News 12:00

BULLETIN 16 April 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Malema is given a five-year direct prison sentence
# ActionSA urges the Public Protector to reopen the Phala Phala investigation
# And cricket: RCB tops the IPL table after a five-wicket victory over Lucknow

# The East London Magistrates’ Court in KuGompo City in the Eastern Cape has sentenced EFF leader Julius Malema to five years’ direct imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm. He was convicted on multiple charges, including the discharge of a firearm in a public place without sufficient cause, linked to a 2018 Mdantsane rally. Magistrate Twanet Olivier ruled the act was planned and intentional:

# ActionSA has urged Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, to reopen the Phala Phala investigation, following the declassification of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s report. The report revealed that members of the Presidential Protection Service ran an unlawful parallel investigation into the 2020 burglary at president Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo. ActionSA’s Michael Beaumont says Gcaleka’s investigation must focus on the potential culpability of those serving in the Presidency:

# Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, says early data indicates the current mass foot-and-mouth disease vaccination campaign is yielding positive results. More than two million animals have been vaccinated between February and 26 March, with no new infections recorded in already vaccinated herds. The department’s spokesperson, Joylene van Wyk, says they have strengthened surveillance and implemented a centralised reporting system, allowing for earlier detection and faster data capture:

Moving abroad:

# The White House has strongly rejected reports that the US has requested to extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran. This comes as 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.

# Cricket: Defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru moved to the top of the Indian Premier League table with a five-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants. The visitors were bowled out for just 146 after Rasikh Salam claimed four wickets and Bhuvneshwar Kumar three. Mitchell Marsh top-scored with 40. Veteran batter Virat Kohli led RCB’s run-chase with 49 and the hosts reached the target within 16 overs with five wickets down. Rajasthan Royals are now second on the log, followed by Punjab Super Kings.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-17-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-723-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-811-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-38-cents a barrel

Stay tuned for more news………….