News 07:00
BULLETIN 18 March 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Ramaphosa says threats of election violence won’t be tolerated
# Another suspect is arrested in connection with the disappearance of Joslin Smith
# And, Olympics: The IOC says just 40 Russian athletes could compete in Paris
# President Cyril Ramaphosa says threats of violence or any acts that go against the democratic system will not be tolerated. This comes after an alleged attack on some ANC members at a government event in KwaCeza in Nongoma in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday. A statement by the ruling party alleges the attack was carried out by IFP members. Ramaphosa has appealed to all political parties to be tolerant and respectful, especially during this election year:
Meanwhile, the IFP has condemned the ANC for accusing it of attacking its members on Saturday. The ANC Women’s League said the victims were targeted by IFP supporters and allegedly incited by Zululand District Municipality mayor, councillor Thulasizwe Buthelezi. The IFP says the ANC accusing its members of acts of violence without any proof is a clear provocation, aimed at destabilising the province ahead of the crucial May 29 elections.
# Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi says South Africa has electronic movement control systems in place at all its ports of entry, in and out of the country. The system electronically records the date and time of people’s movements over the borders. Motsoaledi adds visitors’ passports and visas also indicate the number of days they have been allocated to be in the country:
# Western Cape police have confirmed that a 32-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Joslin Smith. Last week, three accused in the case, including the girl’s mother, abandoned their bid for bail, while charges were withdrawn against the fourth accused. The latest suspect is expected to appear in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court in Saldanha Bay today, facing charges related to human trafficking and kidnapping. The search for Joslin, who disappeared from her family’s home in Middelpos last month, continues.
# Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says no international pressure will stop his country from achieving all of its war aims. The militant group Hamas attacked Israel in October last year killing one-thousand-200 people and more than 250 were taken hostage. In retaliation attacks, Israel has killed over 31-thousand people in Gaza. Netanyahu says they will ensure that they eliminate Hamas, free all of the hostages, and make sure that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel.
# Olympics: International Olympic Committee vice-president, John Coates, says he is unsure how many Russian athletes will compete at the Paris Games this year. Russian and Belarusian athletes may only compete as neutrals in individual events due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Coates says there might be as little as 40 Russian athletes competing as neutrals at the games. Moscow has called the restrictions illegitimate, unfair, and unacceptable.
# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-75-cents and the euro at 20-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-810-dollar-65-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-148-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-56-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….