News 15:00

BULLETIN 8 April 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mbuyiseli Madlanga flags the heightened procurement corruption in metro departments
# Minister Motsoaledi confirms the roll-out of the lenacapavir injection after the coming launch
# And rugby: Lawes hopes to return to England duty after signing for Sale Sharks

# Madlanga commission chairperson, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has raised concerns over easy corruption risks in municipal procurement processes. Addressing the issue during the testimony of Tshwane Metropolice chief Yolande Faro’s testimony, Madlanga said inconsistencies in bid documents between submission and adjudication point to possible impropriety and manipulation. He warns officials may enable corruption by failing to follow proper checks, even under pressure from authority figures:

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi says a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection will be distributed to 350 high-burden health facilities after the launch. A total of 37-thousand-920 doses have arrived from Ireland. The drug, developed by Gilead Sciences, aims to expand prevention options and improve adherence. Motsoaledi says it is expected to benefit vulnerable groups, including sex workers and same-sex couples. He says the launch date is expected soon with the roll-out anticipated to begin next month. South Africa is the first African country to distribute lenacapavir.

# US ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell, has welcomed the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran, describing it as a positive step toward stability. The two-week truce brokered by Pakistan follows 40-days of intense conflict and should ease tensions in the Middle East and reopen the strategically-important Strait of Hormuz. This reduces fears of wider regional war, and stabilised global oil markets. Bozell hopes for a lasting resolution:

# Rugby: Veteran forward Courtney Lawes hopes his one-year stint at Sale Sharks will eventually lead to a return to England’s national team. The 37-year-old played the last of his 105 Tests in 2023, when he retired from the international game after the World Cup after also playing in the previous edition in 2019 where they lost to the Springboks in the final. Lawes also represented the British and Irish Lions in five games. He returns to English top-level rugby after two years with French second-tear club Brive.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-16-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-590-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-786-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The City of Johannesburg is inviting public comment on the renaming of four streets around St Mary’s Cathedral. Plein Street would become Desmond Tutu Street, honoring the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and anti-apartheid activist. Wanderers Street would become Simeon Nkoane Street, recognizing the Anglican priest and leader. De Villiers Street would become Trevor Huddleston Street for the anti-apartheid bishop. As a reflection of the old cathedral, Hoek Street would be known as Cathedral Street. The public can comment until 5 May.

Stay tuned for more news………….