News 06:00

BULLETIN 28 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum condemns the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Kill the Boer chant
# The cabinet grants an extension for SASSA card replacements
# And the 23 South Africans rescued from Myanmar are repatriated safely

# AfriForum has strongly condemned the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the chant Kill the Boer. The ConCourt dismissed the civil rights organisation’s application for leave to appeal two court decisions that did not find the chant to be hate speech. The court states that the appeal has no reasonable prospects of success. AfriForum’s, Kallie Kriel, says they are seeing an increasingly radical implementation of the Constitution and an increase in ideologically driven judges:

AfriForum has also slammed president Cyril Ramaphosa for refusing to condemn the Kill the Boer chant, calling it an unspoken approval of violence against Afrikaners. The Presidency’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated Ramaphosa would not denounce the chant, despite international criticism from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl accuses Ramaphosa of prioritising political alliances over addressing minority concerns:

# The South African Social Security Agency has extended the deadline for beneficiaries to migrate to the new Postbank card until 30 April. The extension aims to ensure a smooth transition and prevent disruptions in grant payments. Briefing the media on the outcomes of the cabinet meeting, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, confirmed that Postbank has met most of the South African Reserve Bank’s requirements, with the final step being card replacements:

# The City of Tshwane coalition partners including the ANC, EFF, and ActionSA have welcomed the first fully-funded draft budget since 2021. The budget expands the indigent threshold from 150-thousand-rand to 250-thousand-rand, benefiting over 183-thousand properties with free basic services worth 2.9-billion-rand. It also includes a four-percent property rates reduction and 210-million-rand in contractor cost cuts. In addition, a pilot project will extend clinic hours, starting with Olievenhoutbosch Clinic, to improve healthcare access.

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has confirmed the safe return of 23 South Africans rescued from Myanmar. Lured to Thailand under false pretenses, they were held captive for over four months, forced into cybercrime, and abused. In a statement, DIRCO says it facilitated their repatriation, offering financial assistance. The Department of Social Development and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation are providing medical screenings, psychosocial support, and investigating a human trafficking case.

# Rugby: Springbok lock RG Snyman will play for Leinster for another year. He joined from another Irish team, Munster, last year after making his professional debut for the Bulls before moving to Japan. Bulls director of rugby, Jake White reportedly wanted to bring Snyman back home, but Leinster won. The Irish team plays the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship clash in Durban tomorrow after their under-strength team lost by one point to the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-20-cents and the euro at 19-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-250-dollar-80-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-54-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-1-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….