News 17:00

BULLETIN 16 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema calls for a misconduct probe against magistrate Olivier’s conviction
# Thoko Didiza highlights the role of diplomacy as the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly begins
# And athletics: SA’s top track and field athletes are in action at the Senior Championships in Stellenbosch

# EFF leader Julius Malema has launched a scathing attack on Magistrate Twanet Olivier, of the East London Magistrate’s Court in KuGompo City, Eastern Cape, describing her as incompetent and calling for a misconduct complaint. Addressing supporters outside the court, Malema accused the court of bias and political interference following his five-year sentence on contraventions of the Firearms Act . He also criticised the prosecution team and alleged procedural misconduct. He vowed the EFF would not be discouraged:

# National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, has stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy amid the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly taking place in Istanbul, Turkey. Key discussions include artificial intelligence governance and maternal health. Didiza says the platform is vital for promoting peace, cooperation and accountability amid global instability. She highlighted conflicts in regions including Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and called for inclusive leadership within the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

# The DA has welcomed the confirmation by the minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, that the process to transfer the R59 to the South African National Road Agency has commenced. The R59 begins in Dealesville in the Free State, runs north-east across the Vaal River, and ends in Tulisa Park near Johannesburg. The DA’s Igor Scheurkogel says it is critical to ensure that this vital economic artery is properly rehabilitated and maintained, safeguarding road users and protecting the local economies that depend on it:

# The Kwanele Foundation, dedicated to fight gender-base violence, condemns what it calls secondary victimisation in the Dobsonville rape case involving a 12-year-old girl. The accused, a 58-year-old church leader, faces rape charges. Activist Sihle Sibisi criticised the identification of the victim and her family by political parties, saying it exposes them to long-term harm. She also raised concerns over political activity outside the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court, where police had to intervene after tensions escalated and party members clashed during a picket.

# Athletics: South Africa’s top track and field athletes wil be in action over the next three days, with the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships getting underway at Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch. All eyes will be on the men’s 100-metre, headlined by Athletics Gauteng North speedster Gift Leotlela who reached the final of last year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. He will compete against the likes of Benjamin Richardson, Bradley Nkoana, as well as 400-meter world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, and former world youth champion Retshidisitswe Mlenga.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-758-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-817-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….