News 16:00

BULLETIN 24 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BOSA forms an alliance with seven parties for the elections
# The Reserve Bank seizes millions in cash and property from Markus Jooste’s alleged former lover
# And cricket: Tonight is the Gauteng derby in the T20 Challenge semifinal 

# Build One South Africa has announced an alliance with seven parties for the upcoming national and provincial elections. The alliance aims to unify various community-based organisations under the BOSA banner to challenge the ruling government. Members of the alliance, including the Mopani Independent Movement, Lentswe La Batho, and Abantu Integrity Movement, have pledged to campaign exclusively for BOSA in the elections. They pledge to restore meritocracy, protect the Constitution, and share resources. The alliance also looks forward to supporting members in the 2026 local government elections.

# The South African Reserve Bank has confiscated 42.1-million-rand in cash and an 18-million-rand property from former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste’s alleged former lover, Berdine Odendaal. These assets were frozen three-years ago amid the Steinhoff scandal. Odendaal allegedly received a 60-million-rand loan from a Jooste-linked company. The seized funds and property will be deposited into the state’s National Revenue Fund. Jooste’s assets, including a family trust worth over one-billion-rand, were previously frozen by the bank. He committed suicide on 21 March.

# The National Prosecuting Authority is advocating for a holistic approach to combat corruption and crime. This approach involves all sectors of society working together, including regulators, professionals, and law enforcement agencies. National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, and the NPA’s executive committee held a media roundtable in Pretoria today. According to Batohi, prosecution alone cannot solve these complex issues and calls for a coordinated effort to address various types of crime:

# Transnet National Ports Authority has invited proposals for a 25-year concession at the port of Cape Town’s Liquid Bulk Precinct. The request for proposals seeks a terminal operator to acquire, operate, and maintain the liquid bulk terminal. This initiative aims to enhance port infrastructure and foster private sector collaboration. Acting port manager Ophelia Shabane highlighted its potential role in job creation and revenue diversification.

# Cricket: The first semifinal in the CSA T20 Challenge will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg tonight. The Lions finished top of the log and they are hosting the Titans in a Gauteng derby. The Pretoria team won their last game to end in fourth place and sneak into the knockouts. Titans captain Neil Brand is predicting a nail-biting contest against their neighbours:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-19-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-663-dollars-39-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-315-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….