News 09:00

BULLETIN 5 April 9 am

Good morning. I am…….

In this bulletin:

# Home Affairs’ offices will be open on Saturdays before the elections
# ActionSA opens a criminal case against the MK Party
# And one of the world’s busiest sea lanes is closed after a missile launcher malfunctions

# The Department of Home Affairs will open its offices from eight in the morning until one in the afternoon on Saturdays ahead of the elections, starting tomorrow until the 25th of next month. This is for identity document collection, facilitation of new applications, and issuing of temporary identity certificates. The department’s spokesperson, Siya Qoza, says offices will also be resolving challenges on duplicates, amendments, rectifications, and dead-alive cases with the required supporting documents:

# The minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande has assured qualifications from four Educor institutions remain valid and recognised despite the cancellation of their registration. Nzimande emphasises qualifications obtained during the registration and phase-out periods are still valid. His ministry and the South African Qualifications Authority will ensure students receive their qualifications, and assist students affected by the decision. He also restated the decision to cancel the registration of City Varsity, Damelin, Icesa City Campus, and Lyceum College remains.

# ActionSA in Mpumalanga says it has opened a case against the uMkhonto weSizwe party for violating the electoral laws. The MK party is accused of vandalising ActionSA election posters in Mbombela. ActionSA’s provincial premier candidate, Thoko Mashiane, says these deliberate acts of lawlessness not only violate the Electoral Act but also undermine the principles of democracy and fair campaigning:

# Danish authorities have closed one of the world’s busiest sea lanes after a missile launcher on a Navy ship malfunctioned. The country’s National Maritime Authority warned ships not to sail through the Great Belt Strait, while the airspace had also been closed. The lane is the main maritime access to the Baltic Sea. The military says the problem arose during a mandatory test where the launcher had been activated and cannot be de-activated, causing the risk of falling missile fragments.

# Soccer: Liverpool has moved two points clear at the top of the Premier League table following a three-one victory against relegation-threatened side Sheffield United at Anfield. Darwin Nunez had put the Reds in the lead at half-time, but the Blades equalised through a Conor Bradley own goal. A wonderful strike by Alexis Mac Allister put Liverpool back in the lead and Cody Gakpo added a third goal in the 90th minute to secure the victory. Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, says the overall performance was good:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-651-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-279-dollars-8-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news…………