News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A suspect was arrested after a breakthrough in the Witness D murder case
# Paul Mashatile honours Mosiuoa Lekota’s lifelong commitment to justice
# And Americans are urged to leave countries across the Middle East

# One suspect linked to the murder of Marius Van Der Merwe, also known as Witness D, has been arrested in Johannesburg. Van der Merwe was murdered in December in front of his family outside his home in Brakpan, shortly after testifying at the Madlanga Commission against high-ranking Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department officials. National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the SAPS Task Team seized the vehicle allegedly used in the killing:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says the late Mosiuoa Lekota lived a life defined by dedication to justice and service describing him as a fearless and principled leader. Mashatile called on South Africans to honor Lekota’s legacy by empowering the youth, healing the nation, and protecting democracy. He described Lekota as a leader who believed leadership is about service, and that democracy must ultimately improve the lives of ordinary South Africans:

# The South African National Defence Union has criticised the deployment of more than two-thousand soldiers to areas affected by gang violence and illegal mining. Chief negotiator Jeff Dubazane says the move by president Cyril Ramaphosa risks undermining constitutional democracy. Speaking to SABC News, Dubazane argues the SANDF is trained for combat, while SAPS is the responsibility of police, warning the country could risk following a path similar to Zimbabwe:

# The US embassy in Baghdad has issued a fresh warning for its citizens to leave Iraq immediately after a missile hit the embassy building earlier on Saturday. Due to the escalating conflict in the region American citizens have also been urged to immediately leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen. Meanwhile, president Donald Trump has repeated a call for allies to help secure the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

And now on to sports news:

# Rugby: The Springbok Sevens and their South Sea rivals Fiji continue on their collision course to decide who will win this year’s Sevens Series after both qualified for the semifinals of the New York Sevens. The two sides are on equal points at the top of the log and both lost a game during the pool phase. The Blitzboks lost their final pool game 19-12 to Australia and will now face Argentina in their semifinal. Fiji will face Australia in the other semifinal. The team that finishes above the other will win the World Series, and both have an equal chance.

# And motorsport: Kimi Antonelli became the youngest ever F1 Grand Prix polesitter at the age of just 19. He will start first in Shanghai, with his teammate George Russell next to him in an all-Mercedes front row. Russell is ahead on points in the drivers’ championship after taking the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, and winning yesterday’s sprint race in China. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will start third and fourth, with the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris behind them. Max Verstappen in his Red Bull will start from eighth.

Stay tuned for more news………….