News 11:00

BULLETIN 16 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The American pastor kidnapped in Gqeberha is rescued
# The UN is concerned by Israel’s deadly operations in Lebanon
# And rugby: Nelson Mandela Bay will host the Under 20 Championship

# An American missionary was rescued after being kidnapped at gunpoint during a sermon at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape last week. Hawks spokesperson, Avele Fumba, says they received information that 45-year-old pastor Josh Sullivan was being held at a house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha. He says three suspected kidnappers were killed in a shootout that broke out during the multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation:

# The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities has appointed Musa Xulu to chair an independent Section 22 Committee aimed at restoring dignity in the religious sector. This follows the acquittal of televangelist Timothy Omotoso and ongoing abuse in churches. The CRL’s chairperson, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, confirmed that the committee will consult nationwide and present recommendations to Parliament by next year:

# The DA in Gauteng is demanding that the City of Johannesburg immediately fixes its chaotic billing system. At the start of the 2024/25 financial year, the metro approved a reduced sewerage tariff of 314-rand-60-cents per unit for multi-dwelling properties valued under 700-thousand-rand. However, these households are still being billed at the previously higher tariff of 704-rand-47-cents per unit. The DA says this selective billing benefits only the metro financially at the direct expense of struggling households.

# The United Nations Human Rights Office says the Israeli military operations in Lebanon are raising alarm over mounting violations since a ceasefire agreement took effect last November. At least 71 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces in Lebanon, and among the dead are 14 women and nine children. More than 92-thousand people remain displaced by the violence. UN Human Rights spokesperson, Thameen Al-Kheetan, says all parties must respect the commitments they have made under the ceasefire:

# Rugby: The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape will next month play host to this year’s edition of the Under20 Rugby Championship. The second edition of the Southern Hemisphere tournament will bring together the best young stars from South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia. In last year’s inaugural tournament in Australia, New Zealand edged South Africa for the title. Junior Springbok coach, Kevin Foote, says this tournament is crucial for their preparations ahead of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy in July.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand and the euro at 21-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-724-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-392-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-56-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….