News 17:00

BULLETIN 5 March 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa slams Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza
# An Eastern Cape woman is accused of planning to kill her husband in a staged farm attack
# And cricket: The Proteas chase a huge target in the Champions Trophy semifinal

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has strongly condemned Israel’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and its ongoing military operations in the West Bank. The department says this constitutes a violation of international law, citing the potential for starvation as a weapon of war and the forced displacement of Palestinians. They support the Arab League’s call for a United Nations peacekeeping force to ensure stability in Gaza and the West Bank.

# The Aliwal North Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape has postponed the case against a woman accused of plotting to kill her husband in a staged farm attack. The prosecution requested a postponement, citing outstanding statements, photo albums, and cellphone records. According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, the case against 46-year-old Anelle de Bruin will resume on 23 April after her two-thousand-rand bail was extended:

# Two of the accused in the disappearance of West Coast girl Joslin Smith allege police forced them to confess. Jacquin Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn are standing trial together with Joslin’s mother, Kelly Smith. The men denied they were ever involved in the alleged crime. Their lawyers told the High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay police tortured their clients before their arrests and they admitted they had Joslin sold because they were afraid they would be killed. The trio face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.

# Free State MEC for Community Safety, Jabu Mbalula, has urged stricter road safety laws after a bus crash on the N6 near Reddersburg that claimed ten lives. The accident occurred in the early hours of this morning, with most fatalities being women. The cause remains unknown. Mbalula emphasised the need for improved road safety to prevent such devastating incidents on South Africa’s roads:

# Cricket: The Proteas are chasing a huge target of 363 in their Champions Trophy semifinal against New Zealand in Lahore, Pakistan. The Black Caps opted to bat first and Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson anchored the innings with centuries. The usually economic Marco Jansen was especially punished, conceding 79 runs in his ten overs, while Lungi Ngidi took three wickets and Kagiso Rabada two. New Zealand ended on 362 for six. Today’s winner faces India in Sunday’s final in Dubai.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-61-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-862-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-912-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….