News 13:00

BULLETIN 23 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cabinet urges citizens to vote in the elections 
# Cosatu demands urgent action against employers failing to pay contributions to workers’ pension funds 
# And rugby: The Shimlas are crowned the Varsity Cup champions for the first time since 2015 

# Cabinet says it is confident the nation will once again build on its track record of holding regular, credible and free and fair national and local elections since 1994. As the country celebrates 30 years of freedom, it has encouraged citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote in the upcoming elections. The Cabinet says the Electoral Code of Conduct commits all those contesting the elections to abide by the set of rules that are meant to ensure free and fair elections.

Meanwhile, the UDM says it is concerned that service delivery is only made a national focus during election times, where it is partnered with elaborate empty promises. The party says the lack of services in areas including the Motsoaledi and Nomzamo informal settlements in Soweto and Mahikeng in North West, respectively, is appalling. UDM’s general secretary, Yongama Zigede, says in Nomzamo necessities such as water and electricity are luxuries:

# Cosatu demands urgent action against employers failing to pay contributions owed to workers’ pension funds. The federation welcomed the comprehensive report by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority into the large number of employers in both the private and public sectors, who owe billions of rand. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says over four-thousand employers, largely in the security, cleaning, metals, engineering and municipal sectors, have failed to pay for months and even years:

# Rugby: The Shimlas of the University of the Free State have won the Varsity Cup for the first time since 2015. Shimlas were crowned champions after defeating Ikey Tigers of Cape Town 45-42, thanks to a last-minute penalty in an eleven-try spectacle in Bloemfontein. This is the Ikey Tigers’ second final loss in a row after last year’s defeat away to the North West University’s Eagles. Meanwhile, the Eagles beat UFS Shimlas’ Young Guns 39-36 to be crowned Varsity Young Guns champions. 

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-25-cents and the euro at 20-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-259-dollars-24-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-293-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-41-cents a barrel.

# And finally: President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended warm wishes to the South African Jewish community as they celebrate the Pesach holiday. Pesach symbolises freedom, marking the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery. It commemorates the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt and their ultimate exodus to freedom. Ramaphosa says the Jewish community is an integral part of South Africa’s diverse society. The Passover began yesterday and end on Tuesday next week.

Stay tuned for more news………….