News 13:00

BULLETIN 17 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Bantu Holomisa calls on the American ambassador to verify accusations of genocide and uncompensated land grabs
# Minister Groenewald reveals the prison overcrowding crisis is deepening
# And soccer: Iran asks FIFA to move its World Cup group matches from America to Mexico

# UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has called on US ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell, to verify accusations of genocide and uncompensated land grabs, all purportedly mentioned by the US government, which spread widely within the international community. Holomisa was speaking at a courtesy meeting with Bozell. He says he arrives in South Africa at a time when relations between the two countries are experiencing a measure of strain:

# Correctional Services minister Pieter Groenewald has revealed to Parliament the growing concern in the prison system. He says data shows 168-thousand-672 inmates are held in facilities built for just over 107-thousand, 58-percent over capacity. Groenewald disclosed the figures in response to an EFF query. The Eastern Cape, the Western Cape, and Gauteng are hardest hit, with over 200 facilities exceeding capacity, raising concerns about conditions and justice system delays.

# The EFF is concerned about the damning report presented by the Auditor-General to Parliament’s standing committee on Auditor General on the state of municipalities. Spokesperson Sinawo Tambo says since the 2020/21 financial year, municipalities have accumulated a staggering 137-billion-rand in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. He adds investigations into fraud and improper conduct in supply chain management processes continue to be deliberately avoided or manipulated. Tambo also demands joint public hearings between parliamentary committees to address the collapse of local government finances

# The City of Cape Town’s traffic officials arrested a taxi driver with outstanding fines exceeding 220-thousand-rand near the N2. He was one of 360 suspects arrested by the city’s enforcement agencies this past week. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security JP Smith says to avoid arrest, motorists will have the opportunity to settle fines at regular roadshows:

# Soccer: Iran has reportedly asked world governing body FIFA to move its World Cup group matches from the US to Mexico. Two of the matches are scheduled for Los Angeles and the other in Seatle, but Iran is concerned over its players’ safety after the US and Israel’s attacks on the country. The president of Iran Soccer, Mehdi Taj, says the team will not travel to the US after president Donald Trump explicitly stated he couldn’t ensure their safety. The US, Mexico and Canada are co-hosts.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-72-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-28-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-156-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-16-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….