News 18:00

BULLETIN 27 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IEC reports 376-thousand new voters have registered online
# The extortion case against taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and his co-accused is to be re-enrolled
# And, hundreds of children die within months as measles cases soar in Bangladesh

# The Independent Electoral Commission says its online voter registration portal has boosted the accuracy and stability of the voters’ roll ahead of the local government elections. CEO Sy Mamabolo says about 376-thousand new voters registered online between January and May, with most users being young South Africans. Mamabolo confirmed that 27.9-million South Africans have registered thus far, stating that the digital platform has helped offset monthly losses on the voters’ roll:

# The Motor Industry Staff Association has expressed deep concern about the rising kidnapping crisis in Gauteng. Police statistics show an average of 27 kidnappings, robberies or ransom cases every day, with Gauteng recording more than two-thousand-400 cases in just three-months. The association’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says the crimes are becoming more organised and remain a serious threat to public safety and the economy, despite the creation of a specialised police unit:

# The National Prosecuting Authority will re-enrolled the extortion case against taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and his co-accused at the Delmas Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga tomorrow due to security concerns. NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says Sibanyoni, Daniel Masilela, Phillimon Msiza and Oupa Sindane faces allegations of extorting more than two-million-rand in protection fees from a mining entrepreneur. The matter was previously struck off the roll by Kwaggafontein Magistrate’s Court Chief Magistrate Tuletu Tonjeni after a prosecutor failed to appear following reported threats.

# Over 500 children with suspected and confirmed cases of measles have died in Bangladesh since March. The government has been running a mass vaccination campaign to slow the spread and save lives. In just over two months, the number of suspected cases have reached over 60-thousand. The exact number has not been confirmed, as many are waiting for laboratory results. Measles is highly contagious and can spread quickly through coughs and sneezes. It is particularly dangerous for unvaccinated young children under the age of five.

# Rugby: Thirteen-time Super Rugby champions the Crusaders have confirmed former All Blacks assistant coach, Scott Hansen, as their new head coach from next year. He will replace Rob Penney, who will step down at the end ‌of the current campaign after three seasons. Hansen is a former Crusaders player, featuring in their first season in 1996, and was assistant coach from 2020 to 2023. CEO Colin Mansbridge says he brings clarity, discipline and a genuine love for helping people be better.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-568-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-435-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….