News 12:00

BULLETIN 6 March 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ACSA reports an improvement in infrastructure and security challenges
# MEC Allen urges the public to stop spreading fake news about Joslin Smith’s disappearance
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus is very satisfied with his Springbok coaching team’s first meeting 

# Airports Company South Africa has addressed infrastructure and security concerns, announcing a 21.7-billion-rand investment over five years. CEO Mpumi Mpofu says the aim is to enhance asset availability, airport safety, and passenger experience. This follows criticism of stolen items and non-functioning cameras at airports. Mpofu says the investment will focus on refurbishments, improvements, and statutory compliance to ensure improved services across the country’s airports:

# Western Cape MEC of Community Safety, Reagen Allen, says he notes the questioning by police of four people in connection with the disappearance of seven-year-old Joslin Smith from Saldanha Bay. Two women and two men aged between 26 and 34 are being questioned. Allen is urging people to stop spreading fake news about the disappearance and the ongoing search for Joslin:

Meanwhile, Missing Children South Africa says more than one-thousand-300 cases of kidnapping are reported to the police every month. Nine-year-old Matthew Ohlsson went missing from outside his home in Mitchells Plain in March 1997, and still has not been found. Missing Children South Africa’s coordinator, Bianca Van Aswegen, says not enough attention is placed on missing children cases unless the case was fresh.

# Rugby: Springbok head coach Rassie Eramus is very satisfied with his coaching team’s two-day strategic meeting in Cape Town. He was joined by new defence coach Jerry Flannery, new attacking coach Tony Brown and retired international referee Jaco Peyper, now the national laws advisor. Forty-three players are attending an alignment camp today, where the coaching team’s planning and discussions are continued. The Boks start their international season against Wales at Twickenham in London on the 22nd of June.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-88-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-377-dollars-16-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-126-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Stellenbosch University student-led Move4Food campaign is offering help to students who have not yet received their National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding. Students are being offered nonperishable food, and vouchers, providing immediate relief to those struggling as they wait for the delayed NSFAS funding. The campaign’s Candice Egan says Move4Food is about creating a caring community that is cognisant of the needs of its student population.

Stay tuned for more news………….