News 06:00

BULLETIN 24 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Madlanga Commission hears evidence on Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s Luxor bank card
# Eskom is studying the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling on the disclosure of coal and diesel contracts
# And, minister Mantashe orders a probe into the Ekapa mine disaster

# The Madlanga Commission has heard that businessman Vusimuzi Matlala allegedly contacted SAPS Gauteng Organised Crime Unit officer Fannie Nkosi, requesting his Luxor card before meeting deputy president Paul Mashatile and suspended deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson noted the Mashatile reference was omitted from Nkosi’s previous typed statement, suggesting possible inconsistency, which Nkosi denied:

Meanwhile, deputy president Paul Mashatile has denied claims that he met or intended to meet with Matlala. The allegations were made by Fannie Nkosi,  who said Matlala urgently needed his credit card for meetings with Mashatile and top police officials. Mashatile’s acting spokesperson, Keith Khoza, says the deputy president does not know Matlala and was not involved in any dealings with him:

# Eskom says it has noted the judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on the matter involving AfriForum. The court dismissed an appeal by the power utility, which now upholds a High Court order that it must disclose its active coal, diesel, and transport supply contracts to AfriForum. The SCA confirmed that Eskom failed to justify refusing access under the Promotion of Access to Information Act. The power utility says it is studying the judgment, after which it will decide how it will approach the matter.

# Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, has ordered a formal investigation into the circumstances around the Ekapa Minerals Joint Shaft Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape, which resulted in the death of five mineworkers. A mud rush swept through one of the operational areas at the diamond mine on the 17th of February, trapping the workers underground. On Monday, the last of the bodies was retrieved. Mantashe says the investigation will be in line with the Mine Health and Safety Act:

# Iran says American president Donald Trump has backed down from attacking its power plants after a firm warning from Tehran. The comments were also made by the Iranian embassy in Kabul, which posted on social media, saying Trump retreated, following Iran’s threats to target the energy infrastructure of the entire region. The Iranian Fars news agency is also quoting sources claiming there has been no direct communication with the US, nor through intermediaries. Trump earlier said very good conversations on ending the war were held with Iran.

# Cricket: New Zealand Cricket has named the proposed NZ20 franchise league as its preferred option to replace the nation’s 21-year-old Super Smash, but wants women’s competition included in the proposal. The new league’s backers have proposed a six-team league of privately owned franchises and hope to launch the first tournament by January 2027. NZC board chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said the board wanted to see several changes to the NZ20 proposal. NZC said it had weighed a potential move to join Australia’s men’s and women’s Big Bash League T20 competitions but decided against it.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-77-cents and the euro at 19-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-642-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-406-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 96-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….