News 11:00

BULLETIN 4 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mapisa-Nqakula is expected to appear in court on corruption charges today
# AZAPO calls for the rejection of the electricity tariff increase
# And soccer: Kaizer Chiefs’ defender is killed during a hijacking

# Former National Assembly speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is reportedly set to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court later today. She arrived at the Lyttelton police station in Centurion earlier this morning, where she is believed to have handed herself over to police over corruption allegations. This relates to accusations that she accepted millions of rand in bribes from a contractor during her time as minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Mapisa-Nqakula, who resigned as speaker yesterday, has maintained her innocence.   

Meanwhile, the DA says it will seek advice over its complaint against Mapisa-Nqakula and National Council of Provinces chairperson, Amos Masondo, on the hiking of the Secretary to Parliament’s salary. The matter is before Parliament’s Powers and Privileges Committee. Xolile George was appointed on a 2.6-million-rand annual salary in line with the job advertisement, but his salary has reportedly been increased to 4.4-million-rand. The DA’s Siviwe Gwarube says despite Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation, she must still be held accountable:

# The Azania People’s Organisation has urged the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to abandon the 12.74-percent electricity tariff hike. AZAPO argues such increases excessively burden the urban and rural poor amid widespread poverty and unemployment. The party condemns NERSA’s actions as suffocating consumers, and vows to resist.

# Finnish police believe bullying was the motive for Tuesday’s deadly shooting at a school on the outskirts of the capital of Helsinki. A 12-year-old boy was taken into custody after allegedly killing another 12-year-old and wounding two girls. Police say the suspect revealed during questioning he was the target of bullying by his classmates. Finland’s government declared yesterday a national day of mourning over the incident which prime minister Petteri Orpo described as deeply shocking.

# Soccer: Gauteng police have launched a manhunt following the murder of Kaizer Chiefs defender Luke Fleurs. The 24-year-old was shot and killed in a hijacking yesterday evening. Fleurs joined Chiefs as a free agent in October last year, having been released by SuperSport United in September. He played 70 times for SuperSport. Police spokesperson, Mavela Masondo, says a case of murder and car hijacking has been opened for investigation:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-60-cents and the euro at 20-rand-18-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-178-dollars-33-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-293-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….