News 14:00

BULLETIN 18 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee thanks the public as its probe concludes
# Minister Macpherson announces the sale of one-thousand-600 state-owned buildings
# And soccer: Ancelotti says Neymar must prove his fitness before being considered for the World Cup

# The chairperson of Parliament’s ad hoc committee, Soviet Lekganyane, has thanked the public for its strong support as the committee concludes its investigation into political interference in the justice system. The allegations were raised by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Lekganyane praised citizens, the media, and parliamentary staff for their engagement and dedication, saying the work was carried out in the interest of the people and the integrity of Parliament:

# Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson announced the sale of one-thousand-600 state-owned buildings as part of government’s plan to streamline public assets and raise revenue. The properties include offices, warehouses, and under-utilised facilities. Macpherson says the process will be transparent, with priority given to public-private partnerships and local investors. He assured essential government services will not be affected and proceeds will support infrastructure and service delivery improvements.

# The GOOD Party in the Western Cape says the upcoming motion debate on the renaming of PW Botha Boulevard in George must take place openly in council and not virtually. The motion will be formally presented at the ordinary meeting scheduled for next Thursday. GOOD’s Chantelle Kyd says a major road in the city should not continue to carry the name of an apartheid-era leader:

Moving abroad:

# Iran targeted Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads in retaliation for Israel’s assassination of its security chief, Ali Larijani. Israeli authorities say the attacks killed two people in a neighbourhood close to the city where there are also military facilities, pushing the death toll in Israel from the war to at least 14. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign minister, ​Abbas Araqchi, told state media the US and Israel did not understand the Islamic Republic was a robust political system and did not depend on any single individual.

# Soccer: Brazil’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, says star player Neymar has to keep working to be included in the country’s squad for the World Cup. He left the 34-year-old out of the group for friendlies against France and Croatia. Brazil’s all-time top goal-scorer last played for his country in October 2023 when he sustained a serious injury, followed by several other niggles. Ancelotti says Neymar has the next three months to prove his fitness before the World Cup starts in Canada, the US and Mexico in June.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-63-cents and the euro at 19-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-213-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-986-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….