News 18:00

BULLETIN 8 April 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Tshwane Metro Police deputy chief, Sean Bolhuis, confirms there is no formal policy regarding vetting
# Bongani Mncwango joins IFP after exiting the MK Party
# And, the Border Management Authority’s Easter border operations are concluded, while monitoring continues

# Tshwane Metro Police deputy chief, Sean Bolhuis, has confirmed there is currently no formal policy requiring clearance certificates for officers. Testifying at the Madlanga Commission, Bolhuis said while vetting is not yet mandatory, it is strongly encouraged, especially for senior officials handling sensitive information. Bolhuis stressed that full vetting, including lifestyle and financial checks, is critical for accountability. He raised concerns that some senior officials have refused vetting processes:

# Former MK Party secretary-general Bongani Mncwango has joined the Inkatha Freedom Party following his removal last month. Mncwango who replaced Afrika Mayibuye Movement president Floyd Shivambu in August 2025 was axed after serving less than a year, amid a leadership reshuffle that saw Sibonelo Nomvalo take over the role. Mncwango’s move marks another shift in South Africa’s evolving political landscape ahead of the local government elections later this year.

# Border Management Authority Commissioner Michael Masiapato says the ten-day Easter cross-border operations will officially conclude tomorrow, with a full report expected over the weekend. Masiapato emphasised that border management remains a 24/7 function, continuing beyond the operation. While the demobilisation phase begins, lessons learned during the operation will be incorporated to strengthen border security including continued heightened monitoring through drones, body cameras, and response teams:

# Global oil prices have fallen sharply and stock markets have jumped after the US and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire deal that includes the reopening of the key Strait of Hormuz waterway. The price of benchmark Brent crude fell by about 13-percent to 94-dollar-80-cents a barrel, but remain higher than before the conflict started on 28 February. Stock markets in Europe opened higher following sharp rises in Asia. London’s FTSE 100 share index jumped by 2.53-percent in opening trade. In France, the Cac gained 4-percent while Germany’s Dazx rose by nearly 5-percent.

# Rugby: All Blacks Will Jordan and Codie Taylor are injured and will miss the next stretch of the Crusaders’ Super Rugby seasons which head coach Rob Penney describes as massively important. It’s not sure when the two playmakers will be back again. Taylor scored four tries in the 13-time champion’s 69-26 victory over Fijian Drua last week. The fifth-placed Crusaders plays the sixth-placed Reds on Saturday, the Force next weekend and the Waratahs on the 24th.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-16-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-2-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-192-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-763-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….