News 17:00

BULLETIN 1 March 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A Magistrate’s nephew is sentenced to 20-years for her murder 
# The AA warns that March brings a bleak outlook on the fuel price 
# And Cricket: Australia takes control of the first Test against New Zealand 

# The Western Cape High Court has sentenced Magistrate Romay van Rooyen’s nephew to an effective 20-year imprisonment for her murder. Cassidy Hartzenberg confessed to strangling his aunt in her home in Muizenberg, Cape Town, in September 2022 after she refused him money, and stealing her vehicle. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Eric Ntabazalila says the court acknowledged the prevalence of gender-based violence and also sentenced him to six years for theft, with the sentences to run concurrently:

# The Automobile Association says the latest unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund reveals the price of 95-octane petrol could see a rise of one-rand-20-cents per litre, while the price of 93-octane petrol may increase by one-rand-15-cents per litre. Diesel is expected to go up by around one-rand-18-cents per litre and illuminating paraffin by 63-cents per litre. The official adjustment takes effect on Wednesday. AA spokesperson Layton Beard says the general fuel levy and road accident fund levy will remain unchanged, offering some relief:

# The Copyright Coalition of South Africa has warned that the current form of the Copyright Bill fails to adequately protect creators’ rights. Despite the National Assembly’s impending vote on the draft law, the coalition fears its enactment would spell disaster for the country’s creative industry. Spokesperson Chola Makgamathe argues the proposed legislation, if passed, could mark the beginning of the end for creators in South Africa:

# Public transport has come to a virtual standstill all over Germany due to strikes over working hours. The action started a week ago and eventually spread to 14 of the country’s 16 states. It is exacerbated today by climate protests in over 100 cities. Reuters reports national rail operator Deutsche Bahn saying it was prepared to take steps towards a reduction in working hours that would go far beyond its previous offer. But union GDL walked out of negotiations after accusing the operator of leaking confidential details.

# Cricket: Australia is in the driving seat in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington. The visitors posted 383 in their first innings thanks to an undefeated 174 by Cameron Green, and then dismissed the hosts for just 179. Glenn Phillips’s 71 was the Black Caps’ highest score, while Nathan Lyon took four wickets. Australia will resume on 13 for two on the third morning, a lead of 172, after Steve Smith was bowled for a duck, and South African-born Marnus Labuschagne was caught after scoring only two runs.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-17-cents and the euro at 20-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-620-dollars-23-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-52-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….