News 11:00

BULLETIN 29 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says South Africans remain resilient in the face of great odds
# Julius Malema warns EFF councillors illegally selling land will be expelled
# And cricket: Gary Kirsten is Pakistan’s new ODI and T20 coach

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says despite the many challenges the country continues to experience, citizens are pioneering, resourceful, and resilient, often in the face of great odds. In his weekly newsletter, he says he is encouraged that young South Africans are self-assured about their human rights, citizenship, role and place in society, and potential. Ramaphosa says the government is determined to achieve the free, just, and equal South Africa for which millions voted on Freedom Day 30 years ago.

# The Commission for Gender Equality says South Africa is advancing in accelerating equitable education and many other interventions meant to protect gender equality. However, the commission remains concerned about the spate of gender-based violence and femicide. Spokesperson Javu Baloyi says everyone should respect other people’s right to choose their sexual orientation, as enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights:

# The EFF leader Julius Malema has condemned party councillors accused of illegally selling land to residents in Gauteng, saying those found guilty will be expelled from the party. He addressed the community of Tembisa in Ekurhuleni yesterday, as part of the party’s campaign ahead of next month’s election. Malema reiterated that when the EFF is voted into power they will expropriate land without compensation:

# Cricket: Pakistan has appointed former South African batter Gary Kirsten as coach of the men’s One-Day International and T20 teams. The 56-year-old, played 101 Tests and 185 ODI for the Proteas between 1993 to 2004, before coaching India to win the ODI World Cup in 2011. He is currently coaching the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. Former Australia pace bowler Jason Gillespie has been appointed as the coach for Pakistan’s Test side. Kirsten’s first assignment is the T20 series against England next month.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-47-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-177-dollars-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-331-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

# And finally, this week is World Immunisation Week, with this year celebrating 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. The World Health Organisation says an infant born today is 40-percent more likely to survive to their first birthday than they were 50 years ago. WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says they are calling on world leaders to advocate, support, and fund vaccines and the immunisation programmes:

Stay tuned for more news………….