News 12:00

BULLETIN 19 March 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Kgalema Motlanthe calls for South Africa to mend relations with the US
# The SAA says the work-to-rule industrial action by pilots is regrettable
# AndsSoccer: Africa’s strongest teams continue with their qualifying quest for the World Cup

# Former president Kgalema Motlanthe has urged South Africa to repair its strained relationship with the US and strengthen ties with the European Union. He was speaking at the University of Johannesburg, where he received an honorary doctorate in Philosophy, recognising his leadership in stabilising government during his 2008 to 2009 presidency, and his ongoing contributions to the country. Motlanthe emphasised the importance of respecting international relations:

# South African Airways says it regrets the decision by the SAA Pilots Association and National Transport Movement Pilot Forum, to embark on work-to-rule industrial action today over salary increases. The airline is offering an initial increase of 7.3-percent this year, and 7.6-percent next year and in 2027. However, the unions are demanding 15.7-percent. SAA says this offer is both fair and generous, especially given the financial challenges it faces. It adds that contingency measures have been implemented to minimise the impact of the industrial action.

# The City of Tshwane says the 30-billion-rand it is owed by various municipal customers, including government departments and big business, impedes effective service delivery. The metro is continuing with its debt rehabilitation programme. Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo says residents who settle their outstanding rates and taxes incurred in the last 12 months, will qualify for a 70-percent write-off on any municipal debt more than a year old:

# Dutch king Willem-Alexander has addressed human rights concerns during his state visit to Kenya, amid growing allegations of abuses. The visit comes despite over 20-thousand Kenyans signed a petition urging the visit’s cancellation, citing arrests of critics and state-linked abductions. Speaking in Nairobi, Willem-Alexander emphasised the importance of free expression and governance. The king, honored with a 21-gun salute, stressed that Kenya and the Netherlands must engage on governance and accountability.

# Soccer: Africa’s strongest teams continue their quest this week to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Northern America. Bafana Bafana plays Lesotho in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Friday, while Rwanda and Nigeria will face off in Kigali. Today, Cameroon will face Eswatini in Mbombela, South Africa. Tomorrow, Mozambique will play Uganda in Cairo, Egypt. Among the other fixtures are Liberia against Tunisia, and the Central African Republic against Madagascar. Nine slots are reserved in the tournament for African teams, plus an inter-confederation play-off slot.

 # And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-21-cents and the euro at 19-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-64-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-345-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-33-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-3-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….