News 16:00

BULLETIN 28 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Jacob Zuma experiences the sixth legal setback in his private prosecution campaign 
# The Limpopo Transport Department is expecting traffic volumes to increase
# And Olympics: The IOC is satisfied with Brisbane’s preparations for the 2032 Games 

# Former president Jacob Zuma has experienced the sixth legal defeat in his campaign to privately prosecute state prosecutor Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan. News24 reports the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed Zuma’s appeal bid, citing no exceptional circumstances. Three full-bench rulings have confirmed that Zuma’s attempt to charge Downer and Maughan was an abuse of process in his strategy to avoid trial for arms deal corruption. Last week, the High Court in KwaZulu-Natal dismissed Zuma’s attempt to remove Downer as his prosecutor.

# The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety says it is expecting traffic volumes to increase significantly on major routes from today as people head to their destinations for the Easter long weekend. The department’s spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, says the N1 and R101, northbound from Gauteng towards Polokwane, and business districts across the province will be extremely busy:

Meanwhile, the City of Tshwane says people travelling to malaria-endemic areas are being urged to take the necessary precautions. Parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal are malaria-endemic areas. Mayoral committee member for Health, Rina Marx, says in Southern Africa, countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola are also malaria-endemic countries:

# Battles and bombardment pounded the Gaza Strip today, after the United States said Israel agreed to reschedule cancelled talks with tensions worsening between the allies. US criticism of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mounted over Gaza’s civilian death toll, dire food shortages, and Israel’s plans to push its ground offensive against Hamas militants into the far-southern city of Rafah. Bombardment and fighting have continued despite a binding United Nations Security Council resolution passed on Monday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

# Olympics: The International Olympic Committee is satisfied with Brisbane’s preparations for the 2032 Games, despite disagreements over the changing of venues. The chairperson of the IOC’s Coordination Commission, Kirsty Coventry, expressed concern over the Queensland government’s recent shift on venues. Questions were also raised over more venue changes should there be a government change in the Australian state in October. Coventry says dealing with political change is part of every host city’s preparations, and she was sure everyone would agree on a path forward.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-1-cent and the euro at 20-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-535-dollars-72-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-209-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….