News 13:00

BULLETIN 24 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Kubayi is concerned by the arrest of a Randburg prosecutor over sexual assault allegations
# Coca‑Cola is committed to strengthening its investment footprint in South Africa
# And cricket: Ben Stokes says he still has the passion to lead England

# Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has expressed concern at the court appearance of Regional Court Prosecutor, Dinesh Nandkisoor, attached to the Randburg Magistrates’ Court. He was arrested on Monday in connection with allegations of sexual assault. The ministry’s spokesperson, Terrence Manase, says Nandkisoor has been formally charged with sexual assault, sexual intimidation, two counts of corruption, and defeating the ends of justice:

# Coca-Cola president of the Africa operating unit, Luis Felipe Avellar, says the company is committed to strengthening its footprint in South Africa through sustained investment and innovation. An independent study has found that the company’s South African value chain contributed more than 51-billion-rand in economic activity in 2024, and supported over 87-thousand jobs. Avellar says they hire, produce, distribute and, where possible, source locally, helping to build a stronger, more integrated economy in South Africa:

# Australia has secured a landmark free-trade agreement worth nearly 170-billion-rand with the European Union. Under the deal, eight years in the making, almost all EU tariffs will be lifted on Australian agricultural products such as wine, fruit and vegetables, olive oil, and most dairy products. Alongside this deal, a new Australia-EU Security and Defence Partnership has been adopted to boost cooperation across the defence industry, maritime security, cyber, and counter-terrorism. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the trade agreement is the perfect balance for both parties.

# Cricket: England captain Ben Stokes says the current leadership group, led by coach Brendon McCullum have the necessary passion and desire to take the team forward. This comes after the England and Wales Cricket Board determined that coach Stokes, McCullum, and managing director Rob Key will remain in their roles following a review of the dismal Ashes series against Australia. Stokes says the last three months have been the hardest period of his captaincy journey. He has admitted to making mistakes but says he still has so much to give.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-97-cents and the euro at 19-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-986-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-407-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today is World TB Day under the theme ‘Yes! We can end TB!’, an affirmation that it is possible to turn the tide on the Tuberculosis epidemic, even in a challenging global environment. TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming over 1.2 million lives and affecting an estimated 10.7 million people in 2024 alone. World Health Organisation’s Global Tuberculosis Programme director, doctor Tereza Kasaeva, says there is reason for hope as the global rate of people falling ill with TB is declining:

Stay tuned for more news………….