News 08:00

BULLETIN 26 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Motsoaledi withdraws the regulations prohibiting the sale of cannabis and hemp products
# The EFF is concerned about ministers who don’t reply to questions in Parliament
# And the UN is reducing its footprint in Gaza following the resumption of Israeli airstrikes

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi will withdraw the gazetted regulations prohibiting the sale of cannabis and hemp products, to allow for a public participation process. The regulations, gazetted earlier this month, banned any food with ingredients derived from cannabis, hemp seed oil, or hemp seed flour, which led to a public outcry. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the president supports more stakeholder consultation and public participation, which will limit health risks and the negative impact of foodstuffs containing cannabis and hemp:

# The EFF says it is concerned about Parliament’s latest report on the status of outstanding replies to questions by ministers. According to the report, 783 questions were submitted and replies were due last Thursday, however about 222 questions have no replies. During this period Police minister Senzo Mchunu did not reply to 47 of the 74 questions, while Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen only replied to six of the 17 questions he received. The EFF says It is clear then that some ministers have no regard for the oversight role Parliament plays.

# ActionSA in Gauteng is urging Municipal Public Accounts Committee members to report all forms of intimidation and victimisation to the police. It has emerged that public representatives entrusted with oversight of public finances are often intimidated. ActionSA’s, John Moodey, says during a meeting stark realities that have led to the failures, especially of local governments, were also raised, and the prominent challenges committees face in that their recommendations are largely ignored:

# The United Nations says it is reducing its international staff numbers in Gaza following the resumption of deadly Israeli airstrikes. Around a third of the approximately 100 international staff working in Gaza will be temporarily relocated. Last week Israeli strikes hit a UN compound in Deir Al Balah, killing a Bulgarian UN worker and leaving six others injured. UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, says no humanitarian aid has been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip since earlier this month:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana beat Benin 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to maintain their lead in Group C. Second-half goals from Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams were enough to give the visitors victory away from home. South Africa has now opened up a five-point lead at the top of Group C with 13 points from six games, with Rwanda and Benin both on eight points. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says his players proved they can grind out a result in difficult conditions.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-26-cents and the euro at 19-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-63-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-279-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-20-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….