News 17:00

BULLETIN 4 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum supports the US bill targeting ANC leaders and welcomes the embassy’s stand on the ‘Kill the Boer’ chant
# The DA demands action as 410 Police firearms are lost or stolen in the Eastern Cape
# And Rugby: The Blitzboks face Great Britain and Argentina in Singapore

# AfriForum says it supports the rationale behind a US bill proposing sanctions against corrupt ANC leaders and human rights violators. CEO Kallie Kriel expressed concern over the bill’s broader aim to review US-South Africa relations. In addition, Kriel says AfriForum has welcomed the US Embassy’s condemnation of the Kill the Boer chant, saying it incites violence and promotes racial hatred:

# The DA in the Eastern Cape has raised concerns after 410 Police firearms were reported lost or stolen over four years. Of these, 362 were stolen, 65 from police stations while 48 remain unaccounted for. The DA’s Yusuf Cassim says the police lack a tracking system to link the weapons to crimes. He calls for disciplinary action, and stricter firearm controls:

# The African Christian Democratic Party has expressed disappointment over the acquittals of Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused in a sexual assault and human trafficking case. The ACDP criticised the National Prosecuting Authority for poor handling of the case, particularly its inadequate cross-examination of the accused. The party has called for an apology to the victims and witnesses, urging the government to improve the justice system and prosecutor training to ensure better outcomes in future cases.

# A 43-year-old South African from Sackets Harbor, New York, faces federal charges for distributing child pornography via a social networking app. Marcell Meyer allegedly shared explicit content, including with an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl. If convicted, Meyer could face five to 20 years in prison, a 4.7-million-rand fine, and mandatory sex offender registration. The case, part of Project Safe Childhood, was investigated by Homeland Security and other agencies. Meyer has been working on a farm in the US.

# Rugby: It does not get easier for the Blitzboks after they could only finish in ninth place in Hong Kong. Tomorrow morning in the last tournament of the regular season they face a tough pool A. The South Africans play Great Britain at 7:26am and then face top of the log Argentina at 10:44 am. Argentina also won the Honk Kong tournament for the first time last week. The Blitzboks are currently fourth on the log with the top eight teams qualifying for the world championships in Los Angeles next month.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-99-cents and the euro at 20-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-917-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-84-dollars-28-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….