News 13:00

BULLETIN 19 April 1pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Diro accuses news website Semafor of fabricating quotes by Mcebisi Jonas
# Consumers urged to stay alert as bank card scams increase
# And in cricket, SA’s Dewald Brevis joins the Chennai Super Kings

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has denied claims made by news website Semafor, regarding an interview with president Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas. The department accuses the publication of fabricating quotes allegedly made by Jonas regarding efforts to address prevailing misinformation about South Africa in America. It says the statements attributed to Jonas neither reflect his views nor correspond to any actual interview, as no such engagement took place.

# Experts have warned that bank card fraud syndicates are on the rise, targeting unsuspecting consumers. Criminals are using cybercrime to access personal data and bank accounts. Meanwhile, World Wide Worx is urging travellers and shoppers to stay vigilant as fraudsters exploit online shopping habits. Speaking to the SABC, Standard Bank’s Athaly Khan warns of fake advertisements on online deals and ATM card cloning:

# AfriForum Youth is demanding access to North-West University’s full investigation report into last Sunday’s disturbance at the Eikenhof women’s residence. This follows allegations of a sangoma performing rituals at the residence, with students reporting disturbing screams. The university has since denied the allegation, however, AfriForum’s Yvonne Gerber is calling for a clear policy on cultural practices in residences, transparency, and trauma support for affected students:

# The US Supreme Court has ordered president Donald Trump’s administration to temporarily halt the deportation of Venezuelan men in immigration custody in northern Texas. The men are accused of being part of a Venezuelan gang. Out of 261 Venezuelans deported as of 8 April to a notorious jail in El Salvador, 137 were removed under the controversial Alien Enemies Act. The American Civil Liberties Union says the men held in Texas were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal prison without due process.

# Cricket: The Chennai Super Kings have signed South African Dewald Brevis as a replacement for the injured Gurjapneet Singh for the remainder of this year’s Indian Premier League. He joins CSK for around 4.8-million-rand. The 21-year-old has prior experience of playing in the IPL, having represented the Mumbai Indians in 2022 and 2024. Brevis has played 81 T20s in his career. The Super Kings are currently at the bottom of the IPL standings, with just two wins in seven games.

Stay tuned for more news………….