News 11:00

BULLETIN 15 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says everyone must ensure nothing undermines the integrity of the elections
# The Election Commission opens applications for special votes
# And Israel calls on the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is up to all South Africans to ensure that the elections are a success in the ongoing journey of democratic consolidation. On the 29th of next month, the country will hold the seventh general election since 1994. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says South Africa’s electoral processes and the rights enjoyed by citizens and political parties to campaign and contest are among the greatest strengths of the country’s constitutional order. He says everyone must ensure nothing undermines the integrity of the elections.

Meanwhile the Electoral Commission has opened applications for registered voters wishing to apply for a special vote. A special vote is open to anyone who cannot vote on election day. People who can apply for a special vote include anyone who will work on election day or people who are infirm, disabled or pregnant. Special votes can either be cast at home or at a voting station. Applications close on the third of next month.

# The DA says there is a total lack of accountability within the South African Police Services. Between April and September last year, 165 police members were identified as perpetrators of domestic violence.  Only 93 cases of domestic violence offences involving police members were resolved during this period. The DA’s Okkie Terblanche says of these 93 cases, only three led to the member’s dismissal, which is shocking:

# Israel’s United Nations envoy, Gilad Erdan, has urged the Security Council to impose all possible sanctions on Iran before it’s too late. Tehran launched more than 300 missiles at Israel at the weekend, in what it said was retaliation for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month. Erdan says Iran must be stopped before it drives the world to a point of no return:

# Tennis: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Barcelona Open due to injury. The Spaniard still struggles with a right arm injury that also saw him miss the Monte Carlo Masters. Alcaraz won the Barcelona Open in 2022 and last year. His compatriot Rafael Nadal, who has won the tournament a record 12 times, remains in the draw, where he is set to play Italian Flavio Cobolli in the opening round tomorrow.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-83-cents and the euro at 20-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-49-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-422-dollars-38-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-354-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….