News 14:00

BULLETIN 13 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Charges are dropped against an alleged sangoma in the Joslin Smith disappearance case 
# ActionSA urges South Africans to vote differently in the upcoming elections
# And migrants refused asylum in the United Kingdom will be offered thousands of pounds to move to Rwanda

# Three accused in the Joslin Smith disappearance case have abandoned their bid for bail in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court. Charges were withdrawn against the fourth accused, alleged sangoma Phumza Sigaqa, after no evidence could be found of her alleged involvement. Joslin’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn are charged with human trafficking and kidnapping after alleged confessions that they sold Joslin for 20-thousand-rand for muti. The case has been postponed to 13 May for further investigation and cellphone data to be obtained.  

# ActionSA is urging all South Africans  to vote differently in the upcoming national and provincial elections. The party says voting for those already represented in the National Assembly will only result in more of what South Africa has already endured. Parliament approved 1.5-billion-rand extra funding for political parties. That will be for constituency work and campaigning. ActionSA’s Alan Beesley says South Africans had to endure the insult of watching out-of-touch MPs fight over what share of the 1,5-billion-rand of public funding each of them should get:

# The Human Sciences Research Council and National Treasury, in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s National Statistics, have initiated a community of practice to explore the utilisation of local data in supporting local economies. The initiative will look into to foster knowledge exchange and enhance economic performance in South African cities. Discussions include identifying strategic objectives and sharing best practices for delivering local data insights, including administrative and private sector data sources.

Meanwhile, migrants who have been refused asylum in the United Kingdom will be offered thousands of pounds to move to Rwanda. According to The Times, the new relocation scheme is designed to remove migrants who have no legal right to stay in the UK but cannot be returned to their home countries. It will be aimed at individuals who do not have an outstanding asylum claim and are in a position to relocate swiftly. The Home Office has not confirmed the scheme but is said to be exploring voluntary relocations to Rwanda.

# The University of Johannesburg and the French embassy will host a sports event at the Soweto campus tomorrow to celebrate 30 years of democracy and the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. UJ’s Nomsa Mahlangu says the event’s theme, Relay around the World – Land of Games 2024, emphasises the link between sport and democracy. She says discussions on democratising sports, especially for people with disabilities and women, will be featured:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-66-cents and the euro at 20-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-87-cents and Bitcoin trades at 73-thousand-276-dollars-59-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-160-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….