News 12:00

BULLETIN 15 April 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party welcomes the long-awaited accountability for apartheid crimes
# Government urges citizens to prioritise road safety during the Easter weekend
# And rugby: Mark Tele’a becomes the latest All Black to make the switch to Japan

# The GOOD Party welcomes the long-awaited momentum in the quest to hold apartheid-era criminals accountable. The National Prosecuting Authority has reopened the inquests into the deaths of struggle stalwarts Chief Albert Luthuli and Griffiths Mxenge. In another matter, the Gauteng High Court has ruled that two former apartheid policemen can be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says apartheid was declared a crime against humanity in 1973:

# Government is urging citizens to prioritise road safety as the country heads into the Easter Weekend. A total of 335 fatalities were recorded in the same period last year, compared to 252 for 2023. Government Communication and Information System spokesperson, Nokululeko Mtshali, says government launched the Easter period road safety campaign last month, as part of its 365-day road safety programme:

# A preschool teacher, Amber Lee Hughes, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and murder in the High Court in Johannesburg. She is accused of sexually assaulting and killing her boyfriend’s four-year-old daughter who was a learner in her class, Nada-Jane Challita, in January 2023. The National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, says the court heard that Hughes was in a relationship with the child’s father and had moved in with them, where tensions reportedly led to threats against the child.

# Namibia’s president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has called for the establishment of a nuclear power plant in the country. This follows a meeting she recently had with Russia’s deputy prime minister, Yury Trutnev, to explore avenues of cooperation in nuclear energy. Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia needs a mix of reliable and clean energy to grow the economy and lift people out of poverty. South African energy expert, Chris Yelland, says countries with low electricity demand should not have one big nuclear reactor:

# Rugby: New Zealand wing, Mark Tele’a, says he will leave the Blues at the end of the season to play in Japan, ruling him out of All Blacks selection next year. He will reportedly join Toyota Verblitz, led by former New Zealand head coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster. Tele’a has scored 13 tries in 19 Tests for the All Blacks and in 2023 was named World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year. New Zealand has barred national selection for players if they are not contracted domestically.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-77-cents and the euro at 21-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-962-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-229-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….