News 14:00

BULLETIN 26 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA slams Ramaphosa’s intervention in Johannesburg as a publicity stunt for the G20
# South Africa is among 10 African nations who will join India in a joint naval exercise
# And motorsport: Red Bull reportedly kicks out Liam Lawson after just two Formula One races

# The DA says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s intervention in Johannesburg is a publicity stunt ahead of the G20 summit in November. In an open letter, the party accuses Ramaphosa of only acting now to impress global leaders while ignoring years of service delivery failures. It questions the legality of the Johannesburg Presidential Working Group and warns it could be used to consolidate ANC power. The DA’s Solly Msimanga calls for public consultation, strict oversight, and action against corruption.

# The National Student Financial Aid Scheme says it will investigate all accommodation providers who have submitted incorrect information in an attempt to unlawfully benefit from funds intended for legitimate NSFAS-funded students. Spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi says during the accommodation verification process, the scheme has identified ghost students who are neither funded by NSFAS nor enrolled in any public university or college:

# Western Cape MEC of Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism, Ivan Meyer, has welcomed government’s decision to withdraw the gazetted regulations prohibiting the sale of cannabis and hemp products. Following a meeting between Ramaphosa and Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi, they agreed to more stakeholder consultation and public participation in the formulation of new regulations that will limit health risks and protect jobs. Meyer says the regulations were irrational:

# India and ten African nations, including South Africa, will conduct their first joint naval exercise off Tanzania’s coast next month. The six-day drill will see the participating countries, Tanzania, the Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles, focusing on maritime security, anti-piracy, and rescue operations. The nations will engage in visit, board, search and seizure drills, helicopter operations, and surveillance exercises. India’s patrol vessel, INS Sunayna, will also conduct joint patrols, reinforcing security cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

# Motorsport: Red Bull has reportedly sacked New Zealand driver Liam Lawson after just two races into the new season, replacing him with local driver Yuki Tsunoda for next month’s third race in Suzuka, Japan. This follows a meeting between team principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko, who had placed their faith in Lawson to succeed Mexican Sergio Perez. Lawson crashed out of the first race in Melbourne, Australia, and qualified in the slowest time in Shanghai, China, last weekend.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-21-cents and the euro at 19-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-102-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-20-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….