News 16:00

BULLETIN 6 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government monitors fuel supplies amid the global oil turmoil
# Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
# And rugby: The Six Nations enters the final two rounds

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy says government is closely monitoring global oil prices and fuel supplies as tensions continue in the Middle East. According to Moneyweb, the closure of the key oil shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz, has pushed prices higher. South Africa could face huge fuel price increases in April, with the possibility of petrol and diesel price hikes of between two- and five-rand per litre. However, Creecy says the country currently has stable fuel and jet fuel supplies.

# Madlanga commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga says alleged threats against North West businessman Suliman Carrim appear to have no clear factual basis. Carrim’s lawyer, Kameel Premhid, maintains the threats are real and argues this is precisely the dilemma facing his client while preparing to give evidence. Madlanga says the claims seem to emerged like a bolt of lightning, with no explanation of their possible source:

# Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has confirmed government has provided 1.4-billion-rand to combat foot-and-mouth disease, with additional funding requested. Government will cover the full cost of vaccinating livestock as part of a national containment campaign. Steenhuisen says vaccines sourced from Argentina and Turkey are already being distributed across provinces. He told Newzroom Afrika the country aims to vaccinate about 80-percent of livestock by December:

# US president Donald Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, moving her to a new job as special envoy for a new US security initiative in the Western hemisphere called the Shield of the Americas. In recent months, Noem has faced criticism, including her response over the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis. Trump has named Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as new Homeland Security Secretary, as from the end of the month. He still needs to be confirmed by the Senate.

# Rugby: The Six Nations resumes today after a week-long hiatus, with Ireland welcoming Wales to Dublin this evening. Tomorrow, Scotland and defending champion France will do battle in Edinburgh, followed by the clash between Italy and England at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Undefeated France is top of the log with 15 points before the final two rounds. Scotland is second on 11 points and Ireland third on nine. England is fourth, Italy fifth and Wales on the bottom of the log as usual.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-71-cents and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-25-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-93-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-89-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….