News 17:00

BULLETIN 10 March 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Police deny claims of the Crime Intelligence head’s dismissal
# Zelensky and America hold talks over the war with Russia
# And rugby: The Springboks are still safely number one in the world despite last playing in November

# Police have dismissed claims by City Press that Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo has been fired, calling them reckless and misleading. Earlier, the DA welcomed Police minister Senzo Mchunu’s alleged decision to dismiss Khumalo for failing to disband the political killings task team. However, police insist Khumalo remains in his role and continues his duties as divisional commissioner of Crime Intelligence.

# The chairperson of Parliament’s standing committee on Public Accounts, Songezo Zibi, says they are ready to ensure government accountability in budget spending. Speaking ahead of the budget speech, Zibi highlighted concerns over rising debt, inefficient spending, and USAID funding cuts affecting critical programmes. He stresses that billions-of-rand are lost through water losses and overpriced government leases. Zibi calls for transparency and efficiency in public funds management:

# The Western Cape Education Department’s on-time applications for Grades R, 1, and 8 learners will open tomorrow and close on 15 April. Parents must submit certified documents, including ID, proof of residence, and immunisation records online. In-person assistance is available at 125 pop-up events. Education MEC David Maynier urges parents to apply early to secure placements for the 2026 school year:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is due to arrive in Saudi Arabia later today before crucial talks with US officials on ending the war with Russia. He says Ukraine wants peace and Russia is the only reason the war has dragged on. The highly-anticipated negotiations on resolving the conflict of more than three-years will see US and Ukrainian officials meet for the first time since Zelensky’s disastrous White House visit last month.

# Rugby: The Springboks are still safely in top position in the world rankings despite last playing in November, but Ireland relinquished second spot to the All Blacks after Saturday’s Six Nations loss to fourth-placed France. Les Bleus missed out on the opportunity to move ahead of Ireland for the first time since July 2022 when they relinquished a 42-13 lead to eventually win 42-27. The rest of the top-ten stays the same. Argentina is in fifth position, followed by England, Scotland, Australia, Fiji and Italy.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-22-cents and the euro at 19-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-656-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-906-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….