News 13:00

BULLETIN 4 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ACDP calls for a non-ANC speaker after Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation 
# The Institute of Race Relations urges president Cyril Ramaphosa not to sign the Expropriation Bill into law
# And tennis: Rafael Nadal’s name is on the Monte Carlo list despite rumours of a fresh injury 

# The African Christian Democratic Party has urged the appointment of a National Assembly speaker not affiliated with the ANC following Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation. She stepped down after losing a court battle to prevent her arrest on charges related to corruption allegations from her time as minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli remains as acting speaker. ACDP Member of Parliament Marie Sukers emphasises the need for a speaker committed to Parliament’s integrity:

# The Institute of Race Relations says it will warn president Cyril Ramaphosa over the unconstitutionality of the Expropriation Bill, and urge him not to sign it into law. The bill, which was recently passed in Parliament, allows for expropriation for public purposes in the public interest. IRR’s campaign manager, Makone Maja, says if the bill is signed into law, it will weaken property rights significantly:

# Western Cape MEC of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, says tourism in the province is continuing to grow and strengthen. Total international air arrivals to Cape Town International Airport between January and February this year surpassed the 200-thousand mark, breaking all previous records in the last five years. Wenger says at key attractions in regions across the province, visitor numbers are up 20-percent year on year:

# Tennis: Eleven-time champion Rafael Nadal’s name is on the list for the Monte Carlo Masters, but rumours persist a fresh injury might keep the Spaniard out of the tournament. He hasn’t played competitively since the Brisbane Open in January and was forced to withdraw from the Indian Wells Masters last month. The Monte Carlo tournament ushers in the clay court season which culminates in the French Open, starting in Paris on the 20th of next month, where Nadal holds the record of 14 titles.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-61-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-281-dollars-84-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-292-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Cannes Film Festival official selection director, Thierry Fremaux, says they expect to surpass the two-thousand mark for films submitted for selection this year. This year’s edition is already heating up, with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga already confirmed to premiere and Quentin Dupieux’s A Second Act, starring Léa Seydoux, set as the opening night film. Fremaux says this year’s Cannes will be presided over by American filmmaker, Greta Gerwig, who directed the blockbuster movie Barbie.

Stay tuned for more news………….