News 09:00

BULLETIN 25 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula is confident a victory is certain for the ANC
# Julius Malema accuses the Prosecuting Authority and Public Protector of protecting Ramaphosa
# And the UN’s UNRWA is barred from delivering food aid to northern Gaza

# ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula they are confident that the ruling party will win the upcoming elections with an outright majority. Many polls ahead of the 29th May elections predict that the ANC will lose its majority suggesting that its support could fall below 50-percent. Addressing a rally in East London, Mbalula says victory is certain for the ANC, and there is no single detractor, including the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, that will make them lose focus.

# EFF leader Julius Malema claims that president Cyril Ramapahosa is being protected by the National Director of Public Prosecutions head Shamila Batohi and Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka. He was speaking at the Western Cape provincial manifesto launch at the Gugulethu Stadium yesterday. Opposition parties have long been calling for Ramaphosa to be held accountable for the Phala Phala scandal and the CR17 campaign. Malema says if the National Prosecuting Authority was independent, Ramaphosa would be in jail today:

# Western Cape MEC of Mobility, Ricardo Mackenzie, says the provincial government is ready for the Easter weekend, doing everything possible to keep residents and visitors safe on the roads. The MEC launched the Easter road safety campaign in Brackenfell over the weekend. Mackenzie says they are targeting pedestrian safety, driver and vehicle fitness, as they still face the enormous challenge of changing road user behaviour:

# The United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees says it has been barred by Israel from making aid deliveries in northern Gaza, with no reasons given. Israel has accused Unrwa staff members of participating in the seventh of October attack last year and called the agency a front for Hamas. Gaza faces dire humanitarian conditions as a result of Israel’s war against Hamas. The agency’s head, Philippe Lazzarini, says obstructing lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine is outrageous.

# Two-time finalist Jannik Sinner is through to the last 16 of the Miami Open. The second-seeded Italian came from behind to beat Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, 5-7, 7-5, 6-1. Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray of Scotland suffered a, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 defeat by 23-year-old Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic. In the women’s draw, world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland is through to the round of 16 after beating Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. France’s Caroline Garcia beat Naomi Osaka in straight sets.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-96-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-49-dollars-60-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-170-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….