News 13:00
BULLETIN 15 March 1 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Senzo Mchunu is confident the adlanga and ad hoc probes will clear his name
# Gayton McKenzie backs US ambassador Bozell amid diplomatic tensions
# And motorsport, the teenager Kimi Antonelli secures his first F1 victory
# Police minister Senzo Mchunu says he is confident investigations by the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad hoc committee will clear him of allegations of political interference in the justice system. Mchunu was placed on special leave by president Cyril Ramaphosa after allegations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi revealed Mchunu’s directive to disband the political killings task team. His spokesperson Sithembiso Mshengu expressed confidence that findings will reveal no wrongdoing:
# The minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has expressed support for US ambassador Leo Brent Bozell, describing him as a man of discernment. McKenzie said he stands by the ambassador following controversy over remarks about the “Kill the Boer” chant. The comments come amid strained relations between South Africa and the US after the ambassador’s earlier statements drew criticism from several political leaders and prompted diplomatic concern.
# Western Cape police have confirmed one person has been killed and three others wounded in two separate shooting incidents on the Cape Flats. Police say a 35-year-old man was shot dead outside his home in Eureka Estate, Elsies River on Friday night after reportedly returning from mosque. In a separate incident in Lavender Hill, two men and an eight-year-old boy were wounded. Police spokesperson Ndakhe Gwala says no arrests have been made and the motives remain unknown. Investigations continue.
# Meta, the owners of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram amongst others , is planning sweeping layoffs that could affect 20-percent or more of the company. Reuters reports this comes as Meta seeks to offset costly artificial intelligence infrastructure investments and prepare for greater efficiency brought about by AI-assisted workers. This could be the company’s most significant layoffs since restructuring in late 2022 and early 2023. Meta employed nearly 79-thousand people as of December 31, according to its latest records. No date has been set for the cuts and the magnitude has not been finalised.
# Motorsport: Kimi Antonelli has done it! The Mercedes teenager secured his first F1 win with a victory from pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix. His teammate George Russell finished second. Lewis Hamilton brought his Ferrari home in third. It was a good day for seven-time world champion Hamilton, who secured his first proper podium for Ferrari since joining the team for the 2025 season. His teammate Charles Leclerc ended fourth.
Meanwhile the Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali announced the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix events have officially been cancelled. They were initially scheduled for 12 April and 19 April respectively. He said it was a difficult decision to take, but unfortunately the right one, considering the current situation in the Middle East. Although alternatives were considered, no substitutions will be made for the races. The cancellations mean there will be a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on 29 March and Miami on 3 May.
# And finally, the Motsepe Foundation 2026 Race to Gender Equality is taking place at the University of Pretoria’s Hillcrest Campus today. Featuring five, ten, and 21-kilometre races, the event promotes women’s empowerment, gender equality, and safety. Partnering with the City of Tshwane and Athletics Gauteng North, the foundation’s sports coordinator Dioka Motsepe told SABC News the initiative aims to combat gender-based violence, address inequality in leadership, finance, and care work, and encourage collective action towards a gender-balanced society:
Stay tuned for more news………….