News 11:00

BULLETIN 15 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Bantu Holomisa has full confidence in Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s new ambassador to America
# A political analyst says Hill-Lewis needs to re-engage with diverse communities to bolster support for the DA
# And rugby: South Africa A and Zimbabwe will play in the curtain-raiser for the Boks and the Barbarians in June

# Deputy minister of Defence and Military Veterans and UDM leader, Bantu Holomisa, has full confidence in Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s new ambassador to the US. The 78-year-old former National Party politician played a key role in negotiations that led to the end of apartheid. He then served in the government of national unity under Nelson Mandela. Holomisa told the SABC Meyer’s diplomatic experience will make the role easy for him:

# Political analyst Daniel Silke says newly-elected DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis faces substantial challenges in making the party attractive to a broader group of voters. Cape Town’s mayor received an overwhelming majority at the party’s congress to take over the helm from John Steenhuisen, who stepped down after almost seven years in office. Silke says Hill-Lewis will need to spearhead a re-engagement with diverse communities to shore up support and trust:

# The MK Party has condemned the decision by the Judicial Service Commission to recommend Judge Aubrey Ledwaba for appointment as Judge President of Gauteng. He was the only candidate interviewed for the position, which he has been acting in after Justice Dunstan Mlambo was appointed Deputy Chief Justice. The MK Party says it has on numerous occasions raised serious and substantiated concerns regarding Ledwaba, including allegations of corruption, conflicts of interest, and conduct unbecoming of a judicial official.

Moving abroad:

# About 250 people are feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea in the northeastern Indian Ocean. The vessel had departed from Bangladesh and was heading to Malaysia when it reportedly sank due to strong winds, rough seas, and overcrowding. The Bangladeshi Coast Guard managed to rescue nine people. The United Nations’ high commission for Refugees says this tragic incident reflects the dire consequences of protracted displacement and the absence of durable solutions for the Rohingya.

# Rugby: South Africa A and Zimbabwe will play a curtain raiser for the Springboks’ season opener against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on the 20th of June. The hosts will see action for the first time since a European tour in 2022, while the neighbours qualified for next year’s World Cup in Australia for the first time since 1991. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus describes the match as a fantastic opportunity for both teams, saying Boks such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Aphelele Fassi and Grant Williams have represented the A-team earlier.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 73-thousand-871-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-807-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….