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BULLETIN 29 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa signs the Intelligence Reform Bill into law
# The Labour minister to unveil a R460-million job creation initiative in Mpumalanga
# And, Germany hopes for an agreement on the US tariffs, but is also ready to retaliate

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill into law, introducing major changes to intelligence services. The State Security Agency will be replaced by two new bodies, the Foreign Intelligence Service and the Domestic Intelligence Agency, following recommendations from the Zondo Commission and the High-Level Review Panel. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the law also revives the Intelligence Training Academy, strengthens parliamentary oversight, and enforces stricter controls on internet surveillance:

# The SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition, Media Monitoring Africa, and free-to-air channel eTV have welcomed a major court victory for access to information and freedom of expression. The High Court in Pretoria ruled to delay the analogue switch-off on Monday, finding the decision was made unlawfully and without proper consultation. Coalition’s Uyanda Siyotula criticised the government’s failure to install enough set-top boxes, warning that millions would have lost access to vital news and public broadcasts:

# Employment and Labour minister, Nomakhosazana Meth, will hand over 460-million-rand in Labour activation programme contracts to 15 partner companies in Mpumalanga on Monday. Ministry spokesperson Thobeka Magcai says the initiative aims to create over nine-thousand-600 job opportunities in sectors like telecommunications, civil engineering, customer service, hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, enterprise development and information communication and technology:

# Germany says it hopes the EU and United States can negotiate an agreement on US auto tariffs but the bloc was ready to retaliate. US President Donald Trump this week announced 25-percent US duties on foreign-made cars, light trucks and vehicle parts, sparking criticism from world powers and sending stock markets into a tailspin. The levies are due to take effect Thursday next week but Germany, the eurozone’s biggest economy and a major car manufacturer and exporter, noted that the European Union was seeking “intensive dialogue” with the United States.

# And, Soccer: Barcelona’s injured playmaker Dani Olmo is facing three weeks on the sidelines, ruling him out of the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund. Olmo, who suffered a right thigh injury in Thursday’s 3-0 La Liga win over Osasuna, will miss this weekend’s league clash with Girona, the second leg of the Spanish Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid, and the 9 April tie with Dortmund. The club says his recovery time will be around three weeks.

Stay tuned for more news………….