News 12:00

BULLETIN 26 April 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government is urged to address operational inefficiencies at the port of Cape Town 
# A crime expert advocates for harsher penalties for drunk driving
# And rugby: All Black Jordie Barrett will join Leinster on a short-term deal

# The Western Cape legislature is urging national government to address the operational inefficiencies at the port of Cape Town. Yesterday, the legislature’s standing committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism adopted a report detailing operational inefficiencies at the port, as well as comprehensive recommendations to address these issues. The DA’s Cayla Murray says the report follows public engagement with key stakeholders in the maritime and logistics sector in February:

# A crime expert is calling for zero tolerance towards drunk driving, and harsher penalties. Professor Jaco Barkhuizen says driving under the influence causes more harm than anything else. Over the past weekend, ten motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Hatfield, Tshwane. Barkhuizen says there should be a social fund big breweries contribute to that goes to victims of vehicle accidents caused by drunk driving. He adds there should also be a political and policing will to enforce the laws.

# The Israeli Defence Force says the country’s war cabinet has reviewed military plans for a response to Iran’s attacks. Iran launched an unprecedented strike on Israel at the weekend, in retaliation for the attack on its consulate in Syria which killed seven Iranian officers. IDF’s chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, says they have several asymmetric options that could allow it to respond with force without increasing tension:

# Rugby: Irish outfit Leinster has signed New Zealand utility back Jordie Barrett on a short-term deal from December until the end of the 2024/2025 season. The 27-year-old signed a new deal with New Zealand Rugby until 2028, allowing a season sabbatical in 2025. Barrett, who has won 57 caps for the All Blacks, says this move is going to be challenging but a great opportunity as well:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-10-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-367-dollars-94-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-371-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Almost a million-rand has been raised in pledges ahead of the Cableway Charity Challenge in Cape Town on Saturday. Every year, change climbers, racing rockstars and amateurs with tremendous ambition climb Table Mountain to make a difference for charities doing important work in local communities. On Saturday, participants will task themselves to tackle as many climbs up Platteklip Gorge as they can manage. Charities that will benefit include Wilderness Search and Rescue and the Volunteer Wildfire Services.

Stay tuned for more news………….