News 11:00

BULLETIN 17 March 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is confident about SA-US relations
# ActionSA reintroduces a bill on ministerial spending
# And the Trump administration defends the deportation of over 200 Venezuelans

# President Cyril Ramaphosa believes the historic relationship between South Africa and the US will outlive the current bumpy patch. This follows the expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, on Friday, over his comments on president Donald Trump’s administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rasool of being a race-baiting politician and declared him persona non grata. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told New24 government is prepared to have constructive discussions with the Trump administration about areas of convergence and alignment.

# ActionSA says it has reintroduced the Cut Cabinet Perks Bill, the first step in its cabinet reform package. This bill was originally introduced by the DA’s Leon Schreiber in 2023 but lapsed and was never revived after the party joined the government of national unity. ActionSA’s Alan Beesley says the bill will rein in unchecked ministerial spending, limit the president’s unilateral control over the ministerial handbook, and curb wasteful expenditure:

# Gauteng police have launched a manhunt after 30 suspects bombed multiple ATMs at the Jubilee Mall in Hammanskraal, Tshwane, yesterday. Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo says the suspects targeted five ATMs and also broke into a shop and bombed the safe. He says once arrested, they will face charges including attempted murder and armed robbery. He adds that as the investigation unfolds, they will also look into potential links between the suspects and previous criminal activities in the region:

# US president Donald Trump’s administration has defended its decision to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport 238 mostly Venezuelan alleged gang members to a prison in El Salvador. This is despite a federal judge temporarily blocking the administration’s ability to use the act to justify the deportations. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the administration did not violate the judge’s order because it was issued after the migrants in question had left the US. She added that the order had no lawful basis.

# Golf: 2019 champion Rory McIlroy will face American JJ Spaun in a three-hole playoff today to decide the Players Championship winner in Florida. A four-hour weather delay ensured the PGA Tour’s flagship event could not finish yesterday. The Northern Irishman posted a four-under 68 to finish alongside Spaun on 12 under. Americans Tom Hoge, Akshay Bhatia, and Lucas Glover finished two strokes back in tied-third on ten under. McIlroy says he failed to capitalise on his chances:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-18-cents and the euro at 19-rand-78-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-52-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-398-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-989-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….