News 07:00

BULLETIN 22 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Police is calling for the suspension of Fannie Masemola
# The Special Investigation Unit obtains a 76.5-million-rand freeze order
# And rugby: The Bok coach is expecting a stern test against  the Barbarians

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Police has called on president Cyril Ramaphosa to act without delay and suspend National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. He has been formally charged with contravening the Public Finance Management Act. This relates to the alleged irregular awarding of a contract worth 360-million-rand to Medicare 24, a company owned by Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, says the credibility of SAPS cannot be left to further erosion:

# The United Africans Transformation has expressed disappointment after National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza halted a motion to impeach president Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala matter. The party argues that stopping the process weakens oversight, undermines public trust in democratic institutions, and reduces accountability. UAT spokesperson Mighty Mabule says serious allegations of executive misconduct should have been properly examined in an open process:

# The Special Investigating Unit has secured a preservation order, freezing 76.5-million-rand in properties and luxury vehicles linked to businessman Siyabonga Moses Goodwill Nkosi and his network of trusts. Between 2021 and 2023, officials from Kusile and Matla Power Stations approved inflated and irregular purchase orders for relays, which are equipment meant to keep power stations running. The SIU says officials signed off on contracts that priced relays at 50-thousand-rand, when the market price was between 180- and 450-rand. It says Nkosi’s entities became conduits for laundering Eskom’s procurement money into prime properties.

# The DA says Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi’s government has built only one new sports facility in the past five years. This was revealed in a written reply in the provincial legislature, showing that just one facility was completed in Carletonville. The DA’s Kingsol Chabalala has criticised the provincial Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation for poor planning and prioritising events over development:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will officiate and co-launch the opening of the Senqu Bridge in Mokhotlong, Lesotho, today. He will be joined by Lesotho’s prime minister, Samuel Matekane, and His Majesty King Letsie The Third. The Presidency says the inauguration of the 2.4-billion-rand bridge represents a landmark achievement under Phase Two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. It says the project will facilitate the transfer of high-quality water to South Africa; generate hydropower for Lesotho; and support the provision of potable water, irrigation, and fisheries, and promote tourism.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says he is excited to get the season started against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on June 20th. The star-studded Barbarians outfit will be coached by former All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. The Springboks have never lost at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, winning eight of their nine Tests, with one ending in a draw. Erasmus says the Barbarians will provide them with a proper test as they are coming to South Africa with an experienced and esteemed coaching team.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-34-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-206-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-742-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….