News 09:00

BULLETIN 24 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IFP is concerned about the acting leadership in the SAPS
# Thirteen police officers are arrested for corruption and extortion
# And, a US soldier is arrested for betting on Nicolas Maduro’s capture

# The IFP has expressed concern about the growing trend of key positions within the security cluster being occupied in an acting capacity. This follows the precautionary suspension of National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and the appointment of Puleng Dimpane as acting commissioner. The IFP’s Nhlanhla Hadebe says at a time when South Africans are grappling with high levels of crime and insecurity, the country cannot afford uncertainty or weakened command at the highest levels of law enforcement:

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party says Masemola must resign as he has presided over a rat’s nest of factionalism and corruption in the senior ranks of the police service. He faces charges in relation to the 360-million-rand SAPS health services contract awarded to Medicare24, a company linked to alleged organised crime tycoon Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says Masemola should be held accountable for his profound inability to prevent factionalism and lawlessness in the police:

# The Hawks have arrested 13 police officers on charges of corruption, extortion, and trespassing in two separate incidents in Johannesburg. In the first incident, nine police officers who searched a warehouse in Crown Mines were arrested after they tried to solicit a bribe from the owner. Hawks’ spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, says in a separate incident, four officers were issued with notices to appear in court on charges of theft. She says this follows an investigation emanating from an August 2024 incident:

# A US special forces soldier involved in the military operation that captured Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, has been arrested. This comes after Gannon Ken Van Dyke, allegedly made 13 bets from December 27, 2025, to January 2nd, on Polymarket, a crypto-powered platform, about the politician’s removal from office. He made around 6.66-million-rand in profits. Van Dyke has been charged with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of non-public government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner will play his first match of the Madrid Open in the Spanish capital today. The Italian will face Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi in the round of 64 after a bye in the first round. Bonzi eliminated compatriot Titouan Droguet. Sinner’s best performance in three tournaments in Madrid came in 2024, when he reached the quarterfinals. But he is the absolute favourite this year in the absence of local hero and number two, Carlos Alcaraz, who is injured.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-64-cents and the euro at 19-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-39-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-641-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-661-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 99-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….