News 06:00

BULLETIN 9 April 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says South Africa is seeking a just and equitable world order
# The FF Plus says the MK Party aims to scrap the self-determination clause in the Constitution
# And, Iran has threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire if the attacks on Lebanon continue

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s international relations outlook is grounded in the values of its Constitution, including human dignity, equality, and freedom. He gave the keynote address at the Credentials Ceremony at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Wednesday. Ramaphosa said as a nation that emerged from a painful past of injustice and inequality, South Africa seeks a more just and equitable world order:

# The Freedom Front Plus says the MK Party appears determined to reverse key parts of the 1994 constitutional settlement. The party says MK Party’s proposed changes to self-determination and property rights could allow land expropriation without compensation. It warns that this goes against the long-standing agreements that underpinned the transition to democracy. FF Plus’s Wynand Boshoff urges the public to submit comments as Parliament considers these changes.

# The Special Tribunal has declared a 14-million-rand National Lotteries Commission grant for the Madumelani community project in Hammanskraal unlawful and invalid. The ruling follows a successful case by the Special Investigating Unit, with Judge Margaret Victor ordering beneficiaries to repay the full amount. The tribunal found the funding was fraudulently obtained through forged documents and misuse of funds. The SIU says criminal aspects of the case have been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for further investigation.

# The DA says Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya has missed another opportunity to remove Deputy Mayor and mayoral committee member of Finance Eugene Modise, accused of corruption. The party has called for a new investigation after evidence emerged linking Modise to multiple companies benefiting from city contracts, including a 300-million-rand security tender and water tanker deals worth 777-million-rand. The DA’s Cilliers Brink says residents deserve a government that tackles corruption, not protects those involved:

# Iran has threatened to withdraw from the two-week ceasefire agreed with the US if attacks on Lebanon continue. On Wednesday, the Israeli Defence Force carried out its biggest airstrikes since the start of its ground operation in Lebanon, killing at least 182 people. A further 700 people were injured. The IDF hit more than 100 of what it called Hezbollah command centres and military sites in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the eastern Bekaa Valley. Iran says stopping the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, was part of the ceasefire agreement.

# Golf: Local player Gary Woodland will be allowed private security during the US Masters, which tees off at Augusta in Georgia later today. The 2019 US Open champion underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumour in September 2023 which was successful, but left him with post-traumatic stress disorder. One of the side effects is hyper-vigilance, making him extremely alert or cautious, especially around groups of people. Woodland secured entry by winning the Houston Open in Texas last month.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents and the euro at 19-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-285-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-714-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….