News 17:00

BULLETIN 14 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Protector clears Ramaphosa over Oval Office remarks
# The Judicial Service Commission recommends Ledwaba for the position of Gauteng Judge President 
# And rugby: The Stormers coach slams the criticism of Sacha

# Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has cleared president Cyril Ramaphosa of any breach of the executive ethics code following a complaint linked to remarks made during his meeting with US president Donald Trump in the White House’s Oval Office on 21 May last year. The investigation stemmed from comments by Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen regarding government of national unity coalition arrangements. Steenhuisen told Trump the DA had blocked the MK Party and EFF from joining the GNU. The Public Protector found no evidence of misconduct.

# The Judicial Service Commission has recommended Gauteng deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba for appointment as Judge President of the province’s High Court Division. Ledwaba, who was the sole candidate for the position, has been serving in the division’s leadership since 2013. The recommendation now moves to Ramaphosa for final appointment. If approved, Ledwaba will officially take over leadership of the country’s busiest court division, overseeing case management and judicial administration across Gauteng.

Ledwaba said during his interview he was ready to lead the division, citing experience from the Heads of Court Forum and Magistrates’ Commission. He acknowledged the heavy workload of serving both roles, indicating discussions may be needed with minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi. Ledwaba says his exposure to judicial leadership structures has equipped him to manage key responsibilities and strengthen court functions:

# Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber welcomes the Association of Comms and Technology dropping its court case against the new fees for the department’s Online Verification Service. Department spokesperson Carli van Wyk says ACT went to the Gauteng High Court last year about the new pricing but formally withdrew the case last week. She says the fee changes made the system work better, reduced problems, and helped with upgrades related to its larger digital transformation and identity services programme.

# Rugby: Stormers coach John Dobson has described criticism of his players as completely uncalled for and depressing. The Cape Town-based team was heavily criticised for not moving the ball wide against 13 men, while flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also came under fire for not taking a drop goal when in front of the posts in their Champions Cup round of 16 loss to Toulon. Dobson says blaming everything on Feinberg-Mngomezulu is ridiculous:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-599-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-777-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….