News 06:00
BULLETIN 20 April 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner accuses Fannie Masemola of bribery
# The DA says the police missed the deadline for the introduction of body-cameras
# And rugby: The Blitzboks beat Argentina to clinch their maiden Hong Kong title
# Suspended Mpumalanga Police Commissioner, Daphney Manamela, has accused National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, and retired deputy provincial Police Commissioner, Bototso Moukangwe, of receiving five-million-rand from football administrator and businessman, Bobby Motaung. This was allegedly to ensure Manamela does not return to work. She has faced multiple suspensions since 2023. She alleged that the payment was connected to efforts around the handling of the Mbombela whistleblower murder case involving Jacky Mohlala in 2009:
# The DA says the police committed to the introduction of body-worn cameras by April last year, yet a year later, the deadline has passed without implementation or explanation. The party has condemned the failure to implement the system as South Africa’s police accountability crisis deepens. The DA’s Mzamo Billy says without objective, real-time evidence, investigations are weakened, cases collapse, and prosecutions fail. He adds that this leaves honest police officers exposed to false allegations.
# The Congress of Traditional Leaders is concerned by the sentencing of EFF leader Julius Malema and questions its fairness. Malema has been sentenced to an effective five-year prison term by the KuGompo City Regional Court in the Eastern Cape for discharging a firearm in public during a 2018 rally. He was granted leave to appeal the sentence. Contralesa’s President Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena told SABC News that they know of many people who fired shots in the air during funerals and other activities or events, but not even one person was arrested.
# The Gauteng Department of Health has noted with concern a sharp rise in malaria cases and related deaths across the province. The department’s Tebogo Matjokotja says recent surveillance data indicate a worrying rise in both malaria infections and fatalities. She says between January and December 2025, 666 malaria cases and seven deaths were recorded. She adds that between January and March this year, the Department has already recorded 414 confirmed cases and eleven deaths across the province:
# Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian says US president Donald Trump has no justification to deprive Iran of its nuclear rights. This comes as Washington and Tehran continue to face disagreements over nuclear issues. Pezeshkian was quoted as saying that Trump said Iran could not make use of its nuclear rights, but he did not say for what crime. The Iranian president asked who is Trump to deprive a nation of its rights? Meanwhile, Iran’s deputy foreign minister said no date has been set for the next round of negotiations between Iran and the United States.
# Rugby: The Springbok Sevens defeated Argentina 35-7 to claim their first-ever title in Hong Kong in the first leg of this year’s three-tournament World Championship series. The Blitzboks ran in five tries to one in the final. This is South Africa’s fourth title in a row, with the previous three coming in Perth, Vancouver, and New York. Coach Philip Snyman says he is proud of how they bounced back from their defeat against Spain on day one:
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-97-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-782-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-53-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….