News 16:00

BULLETIN 10 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Border Management Authority outlines its Easter plan to secure ports of entry and ease congestion
# The port of East London gets a major upgrade to boost automotive exports
# And golf: Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson hit the first tee shots of the 2025 Masters

# The Border Management Authority has outlined its comprehensive operational plan for Easter, focusing on securing ports of entry and easing congestion. The plan includes extending operating hours at key border posts, deploying additional personnel, and using drones for monitoring. Commissioner Michael Masiapato says ports like Groblers Bridge in Limpopo and Kopfontein in North West will operate 24 hours per day during peak times to manage the increased movement of people and goods:

# Transnet National Ports Authority has completed a 60-million-rand upgrade of the automotive berth at the port of East London. CEO Phyllis Difeto says the project deepens and strengthens the berth, now allowing two 200-metre car carriers to dock simultaneously. With a boosted capacity of 790-thousand vehicles per year, the port reinforces its role as a key hub for the broader automotive industry. Difeto says the upgrade improves efficiency and aligns with national infrastructure goals.

# The City of Johannesburg says an eight-year-old boy from Mapetla in Soweto has been hospitilised in ICU after eating suspected poisoned snacks form a spaza shop. Johannesburg’s Department of Environmental Health were informed that Omphile Molobela bought a maize snack which the city’s spokesperson, Virgil James, says he shared with his three siblings at home. James says the child started vomiting and was rushed to Chiawelo Clinic, where he was attended to and later transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital:

# Golf: Past champions Gary Player from South Africa and Americans Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson hit ceremonial tee shots to open the first round of the 89th Masters. The trio of legends gathered at the first tee at Augusta National to launch shots into the early morning air ahead of the start of competition in the year’s first major tournament. A field of 95 players are chasing the green jacket symbolizing Masters supremacy. Charl Schwartzel, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Thriston Lawrence are the South Africans in the field.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-38-cents and the euro at 21-rand-51-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-742-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-125-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-49-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Basketball icon LeBron James has become the first male professional athlete to be immortalised as a Ken doll by toy company Mattel. This special edition doll, which is in partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation, captures the Los Angeles Lakers player’s unique fashion sense. It is also taller than the standard Ken doll. James says this is an opportunity to recognise the powerful impact of role models who instil confidence, inspire dreams, and show kids that they, too, can achieve greatness.

Stay tuned for more news………….