News 16:00

BULLETIN 27 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eugene de Kock reveals that president Cyril Ramaphosa was on an assassination hit list  
# Kholeka Gcaleka relaunches the African Ombudsman Research Centre to strengthen oversight across the continent
# And in cricket, no fans and no fireworks as the Pakistan T20 league begins

# Former apartheid police commander Eugene de Kock has told the High Court in Gqeberha that president Cyril Ramaphosa was on a list of people targeted for assassination. Testifying virtually at the Cradock Four Inquiry, De Kock said he was ordered to kill 33 individuals but refused to kill Ramaphosa, insisting he was innocent. He also explained how SAPS top officials would go for cleaning in church after committed murders:

# The Public Protector and chairperson of the board of the African Obudsman Centre, Kholeka Gcaleka, has successfully relaunched the Centre at the University of KwaZulu Natal. Acting spokesperon, Ndili Msoki says the aim of the centre is to promote accountability, transparency and ethical governance on the continent. He says it has been instrumental in equipping ombuds institutions across Africa with the knowledge, skills, and research needed to support their mandates:

# Patriotic Alliance deputy president Kenny Kunene has refused to apologise to EFF leader Julius Malema, setting the stage for a legal showdown. Malema is suing for one-million-rand over alleged defamatory remarks made on Podcast and Chill with MacG. Kunene referred to Malema as “a boy” and made claims about meetings with the late taxi boss Jotham “Mswazi” Msibi, linked to an alleged criminal syndicate known as the “Big Five” cartel. He insists his statements are true and is ready for a legal fight.

# Union federation Cosatu has welcomed the South African Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to hold the repo rate at 6.75-percent. The committee cited significant concerns regarding inflationary risks fuelled by rising oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty stemming from the conflict in the Middle East. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says government must cushion citizens from the massive looming fuel price hikes:

# Cricket: The Pakistan Super League got under way with a win for Lahore Qalandars against Hyderabad Kingsmen but without the usual razzmatazz or fans associated with T20 cricket. Organisers of the 44-match tournament involving eight teams earlier said matches would be played without spectators, and at just two venues instead of six, because of the war in the Middle East. Pakistan’s government has introduced sweeping austerity measures designed to save fuel, with mounting concerns about supplies as the conflict drags on.  The tournament runs until 3 May.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-20-cents and the euro at 19-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-611-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-419-dollars-62-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 104-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….