News 11:00
BULLETIN 23 April 11 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Ramaphosa will co-chair the South Africa-Lesotho bi-national commission
# The Public Servants Association is alarmed about suspended magistrates costing the state millions
# And soccer: A Durban City midfielder collapses and dies during a match
# President Cyril Ramaphosa is undertaking a working visit to Maseru, Lesotho, today to co-chair the second session of the bi-National commission alongside Lesotho’s prime minister, Samuel Matekane. The meeting aims to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen economic cooperation. The meeting will also review progress on joint initiatives, including the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project that seeks to enhance water security. The Presidency says the visit underscores the commitment of both nations to regional development and cooperation.
# North-West University Business School economist, professor Raymond Parsons, says there needs to be a renewed emphasis on accelerating key structural reforms. The International Monetary Fund has reduced South Africa’s 2025 gross domestic product growth forecast from 1.5-percent to one-percent. The IMF is also projecting the country will reach a growth rate of only 1.8-percent by 2030. Parsons says this is simply not good enough for the country given its socio-economic challenges:
# The Public Servants Association is concerned that six magistrates, currently on suspension, have collectively earned 31-million-rand in salaries from September 2018 to date. According to reports, one magistrate has been on suspension since September 2018, and another since July 2020. PSA’s Claude Naiker says some of the allegations facing the suspended magistrates, including bribery, dishonesty, and other serious misconduct, demand urgent and decisive action:
# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Correctional Services has expressed concern about the overcrowding and maintenance delays at the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in Cape Town. The remand detainees facility is 234-percent overcrowded while the female section is 248-percent overcrowded. The committee’s chairperson, Kgomotso Ramolobeng, says during their oversight visit, they also saw dilapidated parts of the facility, damaged water infrastructure in some areas, kitchen equipment not working, and bed space at the remand detainees section that needs urgent attention.
# Soccer: Motsepe Foundation Championship leaders Durban City has confirmed the death of their midfielder, Sinamandla Zondi, during a match against Milford FC at the Chatsworth Stadium yesterday evening. The 22-year-old collapsed during the warm-up at half-time and was rushed to the hospital where he died. The game was suspended with Milford leading 1-0. City says Zondi was more than a talented player, he was a teammate, a friend, a brother, a son, and an inspiration to all who knew him.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-54-cents and the euro at 21-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-572-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-308-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-48-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….