News 11:00

BULLETIN 17 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema still awaits his sentence
# The South African Communist Party defends dual membership within the tripartite alliance
# And rugby: The Springbok Sevens are looking for the perfect performance in Hong Kong

# The magistrate in the case against EFF leader Julius Malema in the East London Magistrate’s Court in KuGompo City, Twanet Olivier, says sentencing is the most complex stage of proceedings. She outlined key factors, including the accused’s status as a first offender. Olivier emphasises courts must balance deterrence, rehabilitation and societal protection, and adds sentences must reflect justice and mercy while ensuring crime is appropriately punished:

# The South African Communist Party says it remains steadfast in its position that no member of the party will face any political retribution whatsoever for holding membership of the ANC. This follows a bilateral meeting between the SACP and the ANC earlier this week, where discussions centred around the future of dual membership. This comes as the SACP will be contesting the local government elections independently. The SACP says it sees no contradiction between its decision to contest the elections and sustaining the alliance with its shared objectives.

# The DA says Gauteng residents are living in fear as violent crime continues to rise across the province. According to the party, recent shootings and other violent incidents in several areas, including Johannesburg, Westbury, Soweto and Boksburg, reflect a breakdown in law and order. The DA’s Michael Sun says communities are being affected by drive-by shootings, kidnappings and organised criminal activity. Sun accuses the provincial government of failing to provide effective solutions:

Moving abroad:

# The White House has strongly rejected reports that the US has requested to extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran. Iranian officials and Pakistan’s military chief, Asim Munir, will hold talks in Tehran today to discuss messages exchanged between Iran and the US since negotiations in Pakistan fell apart. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says discussions around a possible second round of peace talks are ongoing and productive:

# Rugby: Springbok Sevens captain, Impi Visser, says despite winning four of the six tournaments in the World Sevens Series, they are still searching for the perfect performance. South Africa is preparing to take on Uruguay, Spain, and Argentina in the first of three World Championship tournaments in Hong Kong this weekend. Visser says there are aspects of their game that need to improve, adding that consistency will be key:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-32-cents and the euro at 19-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-989-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-826-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….