News 16:00

BULLETIN 17 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# OUTA uncovers fraudulent roadworthy certificates across several provinces
# Clothing and footwear retailers drive February’s retail growth
# And Rugby: Australia complains to World Rugby over French clubs poaching its young talent

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says it has uncovered widespread fraud in the issuing of roadworthy certificates across several provinces. Their investigation revealed that vehicles failing inspections in Gauteng were being cleared within minutes at testing stations in Limpopo and North West. OUTA’s Rudie Heyneke warns that unroadworthy vehicles, enabled by corrupt officials, put millions of lives at risk, especially during high-travel periods like Easter:

# According to Statistics South Africa, retail trade sales rose by 3.9-percent in February compared to the same month last year. The strongest growth came from retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather goods at 15.7-percent, as well as general dealers, which increased by 3.4-percent. However, Stats SA’s Raquel Floris says on a month-to-month basis, seasonally adjusted sales fell by 1.3-percent compared to January:

# King Charles paid tribute to humanitarian workers who protect others in war-torn countries. In a message published by Buckingham Palace, the British monarch, who is also head of the Anglican Church, says one of the puzzles of humanity is how people are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness. He says this paradox of human life runs through the Easter story. Humanity sees terrible images of human suffering, and then heroic acts in war-torn countries where humanitarians risk their lives to protect others.

# Rugby: La Rochelle’s signing of an Australian teenager led to Rugby Australia complaining to World Rugby that French clubs are poaching its young talent. La Rochelle contracted 16-year-old Reds player Visesio Kite, while 17-year-old forward Heinz Lemoto is reportedly also in the sights of wealthy Top 14 sides. Rugby Australia’s chairperson, Daniel Herbert, says France has the ability to produce its own players and don’t have to steal Australian players at a very young age. He asked World Rugby to beef up its rules to prevent this.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-81-cents and the euro at 21-rand-34-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-87-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-793-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-330-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A haunting portrait of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy who lost both arms during an Israeli attack on Gaza City won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year Award. The picture, by Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, depicts Mahmoud Ajjour, evacuated to Doha after an explosion severed one arm and mutilated the other last year. The photographer is also from Gaza and was herself evacuated in December 2023. She now portrays badly wounded Palestinians based in Doha.

Stay tuned for more news………….