News 06:00
BULLETIN 4 March 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The National Assembly approves a 3.8-percent pay hike for president Ramaphosa
# Thabo Bester’s application to be returned to the Kgosi Mampuru Prison is dismissed
# And cricket: The Proteas and Black Caps face off in the first T20 World semifinal today
# The National Assembly has approved a 3.8-percent salary increase for president Cyril Ramaphosa. The hike will take his annual salary to just over 3.4 million-rand. This follows a recommendation of the Independent Commission of the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, which had originally recommended a 4.1-percent adjustment. The ANC’s deputy chief whip, Dorris Dlakude, has defended the pay increase, arguing that the president is paid far less than many CEOs of state-owned enterprises and some public agencies. She emphasised that this salary increase will also benefit former presidents.
# The High Court in Pretoria has dismissed convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester’s urgent bid to be transferred back to the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria. He was recently moved to the eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal, from Kgosi Mampuru, where he had been held for nearly three years. Bester’s legal team argued that the transfer was unreasonable and procedurally unfair. A similar application was struck off the roll last month. Judge John Holland-Muter says the transfer was lawful:
# Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team should follow a formal demobilisation plan. Mosikili explained all task teams should have outlined step-by-step activities. This included reducing personnel as threats decline, and coordination with combat teams, crime intelligence, forensic units, investigators, and other departments to ensure cases are finalised efficiently before disbandment:
# The GOOD Party says the death of at least nine people in a building collapse in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, in Gauteng, could have been prevented. The party claims the structure was allegedly built without approved plans and criticised the city for acting only after deaths occurred. GOOD’s Matthew Cook urges stricter enforcement of building regulations and accountability for officials who neglected their duties:
# Global oil and gas prices jumped on Tuesday as the US-Israeli war on Iran halted energy exports from the Middle East. Tehran’s attacks on ships and energy facilities, closed navigation in the Gulf and forced production stoppages from Qatar to Iraq. The benchmark Brent crude oil contract gained nearly 8-percent on Tuesday to above 83-dollar per barrel, the highest since July 2024. Iraq on Tuesday said it may be forced to cut production by more than three-million barrels per day if oil tankers cannot move freely to loading points.
# Cricket: South Africa and New Zealand face off in the first semifinal of the T20 World Cup today. The match will be played in Kolkata, where Eden Gardens is expected to be filled with 68-thousand spectators. Former Australian wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell put his money on South Africa to reach the final, saying they have ticked every box so far, winning all their group and Super Eight matches. Co-hosts India will play England in tomorrow’s second final in Wankhede, with the final being played in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-48-cents and the euro at 19-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-1-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-335-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-88-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-6-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….