News 16:00

BULLETIN 22 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Steenhuisen announces the arrival of two-million doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine
# Rugby: The Lions’ tour hands Rugby Australia a record operating surplus
# And a Danish town saves bats by turning street lights to infrared LED’s

# Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen says two million doses of foot and mouth disease vaccine has arrived in South Africa, with distribution to provinces set to begin soon. He says this is part of a wider effort to contain the outbreak and regain disease-free status to reopen red meat export markets. Additional vaccine doses have also been secured from Argentina, pending approval. Vaccines will be allocated based on risk, while additional doses are reserved for key sectors like dairy, feedlots and pigs.

# Suspended Sedibeng deputy district police commissioner Abraham Nkhwashu has told the Madlanga commission he never demanded the Armand Swart murder docket for personal gain. Controversial businessman Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe is accused of the murder. Nkhwashu says his actions were based on instructions from Gauteng police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni. He explained his relationship with Molefe as that of a brother-in-law under customary ties and denied wrongdoing, insisting requests were lawful:

# The Management College of Southern Africa says South Africa’s healthcare system is under pressure, with persistent challenges in staffing, infrastructure, and service delivery limiting access to quality care. MANCOSA’s Precious Buthelezi warns issues such as fragmented data systems, medicines out of stock, and poor coordination must be urgently addressed. She argues while reform efforts like the National Health Insurance are important, immediate stabilisation of the current system is critical:

# Rugby: Rugby Australia is finally out of the red thanks to last year’s visit of the British and Irish Lions, while next year’s hosting of the World Cup will improve the books even further. CEO Phil Waugh announced a record operating surplus of 822-million-rand after over 370-thousand spectators attended the Wallabies’ seven home Tests last year, which is a record for a non-World Cup year. He says Rugby Australia is delivering on its promise to reset the game’s finances, restore pride and set a new strategic course.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-348-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-751-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Red LED streetlights have been installed along a bat corridor in Gladsaxe, Denmark, to mitigate light pollution, enabling seven bat species to move freely at night. Research confirms that red light doesn’t disrupt bat activity like white or green light, maintaining their feeding and movement patterns. Lighting designer Philip Jelvard from Light Bureau says the colour can work as a signal as well as a tool, making passersby aware it is a special natural area which the municipality wishes to protect and preserve.

Stay tuned for more news………….