News 18:00

BULLETIN 28 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Reserve Bank raises the repo rate to 7-percent as inflation pressures intensify
# Jlius Malema calls for self-determination in Western Sahara
# And soccer: Ebola screening is stepped up in Mexico ahead of the World Cup

# The South African Reserve Bank has increased the repo rate by 25 basis points to seven-percent due to rising inflation risks. Rising global oil prices, ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent flooding have weakened the country’s economic outlook and pushed inflation higher. Governor Lesetja Kganyago says inflation rose to four-percent in April, driven mainly by fuel and transport costs, while growth forecasts for the next two years have been revised down:

# EFF leader Julius Malema says Africa cannot claim to fully support liberation while Western Sahara issues remains unresolved. Speaking at the EFF Africa Day Summit in Pretoria, Malema said the Sahrawi people struggle for self-determination under Moroccan occupation. He also warned that conflicts in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Somalia threaten regional stability. He called for stronger African-led peace-building institutions, regional cooperation to address instability:

# The Public Servants Association has welcomed the launch of the world-class new online real-time employee verification portal. The initiative by the Department of Home Affairs is in support of the government’s efforts to eliminate ghost employees and payment irregularities, which cost the national fiscus an estimated 3.9-billion-rand in 2025. PSA’s Claude Naicker says payroll fraud diverts critical resources from essential public services and undermines the credibility and integrity of the public sector:

# A senior commander of Ukraine’s Defence Force says his country has a six-month window in which to seize the battlefield initiative from Russia and strengthen its hand for peace talks. Brigadier-general Andriy Biletsky, who commands Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, told Reuters a turning point was imminent after more ​than four years of war. He believes Russia’s Army is exhausted and incapable of making major breakthroughs. Russian forces have made grinding gains since their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but face push-back from Ukraine.

# Soccer: Health authorities in Mexico have tightened Ebola screening measures ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as countries prepare for increased international travel and large crowds. Officials say enhanced monitoring is being introduced at airports, border posts and public health facilities to detect possible cases early and prevent cross-border transmission. The measures include temperature checks, health declarations and rapid response protocols. Authorities say the precautions are aimed at safeguarding public health, while ensuring the smooth hosting of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents and the euro at 18-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-82-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-926-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-462-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….