News 15:00

BULLETIN 13 March 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa is seeking to strengthen ties with the European Union
# Tshwane urges residents to stay alert amid a yellow level 2 weather warning
# And rugby: Scotland wants to end France’s Six Nations title hope on Saturday

# South Africa seeks to strengthen ties with the European Union. President Cyril Ramaphosa is today co-chairing the eighth South Africa-European Union Summit in Cape Town alongside European Council president Antonio da Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told SABC News the summit aims to strengthen relationships with key strategic partners, fostering cooperation in trade, investment, and development:

Meanwhile, minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says cabinet welcomes the allocation of over one-trillion-rand for infrastructure development to drive economic growth and improve service delivery. Briefing the media on the outcomes of the cabinet meeting, Ntshavheni said this funding, spread over the medium-term expenditure framework, includes new financing methods and opportunities for quicker project implementation:

# The City of Tshwane’s Emergency Services is urging residents to stay alert following a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms across Gauteng this afternoon. Risks include flooding, hail, strong winds, and lightning. Residents are advised to avoid metal objects, stay indoors, and not cross flooded roads. Emergency teams remain on high alert and highlight the importance of reporting major incidents.

# The Department of Water and Sanitation has extended the closure of the Lesotho Highlands water project’s water transfer system and its delivery tunnels by three weeks. This is due to delays in maintenance work at delivery tunnel South in Lesotho and unpredictable weather conditions. The department’s spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, says a recovery plan is in place to expedite the work in Lesotho, though the delay could not be avoided:

# Rugby: Eighthman Jack Dempsey says Scotland is hell-bent on ruining France’s Six Nations title hopes in Saturday’s final round match in Paris. France is currently on top of the log with 16 points, followed by England on 15 and Ireland on 14. Victory over Scotland should clinch the competition for the French, while Scotland is definitely the underdogs after losing two of their four previous matches. But Dempsey says the Scots are going to the Stade de France to try and upset the hosts’ party.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-867-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-944-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….