It’s Monday, 8 June, and this is News Bite with Marcelle Gordon.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says only the state has the right to police immigration, as government responds to rising tensions around anti-illegal migration protests. Ramaphosa has announced a five-point immigration plan to strengthen borders, enforce immigration laws, fight corruption in the system and work more closely with neighbouring countries. The DA has welcomed the plan, while ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba has called it weak and reactionary. At the same time, two buses carrying 150 Malawian nationals have left South Africa as part of a voluntary repatriation programme.
On the local government front, Cogta Deputy Minister Dickson Masemola is urging political parties to appoint more competent leaders as work continues on the Draft Revised White Paper on Local Government. In Cape Town, the GOOD Party and Rise Mzansi are joining forces to challenge the DA’s long-standing control of the metro, with Brett Herron named as mayoral candidate. The DA’s Geordin Hill-Lewis is also running again, while the NCC and PA have revealed their own mayoral candidates for the Mother City.
In Gauteng, Eldorado Park residents say their lives do not matter after three people were killed in a gang-related shooting despite the deployment of soldiers under Operation Prosper. Residents say soldiers are not listening to community input, while Gauteng police say the Anti-Gang Unit will be deployed to the area. Also in Gauteng, Cabinet has approved the complete write-off of all outstanding and unpaid historical e-toll debt, meaning SANRAL will stop pursuing collections for fees charged before the system was switched off in 2024. Those who have already paid will not be refunded.
Looking abroad, Iran and Israel have traded attacks for the first time since a shaky ceasefire paused five weeks of war, raising fears of a wider conflict. Iran fired missiles at Israel, while Israel struck military targets in Iran, despite US President Donald Trump calling for restraint. Trump also walked out of a tense NBC interview after being challenged on his unsupported claims that the 2020 US election was rigged. In Asia, tsunami evacuation orders are in place after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines, leaving at least 19 people dead and 200 injured.
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In Mexico, 25,000 fans came out in the rain to watch Bafana Bafana World Cup legends take on Mexico’s 2010 heroes, reliving the glory of the opening match where Siphiwe Tshabalala set the tournament alight. Springbok attack coach Tony Brown is set to leave the Springboks after the 2027 Rugby World Cup to join the All Blacks as assistant coach. In Formula 1, Kimi Antonelli wins the Monaco Grand Prix, making it five straight victories as he continues to dominate the drivers’ standings.
And finally, some World Cup nostalgia really does age like a prime Siphiwe Tshabalala strike. Rain, legends, Mexico, Bafana, 2010 memories. Cinema, but make it football.
That’s your News Bite for 8 June.
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