News 09:00

BULLETIN 7 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The FF Plus says it won’t let other parties affect its decision-making
# The EFF accuses the Public Works minister of making partisan appointments
# And Emmanuel Macron is calling for strong action against Russia

# The Freedom Front Plus says it is not bound by other political party’s decisions or actions regarding its continued participation or withdrawal from the government of national unity. The coalition government hangs by a thread after the DA voted against the AND-led national budget last week. FF Plus leader, Corné Mulder, says the party’s continued participation in government is based solely on the question of whether it benefits Afrikaners and other minorities in South Africa or not:

# The EFF is accusing Public Works and Infrastructure minister, Dean Macpherson, of embarking on a mission to appoint unqualified individuals who are aligned to the DA into key roles without due process. These appointments include the department’s chief director of Stakeholder Management in the director-general’s office, Sean Cox, and Michael Beyleveld, currently the minister’s chief of staff. The EFF says the recent appointments made by minister Macpherson expose the government of national unity’s true nature, a corrupt arrangement where political elites prioritise cronyism over merit.

# The GOOD Party in the Western Cape says recent developments surrounding the George building collapse report are a step closer for the community to get answers and accountability. Thirty-four people died when a building, still under construction, collapsed in May last year. GOOD’s, Chantelle Kyd, says they have noted recent media reports indicating that Human Settlements minister, Thembi Simelane, has presented the National Home Builders Registration Council report on the building collapse to the portfolio committee on Human Settlements:

# French president Emmanuel Macron has condemned Russia’s recent missile strikes in Ukraine. This comes after a Russian ballistic missile killed 20 people, including nine children, in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih last Friday. Macron says Ukraine has accepted a US-backed proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, while Russia is intensifying its military campaign with no regard for civilians. He adds that strong action is needed if Russia continues to stall and reject peace.

# Soccer: Leaders Liverpool suffered only their second Premier League defeat of the season, losing 3-2 against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Arne Slot’s men missed the chance of moving 14 points clear of Arsenal. Reigning champions Manchester City played to a goalless draw against neighbours Manchester United at Old Trafford. Southhampton have been relegated from the Premier League with seven matches to play after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Slot denies that tiredness is an issue for his players:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-24-cents and the euro at 21-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-561-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-26-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-66-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….