News 09:00

BULLETIN 5 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government advises the more than six thousand South Africans in the Middle East to evacuate
# The US Defence Secretary says the war with Iran could last eight weeks
# And rugby: The Blitzboks face the All Blacks, Spain, and Great Britain in the Vancouver Sevens

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says it has noted a significant increase in registrations on its Travel Smart system, with over six-thousand-400 South African citizens in the Middle East registering their presence as of yesterday. US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran have threatened stability in the region. The department’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, says South Africans currently in the Middle East are urged to take advantage of the resumption of limited commercial flights out of the region:

# US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, says the war with Iran could last up to eight weeks, a longer time frame than previously been floated by president Donald Trump’s administration. Six US service members have been killed since the conflict began last Saturday. According to human rights monitors, so far more than one-thousand civilians have been killed in Iran, including 180 children. Hegseth acknowledged that Iran is still able to carry out missile attacks, but emphasised that Tehran cannot outlast American military power:

# The Auditor-General’s office says Transnet must generate enough cash flow to fund its capital expenditure operations and service its debt. The state-owned entity’s financial position has worsened, with debt rising from 137.6-billion-rand last year to 144.8-billion-rand. Briefing Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Auditor-General deputy Business Unit Leader, Bongumusa Thabethe, said over the past decade, Transnet has failed to meet maintenance requirements, resulting in a cumulative underspending of 32.3-billion-rand. He adds that last year, Transnet was supposed to spend ten-billion-rand but managed only 6.6-billion-rand, a 3.4-billion-rand shortfall.

# Deputy minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya says non-compliance with health, safety, and municipal regulations endangers lives. This, after a warehouse collapsed in Ormonde, South of Johannesburg, claimed nine lives. The City of Johannesburg has pledged to hold those responsible accountable and provide support to affected workers. Sibiya confirmed a formal investigation will determine the cause and any violations, with preliminary findings pointing to serious breaches, including missing approved building plans.

# Rugby: South Africa faces New Zealand, Spain and Great Britain in this weekend’s sevens world series tournament in Vancouver, Canada. The Blitzboks are currently second on the log behind Fiji after winning the tournaments in Cape Town and Perth, with less favourable results in Dubai and Singapore. The All Blacks are third and France fourth, followed by Australia, Argentina, Spain and Great Britain. The next tournament will take place in New York next weekend, followed by events in Hong Kong, Valladolid in Spain and Bordeaux in France.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-1-cent. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-672-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-178-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….