News 07:00

BULLETIN 8 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says a decision on Masemola will be made in due course
# Business Leadership SA says the country has responded better to global shocks than others
# And cricket: David Warner is charged with drink-driving

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says a decision on National Police Commissioner, Fanie Masemola, will be made soon, as he has been summoned to appear in court on April 21st. This is in connection with the irregular awarding of the 360-million-rand tender to Medicare 24, which is a company owned by criminally accused, controversial businessman Vusumuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. Twelve senior police officials and Medicare24 directors James Murray and Matlala appeared in court in March. Ramaphosa says he is dealing with the matter:

# Business Leadership South Africa says the country’s markets have weathered global selling pressure better than others, with reform momentum differentiating it from emerging-market peers facing the oil crisis. This comes as the Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to fuel prices rising globally. BLSA CEO Busiswe Mavuso says when oil prices stabilise and global markets settle, South Africa must be positioned as the competitive, reform-driven destination that attracts sustained investment. 

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says Parliament’s proposed ethics rules still have gaps that could allow members of Parliament to avoid accountability. The organisation warns that under the current draft, MPs could resign before investigations are completed, complaints may lapse at the end of a parliamentary term, and weak penalties may not stop wrongdoing. OUTA’s Estienne Ruthnam says clear, enforceable rules are essential to restore public trust:

# The DA in the Eastern Cape has laid criminal charges against Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe, accusing her of misleading Parliament in violation of the Powers and Privileges Act. The DA’s Marina van Zyl says the charges stem from Lobishe’s failure to appear before a parliamentary committee earlier this year to account for 22 municipal contracts under investigation and 1.2-billion-rand in unspent grants:

# Russia and China have vetoed a watered-down Bahrain-led draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council, which encouraged defensive, coordinated efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Eleven countries voted in favour, and two council members abstained, Pakistan and Colombia. One-fifth of the world’s oil typically passes through the Strait, and Iran’s stranglehold during the war has sent energy prices soaring. The resolution also demanded that Iran immediately halt attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and stop impeding their freedom of navigation through the Strait and attacking civilian infrastructure.

# Cricket: One of Australia’s most decorated cricketers, David Warner, has been charged with drink-driving in Sydney. The 39-year-old was pulled over on Sunday night in Maroubra during a random breath test, which came back with a positive result. New South Wales Police says a second test at the Maroubra police station also came back positive. Warner, who retired from international cricket in 2024, is currently captain of Pakistan Super League side Karachi Kings. He is set to appear in court on May 7.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-531-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-801-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….