News 18:00

BULLETIN 7 March 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The PSA demands an investigation into alleged financial mismanagement at the National Lotteries Commission
# Rugby: Siya Kolisi and Ox Nché are back in the Sharks’ starting-15 to face the Lions in Durban
# And a man from South Carolina is set to be executed by a firing squad tonight

# The Public Servants Association is demanding a full forensic investigation into alleged financial mismanagement and corruption at the National Lotteries Commission. This follows the resignation of company secretary Nompumelelo Nene, who faced 145 charges but earned nearly six-million-rand in full pay since her suspension in November 2022. The association’s Claude Naiker calls for criminal investigations into those responsible for misusing public funds to prevent further corruption:

# Union federation Cosatu has welcomed Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s call for government to cover the funding shortfall left by the US’s decision to end the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief support. With 500-thousand HIV/Aids patients relying on the programme, Cosatu’s Matthew Parks urges Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to allocate funds in the budget:

# Russia has condemned the European Union’s confrontational rhetoric after the bloc’s leaders agreed to boost its defences at a crisis summit. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Russia is closely observing the EU, saying that it is actively discussing the topic of militarisation and positioning Russia as the main enemy. He says this could potentially be a topic of deep concern, that could lead to a situation where the necessity arises to take appropriate retaliatory measures, without elaborating.

# Rugby: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and loosehead prop Ox Nché are back in the Sharks’ starting-15 to face the Lions in the United Rugby Championship in Durban tomorrow. Emile van Heerden is also back after injury. Lappies Labuschagne replaces the injured Vincent Tshituka and Henry Immelman makes his debut at fullback. Grant Williams and Jordan Hendrikse will partner at halfback, with Francois Venter replacing an injured Lukhanyo Am in the starting team. Hooker Fez Mbatha and loose forward James Venter are on the bench after lengthy recovery periods.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-26-cents and the euro at 19-rand-84-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-595-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-916-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A South Carolina inmate convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001 will be the first American to be executed by firing squad in 15 years later today. Three volunteers behind a curtain will simultaneously fire rifles at the 67-year-old Brad Sigmon, who will be strapped to a chair with a target on his heart and a bag over his head. Afterwards, a doctor will confirm Sigmon’s death. The state allows witnesses to observe the execution from behind bulletproof glass.

Stay tuned for more news………….