News 12:00

BULLETIN 10 April 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA secures the IPID Phala Phala report
# Embattled minister Sisisi Tolashe must appear before the ANC’s Integrity Commission
# And soccer: Two South Africans referees are on the final list of match officials for the World Cup

# ActionSA has secured the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s full report into the conduct of Presidential Protection Unit members in the wake of the Phala Phala scandal. It found an investigation by the unit’s head, Wally Rhoode, into the theft of millions of dollars from president Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo in 2020 deliberately concealed the incident. ActionSA’s Michael Beaumont says Rhoode nonetheless remains in his position:

# ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says Social Development minister Sisisi Tolashe will be called before the party’s Integrity Commission. She falsely told Parliament she accepted two luxury vehicles from Chinese officials as donations to the ANC Women’s League, but in reality, the cars appear to have been given to her two children for their personal use without ever being declared. Tolashe has denied the allegations and stated she is ready to clear her name. Mbalula says she can also present herself voluntarily to the committee.

# The Department of Basic Education is inviting public comment on the draft new History curriculum and assessment policy statements for Grades 4 to 12. The proposed curriculum shifts the focus to African-centred narratives, replacing topics such as the US civil rights movement in Grade 12 and the French Revolution in Grade 10. The department’s spokesperson, Terrence Khala, says a ministerial task team was appointed to review the curriculum:

Moving abroad:

# US first lady Melania Trump has called on Congress to take sworn testimony in a public hearing from late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. Several victims of Epstein and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell met with the House Oversight committee in September last year, calling for the perpatrators to be held accountable. In a rare address at the White House, Trump says people must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth:

# Soccer: South African referee Abongile Tom has been selected as one of the match officials for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. He is joined by compatriot assistant referee Zakhele Siwela. A total of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials have been selected. This will be Tom’s first World Cup and Siwela’s third after the 2018 and 2022 editions. This year’s tournament will be the biggest in history, with a 48-team line-up and 104 matches.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-45-cents and the euro at 19-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-658-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-746-dollars-28-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-57-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….