News 17:00

BULLETIN 29 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Bellarmine Mugabe’s cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, is sentenced to three years imprisonment for the Hyde Park shooting
# Donald Trump urges Iran to sign a deal after a report suggests the US may extend the blockade
# And rugby: The Welsh great George North retires from the international game

# Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s son Bellarmine’s cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, has been sentenced to three-years in prison by the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg. He pleaded guilty to several charges earlier following a shooting incident in their Hyde Park residence. Mugabe was fined and will be deported immediately. Magistrate Renier Boshoff cited mitigating factors in Matonhodze’s case, describing his sentence as merciful. He ordered his deportation after serving his sentence:

# Forum for South Africa has condemned what it calls government’s so-called extension of the three-rand fuel levy relief for next month. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane describes it as a deceptive, inadequate, and politically convenient gesture that fails to confront the real crisis facing South Africans. He says what is being presented as relief is nothing more than a temporary illusion:

# The Department of Basic Education has clarified that its textbook screening process is not a tender system, amid concerns over procurement irregularities. Officials say the process uses blind screening, where manuscripts are assessed without publisher details to ensure fairness and quality. The department spokesperson Terence Khala says more than 150 subject experts evaluate submissions against curriculum standards and only top-performing materials are selected, with price considered last:

# US president Donald Trump has urged Iran to sign a deal following days of deadlock in efforts to end the conflict and a media report that the US would extend its blockade of Iran’s ports. Wall Street Journal reports Trump had instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iranian ports to force Tehran to capitulate. Iranian officials earlier said the country could withstand the blockade as it was using alternative trade routes. The conflict has killed thousands, thrown energy markets into turmoil and disrupted global trade routes.

# Rugby: Welsh back player George North plans to retire from the international game after the current season. The 34-year-old scored 47 tries for Wales in 121 Tests over 13 years, and helped the union to win four Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams. He also played three Tests for the British and Irish Lions during their tours of 2013 and 2017. North is Wales’ third most-capped player behind Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins, and second on the list of highest try scorers behind Shane Williams.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-64-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-48-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-103-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-546-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-53-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….