News 17:00

BULLETIN 2 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Home Affairs says deportations surged past 46-thousand in the 2024/25 financial year
# The Commission for Gender equality says the Omotoso verdict is a setback for the legal fraternity and the victims
# And rugby: The All Black prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi may miss the Test series against France with a neck injury

# The Home Affairs Department has deported 46-thousand-898 illegal immigrants in the 2024/25 financial year. According to the department, this is an 18-percent increase from the previous year and more than France and Germany combined. Minister Leon Schreiber says the latest figures mark the highest deportation numbers in five years, tripling previous levels. He attributes the rise to stronger enforcement and collaboration with law enforcement agencies. Schreiber says the crackdown, alongside digital border reforms, enhances national security.

# Commission for Gender Equality chairperson Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale has criticised the ruling on Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, calling it an unpleasant outcome for both the legal fraternity and alleged victims. He was acquitted on all charges, including rape and human trafficking, after an eight-year trial. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Sepanya-Mogale highlighted concerns over financial investment in the justice system. She warns that the verdict could discourage victims from reporting similar cases, compromising efforts to address gender-based violence:

# The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environmental Affairs in the Free State is calling for vigilance as the African armyworm outbreak worsens. Over 70 cases have been reported in Xhariep, Lejweleputswa, and Mangaung Metro, with new outbreaks in Bultfontein, Hoopstad, and Brandfort. The department’s Moliehi Moeng says authorities are distributing chemicals and sprayers to affected farmers:

# Rugby: A neck injury may keep prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi out of the All Blacks’ Test series against France. He will undergo an operation and will miss the rest of defending champions the Blues’ Super Rugby season. The team is currently second from bottom on the log with only one victory in six matches. The All Blacks play France in Dunedin on the fifth of July, following by the second Test in Wellington a week later, and the final one in Hamilton on the 19th.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-62-cents and the euro at 20-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-11-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-850-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-126-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin’s latest timepiece has been described as the most complicated wristwatch ever produced. The one-off design named Solaria is made from 18-karat white gold and contains over 200 jewels. It comprises one-thousand-521 separate components, while a standard mechanical watch has on average 130 components. Vacheron Constantin’s style and heritage director, Christian Selmoni, says the watch features five astronomical functions never previously combined in watchmaking:

Stay tuned for more news………….