News 17:00

BULLETIN 19 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The former Kaizer Chiefs defender Luke Fleurs is to be buried tomorrow 
# Minister Thulas Nxesi welcomes the ruling on the five-billion-rand Thuja Jobs Scheme Agreement 
# And rugby: A promising young backline player extends his Stormers contract until 2027 

# Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Luke Fleurs will be buried in Cape Town tomorrow. Fleurs was hijacked and gunned down at a petrol station in Johannesburg earlier this month. The six accused made their second appearance in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court today where their bail application was postponed to next week Thursday. They face charges of murder, robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and defeating the ends of justice.

# Employment and Labour minister Thulas Nxesi has welcomed the decision by the High Court in Pretoria to nullify a five-billion-rand Unemployment Insurance Fund jobs scheme contract with Thuja Capital, ruling it invalid. The court further prohibits CEO Mthunzi Mdwaba from publicly accusing Nxesi of corruption regarding a purported 500-million-rand bribe, and to cover the minister’s legal costs. Advisor to the minister, Lumko Mtimde, confirmed Nxesi’s intentions to pursue defamation charges against Mdwaba:

# Namibia is facing a severe drought, with major parts of the country experiencing deteriorating grazing conditions and water shortages for livestock. The livelihoods of animals are under severe pressure, with grazing and water availability continuing to be a problem. The situation has prompted concerns for the well-being of livestock. Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, highlights the challenges, noting late and poor rainfall since the beginning of the season:

# Rugby: Promising young Stormers backline player Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has extended his contract until 2027. The former Junior Springbok started playing for the Stormers at the age of 20 in 2022 and has since then proved his worth in various positions. Director of rugby John Dobson says Feinberg-Mngomezulu was earmarked as a generational talent since school and they are looking forward to seeing him fulfil his potential. Former Springbok great Victor Matfield regards him as a future Bok flyhalf, encouraging the Stormers to utilise him in that position.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-15-cents and the euro at 20-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-627-dollars-97-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-382-dollars-28-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today marks two months since the disappearance of six-year-old Joslin Smith from Saldanha Bay. She vanished on 19 February while under the care of her mother’s boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis. Her mother, Kelly, Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Lorentia Lombaard, have appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court facing charges of kidnapping and human trafficking. Police minister Bheki Cele earlier this month disclosed collaboration with Interpol to locate Joslin. Authorities express hope of finding her or uncovering the truth about her disappearance.

Stay tuned for more news………….