News 07:00

BULLETIN 14 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Creecy says the Easter Road Safety campaign will focus on critical routes
# The DA launches a petition to oppose the disarmament of security companies
# And over 30 are killed in Russian strikes in Ukraine

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy says her department will intensify efforts until May 2nd as part of the Easter Road Safety campaign. She launched a road safety and law enforcement initiative in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on Sunday. The Road Traffic Management Corporation recorded 335 fatalities on the roads over the Easter weekend last year, almost 33-percent more than the 252 recorded in 2023. Creecy says they will be focusing on critical routes across the country that require additional policing:

# The DA has launched a national petition to oppose the proposed amendments by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority that threaten to disarm private security officers and undermine community safety. The DA’s Ian Cameron says these draft regulations will severely restrict private security companies’ ability to operate effectively by limiting access to essential tools such as tasers, other less lethal options and even certain firearms:

# Western Cape premier, Alan Winde says the SAPS investigation into George building collapse disaster is 65% complete. Winde met with provincial police commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, to receive an update on the police investigation. Thirty-four workers were killed and 28 injured when the building still under construction collapsed in May last year. The Premier cautioned, that the provincial government cannot allow the matter to be tried in the media as this will not offer the survivors, their families, and the relatives of those who died any closure:

# A Russian ballistic missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least 34 people, including two children on Sunday. At least 80 people were wounded. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says there must be pressure on Russia to end the war and guarantee security for the people. There has been international condemnation of the strikes, with Ukraine-Russia envoy for the US, Keith Kellogg, saying this attack crosses any line of decency. French president Emmanuel Macron says the strikes show a blatant disregard for human lives.

# Motorsport: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri dominated the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix to become the first multiple-race winner of the season. The Australian finished 15 seconds clear of Mercedes’ George Russell, with his teammate Lando Norris in third. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth respectively for Ferrari. Norris’ advantage over his teammate Piastri at the top of the world championship has now been reduced to three points.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-4-cents and the euro at 21-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-293-dollar-30-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-236-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-53-cents a barrel.

# And finally: South African National Parks board chairperson, Pam Yako, says the organisation’s Vision 2040 will be driven through six strategic areas, one of which is focused on regenerative tourism. SANParks spokesperson, JP Louw says regenerative tourism is driven by the principle of inclusivity, ensuring that local communities benefit. He says the board will convene its annual stakeholder session in September this year to provide updates on progress made in the implementation of Vision 2040:

Stay tuned for more news………….