News 13:00

BULLETIN 30 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Democratic Union Party wants the IEC to intervene in the ANC’s request to the diplomatic corps (core)
# South African magistrates consider strike action over pay disparities
# And Cricket: The Proteas squad is announced for the T20 World Cup

# The Democratic Union Party has described the ANC’s request for the diplomatic corps to assist in the party’s campaign abroad as a blatant abuse of power. A letter from the ANC Secretary General’s Office making the rounds, requests diplomatic staff to attend an online meeting today, to discuss the ANC 2024 voter mobilisation strategy abroad. The DUP’s secretary general, Thapelo Makgale, says the Electoral Commission must urgently intervene:

# South African magistrates, represented by the Judicial Officers Association, are considering strike action over pay disparities. The association, representing over 800 magistrates, want the state to close the pay gap between magistrates and judges. Magistrates demand fair remuneration and argue they handle 95-percent of judicial work. The association’s Neelen Karikan argues that the roles and duties of magistrates have incrementally evolved, but the salary structure of magistrates was skewed. He said magistrates have received zero cost of living adjustment since April 2023.

# The Eastern Cape is poised to become a key player in the cannabis industry with a 100-million-rand investment in Coega’s special economic zone. The investment, led by Medigrow ZA, will kickstart indoor cultivation, packaging, CBD extraction, and cigarette manufacturing operations. Premier Oscar Mabuyane hailed the investment as a significant catalyst for local and international investors eyeing the province’s strategic potential in the cannabis sector:

# Cricket: Head coach Rob Walter announced a 15-man Proteas squad for the T20 World Cup to be played in the USA and West Indies in June. Aiden Markram will lead a squad that includes two uncapped T20 players – batter Ryan Rickelton and fast bowler Ottniel Baartman. The Proteas will benefit from the experience of batters Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortjé will lead the pace attack, while the squad includes three front-line spinners – Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. 

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-68-cents and the euro at 20-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-44-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-118-dollars-2-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-314-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Rodeo workers in America have helped recapture zebras that escaped their trailer and trotted past diners in Washington State. Four zebras being transported to Montana had escaped their trailer about 40-kilometres from Seattle, and galloped through a neighbourhood, including past diners eating brunch. Washington State Patrol trooper Rick Johnson says three of the animals were quickly captured, but the search for the fourth continued yesterday.

Stay tuned for more news………….