News 15:00

BULLETIN 16 April 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government launches a 90-day programme to end the gender-based violence crisis
# Israel’s Defence minister says they will continue to block aid from entering Gaza
# And soccer: Jude Bellingham believes Madrid can produce a historic comeback against Arsenal

# Government has launched a 90-day acceleration programme to fight gender-based violence and femicide. The move follows an emergency meeting led by Justice minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Police minister Senzo Mchunu. Plans include reviving the Inter-Ministerial Committee, enhancing provincial units, and strengthening the justice system. A national webinar, Thuthuzela Care Centre expansion, and survivor safety measures are underway. Government urges all sectors and stakeholders to take decisive action.

# The DA has demanded that Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso withdraw new race rules in deeds offices across South Africa. The rules require property transfer parties to declare their race or risk transaction rejection. The party argues these regulations infringe on privacy rights and are unconstitutional. The DA points out that the new rules violate the Protection of Personal Information Act and undermine property rights. They are seeking legal advice to challenge them.

# The Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Xolile Nqatha, is appealing to residents and motorists to be cautious as persistent and disruptive rains continue across the province. The South African Weather Service issued a level 5 weather warning for significant rainfall for the province and KwaZulu-Natal. The department’s spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, says the T12 between Maluti and Matatiele is among those roads that are flooded:

# Israel’s Defence minister, Israel Katz, says the country would continue to block humanitarian aid from entering the war-battered Gaza Strip, where intense aerial and ground assaults have resumed. He says blocking the aid is one of the main pressure levers preventing Hamas from using it as a tool with the population. Earlier the United Nations warned the territory was facing its most severe humanitarian crisis since the war began in October 2023. Israel has blocked aid from entering since 2 March.

# Soccer: Midfielder Jude Bellingham says the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Arsenal is a night made for Real Madrid. The reigning European champions will aim to overturn a 3-0 deficit at the Bernabéu Stadium this evening. Madrid has only come back from a three-goal first-leg deficit once in their history, when they beat Derby County 6-5 on aggregate in 1975/76. Bellingham believes they can produce another historic comeback:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-86-cents and the euro at 21-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand-2-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-984-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-299-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….