News 12:00

BULLETIN 24 March 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa recommits to the advancement of human rights for all
# Jozi My Jozi is eager to join the presidential working group to help revitalise Johannesburg
# And tennis: Novak Djokovic makes history at the Miami Open

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the majority of South Africans continue to believe in democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The country observed Human Rights Day on Friday. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says citizens should reject the politics of divisiveness, especially the false narrative that the country is a place in which people of a certain race are being targeted. He adds that South Africa stands in solidarity with all those whose right to lead lives of dignity is being undermined by conflict and war.

# Community group Jozi My Jozi says it is eager to join the presidential working group to help revitalise Johannesburg. Ramaphosa recently announced the formation of the group to help improve service delivery in the metro. Speaking at a solutions session at Constitution Hill, Jozi My Jozi’s Innocent Mabusela highlighted the importance of this collaboration. He vowed that the organisation will continue working with government as it is key to forming strong relationships both at local and provincial levels.

# IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa has called for Ithala Bank to remain operational, emphasizing its role in economic empowerment. He also warned against dismantling the Ingonyama Trust, insisting it must remain untouched. Speaking at the party’s 50th anniversary at Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Stadium In Kwa-Zulu Natal, he urged constructive debate on the 2025 budget and interventions regarding the Expropriation Act, which has sparked tensions internationally:

# Tennis: Six-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic is through to the last 16, following victory over Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli. The Serb has now earned a record 411th ATP Masters One-thousand match win, breaking a tie with Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Djokovic will next face Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who overcame Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. American Sebastian Korda knocked out Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas while France’s Gael Monfils battled past Spain’s Jaume Munar.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-16-cents and the euro at 19-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-52-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-178-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-23-dollars-98-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

# And finally: University of the Western Cape professor Renier Coetzee says progress in fighting tuberculosis is under threat due to funding challenges. The withdrawal of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief funding has placed immense strain on non-governmental organisations. Many organisations like TB Proof, ANOVA and TB/HIV Care rely heavily on such funding to sustain their programmes. Coetzee says without adequate resources, mentorship programmes, workshops, and advocacy campaigns risk being scaled back or discontinued altogether:

Stay tuned for more news………….