News 06:00
BULLETIN 7 April 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The DA’s leadership candidates must provide a strong party vision ahead of the congress
# Iran rejects a proposal calling for a 45-day ceasefire
# And, tributes are pouring in for a long-standing member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Albert Mazibuko
# DA congress spokesperson Luyolo Mphithi says candidates vying to succeed former leader John Steenhuisen must present a compelling vision to delegates next weekend. Mphithi says Geordin Hill-Lewis and Sibusiso Dyonase must outline clear plans to grow the party and appeal to South Africans ahead of the upcoming local government elections. He adds that delegates will decide based on leadership vision, emphasising that internal democracy remains key to the party’s future direction:
# President Cyril Ramaphosa will this morning launch the Truth and Reconciliation Commission housing assistance programme at Sonkombo Sports Field, KwaZulu-Natal. The initiative provides housing support to victims identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, marking 30 years since the TRC and the Constitution. The TRC investigated apartheid-era human rights violations, facilitated amnesty, and provided for victim reparations and reconciliation. The programme forms part of ongoing reparations and reconciliation efforts, with beneficiaries receiving symbolic handovers supported by political and traditional leaders.
# The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department is urging motorists to prioritise safety ahead of schools re-opening. Increased traffic is expected on major routes, including the N1, N3, and N12, with congestion at toll plazas and interchanges. Officers remain deployed across the city to enforce road safety. JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla warns against speeding, drunk driving, and fatigue, and to stay alert to prevent accidents:
# Iran’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, saying this would allow the US and Israel to pause and prepare for the continuation of the war. Mediators from Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey reportedly proposed a 45-day ceasefire. This comes as US president Donald Trump has threatened potential strikes on Iranian infrastructure today, if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, says they will retaliate in kind against any attacks on its national infrastructure:
# Rugby: Junior Springbok head coach, Kevin Foote, says the objectives of the two-week training camp in Stellenbosch are to step up the players’ fitness levels, physicality, and ball‑in‑play time. Forty-five players are taking part in the camp, which started on Monday, as preparation for the Under-20 Rugby Championship to be held in Gqeberha. The competition will also feature New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina. Foote says their recent tour to Georgia was a critical part of their preparation, and that this camp would further sharpen their readiness.
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-81-cents and the euro at 19-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-28-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-331-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-660-dollars-57-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-48-cents a barrel.
# And finally: Tributes are pouring in following the passing of Albert Mazibuko, who sang in the iconic group Ladysmith Black Mambazo for more than five decades. He died at the age of 77 after a short illness. Mazibuko joined Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1969, and the collective went on to win five Grammy awards. The group has described him as kind to a fault and beautiful inside and out. KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli says Mazibuko’s contribution to preserving and promoting indigenous music on the global stage will never be forgotten.
Stay tuned for more news………….