News 17:00

BULLETIN 24 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa urges private sector collaboration for job creation
# BOSA forms an alliance with seven parties for the elections 
# And rugby: The Lions are backing their scrums to complete an Irish double 

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for collaboration from social partners and the private sector in creating job opportunities for South Africa’s youth, women, and persons with disabilities. Speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Expanded Public Works Programme in Buffalo City Stadium in the Eastern Cape, Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of public and social employment programmes and supporting small enterprises and cooperatives. He says the programme is for everyone:

# Build One South Africa has announced an alliance with seven parties for the upcoming national and provincial elections. The alliance aims to unify various community-based organisations under the BOSA banner to challenge the ruling government. Members of the alliance, including the Mopani Independent Movement, Lentswe La Batho, and Abantu Integrity Movement, have pledged to campaign exclusively for BOSA in the elections. They pledge to restore meritocracy, protect the constitution, and share resources. The alliance also looks forward to supporting members in the 2026 local government elections.

# Humanitarian agencies in Southern Africa have sounded the alarm as millions face dire food shortages due to an ongoing drought. Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia are severely affected, with failed crops prompting a disaster being declared. In Zambia the crisis is exacerbated with food inflation said to have surged to 45-percent. Care Zambia’s country director, Chikwe Mbweeda, says women and girls are most affected by the crisis:

# Rugby: The Lions will try to follow up their impressive victory over Leinster by beating another Irish giant on Saturday at Ellis Park. They will face Munster, who confirmed their status as defending champion of the United Rugby Championship with a big win at Loftus against the Bulls. The scrum has become a potent weapon as the Lions draw inspiration from the Springboks’ famous bomb squad. Scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys is happy with the depth amongst the forwards: 

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-21-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-980-dollars-33-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-320-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Several people were injured when military horses went on the run through central London this morning. The British Army says the animals became loose during a routine exercise in the capital, with reports saying they may have been disturbed by the noise of builders moving rubble. A white horse was seen with blood streaming from it. A rider of one of the horses were thrown off, and some of the horses collided with vehicles. All of the animals were later recovered and returned to their camp.

Stay tuned for more news………….