News 11:00

BULLETIN 5 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Nxesi says the UIF Labour Activation Programme is not a silver bullet to the unemployment crisis
# Israel is going to re-open key crossings to allow more aid into Gaza
# And rugby: The Blitzboks are through to the quarterfinals in Hong Kong

# Employment and Labour minister, Thulas Nxesi, says the Unemployment Insurance labour activation programme should not be seen as a silver bullet to the country’s unemployment crisis. The initiative aims to stimulate job creation and enhance the employability of the unemployed, while also improving the operational efficiencies of companies in distress. The department has allocated 23-billion-rand to the programme, which will be launched in Gauteng tomorrow. Nxesi says job opportunities are to be created in 22 sectors:

# Gun Free South Africa is urging government to take action to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms easily. This comes after metro police seized a modified firearm, converted into a fully automatic weapon, in Hanover Park on the Cape Flats. The organisation’s director, Adéle Kirsten, calls for a change in the law to prohibit licensing of semi-automatic weapons to civilians. She warns of potential gun violence similar to that seen in the United States if the issue is not addressed promptly.

# The Freedom Front Plus in Gauteng says premier Panyaza Lesufi is to blame for several non-profit organisations having to close their doors due to a lack of funding. The provincial Department of Social Development has cut 223-million-rand from its 2024/25 budget for services to vulnerable persons, leaving many NPOs struggling to provide services. The FF Plus’s Amanda de Lange says many of the one-thousand-350 organisations that did receive funds have already closed their doors and laid off social workers:

# Israel’s security cabinet has approved a series of steps to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including the temporary reopening of two humanitarian routes. The Erez Crossing in northern Gaza will be temporarily re-opened for the first time since the October 7 Hamas attacks, and Ashdod Port will also be opened for humanitarian deliveries. This comes after US president Joe Biden warned Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu the future of US support for Israel would depend on it taking concrete action to protect civilians.

# Rugby: The Springbok Sevens are through to the quarterfinals in Hong Kong, having won their first two Pool C matches today. The Blitzboks opened with a 22-17 win against Ireland. They scored four tries through Shilton van Wyk, Dewald Human, Quewin Nortjé, and Ryan Oosthuizen, to secure their first win over Ireland in the World Series this season. South Africa then defeated Spain 24-10 in their second match. The Springbok Sevens, who are in seventh place on the log, will face Samoa in their final pool match tomorrow morning.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-68-cents and the euro at 20-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-59-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-and-15-dollars-41-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-284-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….