News 17:00

BULLETIN 21 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gareth Mnisi defends his interpretation of Fannie Nkosi’s “growth” message
# Solidarity backs workers in the battle over the red seal certification system
# And, the Emmarentia shooting suspect freed as the case remains under investigation

# Tshwane chief financial officer Gareth Mnisi has defended his interpretation of a message from suspended SAPS sergeant Fannie Nkosi at the Madlanga Commission. Commissioner Sesi Baloyi questioned a text stating “when you grow, I grow as well,” suggesting it implied a linked business interest. Mnisi insisted he understood it as friendship and mutual support, denying any hidden meaning. She challenged his explanation, indicating a deeper or improper relationship:

# Solidarity entered the ongoing dispute over the red seal certificate for tradespeople, backing workers who argue the system is unfair and restrictive. The certification is the official national qualification for artisans. The organisation’s Stef Pretorius says the certification process is creating barriers in the skilled trades sector and needs urgent review. Pretorius says affected workers are being left in limbo despite years of experience. He says the move intensifies the broader debate over qualifications, recognition of skills and access to employment opportunities:

# The National Prosecuting Authority has decided not to prosecute the man accused of killing Faisal Rehman in a road rage shooting in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, pending further investigations. The man had been charged with the murder of Rehman and the attempted murder of his wife, Tehseen, following a shooting after a minor crash over the weekend. NPA’s Magaboke Mohlatlole says the decision follows a review of evidence, including claims the suspect acted in self-defence.

# Nearly eight-thousand people died or disappeared on migration routes last year, with sea routes to Europe the deadliest and many victims lost ‌in invisible shipwrecks. The International Organization for Migration says more than four in every 10 fatalities and disappearances came on sea routes to Europe. The West African route northwards accounted for one-thousand-200 deaths, while Asia reported a record number of fatalities, ⁠including hundreds of Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar. IOM Director General Amy Pope says routes are shifting in response to conflict, ⁠climate pressures and policy changes, but the risks are still very real.

# Cricket: The International League T20 CEO, David White, says there are no plans to reduce the number of overseas players allowed in a team. The UAE-based ILT20, which currently allows up to nine non-local players, has been criticised for disrupting the global cricket ecosystem. The competition directly clashes with leagues in South Africa, Australia, and Bangladesh, and the bilateral international cricket calendar. White says they do hope the number of local players who feature in the league will increase as domestic structures improve.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-4-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-778-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….