News 07:00

BULLETIN 9 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# RISE Mzansi unveils its Safety and Security Plan ahead of the elections
# President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to Mozambique following the ferry disaster
# And the government launches National Freedom Month in celebration of 30 years of democracy

# RISE Mzansi has unveiled its comprehensive safety and security plan, focusing on the core policy area of keeping people safe and restoring the rule of law, as detailed in the People’s Manifesto. The party’s national communication director, Mabine Seabe, says RISE Mzansi proposes a holistic approach to addressing crime and its root causes. The party aims to restore the rule of law through multifaceted interventions:

# South African Airways has advertised five positions for permanent posts, including that of chief executive officer. This follows the collapse of the Takatso Consortium deal last month. The other posts are that of chief commercial officer, chief human capital officer, technical CEO, and Air Chefs CEO. Interim board of directors chairperson, Derek Hanekom, says the filling of these posts is a positive step aimed at providing organisational stability, and predictable direction of the growth and expansion plans currently being pursued.

# The Special Investigating Unit has been given the go-ahead to probe allegations of serious maladministration in the Tokologo Municipality in the Free State and the Sol Plaatje Municipality in the Northern Cape. The proclamation signed by president Cyril Ramaphosa authorises the corruption-busting unit to questionable street lights and electrification projects at both municipalities. The SIU says it will refer any potential criminality uncovered during the investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the government and people of Mozambique following the deadly ferry accident. More than 90 people died when a ferry they were travelling in from Lunga sank off the north coast of Mozambique. There were 12 survivors out of the 130 or so people believed to have been on board. Ramaphosa says he wishes the authorities well in the recovery effort and the search for missing persons.

# Golf: Masters champion Jon Rahm believes his lucrative switch to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League could prove a tipping point. The former world number one has had four top-eight finishes in his five starts on the LIV Golf circuit this season. Speaking to BBC Sport, Rahm says LIV has the capability of securing the services of pretty much any leading player:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-62-cents and the euro at 20-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-461-dollars-44-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-341-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The government through the National Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture will officially launch National Freedom Month at the Freedom Park and Museum Amphitheatre in Pretoria today. Under the theme ’30 Years of Democracy, Partnership, and Growth,’ the event will feature the unveiling of the official logo and an overview of April’s programmes. A national dialogue will also be hosted to discuss the successes and challenges of South Africa’s democracy and freedom over the past three decades.

Stay tuned for more news………….