News 12:00

BULLETIN 1 April 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Nkabinde inquiry has adjourned for Easter
# Cricket: New Zealand Women produce a record run chase to beat South Africa in the second ODI
# And the majority of Americans favour a quick end to the Iranian war

# The Nkabinde commission which is looking into the fitness for office of suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew Chauke, has been adjourned for the Easter recess. Chauke concluded his testimony yesterday, where he defended his decision to withdraw a murder charge against former Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli. Commission spokesperson Tiyisela Mpuzana says hearings will reconvene next Wednesday when evidence leaders are expected to call additional witnesses:

# The Automobile Association has welcomed the temporary reduction of the general fuel levy by three-rand per litre to mitigate the effects of rising fuel prices. It is estimated the partial reduction in the fuel levy will cost around six-billion-rand in foregone tax revenue for one month. AA CEO Bobby Ramagwede says they will continue to lobby for the relief to be protracted, adding that government’s biggest problem is not revenue collection but rather expense management.

Meanwhile, minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, says work is underway to review fuel pricing over the medium term. The escalation of conflict in the Middle East has materially increased risks to global energy markets, placing significant upward pressure on domestic fuel prices. Mantashe told the SABC government is committed to balancing economic sustainability with the need to protect consumers:

# Cricket: New Zealand Women pulled off a world record run chase to beat South Africa by two wickets in the second one-day international in Wellington to level the three-match series. The Proteas Women posted 346 for six with Anneke Bosch scoring 91 off 90 balls. The hostesses’ captain, Amelia Kerr, then scored an unbeaten 179 off 139 balls to guide the White Ferns to victory with two balls to spare. This is the highest successful run-chase in the history of women’s ODIs. The series decider will be played on Saturday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-84-cents and the euro at 19-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-580-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-729-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Sixty-six-percent of Americans say the US should work to end its involvement in the Iranian war quickly, even if it means not achieving all of its goals. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 27-percent of respondents say all goals should be achieved, even if the conflict goes on longer. Sixty-percent of respondents disapprove of US military strikes on Iran, while 35-percent approved. Ipsos says the survey shows the downside risks of the conflict remain more salient for the public than the potential benefits.

Stay tuned for more news………….