It’s Wednesday, 20 May, and this is News Bite, (https://www.enca.com/news-bite-podcast) your fast, reliable update on South Africa and the world, with Marcelle Gordon.
Joburg Mayor Dada Morero delivered his State of the City Address, (https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories/dada-morero-deliver-state-city-address) with his focus falling heavily on urban regeneration as residents demanded action on the city’s mounting service delivery problems. The address comes as the Human Rights Commission probes Gauteng’s water crisis and Eskom threatens to pull the plug on Joburg over unpaid debt. (https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories/eskom-threatens-pull-plug-joburg-over-unpaid-debt)
In the election-year battle for Johannesburg, ActionSA mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba announced plans to unveil a team he says will oversee the rebuilding of the city, while taking aim at his rivals.
In Durban, foreign nationals camping outside the Diakonia Centre (https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories/we-are-ready-die-our-safety-foreign-nationals-spend-night-outside-durban-centre) say they are seeking protection and alternative accommodation after being forced from their homes. Anti-immigration marches continue in several parts of the country, while experts warn that anger over jobs and services is being misdirected at migrants.
North West activist Thato Molosankwe has been shot dead (https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories/north-west-activist-thato-molosankwe-shot-dead) at his home in Lomanyaneng. The well-known anti-crime activist and traditional healer had been outspoken about service delivery failures and was known for helping raise funds for people in need.
Putco is raising bus fares by 10 percent from June, (https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories/putco-bus-fare-increase-10) citing soaring diesel prices and operational pressure. The company says its 1,300 buses use nearly 3 million litres of diesel every month, while taxi operators in Tshwane are demanding more than R1-million in compensation over routes now used by the A Re Yeng bus service.
The World Health Organization has held an emergency meeting over the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has also spread to Uganda. Health experts warn the scale is growing, with the death toll above 130 and more than 500 suspected cases.
In other news, Magistrate Mvuselelo Malindi is expected to deliver findings in the Enyobeni Tavern Inquest on 10 July, after final arguments wrapped up this week.
Looking abroad, Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia-China ties are at unprecedented levels (https://www.enca.com/news/putin-xi-hail-unyielding-ties-talks-after-trump-visit) after meeting China’s Xi Jinping in Beijing.
SPORT
Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions, (https://www.enca.com/sport-top-stories/arsenal-crowned-premier-league-champions-after-man-city-draw) ending 22 years of league heartbreak after Manchester City were held to a 1-all draw by Bournemouth. Thousands of fans flooded the streets around the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners celebrated a historic title win.
Chelsea snapped their eight-match losing streak in the English Premier League with a win over Spurs, while Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League final travel plans (https://www.enca.com/sport/sundowns-travel-plans-hit-delay) were delayed by landing permit complications in Morocco.
And finally, after 22 long years, Arsenal fans are smiling like the Wi-Fi password finally worked.
That’s your News Bit (https://www.enca.com/news-bite-podcast) e for 20 May.
For developments on these stories and more, visit enca.com or watch eNCA on DStv Channel 403. (https://www.enca.com/)
