News 06:00

BULLETIN 15 April 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema is confident that justice will prevail
# The IMF is warning of a global recession if the Middle East conflict continues
# And rugby: The Sharks name a 28-player squad for its URC matches

# EFF leader Julius Malema says he feels confident as sentencing in his firearms case is set to begin at the East London Magistrate’s Court today. He was found guilty on charges including the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and discharging a firearm in a built-up area. This is after he discharged a firearm during an EFF rally in Mdantsane in 2018. The state is seeking 15-years direct imprisonment. Malema says the outcome of the case will be more of a political punishment for his stance as a politician.

# North West businessman and ANC-affiliate Suleiman Carrim is unlikely to testify before the Madlanga commission tomorrow after being hospitalised following a suspected heart attack at the gym in Sandton. Carrim was due to be questioned over financial dealings linked to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The commission’s spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, says the commission will proceed in line with its procedures and may reconsider Carrim’s subpoena depending on his condition:

# Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has defended his involvement in senior police promotions, saying all appointments followed proper human-resources procedures initiated by suspended chief Isaac Mapiyeye. Mkhwanazi told the Madlanga Commission that he merely continued processes already underway after taking over in an acting capacity, including panels for directors and inspectors. Mkhwanazi denied acting unilaterally, insisting that delegation rules and rotation of authority were applied:

# The fraud and corruption case against South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan and co-accused has been postponed to 25 May 2026 in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. This is to allow the defence more time to prepare, with plans to apply for the case to be struck off the roll. His co-accused include SAFA chief financial officer, Gron Hluyo, Grit Communications director, Trevor Neethling, and former SAFA acting CEO Russell Paul. Jordaan faces 1.3-million-rand fraud charges linked to alleged misuse of the association funds.

# The International Monetary Fund has warned that if the US-Israel war with Iran continues, a global recession could be triggered. The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook projects global growth to slow to 3.1-percent this year, and inflation to increase to 4.4-percent. IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas says in a worst-case scenario, where oil, gas, and food prices spike and remain high, global growth could fall below two-percent:

# Rugby: Sharks head coach JP Pietersen has named a 28-man squad ahead of back-to-back away matches against the Ospreys and Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championships. The Sharks will have to give it all to reach the last eight. André Esterhuizen returns to lead the team in Saturday’s crunch match against Ospreys, with the team from Swansea currently trailing the Durban team by three log points. Siya Kolisi is back after injury and has been included alongside locks Jason Jenkins and Emile van Heerden.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-31-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-13-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-60-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-840-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….