News 13:00

BULLETIN 11 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# New agriculture directives are established for the import and export of live animals
# Cosatu hopes the Land Court will alleviate the huge backlog of cases
# And, tennis: The top two are in action at the Monte-Carlo Masters today

# The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development has issued a directive requiring authorisation for importing and exporting live animals. This intensification of compliance aims to regulate animal trade more effectively. Importers and exporters must apply for authorisation under the Animal Improvement Act, replacing previous permits. The department’s spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, says exceptions include game, wild animals, cats, birds, and fish, which do not require this authorisation:

Meanwhile, Cosatu says it hopes the newly established Land Court will alleviate the delays many land claimants, farm workers, labour tenants and their families face when lodging land restitution or farm eviction cases. Last year, the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights said it would take South Africa about 30 years and 170-billion-rand to settle the land claims backlog. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says government must ensure the court is well-resourced:

# Zero Carbon Charge has unveiled plans to install 120 solar photovoltaic electric truck charging stations along national highways. The new subsidiary, Zero Carbon Logistics, aims to revolutionise the transportation infrastructure in South Africa, creating the country’s first off-grid, green electric truck charging network. Co-founder Joubert Roux highlights the initial focus on the N3 freight route between Durban and Johannesburg. This move aligns with the nation’s Green Transport Strategy, targeting a five-percent reduction in transport-related carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

# Tennis: The clay-court season is in full swing with the last 16 of the Monte-Carlo Masters starting today. The top two players will both be in action. Serbia’s world number one Novak Djokovic will take on Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, while another Italian, world number two Jannik Sinner, will play German Jan-Lennard Struff. Djokovic says Sinner is the man to beat:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-82-cents and the euro at 20-rand-22-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-63-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-903-dollars-42-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-329-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

# And finally, president Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his best wishes to Muslims across the country as they celebrate Eid ul Fitr. He says the holy month of Ramadan encompasses spirituality, personal introspection and good deeds that contribute to the well-being of Muslims and people of other faiths alike. Acknowledging the human suffering, hardship and injustices being experienced in the world, Ramaphosa says the spirit of Ramadan inspires everyone.

Stay tuned for more news………….