News 09:00

BULLETIN 25 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Jacob Zuma and the MK Party ask for an extension to file affidavits against the IEC’s appeal
# The government is fighting substance abuse through the National Drug Master Plan
# And Goodbye Malaria wants to eliminate malaria in Southern Africa by 2030

# Lawyers for former president Jacob Zuma and the MK Party have asked the Constitutional Court for an extension to file an answering affidavit to the Electoral Commission’s appeal application. The apex court had issued a directive for anyone intending to oppose the appeal to file an answering affidavit by today. The IEC is appealing against the Electoral Court order that allowed Zuma to stand for Parliament, despite his criminal record. The MK Party has requested an extension until the close of business next week on Tuesday.

# Government says it is resolute in its commitment to fight the scourge of substance abuse in the country. Harm Reduction International’s 2022 Global State of Harm Reduction report identified South Africa as one of the world’s largest methamphetamine markets. Government Communication and Information System acting director-general, Nomonde Mnukwa, says the National Drug Master Plan is a national blueprint to combat drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and mitigate its negative effects on society:

# Impeached Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe says the Constitutional Court must hear his case due to the doctrine of necessity. He wants the court to set aside the resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Correctional Services in November last year, to have him removed from office. Hlophe was impeached in February and president Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed his removal last month. He says his case could affect the judiciary as a whole, as he is challenging the procedure taken by Parliament to impeach him.

# An urgent collaborative approach across government, business, and non-profit sectors is needed to halt the devastating effect of malaria. This is according to Goodbye Malaria, which aims to help eliminate malaria in southern Africa by 2030. Today is World Malaria Day under the theme, My Health, My Right, underscoring the urgent need to address the stark inequities that persist in access to malaria prevention. Goodbye Malaria CEO, Sherwin Charles, says malaria in South Africa is still a concern on the Eastern borders:

# Soccer: Everton put a huge dent in Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes with a two-nil win at Goodison Park. Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were on target as Everton moved closer to survival. The Reds needed a win to move level on points with leaders Arsenal, now they are three points behind in second place with only four games to play. Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, says they were simply not good enough:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-21-cents and the euro at 20-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-261-dollars-96-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-312-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-13-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….