News 18:00
BULLETIN 9 March 6 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Bandile Masuku calls for overhaul of SAPS amid Madlanga Commission of Inquiry
# The PSA backs the plan to hire 20,000 interns to train as labour inspectors
And, the DA raises concern over Gautrain concession uncertainty
# Gauteng Community Safety Committee chairperson Bandile Masuku says the Madlanga Commission could help drive comprehensive reforms within the South African Police Service. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Masuku said minor reforms have not been effective and that a complete overhaul of policing systems may be required. He emphasised the need to strengthen community policing and improve intelligence gathering to better address crime across the country:
# The Public Servants Association welcomes the minister of Employment and Labour’s plan to employ 20-thousand internship inspectors for 24 months. The associations’ Claude Naicker says the move will strengthen labour law compliance, improve safety in government buildings, and create opportunities for young graduates. Naicker urged the department to provide proper training and tools, ensure merit-based recruitment, involve organised labour, and consider permanently absorbing successful interns after the program.
# The DA warns of uncertainty as the Bombela Concession Company ends on 27 March 2026. DA Roads and Logistics spokesperson Evert Du Plessis stresses that Gautrain is vital for commuters and the economy, yet the Gauteng Provincial Government has not disclosed the next private partner. He calls for a transparent, well-prepared concession process to maintain uninterrupted service:
# Lebanon’s parliament extended its own mandate for two years , pushing back elections that were meant to take place in May of this year. The office of parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said today 76 lawmakers of the 128-seat body had voted in favour of the extension. The vote came a week after Lebanon was dragged into the regional war by militant group Hezbollah’s launch of rockets and drones into Israel, which has responded with heavy bombardment across the country. Lebanon last held parliamentary elections in 2022.
# Soccer: Iran’s coach, Graham Arnold, wants their World Cup qualifier in Mexico later this month postponed due to the travel disruption caused by the Middle Eastern conflict. His charges are due to face Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on the 31st. Arnold is worried local-based players won’t be able to travel to Mexico in time. He says using only overseas players would weaken his team and hinder their chances of qualifying for the first time since 1986, describing the encounter as their biggest in 40 years.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-63-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-217-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-74-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 99-dollars-81-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….