News 12:00

BULLETIN 14 March 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A former minister is under scrutiny for unlawfully granting permanent residence to Atul Gupta’s nephew
# A US influencer draws backlash for stealing a baby wombat from its mother
# And Donatella Versace steps down as creative director of fashion house Versace

# Former minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is under fire for unlawfully granting permanent residence to Atul Gupta’s nephew, Varun Gupta, and his wife, Vega, in 2008. The Department of Home Affairs claims Mapisa-Nqakula personally facilitated the application, which lacked legal grounds. News24 reports that the department is now seeking to reverse the decision in court, arguing that it violated the Immigration Act. It has also raised concerns about missing immigration files and potential fraudulent activities surrounding the Gupta’s permanent residency and subsequent naturalisation.

# The South African National Christian Forum has welcomed the ruling by Malawi’s Chief Resident Magistrates’ Court that self-styled prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary should be extradited to South Africa. The couple face multiple charges including fraud and rape. They skipped bail in 2020 and fled to their home country. The forum’s president, Marothi Mashashane, says the government must support and recognise the existing religious bodies to enable them to deal with people like Bushiri:

# Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is the latest to criticise a US influencer whose video of her taking a wild baby wombat away from its distressed mother has angered conservationists. Albanese suggested Sam Jones should try it with animals that can actually fight back, like a crocodile. She was filmed picking up the joey while its mother ran after them. Wombats are legally protected species in Australia. Babies share a strong bond with their mothers, and any separation can be distressing and harmful.

# Tennis: Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz is through to his fourth consecutive semifinal at the Indian Wells Masters. The Spaniard defeated Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and will next face Briton Jack Draper, who beat American Ben Shelton. Fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia battled past France’s Arthur Fils. In the women’s draw, defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva are through to the semifinals. Alcaraz says he enjoys playing at Indian Wells:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-22-cents and the euro at 19-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-424-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-989-dollars-57-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Italian luxury fashion house Versace’s chief creative director, Donatella Versace, is stepping down after nearly 30 years. She took over in 1997 following the highly publicised murder of her brother, Gianni, outside his Miami Beach mansion. He founded the company in 1978. Sixty-nine-year-old Donatella will be replaced by Dario Vitale, who is a former design director for Miu Miu. Versace’s parent company, Capri Holdings Limited, says Donatella will transition to the role of chief brand ambassador, supporting the fashion house’s philanthropic and charitable endeavours.

Stay tuned for more news………….