News 16:00

BULLETIN 23 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Electoral Commission is to distribute 355-million-rand in political funding this year
# The ANC welcomes a police probe into the incident regarding deputy president Paul Mashatile’s convoy
# And soccer: Kylian Mbappé will be ready to face Barcelona on Saturday

# The Electoral Commission says at least 355-million-rand has been allocated for distribution to 20 political parties in the current financial year. CEO Sy Mamabolo says the funding, disbursed under the Political Party Funding Act, is meant to support multiparty democracy and ensure financial transparency. He adds the allocation forms part of the commission’s preparations for next year’s local government elections:

# The ANC has welcomed the police investigation into the recent incident involving deputy president Paul Mashatile’s convoy. National commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed a high-level team is handling the probe, with a completed ballistics report and ongoing threat assessments. The ANC expressed confidence in the Presidential Protection Service and commended Mashatile’s calm response. The party condemns any threats to national leadership and urges calm while awaiting the investigation’s outcome.

# Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has expressed deep concern over allegations of corporal punishment at Madisong High School in Hammanskraal. Learners reported physical assaults by the principal. The department has launched an internal investigation, and the principal will report to the district office during the probe. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says corporal punishment is illegal, urging affected families to seek support and report abuse:

# The Public Servants Association says the series of fires that have ravaged several government buildings in recent years poses a threat to the safety of public servants and undermines the integrity of national institutions. These include the Parliament building, Tembisa Hospital, and the Social Development building in Durban. The PSA’s Claude Naiker says repairs and renovations of affected buildings cause a burden on South Africa’s compromised fiscus:

# Soccer: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says striker Kylian Mbappé is poised to return from injury to face rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. The Frenchman missed Madrid’s win over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday and will not be available for the visit to face Getafe today. The superstar was substituted with an ankle problem during Madrid’s Champions League elimination by Arsenal last week, but should be fit for the Clasico, along with compatriot Ferland Mendy.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-59-cents and the euro at 21-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-735-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-320-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….