News 08:00

BULLETIN 22 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Pope Francis died of a stroke and subsequent heart failure
# The Forum for South Africa criticises the Justice minister’s comments on Shivambu
# And Simone Biles and Mondo Duplantis win the top honours at the Laureus World Sports Awards

# The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis died from a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. The 88-year-old Pontiff passed away on Monday morning. The Vatican also shared the Pope’s final testament, where he requested to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of St Mary Major, rather than at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where many previous Pontiffs have been laid to rest. He also requested that his resting place bear the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

In its tribute, the ANC said Pope Francis led a life of service, humility, and unwavering moral leadership. The party’s spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, said Pope Francis’s ability to lead beyond religious, political, and cultural divides was inspiring:

# The Forum for South Africa has criticised Justice minister Mmamoloko Kubayi’s comments on MK Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu’s visit to fugitive pastor Shephard Bushiri in Malawi. FOSA spokesperson Tebogo Mashilompane says Kubayi interfered in a personal matter, reducing the Justice ministry to a spaza shop. While they question Shivambu’s ethics, Mashilompane stressed that personal choices shouldn’t involve state resources. He urges Kubayi to focus on returning Bushiri to face justice:

# ActionSA in Johannesburg says it is concerned about reports of political gatekeeping in community employment opportunities, and alleged interference by ward councillors in implementing local projects. Community members in Region F claim that job opportunities from government programmes are being reserved for affiliates of certain political parties, to the exclusion of deserving residents. ActionSA’s, Elmari Atterbury, says the Office of the Speaker must investigate these allegations:

# Laureus Awards: The world’s most decorated gymnast, Simone Biles, was named the sportswoman of the year, while Swedish pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis captured the men’s honour at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid. Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal won the Breakthrough of the Year award, while Real Madrid won the Laureus World Team of the Year award. Swimmer Yuyan Jiang won the Sportsperson of the Year with a disability award. Twenty-two-time Grand Slam tennis champion Rafael Nadal was honoured with the Laureus sporting icon award.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-65-cents and the euro at 21-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-38-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-482-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….