News 16:00

BULLETIN 14 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A new inquest into an anti-apartheid lawyer’s death is postponed to June
# The Gauteng Liquor Board spends 1.5-million-rand on 25 court cases
# And golf: Other members congratulate Rory McIlroy on joining the exclusive major club

# The inquest into the death of anti-apartheid lawyer Griffiths Mxenge in 1981 has been postponed to 17 June. Two separate inquests into the deaths of Mxenge and former ANC leader Chief Albert Luthuli commenced at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, today. Luthuli died under unclear circumstances in 1967. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Ncedile Dunywa told the court evidence will show collusion between security police, district surgeons, pathologists, and the magistrate during the 1967 inquest:

# The Gauteng Liquor Board has spent 1.5-million-rand on 25 court cases, losing 21 and settling four. This was revealed by MEC for Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, in a written reply to the provincial legislature. The cases reportedly stem from delays in processing liquor licence applications, which have impacted businesses across the province and leading to job losses. The board’s failure to meet standard processing timelines has been widely criticised. The inefficiencies have been slammed for driving businesses to court and wasting public funds that could be used to improve the board’s operations.

# The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has reiterated calls to service providers to submit claims promptly, as the next payment is due Thursday. NSFAS spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi says delays in data submission could affect verification and payouts. Mnisi emphasised the commitment to resolving outstanding claims, stating it is crucial to maintain stable living conditions for financially-aided students relying on the scheme:

# French healthcare workers and relatives of colleagues who killed themselves have filed a legal complaint against two ministers over deadly working conditions in public hospitals they say are causing suicides. France’s public hospitals have been forced to drastically slash spending in recent decades, and doctors and nurses have long complained of insufficient staffing and low pay. Nineteen plaintiffs have now accused Health Minister Catherine Vautrin and Higher Education Minister Elisabeth Borne of allowing totally illegal and deadly working conditions at public hospitals across France.

# Golf: American Tiger Woods was one of the first to welcome Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy to the exclusive club of players who had completed the career Grand Slam of major titles. Thirty-five-year-old McIlroy joined the club when he won the Masters yesterday. The four other members are South African Gary Player, and Americans Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazan. Player wrote on social media, McIlroy has set the standard for his era, while Nicklaus expects to see really good play from him going forward.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-93-cents and the euro at 21-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-797-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-224-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-16-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….