News 17:00

BULLETIN 7 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation calls for unity in government
# ActionSA slams ministers for dodging Parliamentary questions
# And cricket: Harry Brook is named England’s new white-ball captain after Jos Buttler’s departure

# The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has urged the government of national unity to collaborate towards a common vision for South Africa’s advancement. The foundation hosted a legacy business breakfast in Illovo, Gauteng, to provide a platform for executives to discuss business, leadership, and innovation, honoring the late anti apartheid activist’s legacy. Speaking on the sidelines, the foundation’s CEO, Neeshan Balton, emphasised the importance of unified leadership:

# ActionSA has condemned ministers for repeatedly evading parliamentary questions, and is now considering legal action. The party says over 70-percent of its 121 questions submitted this year remain unanswered, with some still ignored. They accuse ministers, including Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen and Sport, Arts and Culture minister Gayton Mackenzie, of dodging critical inquiries, especially on excessive luxury travel costs. ActionSA’s Athol Trollip claims nearly 180-million-rand was spent by ministers on travel in just six months.

# AfriForum has accused the SABC of showing a disregard for viewers after the Afrikaans TV news bulletin was missing on Saturday evening. They are demanding an explanation from the public broadcaster, as no reason has been given for the omission. AfriForum’s Alana Bailey warns that the SABC’s failure to cater to this loyal and financially strong audience could damage its reputation and revenue:

# Cricket: Harry Brook is England’s new white-ball captain. The 26-year-old batter succeeds Jos Buttler, who stepped down from the role after the country failed to survive the group stage of the Champions Trophy. Managing director Rob Key says Brook had been part of their succession planning for some time. He describes him as an outstanding player with an excellent cricketing brain and a clear vision for both teams that will help drive England towards winning more series, World Cups and major global tournaments.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-42-cents and the euro at 21-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-996-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-27-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Climate change is reshaping tourism and threatening destinations like the Maldives and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. According to the United Nations, rising sea levels could submerge much of the Maldives by 2100, while warming oceans are bleaching coral reefs. These changes are expected to disrupt natural attractions and local economies as the tourism infrastructure suffers. In response, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly travel. Destinations are continuing to invest in green practices, aligning with a global push to protect ecosystems and sustain tourism-dependent communities.

Stay tuned for more news………….