News 08:00

BULLETIN 16 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The High Court will today hear Mkhwebane’s challenge over her R10-million gratuity
# The Basic Education Department says it’s inevitable that the Bela Bill will be adopted
# And 60 potential jurors are dismissed over being partial in Trump’s hush money trial

# The High Court in Pretoria will hear former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s challenge over the non-payment of her ten-million-rand gratuity today. After being found guilty of misconduct and incompetence by a parliamentary inquiry, she was removed as Public Protector in September last year, seizing her right to a gratuity payment. Mkhwebane wants the court to set aside a decision by the Office of the Public Protector not to pay her a gratuity, and for it to make an order for a just and equitable remedy for this gratuity.

# The Department of Basic Education says it is inevitable that the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill will be adopted. The bill amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 to respond to administrative and governance problems in schools, and to transform the education system as a whole. AfriForum held a picket at the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday, against the Bela Bill. The department says the bill seeks to level the playing field by ensuring all learners can access any schools.

# Newly elected Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza of the ANC has announced a ten-member mayoral executive committee. The EFF has retained its five seats in the committee while the ANC has four. Former mayor, Sivuyile Ngodwana, of the African Independent Congress is now the mayoral committee member for Corporate and Shared Services. The ANC and EFF are coalition partners in the metro. Xhakaza says the members were elected based on their experience, expertise, and commitment to serving residents:

# A New York court has dismissed 60 of 96 potential jurors for stating they cannot be fair and impartial in former president Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial. He is accused of falsifying his business records to disguise a hush-money payment made to former adult film star, Stormy Daniels, before the 2016 election. The court needs to find 12 impartial jurors for the trial. Trump has described the trial as nonsense and an assault on America:

# Cricket: The Sunrisers Hyderabad made history in their 25-run win against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League. Travis Head scored the fourth fastest century in IPL history as he made 102, to help the Sunrisers post 287 for three in their 20 overs. This is the highest score in the tournament’s history, beating the 277 for three the Sunrisers made against Mumbai Indians last month. In reply, RCB finished on 262 for seven, with Pat Cummins taking three wickets.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-4-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-85-dollars-41-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-386-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….