News 16:00

BULLETIN 1 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DJ Warras murder case is postponed to May  
# A parliamentary committee clears three ministers and two MPs of wrongdoing
# And rugby: A Springbok prop may still play for the Lions while awaiting the outcome of a drugs hearing

# The Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock murder case has been postponed to May 27 in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. Alleged killer Armindo Joaquim Pacula and alleged orchestrator Victor Majola remain in custody. Stock was shot dead in the Johannesburg CBD in December. Majola was previously denied bail, while police continue gathering evidence linked to the alleged planning and execution of the killing. State prosecutor Vincent Mochabela says investigations are incomplete:

# Parliament’s joint committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests has cleared complaints against three cabinet ministers and two members of Parliament, finding them either unfounded or beyond its jurisdiction. Complaints lodged last year included alleged misconduct in official duties, procedural breaches, and party-political statements. Committee spokesperson Malatswa Molepo says ministers Velenkosini Hlabisa, Gayton McKenzie, and John Steenhuisen, as well as MPs Carol Phiri and Oscar Matafa, were all cleared. He says the committee found no evidence of ethical breaches.

# Limpopo MEC Transport and Community Safety Violet Mathye urges all road users to prioritise safety during the Easter travel period, warning of the heightened risk of accidents over the holidays. Department spokesperson Tshifhiwa Dali emphasized the importance of obeying traffic rules, avoiding drinking and driving, and staying alert. He calls on motorists and pedestrians to act responsibly to ensure a safe and incident-free Easter season for all:

Moving abroad:

# A US judge ruled president Donald Trump cannot construct his planned 6.7-billion-rand ballroom on the site of the White House’s demolished East Wing ​without approval from Congress. District Judge Richard ‌Leon granted a request for a preliminary interdict by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The nonprofit organisation alleges Trump exceeded his authority when he razed the historic East Wing and launched construction on the new building. The judge says unless ​and until Congress blessed this project through statutory authorisation, construction had to stop.

# Rugby: Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is still allowed to play for the Lions while he awaits the outcome of his hearing on an alleged doping violation. The verdict had been postponed until the end of this month after he failed a drug test in August last year. The CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-free Sport, Khalid Galant, confirmed Ntlabakanye isn’t under any provisional suspension. The player did ask to be excused from playing for the Lions in last weekend’s United Rugby Championship match against Dragons.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-80-cents and the euro at 19-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-35-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-569-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-725-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….