News 18:00

BULLETIN 20 April 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula says the ANC will prioritise capable leaders over personalities in its election campaign
# Cosatu welcomes president Ramaphosa’s efforts to improve bilateral relations with Spain
# And, an education activist urges South Africans to comment on the draft history curriculum

# The ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party is focused on selecting capable and ethical mayors as part of its local government election campaign, rather than personalities. Briefing the media on the party’s local government action plan, Mbalula said a rigorous selection process is underway for mayoral candidates, including interviews, vetting and assessments of leadership and governance experience. He added the ANC is working to stabilise coalition governments in metros like Johannesburg:

# Union federation Cosatu has welcomed president Cyril Ramaphosa’s recently concluded visit to Spain and its particular focus on improving trade and investment relations. Bilateral trade between South Africa and Spain increased by 8.3-percent from 2024 to 2025. Over the past decade, more than 150 Spanish companies have invested in the country, creating over 20-thousand jobs. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says that as the world is experiencing geopolitical, trade and economic turmoil, expanding trade and investment opportunities with countries is becoming increasingly important:

# Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, is encouraging South Africans to participate in the public comment process on the draft History Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements for Grades 4 to 12. The Basic Education Department is considering a shift from a Eurocentric towards a more Afrocentric approach, with greater focus on African empires, oral histories and liberation movements. The public comment process has been extended for 30 days, until May 19th. Makaneta says the extension period will allow citizens to make meaningful contributions:

# Rugby: The Stormers have to fight to secure a home United Rugby Championship quarterfinal after unexpectedly losing to Connacht at home on Saturday. The Cape Town team remains second on the log with three group matches remaining, three points behind Glasgow Warriors, but seven teams are closing in on them – Leinster, the Lions, Ulster, Munster, Cardiff, the Bulls and Connacht. They face Glasgow at home next, followed by away games to Ulster in Ireland and Cardiff in Wales before the play-offs.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-676-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-823-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

# And finally, South Africa’s legendary actress and first Miss Black South Africa, Cynthia Shange, has passed away at 76 in a KwaZulu-Natal hospital. Her daughter, Nonhle Thema, confirmed her passing. Shange made history in 1972 as the first black woman to represent South Africa at the Miss World pageant in London. Shange was celebrated for her trailblazing career in arts and culture during apartheid, as the lead star of South Africa’s first black feature film, Udeliwe in 1975. She also featured in classics like Shaka Zulu and Muvhango.

Stay tuned for more news………….