News 16:00

BULLETIN 3 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Joslin Smith’s mother and two co-accused plead not guilty at the start of their trial
# ActionSA announces a cabinet reform package and a zero-tolerance corruption bill
# And cricket: Rohit Sharma warns India before tomorrow’s Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia

# Missing West Coast girl Joslin Smith’s mother and her two co-accused pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and human trafficking. The trial of Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, began in the High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay this morning. The girl was six-years-old when she disappeared from her mother’s home in February last year. Scores of residents are attending, with Joslin’s grandmother, Lauretta Yon, telling the media they hope Kelly will speak up and tell them where her daughter is.

# ActionSA has announced two major legislative actions aimed at overhauling the government. The cabinet reform package seeks to cut wasteful spending by abolishing deputy ministers and reducing excessive ministerial perks. According to the party, this could save 1.5-billion-rand annually. ActionSA’s Athol Trollip told the media the zero-tolerance corruption bill aims to strengthen anti-corruption laws, increase penalties, and hold both public and private sector officials accountable:

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says it supports the creation of a central register for public servants dismissed for misconduct but warns it could be misused. The organisation argues that without proper oversight, the register could be weaponised against whistleblowers and employees who expose corruption. OUTA’s Andrea van Heerden calls for a formal appeal process to protect those wrongly listed and stronger penalties for officials who ignore the register when hiring:

# The DA is calling on the minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, to take urgent action about the Army’s golf day planned for the fourth of next month. The DA’s Nicholas Gotsell says according to the invitation from the Chief of the Army, Lawrence Mbatha, there will be luxury sponsorships, free wine and catering for 420 guests, while South African soldiers in the DRC are struggling to survive:

# Cricket: Captain Rohit Sharma warned his India team to expect fightbacks and nervy times against Australia in the Champions Trophy last four in a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final. They face the Steve Smith-led Australia in Dubai tomorrow for a place in the final of the eight-nation event. They are missing several key players, but the Australians have a reputation for raising their game when it matters and beat hosts India in the World Cup final, the last time the two countries played an ODI.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-64-cents and the euro at 19-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-62-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-48-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-874-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….