News 11:00

BULLETIN 11 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Helen Zille says the DA contests leadership openly and fairly
# A security expert backs IPID’s Phala Phala findings
# And Mpumalanga farmers fear for their safety after lions were spotted

# Outgoing DA Federal Council chairperson, Helen Zille, says the party’s congress is proof that they elect leaders openly and fairly, without corruption. She gave an address at the opening day of the party’s elective congress in Midrand, Gauteng, today. This is the DA’s first congress since entering the government of national unity. Zille says the party must resist the pull of race-based politics, whether from the far right or woke left:

# Security expert Willem Els says the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s recommendation for disciplinary action against Presidential Protection Unit head Major General Wally Rhoode is justified and serious. IPID has declassified president Cyril Ramaphosa’s Limpopo Phala Phala farm theft report of approximately ten-million-rand in 2020. Els emphasised that Rhoode should uphold strict procedures however overstepped his authority by conducting an unauthorised investigation, which undermines accountability and proper policing standards:

Meanwhile, political analyst Sipho Seepe says alleged misconduct by members of the Presidential Protection Service,  linked to Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm theft, indicates deliberate concealment actions. Parties, including the African Transformation Movement, have called for Ramaphosa’s impeachment. Seepe says failures to report the crime and alleged off-the-books investigations fall outside official mandates, arguing accountability cannot be avoided.

# Eskom says its Generation Recovery Plan continues to improve system reliability, with a year-on-year rise in energy availability and more than ten-months without load-shedding. The utility reports 329 consecutive days of stable supply, reduced unplanned outages, and lower diesel costs. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokoena confirmed that Koeberg Unit 2 was safely shut down after a turbine trip. She says investigations continue, while the grid remains stable with adequate capacity:

# Golf: Defending champion Rory McIlroy seized control of the 2026 Augusta Masters yesterday, carding a spectacular 7-under 65 to take a six-shot lead into the weekend. McIlroy’s record 12-under total after 36 holes leaves challengers Patrick Reed and Sam Burns trailing at 6-under. While Shane Lowry and Justin Rose remain in the hunt at 5-under, world number one Scottie Scheffler slipped to even par. Only Charl Schwartzel of the three South Africans in the field made the cut. Rising stars Aldrich Potgieter and Casey Jarvis failed to qualify for the final two rounds.

# And finally, cattle Farmers in the Daantjie district near Pienaar, Mpumalanga, have condemned the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency for a slow response and lack of compensation after two lions were spotted near grazing areas. Farmers report at least two cows have been killed, with others missing. Community members say the sightings have caused panic. The agency says search teams are monitoring the situation and urges residents to report sightings immediately.

Stay tuned for more news………….