News 13:00

BULLETIN 16 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola says South Africa and America’s relationship remains strategic
# A multi-disciplinary team rescues a kidnapped Portuguese businessman in Johannesburg
# And motorsport: Norris beats Verstappen to victory in a dramatic Australian Grand Prix opener

# International Relations and Cooperation minister Ronald Lamola says government believes that the relationship between South Africa and America remains strategic. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio declared South Africa’s ambassador Ebrahim Rasool persona non grata on social media. Rasool was given 72 hours to leave the country. This stems from his speech to the Mapungubwe Institute on president Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again movement, calling them it supremist and racist. Lamola says government will continue to engage the US administration:

Meanwhile, Saftu is calling on the South African government to respond decisively on expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool by summoning the US ambassador to South Africa to account for this hostile action. Saftu spokesperson Newton Masuku says government must reassess South Africa’s trade and diplomatic relations with the US, particularly in light of AGOA and also strengthening alliances with BRICS and other Global South nations to counter Western imperialism:

 In their reaction, the Activists and Citizen Forum says the only people that are celebrating the expulsion of Rasool, are the right-wing groupings AfriForum and Solidarity. Forum spokesperson, Dennis Bloem says in their view, their destructive visit to the US president Donald Trump’s administration to spread lies about South Africa, bore fruit. Bloem says they are also not surprised by what they called the reckless and senseless action by the Trump administration:

# A police multi-disciplinary team successfully rescued a kidnapped Portuguese businessman in Westdene, Johannesburg. One suspect, a 26-year-old Zimbabwean national, has been arrested. Police spokesperson, Amanda van Wyk says the businessman was kidnapped on Tuesday, shortly after dropping off an employee in Rewlatch. She says a ransom was later demanded for his release:

# And, motorsport: Lando Norris converted pole position into a hard-fought win during the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which featured mixed weather conditions, multiple crashes, and a late-race downpour that caused huge drama. Norris controlled the early stages of the race from McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on a sodden track. However, a late-race downpour threw a spanner in the works, making the track slippery and causing delays for pitstops to change tyres. Defending champion Verstappen ended second, with George Russel third and George Albon fourth.

Stay tuned for more news………….