News 06:00

BULLETIN 22 April 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The SACP says it has been blindsided by the ANC
# AfriForum flags alarming violence in farm attacks
# And, Israeli soldiers are using sexualised violence to force Palestinians out of the West Bank

# The South African Communist Party says it has been blindsided by the ANC. This comes as dual members of the ANC and SACP will be given ten days from Thursday to indicate who they will campaign for in the upcoming local government elections. The move comes as the SACP prepares to contest the elections independently. SACP national spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana told the SABC that this decision by the ANC was not discussed in the recent bilateral meeting:

# AfriForum says violence in farm attacks remains worryingly high, even though farm murders have dropped slightly. According to its latest report on rural crime, the organisation recorded 184 farm attacks and 29 farm murders last year, with nearly four in ten incidents involving severe violence. AfriForum’s Jacques Broodryk says the report also shows rural communities in provinces including Gauteng and Limpopo remain vulnerable, with elderly people particularly at risk:

# The Border Management Authority says it will work with law enforcement agencies to crack down on corruption at ports of entry. Commissioner Michael Masiapato says a coordinated approach is needed to tackle allegations of officials involved in smuggling and other crimes. The authority has emphasised that the launch intensifies its anti-corruption drive and urged the public to report suspicious activities, saying cooperation is key to strengthening border security and ensuring effective enforcement.

# Suspended City of Tshwane chief financial officer, Gareth Mnisi, has denied ever actively involving disgraced police officer, Fannie Nkosi, in matters concerning a client contracted to the Tshwane Metro Police Department. Evidence before the Madlanga Commission has painted a troubling picture of tender processes, in particular a 2016/2017 tender for security services to protect property, assets, and personnel at the TMPD. Testifying before the commission on Tuesday, Mnisi said he did not share any tender information on Gupis85 Solutions:

# Israeli settlers are subjecting Palestinians to sexualised violence and other forms of gender-based abuse across the West Bank. This is according to a new report by the West Bank Protection Consortium titled “Sexual violence and forcible transfer in the West Bank”. At least 16 cases of conflict-related sexual violence attributed to Israeli settlers and soldiers were recorded. These cases form part of a broader pattern of sexualised harassment, intimidation and humiliation, much of which remains underreported. West Bank Protection Consortium’s Allegra Pacheco says the lack of accountability entrenches the coercive environment.

# Rugby: Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is expected to earn his 50th cap for the Stormers in this weekend’s home United Rugby Championship match against Glasgow Warriors. The top two teams on the log will face off in Cape Town, where a ten-point victory for the hosts will see them reclaim top spot for the first time since winning eight matches in a row earlier this season. Feinberg-Mngomezulu says he hopes to crown the special occasion with a victory for his team.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-50-cents and the euro at 19-rand-35-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-28-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-671-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-719-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….