News 07:00

BULLETIN 2 March 7 am 

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government condemns Israel’s targeted killing of Palestinian civilians seeking humanitarian aid
# Police minister accuses the DA of peddling misinformation on the Joslin Smith search
# And, rugby: White loads the Bulls’ match-day group for Stormers with 12 Boks

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation condemns Israel’s targeted killing of Palestinian civilians, denouncing the recent massacre of 112 people seeking humanitarian aid. The department criticises the attack on vulnerable civilians as a violation of international law and the binding provisional orders of the International Court of Justice. As South Africa prepares its response to Israel’s ICJ report, calls for legal remedies grow to end what is seen as decades-long impunity. The department urges the United Nations Security Council for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

# Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, accuses the DA of politicising the sensitive case of missing seven-year-old Joslin Smith in Saldanah Bay in the Western Cape. Cele expressed disappointment over the party’s attempt to gain votes by misinforming the public, claiming police have withdrawn from the search. Ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba says the minister urges the DA to refrain from exploiting the pain of a family awaiting their child’s return:

Meanwhile, Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, has confirmed a 34-year-old man has been relocated to a place of safety to avoid mob threats and vigilantism amid the search for Joslin. Additional police resources have been deployed to aid in the search. According to Allen, a joint command centre has been established to coordinate efforts with the South African Police Service to overcome obstacles created by misinformation and social media disruptions:

# Rugby: Almost half of the Bulls’ group for this afternoon’s United Rugby Championhip match against the Stormers in Pretoria are Springboks. Director of rugby Jake White included 12 Test players – 10 in the starting team and Willie le Roux and Nizaam Carr on the bench. For the Stormers, Boks Deon Fourie, Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse return after completing resting protocols. Fourie will lead the Cape Town team. Kick-off at Loftus is at five, after the encounter between the Lions and the Sharks at Ellis Park.  

# And, Eskom says due to the anticipated return to service of additional generating units over the weekend, load-shedding will be suspended until 4pm today. Stage 2 loadshedding will resume from 4pm until 5pm tomorrow. This alternating pattern of suspending load-shedding from 5am until 4pm and implementing Stage two load-shedding from 4pm until 5am will be repeated. Spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena says Eskom will provide an update for the week ahead tomorrow afternoon:

Stay tuned for more news………….