She highlighted the importance of a future-focused, skills-oriented curriculum to reduce unemployment and creating innovators:

# The City of Johannesburg has launched project Lokisa, a bold new campaign to recover unpaid municipal debt. The campaign will see large-scale disconnections targeting high-value properties, businesses, government departments, and state-owned entities. The city will also tighten rules on property sales to ensure debts are paid before transfers. The city’s Nkosana Lekotjolo urges property owners and businesses to settle their accounts or arrange payments to avoid disconnections and legal action:

# Tennis: Surprise French Open semi-finalist, local player Loïs Boisson, has jumped 296 places in the latest world rankings to a career-high 65. Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and American Coco Gauff hold the top two spots after their run to the final in Paris where Gauff defeated top-seeded Sabalenka. Three-time defending champion, Iga Swiatek of Poland, fell two places to seventh after her semi-final defeat to Sabalenka. China’s Zheng Qinwen moves up to fifth after reaching the quarter-finals in Paris, where she won Olympic gold last year.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-70-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 106-thousand-586-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-322-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Iranian officials have expanded a 2019 police order banning dog walking in the capital of Tehran to at least 18 other cities. Authorities cite public order, and health and safety concerns. Dog ownership, defying Iran’s mandatory hijab laws, attending underground parties and drinking alcohol have long been forms of quiet rebellion against Iran’s theocratic regime. However, despite efforts to discourage it, dog ownership is rising, particularly among young people. Officials warned legal action would be taken against people who violate the new rules.

Stay tuned for more news………….