News 15:00

BULLETIN 25 April 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Human Rights Commission’s report highlights the Buffalo City Municipality’s regulatory oversight regarding the Enyobeni tragedy 
#  Blinken calls on the US and China to manage their differences responsibly     
# And rugby: Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen is suspended for three weeks for a red card against Munster 

# The South African Human Rights Commission’s report on the Enyobeni tavern tragedy points to regulatory oversights by the Buffalo City Municipality following the deaths of 21 teenagers. Commissioner Nomahlubi Khwinana criticised the Eastern Cape metro for failing to uphold its obligations, particularly in zoning regulations, monitoring liquor license applications, and establishing local drug action committees. She also indicates a lack of accountability and transparency, further endangering community safety and well-being:

# The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, is welcoming over one-thousand medical interns and community service professionals as part of this year’s intake. The department’s Motalatale Modiba says this diverse group includes medical doctors, physiotherapists, audiologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, dentists and pharmacists:

# US secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the United States and China to manage their differences responsibly as he landed in Beijing for tough talks with the rival power’s leaders. He is expected to address a range of thorny issues, including Chinese support for Russia and its treatment of Taiwan, with China likely to raise trade concerns such as new US action against popular Chinese social media app TikTok. Tomorrow a full day of talks is planned with China’s political leadership, including a possible meeting with president Xi Jinping.

# Rugby: Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen was suspended for three weeks after his red card against Munster in their United Rugby Championship clash at Loftus last weekend. He was sent off for a head clash with scrumhalf Craig Casey half-way through the second half. The Bulls were leading 22-17 at the time, but ended up losing 27-22. The URC’s disciplinary committee says Goosen accepted he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card. He will miss the matches against Ospreys, Glasgow Warriors and Benetton.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-98-cents and the euro at 20-rand-36-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-710-dollars-35-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-329-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A report from FinMark Trust reveals that 40-percent of South African adults resort to borrowing money to buy food as living expenses soar. The study also indicates that 68-percent of South Africans receive social grants, which fall short of covering basic needs, with the child support grant notably below the food poverty line. Moreover, only 24-percent of South Africans are classified as financially healthy, highlighting a deteriorating financial landscape.

Stay tuned for more news………….