News 08:00

BULLETIN 5 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# David Mabuza refutes reports that he is joining the MK Party
# Numsa ask the court to declare its strike at the Road Accident Fund legal
# And tennis: Rafael Nadal withdraws from the Monte Carlo Masters

# Former deputy president David Mabuza has rubbished reports that he is joining the former president Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto we Sizwe party. Mabuza has been campaigning for the ANC ahead of the 29 May elections. In a statement, he says the false reports are an attempt to undermine the gains achieved by the ANC revolution. Mabuza has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the ruling party, saying in the elections the confidence of the people in the ANC’s ability to bring positive change will be evident.

# Metalworkers’ union Numsa has asked the Labour Court to declare its strike action at the Road Accident Fund legally protected. This is in response to the interim order granted to the fund last month, to block the strike and prevent the planned march to the offices of the Department of Transport. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says in their court papers they argue that the fund’s claims that it falls under the Social Security sector and not Transportation is false:

# The Gauteng Education Department says it is satisfied that Curro Holdings takes social cohesion seriously. Curro was criticised after pictures of a primary school pupils’ career day event showed a black child posed as a cashier while white children posed as veterinarians, among other professions. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says they conducted a preliminary investigation into the matter, which the public found to have racist undertones:

# President Joe Biden says future US support for Israel will depend on it taking concrete action to protect civilians and aid workers. He spoke with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a 30-minute phone call, in the wake of the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen staff. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, says Biden emphasised during the call that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable:

# Tennis: Eleven-time champion, Rafael Nadal, has pulled out of the Monte Carlo Masters as his struggles with an injury continue. The Spaniard made his long-awaited return at the Brisbane International in January, after almost a year out with injury. However, the 37-year-old injured a hip, which ruled him out of the Australian Open and has kept him sidelined ever since. Nadal says his body won’t allow him to play the tournament and the only thing he can do is to accept the situation.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-75-cents and the euro at 20-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-833-dollars-96-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-276-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….