News 13:00

BULLETIN 7 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Cele vows unwavering police action against criminals
# NUMSA signs a five-year wage agreement with Harmony Gold
# And, motorsport: Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix in a Red Bull first-and-second

# Police minister Bheki Cele has reaffirmed the commitment of law enforcement to eradicate criminal activities affecting communities. Providing updates on Operation Shanela today, Cele commended police efforts in tackling crime with decisive action, stressing that crime levels are unacceptable. He says that the ministry pledges ongoing support to intercept armed gangs in hotspot areas like KwaZulu-Natal, aiming to create safer communities through police intervention:

# The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has signed a five-year wage deal with Harmony Gold, effective from July to June 2029. NUMSA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola stated that the agreement ensures a minimum one-thousand-200 increase for the lowest-paid worker in the first year, rising to one-thousand-500 in the final year. Additionally, medical aid contributions will be split, with employers covering 65-percent and employees 35-percent:

# Slovak nationalist-left government candidate Peter Pellegrini won the country’s presidential election yesterday, cementing the grip of pro-Russian prime minister Robert Fico over the country. AFP reports Fico, who took power for the fourth time last October, has turned the country’s foreign policy to more pro-Russian views and initiated reforms of criminal law and the media, which have raised concerns over weakening the rule of law. Pellegrini had 53.26-percent of the vote, versus 46.73-percent for pro-Western opposition candidate Ivan Korcok, results from 99.66-percent of voting districts showed.

# Motorsport: Triple world champion Max Verstappen got back to winning ways at the Japanese Grand Prix earlier today, leading team-mate Sergio Perez to a dominant one-two finish for Red Bull. News24 reports Verstappen, who failed to complete the race in Australia a fortnight ago, claimed his third win from four Grands Prix this season, ahead of Perez in second place, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz third, and his teammate, Charles Leclerc, fourth.

# And, premier Alan Winde will lead a digicon just after 1-pm to the media and public on the measures the Western Cape Government is putting in place to prepare for the possible impact of the severe weather which is expected to bring widespread downpours and strong winds over large parts of the province. Several serious weather-related incidents reported in Western Cape. Members of the public who would like to follow the digicon can watch live on the Premier’s social media pages on facebook, or on youTube, or via the Teams platform.

Meanwhile, a number of weather-related incidents have been reported to the Disaster Risk Management Centre. Somerset Mall has been closed due to roof sheeting that’s blown off. The facility is being evacuated. The centre’s Charlotte Powell says a building inspector is on scene and teams have been activated:

Stay tuned for more news………….