News 08:00

BULLETIN 3 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A major earthquake has hit the east coast of Taiwan
# The Asset Forfeiture Unit secures a R43-million preservation order related to fraud at the DRC embassy
# And cricket: De Kock and Yadav help the Lucknow Super Giants to victory in the IPL

# A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan, resulting in the death of one person and more than 50 injured. According to emergency services, people are trapped after the earthquake caused the collapse of at least 26 buildings including in the tourist city of Hualien. Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen says she has instructed her administration to provide the necessary assistance and minimise the impact of the disaster. Tsunami warnings were issued for Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines following the earthquake. This is Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in 25 years.

# The Asset Forfeiture Unit has successfully obtained a preservation order exceeding 43-million-rand. This order targets four properties and two bank accounts linked to former Defence Attaché for the Democratic Republic of Congo in South Africa, Ngoy Timothee Makwamba. NPA regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, revealed that Makwamba was allegedly involved in a transaction where the DRC embassy paid 49.6-million-rand to the Denel Group for weapons procurement: 

# Residents of Ward 109 in Cape Town are outraged by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s plans to relocate illegal occupants from their central railway line to Macassar. Prasa plans to relocate five-thousand-195 households encroaching on the rail reserve in two phases. The agency has invested 643-million-rand in rehabilitating the railway infrastructure. Ward 109 councillor, Peter Helfrich, says Prasa and the implementing agent, the Housing Development Agency, have not been transparent with residents:

# The Freedom Front Plus says it supports the decision by Tshwane City Manager, Johan Mettler, to implement cost-saving measures for catering expenses. According to a report by the Tshwane Metro Council’s Public Accounts Committee, an amount of 119-thousand-270-rand from the outsourced catering budget for the 2021/2022 financial year, was allocated to Nendou Trading without adequate supervision. The FF Plus says this highlights a lack of transparency in tender processes as invoices and quotations for expenses were not provided, as required by standard protocol.

Cricket: Lucknow Super Giants sealed a 28-run victory against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to record back-to-back wins in the Indian Premier League in Bengaluru. Quinton de Kock scored 81 off 56 balls as the Super Giants posted 181 for five in their 20 overs. The South African opener became the eighth overseas player to reach three-thousand IPL runs. In reply, Mayank Yadav took three wickets as RCB were bowled out for 153.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-78-cents and the euro at 20-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-63-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-75-dollars-66-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-284-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….