News 08:00

BULLETIN 18 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The National Prosecuting Authority says more needs to be done to ensure justice for gender-based violence victims
# The Cabinet approves the final white paper on the migration policy
# And a poll finds 74% of Israelis oppose a retaliatory strike against Iran

# National Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi, says the rape and killing of women is reflective of a society that is devoid of a sense of humanity. She launched a state-of-the-art Thuthuzela Care Centre in Stellenbosch, a facility for survivors of gender-based violence. Batohi says in Sexual Offences Courts around the country, the NPA has a conviction rate of at least 70-percent. However, she says if unreported cases are included, the conviction drops dramatically to under ten-percent, a matter that needs urgent attention.

# The minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi says Cabinet has approved the final white paper on the migration policy, aiming to address citizenship and immigration challenges. The white paper seeks to overhaul the Citizenship Act and other laws governing citizenship and migration. The policy proposes reviewing and possibly withdrawing from the 1951 Refugee Convention. Briefing the media, Motsoaledi asserts South Africa acceded to international agreements in 1996 without a clear migration policy:

# The City of Johannesburg says it is pleased that the rule of law has been maintained especially against big businesses and massive residential estates that want to avoid paying municipal services. The Johannesburg High Court ruled in favour of the city against Malakite Body Corporate and Greenstone Crest Body Corporate. The city’s spokesperson, Nkosana Lekotjolo, says the two appellants appealed an earlier judgment which found the metro was correct to charge the appellants business tariffs:

# A survey by Hebrew University in Jerusalem has found that 74-percent of those polled would oppose a retaliatory strike against Iran if it undermines Israel’s security alliance with its allies. Twenty-six-percent favoured an attack even if it were to damage ties with allies. The poll also found that 56-percent of respondents believe Israel should respond positively to political and military demands from its allies. This comes as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate to the unprecedented missile and drone assault by Iran at the weekend.

# Soccer: Fourteen-time Champions League winners Real Madrid knocked out reigning champions Manchester City four-three on penalties in their quarterfinal second-leg tie at the Etihad Stadium. After the match finished one-all leaving the teams tied four-all on aggregate, Antonio Rudiger scored the winning penalty. In Germany, Joshua Kimmich’s goal saw Bayern Munich win one-nil against Arsenal, claiming a three-two aggregate victory. Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed his disappointment:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-99-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-67-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-869-dollars-54-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-374-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-57-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….