News 07:00
BULLETIN 26 April 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The Constitutional Court extends the deadline for the respondents in the Election Commission’s appeal case
# Minister Godongwana stresses the importance of public trust in the financial system
# And an acoustic guitar played by Beatles stars Lennon and Harrison will be auctioned off
# The Constitutional Court has extended the deadline for respondents to file answering affidavits in the Electoral Commission’s appeal matter. Former president Jacob Zuma and the MK Party had requested an extension. The IEC’s appeal to the apex court is against the Electoral Court’s verdict that allows Zuma to run for office despite a 15-month prison term. The IEC had barred him from running due to his criminal record. The ConCourt has granted respondents until next week Tuesday to file their submissions.
# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says regaining public trust in financial regulation requires deep structural reforms, and a shift towards greater accountability, transparency, and public inclusivity. He addressed the South African Reserve Bank’s launch of the Corporation for Deposit Insurance yesterday. This is South Africa’s deposit insurance scheme, created and mandated by law to protect qualifying bank depositors in the unlikely event of their bank failing. Godongwana says trust is fundamental to any financial system’s effectiveness and existence:
# The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa will introduce the Marshalltown Justice campaign today. Union President Mametlwe Sebei says the campaign aims to end inhuman conditions, reject xenophobia, and oppose forced evictions. Gauteng police have arrested a man after he confessed to starting the blaze that claimed 76 lives in the Usindiso building fire in August. Sebei has called for more housing opportunities for the poor and residents:
# The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel earlier this month and has called for further sanctions against Iran. It has also condemned the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which is widely attributed to Israel. The resolution is demanding that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be included on the European Union’s list of recognised terror organisations. Parliament has expressed concern over the destabilising role that the Iranian regime and its network of non-state actors play in the Middle East.
# Golf: England’s Rosie Davies and Switzerland’s Elena Moosmann share the lead on six-under-par 66 following the opening round of the South African Women’s Open in Cape Town. In solo third sits Norway’s Julie Boysen Hillestad on five-under. Lee-Anne Pace is the leading South African on four under as she continues her quest for a record sixth title. Davies says she is happy about how she has been playing recently:
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-1-cents and the euro at 20-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-462-dollars-96-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-335-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-96-cents a barrel.
# And finally: A 12-string guitar played by Beatles stars John Lennon and George Harrison will go under the hammer as part of Julien’s Auctions music icons event next month. The Framus Hootenanny acoustic guitar was recently discovered at a home outside London, having been missing for over 50 years. The California-based auction house says the guitar was used by the band in 1965, featuring in recordings, sessions and performances of songs including Help, You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away and It’s Only Love.
Stay tuned for more news………….