News 08:00

BULLETIN 16 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Kubayi reiterates the government’s commitment to ensure justice for apartheid era crimes
# The SANDF says they will enforce the law by any means possible
# And rugby: The Blitzboks are the champions in New York and the 2026 World Sevens Series winners

# Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says government remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of apartheid-era crimes identified in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report face justice. She delivered an address at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Sharpeville Commemoration and Anti-Racism Programme yesterday. Kubayi stated that the National Prosecuting Authority has opened eleven inquests so far, with six already completed, including the COSAS 4 killings, where a decision was taken that police officers involved should face prosecution:

# The South African National Defence Force says strategic guidelines and rules of engagement have been issued to all commanders and deployed troops, who are part of Operation Prosper. Under the operation, more than two-thousand soldiers, working alongside SAPS, will be deployed to crime hotspots in the Free State, Gauteng, North West, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape over 13 months. SANDF chief Rudzani Maphwanya says they will enforce by any means possible the law of order:

# Deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swartz, has apologised for her controversial “One Family, One Loaf” campaign. In a viral video, she was seen standing in front of crates of loaves of bread, while volunteers in ANC regalia handed out the bread to community members in Gauteng. Swartz says the bread distribution was part of a broader food drive organised through the Benny Swartz Foundation and not a political campaign. She acknowledged that the incident was particularly painful in a country grappling with high levels of poverty.

# Iranian Foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has denied claims that Tehran has asked for negotiation or a ceasefire with the US. This comes after president Donald Trump said that Iran wanted a deal, but he was unwilling to agree to one because the terms are not good enough yet. Araghchi told CBS that this is a war of choice by Trump, the US, and Israel, adding that this war will last as long as it takes:

# Rugby: The Springbok Sevens defeated Fiji 10-7 in the final to win the USA Sevens in New York and secure the World Sevens Series title. The Blitzboks scored two tries through Gino Cupido and Tristan Leyds against Fiji’s one as Philip Snyman’s men claimed their fourth title in the six-tournament shortened World Series. This is also South Africa’s seventh tournament win on US soil. Argentina defeated Australia 26-10 in the third-place play-off. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s women’s side claimed a fifth series title after edging out Australia 22-21.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-84-cents and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-32-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-508-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and 4-dollars-8-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….