News 13:00

BULLETIN 30 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Steenhuisen deepens South Africa and Argentina’s biosecurity alliance to combat foot and mouth disease 
# Calls for the UK to use counter-terror surveillance to stop antisemitic attacks
# And cricket: Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj joins Mumbai Indians in the IPL

# Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has secured key agreements with Argentina aimed at strengthening South Africa’s response to the foot and mouth disease, and safeguarding the future of the livestock sector. South Africa has already secured and distributed 2.5 million vaccine doses. Steenhuisen said during his working visit to Argentina, the immediate priority is to secure a stable and sufficient vaccine pipeline. He emphasised the aim is to build a resilient animal health system capable not only of managing the current outbreak, but of preventing future crises.

Meanwhile, the Western Cape Premier’s Coordinating Forum says the province is continuing to make steady progress in controlling the disease. No new cases have been recorded in the province in the past 39 days, indicating that the outbreak has stabilised. A total of 164-thousand-425 vaccine doses have so far been administered at 756 sites across the province. Premier Alan Winde says vaccination remains critical to the province’s disease control strategy:

# The South African Weather Service issued orange level 6 and 4 warnings for parts of the Northern Cape, North West, and the Free State this long weekend. Heavy rainfall of up to 90 millimetres is expected within 24 hours, along with strong, damaging winds and possible localised flooding. Weather Service spokesperson Tokelo Chiloane says those in the interior of the country should also be concerned. She urges residents to take precautions in already wet areas, with very cold conditions expected.

Moving abroad:

# UK shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, has called for increased use of counter-terrorism surveillance techniques to identify and prevent anti-semitic crime. This comes after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, yesterday, in what police described as a terrorist incident. A 45-year-old British national born in Somalia has been arrested. Philp says the UK is importing anti-semitism via immigration:

# Cricket: Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj has joined Indian Premier League team Mumbai Indians as replacement for injured New Zealand bowler Mitchell Santner. Thirty-six-year-old Maharaj went unsold at this year’s IPL auction after playing for Rajasthan Royals previously, and for Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 since last year. He took 31 wickets in his last 30 T20 matches. Mumbai says they are delighted to welcome Maharaj, for his experience makes him exactly the kind of player the team thrives on. They are currently ninth on the table.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-82-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-46-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-619-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 111-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….