News 14:00

BULLETIN 9 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Over 63-thousand cattle in the Eastern Cape were vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease in one week
# The asbestos corruption case is postponed for accused number one to secure legal representation
# And cricket: The Proteas will finally leave India after being stuck due to the Middle Eastern conflict

# The Eastern Cape MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonceba Kontsiwe, says the province has vaccinated over 63-thousand cattle against foot-and-mouth disease in one week. The first 150-thousand doses of Argentinian vaccine arrived in the province last week. Kontsiwe says the department has placed an order for one-million-and50-thousand -vaccines with Onderstepoort Biological Products following the 55-million-rand emergency funding allocated by provincial Treasury last month:

# The High Court in the Free State has postponed the 255-million-rand asbestos corruption case to 9 April to allow accused number one, former provincial Department of Human Settlements head, Nthimotse Mokhesi, to secure new legal representation. The case involves 18 accused, including former Free State premier Ace Magashule and businessman Edwin Sodi. Judge Phillip Loubser warned arrest warrants could be issued if accused persons fail to appear:

# Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia rejects the City of Cape Town’s claim a 120-million-rand wall along the N2 highway will reduce crime. He says infrastructure cannot replace core law enforcement and a wall will not address gang violence, firearm-related offences and organised or other crime. Build One South Africa’s Roger Solomons calls the project cosmetic, urging funds to be rather redirected to visible law enforcement and community investment:

# Cricket: The Proteas will depart Kolkata tomorrow after being stuck in India after the T20 World Cup due to the conflict in the Middle East. Players who will be involved in a five-match T20 series in New Zealand from Sunday, will travel directly from Kolkata to Mount Maunganui, while the rest will return home. Meanwhile, Proteas allrounder Corbin Bosch’s younger brother, Eathan, won’t get the chance to make his debut for South Africa because an injury forced him out of the tour. Keshav Maharaj will captain the side.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-73-cents and the euro at 19-rand-33-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-31-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-890-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-102-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-80-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Gauteng Health Department is urging residents to get regular eye examinations as it marks World Glaucoma Week. The department says glaucoma, known as the silent thief of sight, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness and often develops without early symptoms. The department’s Eye Health manager, Virginia Mawela, says residents, especially those over 40, should test regularly to prevent vision loss:

Stay tuned for more news………….