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BULLETIN 12 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Manufacturing sales declined by 3.3-percent in January
# Former Philippines president Duterte is to appear before the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity today
# And inDrive plans to hire over 400 women drivers in Cape Town to promote equality

# Statistics South Africa says manufacturing production decreased by 3.3-percent in January this year compared to January last year, with the largest declines in petroleum, food and beverages, and motor vehicles. However, the wood products sector showed positive growth. Stats SA’s Nicolai Claassen says over the past three months, manufacturing faced negative growth, with several sectors reporting losses:

# The Institute of Race Relations says it has long warned of the catastrophic impact of race-based policies and their inherently exclusionary and anti-growth effects. On Tuesday, JP Morgan downgraded South African equities, citing the anti-growth effects of policies like black economic empowerment. The IRR’s, Makone Maja, says they have written to key members of the cabinet, to request them to urgently clarify the cost to jobs and investment imposed by BEE barriers to economic growth in the country:

# Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte is expected to make his first appearance at the International Criminal Court later today to face charges of crimes against humanity. The 79-year-old will appear before judges where he will be informed of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant. The first Asian head of state to face ICC charges, stands accused over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed thousands of people.

# Rugby: Irish flyhalf Sam Prendergast paid the price for his under-par performance against France last week when he dropped to the bench for tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome. He is replaced by Jack Crowley, who played in all the defending champion’s matches last year. Interim head coach Simon Easterby made another five changes to the team that was humiliated by France. Ireland is currently third on the log behind France and England, but still has a chance for a third straight title.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-20-cents and the euro at 19-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-973-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-989-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Global mobility leader, inDrive is set to employ over 400 female drivers in Cape Town in efforts to promote gender equality in e-hailing. This initiative, launched during International Women’s Month, aims to create economic opportunities for women and meet the demand for female drivers. Research shows over 80-percent of passengers prefer female drivers. inDrive’s Country Representative, Ashif Black, told TechFinancials the move will enhance employment access and rider choice.

Stay tuned for more news………….