News 11:00

BULLETIN 26 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Macpherson welcomes the court ruling on the suspension of IDT board appointments
# The FF Plus is concerned about the mismanagement of funds in Tshwane
# And, a Wisconsin judge is arrested for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest

# The minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has welcomed the High Court in Pretoria’s dismissal of an interdict application to suspend the appointments of five trustees to the Independent Development Trust board. The application was filed by the Black Forum SA and Izwi Labantu Forum. The minister says the ruling demonstrates, beyond doubt, that he acted in the best interests of ethical governance at the IDT in opposing the application:

# Human Settlements minister Thembi Simelane has expressed concern over the persistent lack of transformation in South Africa’s estate agency sector. Speaking to SABC News, Simelane emphasised government’s commitment to supporting first-time homebuyers who neither qualify for fully subsidised RDP houses nor meet the criteria for traditional home loans. She calls for initiatives to promote equal access to housing:

# The Freedom Front Plus in Tshwane says the escalating lack of fiscal discipline, the collapse of critical service delivery, and the weakening of administrative capacity in the metro should not be tolerated. The party’s Nick Pascoe says the metro’s decline is reflected in reports tabled to the Council this week. He says debt collection is not optimal due to a growing culture of non-payment, and infrastructure repairs and service delivery exist only on paper:

# The FBI have arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan and charged her with obstruction for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest. FBI director Kash Patel says they believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, allowing the Mexican man, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, to evade arrest. During a preliminary court hearing on Friday, Dugan’s lawyer said she wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest, adding that it was not made in the interest of public safety.

# Motorsport: Local rider Alex Marquez set a course record in a fall-filled final practice session for the Spanish MotoGP. Italy’s Francesco Bagnaia was the second fastest, followed by compatriot Franco Morbidelli. Championship leader Marc Marquez was fourth. Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, displaying the rediscovered competitiveness of his Yamaha, was fifth. The session had been halted when Alex Marquez slid out at high speed on turn five. His bike rocketed across the gravel and through a fence, forcing stewards to wave red flags while the barrier was repaired.

Stay tuned for more news………….