News 15:00

BULLETIN 24 March 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Revo Spies confirms Tshwane Metro Police Department tender irregularities prompted the call for a restart
# The MK Party slams the PA’s alleged political interference in hiring
# And netball: Sanmarie Visser is thriving in the UK’s Netball Super League

# Tshwane Metro Police Department deputy chief Revo Spies says irregularities in a tender evaluation process led to a recommendation that it be cancelled and restarted. Spies told the Madlanga Commission that a report found bid documents were removed from official premises and returned with missing files. He says the report also noted a committee member resigned over concerns, raising serious questions about transparency and compliance in the procurement process:

# The MK Party has criticised the Patriotic Alliance over alleged interference in recruitment processes within the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. MK Party claims officials encouraged applicants to submit personal details directly, raising concerns about fairness. The party says such actions undermine transparency and risk political favoritism. The MK Party has called on government to investigate the matter and safeguard recruitment processes from political influence.

# China has dialled back on planned fuel price hikes in a bid to reduce the burden on drivers, as the local price of petrol has jumped by about 20-percent since the start of the war in Iran. Fuel prices were initially set to rise by around five-thousand-400-rand per tonne but after government adjustments, the increases will be nearly halved. More than 300-million people in China drive cars that run on petrol or diesel. The latest price hike was the country’s fifth and largest of the year so far, even with the reduction.

# Netball: Proteas defender Sanmarie Visser has seamlessly adapted to life in the Netball Super League, making an immediate impact in her debut season with Leeds Rhinos in the United Kingdom. Visser sees playing in the NSL as a great opportunity to improve her game and grow as a person. With the NSL season set to conclude ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Visser has one eye on national duty. The Proteas will be aiming to better their sixth-place finish from the 2022 edition, and she believes her overseas experience will be key.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-1-cent and the euro at 19-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-252-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-420-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby has been ordered to pay around 326.5-million-rand in damages, after a civil jury in California found him liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972. In her lawsuit, Donna Motsinger says the 88-year-old had invited her to his stand-up comedy show at a theatre in nearby San Carlos. She says Cosby gave her wine and a pill that left her incapacitated after picking her up at her home in a limousine. Cosby’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, says they fully intend to appeal the verdict.

Stay tuned for more news………….