News 11:00

BULLETIN 6 March 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Transnet tables a revised three-year wage offer to its two largest unions
# AfriForum wants changes made to the Traditional and Khoi-San Bill
# And rugby, the Springboks will play another three matches this year

# Transnet has tabled a revised 14.5-percent wage offer over three years to its two biggest unions, Untu and Satawu. The offer will see workers get a 4.5-percent increase in the first year and five-percent in years two and three. However, Untu wants a 12-percent one-year increase, while Satawu wants a 17.5-percent increase over three years. Transnet says it considers this new offer to be reasonable and fair, given the current financial and operational challenges it is facing.

# AfriForum says the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill 2024 in its current form is in contravention of the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The legislation aims to formally recognise and regulate traditional and Khoi-San leadership structures in the country. AfriForum’s Barend Uys says minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, must act in the interest of cultural communities and affect important changes to the bill:

# The DA is calling for the revitalisation of the Western Cape anti-gang unit after uncovering a severe crisis in its operations. The DA says the unit, created in 2018 to combat gang violence, is struggling with broken vehicles, inadequate offices, and a lack of resources. The DA’s Nicholas Gotsell says with over 80 deaths monthly from gang violence, the party will push Parliament to hold the police accountable for the unit’s collapse:

# A United Nations report has uncovered a pattern of human rights violations committed by armed groups in the southeast of the Central African Republic, targeting Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees. Investigations found evidence of executions, sexual violence and torture, and forced labour. UN high commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says the report details two waves of attacks in the Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou regions, in which at least 24 people were killed, including victims who had been summarily executed:

# Rugby: Springbok management wants three more matches for the team this year to toughen up the schedule halfway between two World Cups. The two-time defending champions already have 13 confirmed appointments, but operational manager Charles Wessels says they plan a match against the Barbarians in June, as well as two Tests against undisclosed opponents. Head coach Rassie Erasmus says they realise it will be a tough season, but they want to give the players opportunities to build experience and show their mettle.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-29-cents and the euro at 19-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-909-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-919-dollars-91-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….