News 08:00

BULLETIN 19 April 8am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola mourns the passing of SA ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Zolani Mtshotshisa
# GOOD Party questions the real impact of Home Affairs changes
# And, Trump says he needs to see an enthusiasm to want to end the Russia/Ukraine war

# Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has expressed his sadness at the passing of South Africa’s ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Zolani Mtshotshisa. He passed away in a hospital in South Africa. Mtshotshisa was an activist in the Black Consciousness Movement with Steve Biko before joining the ANC in later years. Lamola says Mtshotshisa was devoted to the maintenance of good political, diplomatic, economic and people-to-people ties between South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire.

# The GOOD Party has challenged Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber’s reforms, asking if they are true transformation or just public relations. Secretary-General Brett Herron acknowledges Schreiber’s proactive image his appointment, but says key issues remain unresolved, including the visa system strain, long queues and poor service. He says real success lies in citizens feeling the change, not just seeing headlines:

# The UDM in Cape Town is outraged by alleged SAPS negligence after a rape survivor in Khayelitsha identified her attacker. UDM’s Bongani Maqungwana says despite residents handing the suspect to police, officers failed to arrest him, inform the investigator, or collect evidence. The man was released and is now reportedly intimidating the survivor and the community. Maqungwana demands an investigation, officer suspensions, the suspect’s arrest, and protection for the survivor, calling the incident a gross miscarriage of justice.

# US president Donald Trump says he needs to see an enthusiasm to want to end the war in Ukraine from Russia and Kyiv. This comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the US will abandon trying to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs a truce can be reached. Speaking at the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said the US will take a pass on a Ukraine peace deal if parties make it difficult:

# Tennis: Top seed Carlos Alcaraz is through to the Barcelona Open semifinals after beating fifth seed Alex de Minaur. The Spaniard saw off the Australian, 7-5, 6-3. Alcaraz will face France’s Arthur Fils in the last four, after his opponent, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, retired injured in the third game of their quarterfinal clash. Meanwhile, Denmark’s Holger Rune knocked out defending champion Casper Ruud of Norway, 6-4, 6-2. Rune will play Karen Khachanov in the semifinals after the Russian beat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 6-4, 7-5.

Stay tuned for more news………….