News 17:00

BULLETIN 23 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The former National Director of Public Prosecutions withdraws from the Nkabinde Inquiry
# Inquiry finds more than 500 people killed in Tanzania election violence
# And, only 16 500 more rugby fans needed at Cape Town Stadium to break URC attendance record

# The former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, has withdrawn from the Nkabinde Inquiry. She submitted a statement to the commission today, saying she would not continue her testimony, after the panel refused her request to consult her legal team. The inquiry is probing suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke’s role in cases linked to the Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit, and decisions involving Richard Mdluli. Batohi’s refusal came as today’s proceeding were delayed by an electric fault.

# The ANC has moved to enforce strict internal discipline ahead of the local government elections. The party has instructed all members, including those with dual membership in the South African Communist Party, to declare whether they will campaign for the ANC, warning any action undermining its electoral efforts will face organisational consequences. Secretary general Fikile Mbalula told the media members are bound by the party’s constitution to support ANC candidates:

Moving abroad:

# A total of 518 people died in Tanzania from unnatural causes after widespread protests that followed last year’s general elections. However, commission of inquiry chairman Mohamed Chande Othman did not say who was responsible for the deaths, and recommended further investigations. Opposition parties and human rights groups have accused the security forces of unleashing a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters.  President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the 29 October election with 98-percent of the vote, which the opposition described as a mockery of democracy.

# Rugby: Stormers fans stand on the brink of setting a United Rugby Championship regular-season attendance record at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, with just 16-thousand-500 tickets needed to reach the milestone. Victory for the Stormers over Glasgow Warriors would provide a significant boost to their campaign. They could move to the top of the standings if they secure five points and the visitors fail to pick up any. This would put them at the top with two rounds remaining before the playoffs.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-51-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-807-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-727-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has welcomed the issuing of Letters of Award for the long-delayed Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance in Hankey in the Eastern Cape. The project, stalled for over a decade, will now move to final compliance and contractual stages before construction resumes. Macpherson says the milestone reflects improved governance and procurement. He says that the centre will honor Sarah Baartman, whose story has been called the epitome of racist colonial exploitation, while boosting local tourism and economic development.

Stay tuned for more news………….