News 13:00

BULLETIN 1 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fort Hare suspends its vice-chancellor over irregularities
# The Nkabinde inquiry has adjourned for Easter
# And cricket: Calls are growing for a teenager to make his senior debut for India

# The Eastern Cape’s Fort Hare University has placed vice-chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu on precautionary suspension following findings of appointment irregularities. A forensic probe revealed governance failures involving senior management, including non-compliance with university procedures. The institution says the suspension is not a finding of guilt but allows for disciplinary action to proceed. Deputy vice chancellor for Research, Partnerships and Innovation, Nthabi Taole-Mjimba, has been appointed acting vice-chancellor. The university has assured staff and students that measures are in place to maintain stability and continuity during the process.

# The Nkabinde commission which is looking into the fitness for office of suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew Chauke, has been adjourned for the Easter recess. Chauke concluded his testimony yesterday, where he defended his decision to withdraw a murder charge against former Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli. Commission spokesperson Tiyisela Mpuzana says hearings will reconvene next Wednesday when evidence leaders are expected to call additional witnesses:

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has tabled a 40-billion-rand three-year infrastructure budget. This is a South African record infrastructure investment that outpaces all Gauteng metros combined. Hill-Lewis says around 130-thousand construction-related jobs will flow from capital investment in the current term of office alone, with 75-percent of infrastructure spending directly benefitting lower-income households:

Staying in the Western Cape:

# The Cape Winelands District Municipality firefighters made good progress in the fire in the mountainous area between De Doorns and the Koo Valley. The blaze has been raging on since Saturday evening. The municipality’s spokesperson, Anesca Roodt, says cooler night-time temperatures assisted firefighting efforts in containing the fire line on the De Doorns side:

# Cricket: Calls are growing for teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to make his debut for India’s senior team following his heroics for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. The 15-year-old smashed a 15-ball half-century, helping his team to an eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings. This followed his debut season last year when he hit a century off just 35 balls. Former Indian spin bowler Anil Kumble compares Suryavanshi to legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar, who started playing for India when he was 16.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-83-cents and the euro at 19-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-35-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-477-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-720-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….