News 15:00

BULLETIN 9 April 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A six-year-old girl is shot and wounded in crossfire in Cape Town despite Defence Force deployment
# SANAC pushes for the local production of the new HIV drug Lenacapavir
# And roadrunning: Gerda Steyn chases a seventh Two Oceans Marathon crown

# A six-year-old girl has been shot and wounded in the head when being caught in gang crossfire in Valhalla Park, Cape Town. The incident comes amid ongoing violence on the Cape Flats, despite the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to support police operations. Authorities say soldiers were deployed to help curb escalating gang-related shootings in hotspot areas, but recent incidents highlight continued safety concerns. Communities are calling for stronger intervention to protect residents.

# The South African National AIDS Council has welcomed the arrival of the first batch of the new HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir. The Global Fund donated 37-thousand-920 doses of the injection, which is administered twice a year to HIV-negative individuals. SANAC’s Nelson Dlamini says they are actively collaborating with key stakeholders to advance discussions on access pathways, including licensing, for the local manufacturing of Lenacapavir:

Forum for South Africa meanwhile demands full transparency on the rollout partners of the medicine and its implementing agencies in the country. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says as an injectable prevention option, Lenacapavir is expected to expand prevention choices and improve adherence, particularly among vulnerable groups:

# Home Affairs deported nearly 110-thousand illegal immigrants since the formation of the government of national unity. The department cites ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws, address border security, and maintain public safety. Spokesperson André Gaum stresses deportations are part of a broader strategy to manage undocumented migration and uphold the rule of law. He says the figure underscores the scale of South Africa’s undocumented population and government’s continued focus on curbing illegal entry and residency.

# Roadrunning: South Africa’s queen of long distances, Gerda Steyn, has set her sights on a seventh Two Oceans Marathon title this weekend, saying she is using expectations as support to strengthen her confidence. She ran the iconic race over 56-kilometres for the first time in 2016 and finished, for her, a disappointing 14th place, but has since won it every time she participated. Thirty-six-year-old Steyn says victory on Saturday would be a dream come true. She holds the record of three-hours-26-minutes-54-seconds, set in 2024.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-126-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-742-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….