News 17:00
BULLETIN 31 March 5 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Cyril Ramaphosa unveils a massive 900-billion-rand investment drive
# Action Society says fragmented policing enables violent crimes to continue
# And road running: The former New York marathon winner Albert Korir is banned for five years for doping
# President Cyril Ramaphosa says investment commitments of close to 900-billion-rand will be announced at the Investor Conference in Sandton, with about 222-thousand jobs expected to be created. He says the initiative will boost economic growth and help ease rising living costs. Ramaphosa emphasised that investment must benefit ordinary citizens and promote inclusive development. He reaffirmed that South Africa remains a competitive destination for global investors despite economic challenges:
# Deputy minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Jane Graham-Maré, is encouraging stakeholders to provide input on the latest International Trade Administration Commission proposals. These include raising tariffs and ending staged consignments for renewable energy components, including lithium batteries, solar panels, and wind tower sections. The deputy minister says the proposals aim to protect local manufacturing and secure 300 jobs in steel tower production:
# Action Society has raised the alarm after 13-year-old Firdous Kleinschmidt was killed by a stray bullet while waiting for school transport in Cape Town. Her alleged killer, Lorenzo “Lolly” Brown, faced multiple serious charges, including murder, yet remained free. The civil rights organisation’s Kaylynn Palm says systemic failures, fragmented policing, lack of intelligence-led investigations, and poor case integration allowed Brown to continue offending. Palm called for intelligence-driven policing to prevent repeat violent crimes:
# Italy has denied permission for US military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before flying to the Middle East. A Reuters source close to the matter said some US bombers had been due to land at the base before heading to the war-torn region. It did not say when they had been due to land. The Italian Defence ministry had no immediate comment. Opposition parties have urged the government to block the US’ use of bases in Italy to avoid involvement in the conflict.
# Road running: Kenyan athlete Albert Korir has been banned for five-years after admitting to using a banned substance. The Athletics Integrity Unit says the 32-year-old tested positive for the synthetic form of erythropoietin that stimulates red blood cell production during out-of-competition tests. The 2021 New York City Marathon winner will serve his ban until January 7, 2031. Korir’s sanction comes nearly six months after compatriot Ruth Chepngetich, the current world marathon record holder was banned for three-years after admitting the use of Hydrochlorothiazide, used as a masking agent.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-2-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-803-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-583-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-18-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….