News 16:00

BULLETIN 3 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An ANC councillor is shot dead at his home in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga 
# The case against a senior MK party member is transferred to the Durban Regional Court
# And Commonwealth Games: Singapore also declines the opportunity to be host 

# An ANC councillor in the Nkomazi Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has been gunned down. Thabo Ngwenya was fatally shot in his Mangweni home. Police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli says four assailants accosted the 35-year-old, shooting him twice. They fled with Ngwenya’s car and cell phones. Mdhluli says a murder and robbery case has been opened, but the motive remains unclear. In addition, a 72-hour plan is underway to arrest the perpetrators.

# The National Prosecuting Authority says the case against senior uMkhonto we Sizwe party member Visvin Reddy, charged with contravening the Riotous Assemblies Act, has been transferred to the Durban Regional Court. He threatened potential civil unrest if the party was not listed on the ballot paper for the May general election. NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says Reddy appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court today for allegedly inciting public violence:

# Russia’s military says it had seen a surge in people signing up to fight in Ukraine since a deadly terror attack on a Moscow concert hall last month. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack that killed more than 140 people. President Vladimir Putin has since continued to say, without providing evidence, that Ukraine had a hand in plotting the attack. The Defence ministry says more than 100-thousand people had voluntarily signed up to fight so far in 2024, including 16-thousand in the 10 days after the attack.

# Commonwealth Games: Singapore joined Malaysia in ruling out hosting the 2026 Games, further plunging the future of the multi-sport event into doubt. The Commonwealth Games Federation has been scrambling to find a new host after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year because of soaring costs. Malaysia emerged as a possible replacement but turned down the opportunity, also raising the issue of cost. Singapore did not give any reason for its decision. The previous Games were hosted in 2022 by Birmingham in England.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-80-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-64-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-878-dollars-12-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-270-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Public Servants Association urges government departments to adopt more flexible work arrangements, particularly remote working options, for public servants. Citing the success of remote work during the pandemic, the PSA highlights the benefits of such arrangements, including improved productivity, employee well-being and cost savings. The association’s Reuben Maleka encourages departments to engage with employees and unions to develop comprehensive remote-work policies that prioritise employee well-being and the delivery of quality services:

Stay tuned for more news………….