News 13:00

BULLETIN 24 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Robert Mugabe’s son compensates the victim in the Hyde Park shooting case
# Sasol secures certification for sustainable aviation fuel
# And rugby: Ethan Hooker undergoes surgery after a controversial incident that wasn’t deemed a cause for disciplinary action

# The Alexandra Regional Court in Gauteng has heard that former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s son, Bellarmine, and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, have paid 250-thousand-rand to shooting victim Sipho Mahlangu, with a further 150-thousand-rand to follow. Mahlangu was shot during a dispute in Mugabe’s Hyde Park residence in Johannesburg. Mugabe pleaded guilty to firearm and immigration offences, denying attempted murder. Matonhodze admitted to attempted murder and related charges. The defence is seeking non-custodial sentences, citing compensation and no prior convictions.

# The Nkabinde Inquiry has dismissed former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi’s attempt to include her written statement as part of the record. She announced she wouldn’t continue her testimony after she was refused permission to consult her legal team. The inquiry is probing suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke’s fitness for office. Spokesperson Tiyisela Mpuzana says it’s unfortunate that Batohi doesn’t want to complete her testimony:

# South African petrochemical company, Sasol, has received sustainability certification from Germany’s leading technical inspection agency, TÜV SÜD, (pronounced” “toof zood”) for its sustainable aviation fuel, enabling future exports to the European Union. The fuel is produced from used cooking and vegetable oils at Sasol’s Natref refinery at Sasolburg in the Free State. Sasol plans to scale production to 100-million-litres by 2030. The move supports cleaner energy goals, though analysts warn the European market remains competitive and certification challenges persist.

# The European Union has warned talks with Iran must include nuclear experts, or risk producing a weaker deal than the 2015 Comprehensive Plan of Action. Under the plan agreed during US president Barack Obama’s administration, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow international inspectors into the country in return for the lifting of economic sanctions. EU’s Foreign Policy chief, Kaja Kallas, says Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon:

# Rugby: The Sharks’ Springbok back player, Ethan Hooker, is undergoing surgery to determine the extent of the shoulder injury he sustained during a controversial incident in last weekend’s United Rugby Championship match against Ospreys. Luke Morgan fell on him after he scored a try, dislocating his shoulder. Hooker is expected to be out of action for an extended period. The URC’s citing commission meanwhile decided Morgan’s conduct didn’t meet the threshold for a red card after the Sharks’ requested a formal review.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-64-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-43-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-517-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-687-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….