News 14:00

BULLETIN 28 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A specialised team is established to address the national water challenges
# The Presidency releases an 18-month progress report on the Energy Action Plan
# And rugby: The Wallabies veteran Michael Hooper turns to sevens

# Cabinet has announced the formation of a specialised task team dedicated to confronting the pressing water challenges. The team, made up of representatives from departments like Water and Sanitation, Agriculture, and Public Works and Infrastructure, will devise strategies and implement solutions for the country’s complex water issues. Briefing the media, minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says with water scarcity becoming an increasingly urgent issue, the establishment of this team highlights government’s commitment to tackling the problem head-on:

Meanwhile, the Presidency has released a detailed update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan, showing significant progress in ending load-shedding. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the plan aims to reduce the severity of load-shedding and achieve energy security in the long term through fast-tracking the procurement of new generation capacity from renewables, gas and battery storage:

# Four people, including a teenage girl, were killed and at least five injured when a man went on a stabbing spree at multiple addresses in Rockford in the US state of Illinois. A 22-year-old suspect was taken into custody. Local police did not say anything about a possible motive. Those killed were a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman and two men aged 49 and 22.

# Rugby: Wallabies veteran Michael Hooper is switching to sevens in a bid to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in Paris. The loose forward played 125 Tests, but wasn’t picked for last year’s World Cup where the country failed to reach the play-offs for the first time in history. The 32-year-old has been included in a group of 13 players for the Hong Kong Sevens, taking place next weekend. Coach John Manetti says they are excited to have the experienced Hooper in their group.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-6-cents and the euro at 20-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-310-dollars-74-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-204-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-94-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A Gauteng vet clinic doctor has reached his target of collecting three-thousand easter egg boxes for his charity drive. Doctor Clifford Bull of Craig View Veterinary Clinic launched the initiative in 2018. Last year, two-thousand-400 boxes of easter eggs were collected. Bull says the boxes will be delivered to children fighting cancer, the elderly who are often overlooked, and minorities at squatter camps and caravan parks. He hopes this will inspire people to do a little more for those less fortunate this Easter weekend.

Stay tuned for more news………….