News 18:00

BULLETIN 10 March 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# SA Canegrowers urges minister Enoch Godongwana to keep the sugar tax unchanged
# Canada’s incoming prime minister wants to win the trade war with the United States
# And rugby: The Springboks are still safely at number one in the world despite last playing in November

# SA Canegrowers urges Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to continue his support for policies that avoid increasing the sugar tax, which has harmed the sugar industry and rural communities. It says the tax has already caused losses in the sugar industry, and further hikes could lead to more closures. The organisation’s chairperson, Higgins Mdluli, calls for growth and job creation through diversification, including biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels, to support the industry’s long-term development.

# An investigation into Helen Joseph Hospital in Gauteng confirms major infrastructure and staffing issues following allegations by former broadcaster Thomas Holmes in a viral video last September. The Office of Health Standards Compliance and the Health Ombud found poor hospital infrastructure and water supply issues, including a dysfunctional department, unfilled positions, and poor management. The ombud’s Taole Mokoena says while some patient care complaints were not proven, the investigation calls for better governance, staffing, and improvements in hospital services:

# The DA in Gauteng is calling on Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela to urgently address a backlog of 40-thousand unissued driver permits. The DA’s Evert du Plessis says the delay is forcing motorists to operate illegally, impacting key industries like taxis and e-hailing services. He blames inefficiencies at provincial and local levels for the crisis and urges the department to act swiftly:

# Canada’s incoming prime minister, Mark Carney, struck a defiant note as the former central banker vowed to win the trade war against US president Donald Trump, saying his country will never be part of the United States. Carney lost no time standing up for the Canadian way of life after the Liberal Party overwhelmingly elected him to succeed Justin Trudeau. Canada must hold elections by October but could well see a snap poll within weeks. Current opinion polls had the opposition Conservatives as slight favorites.

# 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-24-cents and the euro at 19-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-56-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-734-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-906-dollars-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….