News 11:00

BULLETIN 26 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA criticises the ANC’s leave to appeal the cadre deployment contempt ruling
# China warns the US not to interfere in its internal affairs
# And motorsport, Red Bull’s design genius Adrian Newey is leaving the company

# The DA has criticised the ANC’s decision to appeal the Gauteng High Court ruling, which found the party, its secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, and party official Thapelo Masilela in contempt of court. This is for unlawfully withholding records of its national cadre deployment committee in violation of an earlier order, which was upheld by the Constitutional Court. The DA’s Leon Schreiber,says the ANC’s appeal shows it is terrified of the implications that would flow from revealing president Cyril Ramaphosa’s complicity in cadre deployment corruption:

# The National Council of Provinces has adopted two reports of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests. The reports are on the non-disclosure of members’ interests and the review of the Code of Ethical Conduct. Eleven members, ten Members of the National Assembly and one from the NCOP failed to disclose their financial and other registrable interests by the deadline. The committee has recommended disciplinary action. Meanwhile, the adopted Code of Ethical Conduct proposes stronger penalties for breaching the code and risk-based profile lifestyle audits for members.

# Chinese Foreign minister, Wang Yi, has warned the US to not interfere in his country’s sovereignty, security and development. His US counterpart Antony Blinken is in China, his second visit in the space of a year, as the two global powers seek to stabilise rocky ties. Wang says China’s legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed. He adds that the two countries face a choice between stability or a downward spiral. The US is currently threatening sanctions against Chinese companies for supplying the Russian defence industry.

# Motorsport: Red Bull’s design chief Adrian Newey is reportedly set to leave the Formula One team after nearly two decades. Reportedly, the 65-year-old has been unsettled by team boss Christian Horner’s situation, who was accused of sexual harassment by a female employee. He was cleared of any wrongdoing following an internal investigation. Newey has overseen the design of cars that have taken Red Bull to all 13 of their world titles.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-7-cents and the euro at 20-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-383-dollars-93-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-344-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa will lead a Freedom Day activation in Sunnyside and Marabastad, Pretoria, today. This year’s Freedom Month celebration holds special significance as it coincides with the 28th anniversary of the enactment of the South African Constitution as the supreme law of the land. The department’s spokesperson, Litha Mpondwana, says the activation is part of the Freedom Month programme preceding the Freedom Day National Celebration:

Stay tuned for more news………….