News 17:00

BULLETIN 15 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mashatile says government is developing a comprehensive response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution
# King Charles will address Congress and meet Trump on his four-day visit to the US
# And soccer: FIFA may seek a pause on ICE raids during the World Cup

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says government is developing a comprehensive response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, centred on a whole-of-government approach that integrates technology into economic and social sectors. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, by 2030, tasks will be nearly evenly divided between humans and machines. Mashatile says artificial intelligence must be seen as a driver of economic development, enhancing productivity, fostering innovation, and creating opportunities:

# The Public Servants Association has expressed concern about the escalating crisis at the Information Regulator, where employees are facing uncertainty over salary payments, loss of essential benefits, and exposure to unsafe working conditions. A recent transition from the Persal system to Sage 360 was poorly executed, with inadequate consultation or safeguards in place. Employees now face uncertainty regarding the payment of their salaries due today. PSA’s Claude Naicker says CEO, Mosalanyane Mosala, must address this crisis urgently:

# ActionSA welcomes the conviction of insiders involved in rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park, calling it a breakthrough in tackling organised wildlife crime. But spokesperson Alan Beesley says the four-year delay reflects weak state capacity and allows poaching networks to thrive. He says wildlife crime is linked to broader transnational syndicates, and calls for stronger enforcement, tighter border controls, and tougher penalties to protect South Africa’s biodiversity:

Moving abroad:

# Buckingham Palace has revealed details about King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to the US later this month. The four-day visit will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and will involve Charles meeting president Donald Trump and addressing Congress. He will be the second British monarch to address Congress after his mother, Queen Elizabeth, spoke at the Capitol in 1991. The palace says the visit aims to showcase the breadth of the economic, security, and cultural relationship between the two countries.

# Soccer: World governing body FIFA has reportedly discussed asking US Trump to halt immigration raids during the World Cup in his country, Canada and Mexico. Reports indicate FIFA president Gianni Infantino could use his relationship with Trump to push for a pause on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in host cities. The move aims to ease safety concerns and ensure smooth tournament operations amid growing scrutiny over immigration enforcement. 

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-274-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-811-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….