News 14:00

BULLETIN 13 April 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# United Africans Transformation welcomes IPID’s move to reopen the Phala Phala investigation
# The Western Cape receives an additional 50-thousand foot-and-mouth disease vaccine doses
# And cricket: Rajasthan and Punjab are the only remaining undefeated teams in the IPL

# United Africans Transformation welcomes the reported decision by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate to reopen investigations into the Phala Phala matter. The party’s Mighty Mabule says the move is vital for restoring public confidence in the justice system and ensuring accountability regardless of status. UAT calls for a thorough, impartial, and speedy probe, urging authorities and Parliament to act without interference. Mbaule says South Africans deserve full accountability in the case:

# The Western Cape has received an additional 50-thousand vaccine doses to fight against the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Since the start of the vaccination effort, over 155-thousand doses have been administered across 629 sites, supported by 29 private veterinarians. Premier Alan Winde says this latest shipment will further bolster the drive to vaccinate the province’s entire herd and is critical in protecting the economy. MEC for Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Ivan Meyer, says they continue to prioritise the strengthening of systems that monitor and manage animal movement.

# The GOOD Party says the City of Cape Town must explain under what legal authority US Marines are training metro police cadets at Muizenberg Beach. The party’s Jonathan Cupido questions police training standards and whether the national commissioner approved the arrangement. He wants clarity on whether the programme goes beyond fitness training, what agreement governs it, and who authorised and funded the initiative:

# The Justice Department says deputy minister Andries Nel is a South African citizen, and has never held or applied for citizenship in any other country. This follows weekend reports in which the former chief of staff to Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen, Roman Cabanac’s legal representative, Carel Crafford, claimed several state officials, including Nel, hold dual citizenship. The department says Nel was born in New Orleans in the US to South African diplomats, and children born in the US to accredited foreign diplomatic officials do not acquire citizenship.

# Cricket: Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings remain the only undefeated teams in this year’s Indian Premier League. Rajasthan won all of their first four matches, while Punjab won three and their other encounter rained out. They are followed by defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who lost one game. Delhi Capitals are in fourth position, followed by Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, who remain winless. Today sees Hyderabad hosting Rajasthan.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-53-cents and the euro at 19-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-740-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-713-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….