News 06:00

BULLETIN 17 April 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Higher Education minister confirms the Walter Sisulu shooting victim was a student
# The Border Management Authority anticipates increased traffic at the Lebombo border post
# And Serena Williams, Donald Trump, and Ed Sheeran are among TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people

# Higher Education and Training minister, Nobuhle Nkabane, has confirmed that the young man who was shot and killed at Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha campus was indeed a student at the institution. This comes after the university released a statement saying Sisonke Mbolekwa was not a registered student or a staff member. Nkabane admitted that her department failed to do due diligence in checking the registration status of the deceased student:

# The chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Malusi Gigaba, has cautioned that persistent underfunding of the South African National Defence Force jeopardises the country’s border security. Speaking to SABC News, Gigaba said international credibility and economic growth are compromised as defence spending has declined from over two-percent of GDP in 1996 to 0.7-percent currently. He emphasised this limits the SANDF’s ability to fulfill obligations:

# The Border Management Authority is anticipating high traffic volumes this Easter weekend. Commissioner Michael Masiapato says officials are coordinating deployments and monitoring traveler movements. Advanced technologies, including AI-powered drones with thermal imaging and body-worn cameras, have been deployed to enhance surveillance and transparency. He urges travelers to adhere to regulations and exercise patience during this busy period:

# China told the United States to “stop threatening and blackmailing” after US president Donald Trump said it was up to Beijing to come to the negotiating table to discuss ending their trade war. Trump has slapped new tariffs of up to 145-percent on many Chinese imports. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian says if the US wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, and talk to China based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit.

# Motorsport: MotoGP champion Jorge Martin is set for another absence of up to three months after his season just got worse during last weekend’s Grand Prix in Qatar. It was the Spaniard’s first race of the season after suffering three injuries in pre-season training, but he fell off his bike on the 14th lap and was struck by Italian Fabio Giannantonio. This caused a collapsed lung and 11 broken ribs. Doctors ordered the Aprilia driver to stay in the Middle East for two weeks before returning home.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-79-cents and the euro at 21-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-141-dollar-10-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-351-dollars-35-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

# And finally: TIME Magazine has released its annual list of 100 most influential people for 2025, spotlighting the impact, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals. This issue has five global covers featuring actress Demi Moore, tennis legend Serena Williams, rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg, musician Ed Sheeran and Google DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis. Others who have made the list include US president Donald Trump, Oscar winner Adrien Brody, chef Kwame Onwuachi, and renowned surgeon and humanitarian doctor Robert Montgomery.

Stay tuned for more news………….