News 17:00

BULLETIN 4 March 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC honours Mosiuoa Lekota’s role in the fight against apartheid
# Richard Shibiri clarifies lost WhatsApp messages amid allegations about Matlala
# And rugby: Three changes are made to Wales’ squad for the Six Nations clash with Ireland

# The ANC has expressed sadness at the passing of struggle stalwart Mosiuoa Lekota. Although he later left the ANC to start the Congress of the People, the party said Lekota was an important leader in the fight against apartheid. They acknowledged his work with the United Democratic Front, the Black Consciousness Movement, and his eight years in prison on Robben Island. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu conveyed condolences to Lekota’s family, colleagues and supporters:

# The head of SAPS Organised Crime Unit Richard Shibiri told the Madlanga Commission he does not recall sending or receiving WhatsApp messages to businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala after his SAPS phone was repaired. Shibiri explained the device overheated during an update, was reset by Vodacom, and all restored messages were permanently lost with no backup. He confirmed routine message deletions were for device maintenance, not to conceal information:

# The University of South Africa has registered approximately 422-thousand students, with 318-thousand fully enrolled as the 2026 academic year began on Monday. Registrar Moloko Sepota says enrolments have increased by 18-thousand compared to last year, reflecting growing confidence in the institution. Eight-hundred new lecturers have also been appointed. Sepota says the university has offered career guidance, orientation, academic literacy and psychosocial support to ease the transition to tertiary study and reduce dropout rates.

# The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation says cutting global carbon emissions will require green industrialisation and job creation. Speaking at the Africa Energy Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, programme manager Karin Reiss noted that the Belem Declaration adopted at COP30 supports the drive. The pledges was to integrate social protection systems, food security, and poverty eradication into climate resilience strategies. She urged policy alignment, skills development and access to climate finance to power low-carbon industrial hubs.

# Rugby: Welsh coach Steve Tandy has made three changes to his side for Friday’s Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin, hoping to end his struggling team’s losing streak in the competition. Flanker James Botham gets his first start this season, replacing injured Taine Plumtree. At flyhalf, Dan Edwards replaces injured Sam Costelow, while Ellis Mee returns on the wing in place of Gabriel Hamer-Webb. Tandy says they want to back up their good performance against Scotland, where they only lost late in the match.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-32-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-1-cent. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-276-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-187-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….