News 15:00

BULLETIN 29 April 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Barbara Creecy applauds the significant decline in Easter road deaths
# SANParks urges the public to adhere to hiking and mountain bike trail closures at Table Mountain
# And, Les Kiss is the frontrunner to coach the Wallabies rugby team

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy says South Africa recorded the lowest Easter road crash fatalities in three years. Crashes dropped by 32.5-percent and fatalities fell by 45.6-percent compared to 2024. Creecy credits early planning, visible traffic patrols, and partnerships with civil society and government. Over 177-thousand vehicles were checked and 941 drunk drivers arrested. She confirmed crashes decreased in most provinces except Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape:

# South African National Parks is urging the public to strictly adhere to all hiking and mountain bike trail closures and to avoid the Silvermine, Tokai and Boyes Drive areas of Table Mountain National Park. SANParks says it is continuing to fight wildfires in collaboration with its strategic partners whilst monitoring flare-ups. Spokesperson JP Louw says another flare-up occurred in Chapman’s Peak around the early hours of the morning and is burning towards Hout Bay:

# The EFF has written to the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Joseph Maswanganyi regarding the illegality of continuing to process the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill in Parliament set for tomorrow. The Western Cape High Court has set aside the 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals, and Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has withdrawn the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill. The EFF says it is cautioning that proceeding with the virtual meeting, or any consideration of the Rates Bill in the current context, risks further legal action.

# Firefighters have brought under control a blaze at Iran’s main port, following a deadly explosion blamed on negligence. The explosion hit a dock at the southern port of Shahid Rajaee on Saturday. State media reported at least 70 people were killed and more than a thousand others suffered injuries in the blast and ensuing fire, which also caused extensive damage.

# Rugby: Australia will name the next Wallabies coach tomorrow, with former Ireland assistant Les Kiss reportedly set to get the job. Kiss, currently coaching Queensland Reds in Super Rugby, looks poised to take over from Joe Schmidt after the New Zealander said in February he would stand down at the end of this year’s Rugby Championship. Kiss returned to Australia in 2023 after stints as director of rugby at Irish club Ulster, as head coach of London Irish, and as an assistant coach with the Ireland national team.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-54-cents and the euro at 21-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-160-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-315-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-72-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….