News 13:00

BULLETIN 8 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says Reverend Jackson witnessed Nelson Mandela finally walking free in 1990
# The MK Party says the DA effectively handed the chairmanship of the oversight committee of the Presidency to the ANC
# And tennis: Djokovic and Alcaraz are through to the next round of the Indian Wells Open in the US

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says when former president Nelson Mandela finally walked free in 1990 after 27 long years of imprisonment, Reverend Jesse Jackson was there in Cape Town, witnessing a moment the world would never forget. Delivering a tribute at the late civil rights leader’s memorial service in Chicago, Ramaphosa described the atmosphere as a release of glee and joy, as millions celebrated not only the freedom of a man, but the rising hope of a nation:

# The MK Party says what unfolded during the deliberations on the Oversight Committee on the Presidency should concern every South African who believes that Parliament must hold those in executive power accountable. Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela says during the meeting to elect a Chairperson of the Oversight Committee on the Presidency,  the ANC received five votes, while an opposition candidate nominated by ActionSA and other opposition parties received four votes and the DA received two votes:

 # Government is calling on all South Africans to work together to build a society that is free from gender-based violence and femicide, and where the rights, safety and empowerment of women are fully realised. Today marks the International Women’s Day, celebrated under the theme, Give to Gain. Acting spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa says government has recognised gender-based violence as a national crisis that requires a collective and coordinated response from all sectors of society:

# The City of Cape Town is hosting at least 91 events this month, with more permit applications still coming in. Collectively, these events are expected to attract approximately 300-thousand attendees to venues across the metro in the coming weeks. March includes several signature annual events that deliver a significant economic injection and reinforce the city’s position as a leading global events destination. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith says four of the events, including the Cape Town Cycle Race, have a combined economic impact of around 1.8-billion-rand.

# Cycling: South African pro Ryan Gibbons sprinted to a thrilling victory in the men’s 109km 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour this morning, finishing in 2 hours 33-minutes and six seconds. He edged out Jaedon Terlouw and Ryno Schutte in a high-speed finish in Green Point. In the women’s 78 km race, Lisa Bone claimed the title in two hours, six minutes and 26 seconds, out-sprinting Daria Pravilova and Kate Courtney. The event attracts close to 30-thousand cyclists annually and it is the world’s largest individually timed race.

# And tennis: Top seeds dominated the Round of 64 at Indian Wells in California. Third seed Novak Djokovic survived a scare, rallying to defeat Kamil Majchrzak in three sets, while top-seed Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3. Local favorite Taylor Fritz advanced in three sets, and Daniil Medvedev looked sharp. Defending champion Mirra Andreeva delivered a flawless 6-0, 6-0 win, and Jessica Pegula battled back to secure her spot in the Round of 32.

Stay tuned for more news………….