News 08:00

BULLETIN 26 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament’s Police committee is concerned about Masemola’s looming charges
# The total number of liquidations in South Africa fell by 3.6-percent in February
# And, a pilot helping with firefighting survives a helicopter crash

# Parliament’s portfolio Committee on Police has expressed concern at charges against National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and his scheduled court appearance. He is set to be formally charged in connection with the 360-million-rand South African Police Service health services tender awarded to criminally accused businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District. Committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, says this comes as the recent testimonies at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry have exposed a culture where senior police officials allegedly maintain close, compromising financial ties with criminal syndicates.

# Statistics South Africa says total liquidations fell by 3.6-percent in February, dropping from 140 to 135 cases. Close corporations saw the biggest decline, while company liquidations increased slightly. Over the three months ending February, total liquidations were down 1.5-percent. Stats SA’s Onica Mushwana says the first two months of this year recorded 6.1-percent fewer liquidations compared with the same period last year, indicating a modest improvement in the stability of businesses:

# The Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation after a Working on Fire helicopter crashed on Table Mountain Park near Hout Bay, Cape Town, yesterday evening. The pilot survived with minor injuries. The helicopter was assisting SANParks with the fire burning above Hout Bay and Constantia Nek when it clipped the mountain with its main rotor and crashed. Working on Fire managing director, Trevor Abrahams, told the SABC that the helicopter has been used extensively for firefighting operations around the world:

# The White House has warned that president Donald Trump is prepared to “unleash hell” if Iran does not accept defeat. This comes as Tehran has rejected what it says are excessive demands in the US’s 15-point proposal, stating that it will end the war in its own terms. White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, says Iran’s last miscalculation cost them their senior leadership, navy, air force and their air defence system:

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis says their upcoming international friendlies against Algeria and Japan will be a good challenge ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year. Twenty-four players are in the squad to face Algeria next month, including promising youngster Thorisho Mphelo, alongside the returning experienced duo of Hilda Magaia and Kaylan Swart. Ellis says all they are looking for is consistency and intensity. For Wafcon, South Africa has been drawn in Group B alongside the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-1-cent and the euro at 19-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-70-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-874-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-507-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….