News 13:00

BULLETIN 10 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA secures the IPID Phala Phala report
# Thousands of Iranians commemmorates Khamanei’s death in Tehran as hopes for a ceasefire fades
# And rugby: Ruan Nortjé is the latest player set to leave the Bulls at the end of the season

# ActionSA has secured the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s full report into the conduct of Presidential Protection Unit members in the wake of the Phala Phala scandal. It found an investigation by the unit’s head, Wally Rhoode, into the theft of millions of dollars from president Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo in 2020 deliberately concealed the incident. ActionSA’s Michael Beaumont says Rhoode nonetheless remains in his position:

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa says the US administration has been forthright in its assessment of South Africa’s trade relations, and government welcomes America’s willingness to engage to address concerns. Relations have been strained since president Donald Trump returned to office early last year. Ramaphosa engaged with the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa. He says the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition remains engaged with the US trade representative and various committees on the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

# Minister of International Relations and Cooperation says any permanent ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran must include Lebanon. The US and Israel have insisted Lebanon is not part of the agreed two-week ceasefire while Iran disagrees. Mediator Pakistan has explicitly stated Lebanon is included in the agreement. Addressing heads of missions from the Middle East and Asia, Lamola said this conflict has affected almost every country in the world:

Meanwhile, thousands of Iranians have gathered in the streets of Tehran to commemorate the death of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, while hopes of a ceasefire begin to unravel. Supporters of Khamenei held portraits of their deceased leader and waved the flags of the Islamic republic. He died in the US-Israeli attacks on February 28. Amid the confusion over a ceasefire deal, US vice president JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff are expected in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad for a first round of peace talks tomorrow. 

# Rugby: The Bulls’ Springbok lock, Ruan Nortjé, will leave the club at the end of the season to take up an opportunity in Japan. The 27-year-old made his senior debut in 2018 and has captained the team 37 times, tenth on the all-time list. His contribution spans 146 matches to date. Nortjé’s departure follows that of utility back David Kriel, who will go to France, Bok prop Wilco Louw, who will join the Stormers, and Bok back player Kurt-Lee Arendse, who will return to Sagamihara DynaBoars in Japan.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-22-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-811-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-755-dollars-57-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….