News 06:00

BULLETIN 5 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa pledges support for the South Africans caught up in the Middle East conflict
# The ANC accuses the DA of spreading lies about the Tshwane water crisis
# And cricket: New Zealand are through to the T20 World Cup final after a commanding victory against the Proteas

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is working to assist South Africans stranded in countries affected by the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict. Speaking on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town, Ramaphosa described the situation as dangerous and potentially far-reaching. He said repatriation will proceed once airspace reopens for safe travel, adding that South Africa has engaged regional leaders to help safeguard its citizens:

Meanwhile, a US Navy submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean with a torpedo, killing at least 80 people on board the Iris Dena, as it was sailing close to the Sri Lankan coast. This marks the first US attack on Iranian forces outside of the Middle East. According to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs ministry, 32 of the crew members were rescued alive and taken to the hospital. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth says this is the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two.

# The suspended head of the police’s Organised Crime Unit, Richard Shibiri, has denied claims of institutional capture within the police. Shibiri is accused of interfering in the investigation into the 2022 murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, in which businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe is one of four people charged. Testifying before the Madlanga commission in Pretoria, Shibiri said while officers can be compromised in small groups, he is not aware of systemic capture:

# The ANC has accused the DA of running a desperate election campaign by spreading false claims about a financial and water crisis in Tshwane. The party says the DA is exaggerating service delivery challenges and ignoring its own role in infrastructure neglect and financial mismanagement during its time in office. The ANC’s Joel Masilela ka Mahlangu has assured residents that the ANC-led coalition is working to address water shortages and restore services:

# The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has welcomed Rio Tinto’s decision to restart the nine-billion-rand Zulti South project in KwaZulu-Natal. The Richards Bay Minerals project, which produces minerals used in products from paints to smartphones, is expected to boost jobs, skills development, and local economic growth. The department says the investment reflects renewed confidence in the mining sector and highlights the importance of collaboration between government, industry, and communities.

# Cricket: New Zealand are through to the T20 World Cup final after a nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the semifinals in Kolkata. Cole McConchie and Matt Henry claimed two wickets each as the Proteas were restricted to 169 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. Marco Jansen scored an unbeaten 55. In reply, Finn Allen scored an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, to guide the Black Caps to victory. New Zealand will face either India or England in Sunday’s final.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-32-cents and the euro at 18-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-842-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-140-dollars-94-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….