News 14:00

BULLETIN 23 April 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cyril Ramaphosa and the acting Police minister will address the nation as the police crisis deepens
# Home Affairs dismisses false reports on passport-free travel for Lesotho nationals
# And soccer: A top Trump envoy asks FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to address the nation this afternoon amid ongoing turmoil within the South African Police Service. He will be joined by acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia. The address follows national police commissioner Fannie Masemola’s recent appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, where he faces four counts related to alleged violations of the Public Finance Management Act. The charges are linked to a controversial 360-million-rand tender awarded to alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Meanwhile, suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has denied charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng. He and his co-accused, Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla, allegedly orchestrated a scheme in 2019 to evade court proceedings using false representation, sharing 400-thousand-rand. Mkhwanazi’s lawyer, Peter Wilkins, said during the bail application detention should not serve as punishment before trial:

# The Department of Home Affairs says reports suggesting Lesotho nationals will no longer be required to present valid passports when entering South Africa are false. Officials met last week to receive a study report from a joint task team that was established to look at the development of a new migration model. The department’s spokesperson, Thulani Mavuso, says allowing entry without a valid passport would violate South Africa’s laws:

News from abroad:

# Two trains have collided on the Gribskov line north-west of Copenhagen in Denmark, leaving four people critically injured and 13 others needing hospital treatment. The trains were travelling in the North Zealand area, popular with residents, workers and students. Rail accidents are rare in Denmark and one expert suggested one of the trains might have ended up on the wrong line after over-riding a stop signal. It is believed the Gribskov line may not been updated with an automated safety system.

# Soccer: A top envoy to US president Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Italy suffered defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying play-off final last month, missing out on the tournament for the third consecutive time. Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times as an Italian native, it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. He added Italy has the pedigree to justify inclusion.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-56-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-36-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-389-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-690-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….