News 07:00
BULLETIN 19 March 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Ramaphosa will today answer questions in Parliament including on land reform and lifestyle audits
# Former president Trump is unable to secure a bond in his civil fraud case
# And hockey: Team SA withdraws from the African Games over the condition of the pitch
# President Cyril Ramaphosa will respond to questions in the National Assembly today. The president’s appearance will complete the fourth term Parliamentary programme cycle, per his obligation in terms of the rules of Parliament. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the president looks forward to engaging with the National Assembly on critical issues, reaffirming the government’s commitment to addressing challenges and fostering progress for all citizens:
# The DA claims the National Student Financial Aid Scheme has failed to disclose the vetting process for student accommodation online portal service providers and accrediting agents. This follows revelations of irregularities and political connections in the scheme’s tender contracts uncovered by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse. The DA’s Chantel King accuses politically connected companies of exploiting the system, enriching themselves at the expense of students. King calls for transparency and accountability at NSFAS:
# The commission of inquiry into the deadly Usindiso building fire has heard that the City of Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Property Company, and other stakeholders, should face legal consequences for the tragedy. The commission is investigating the possible causes of the fire, which claimed the lives of 77 people in August last year. Advocate Nickle Felgate told the committee that the city failed to evict occupants from 2019 until 2023, and there was no fire equipment in the building and no maintenance done by either JPC or the city.
# The Northern Cape Department of Education reports that schools in Kimberley are impacted by water challenges in the province. MEC Zolile Monakali states that frequent closures force learners to return home. Parents and student governing bodies are working on solutions, and contingency plans are enacted to ensure the curriculum is covered without disruption to education:
# Former US president Donald Trump’s lawyers say finding a bond to cover the 8.77-billion-rand judgment in his New York fraud case is a practical impossibility. Trump and top executives at his company, including his two older sons, were found to have schemed for years to deceive banks and insurers, by inflating their wealth on financial statements to secure loans and make deals. His lawyers say they have approached 30 companies to back the bond without success. Trump is appealing the judgment.
# Hockey: Team South Africa has withdrawn both its men’s and women’s teams from the 13th African Games currently underway in Accra, Ghana. This is based on recommendations and guidelines as set down by the International Hockey Federation. Team SA leader, Patience Shikwambana, says the surface of the pitch was unsuitable for an international competition, and that they could not risk injury to players who have the Paris Olympics in their sights in August.
# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-94-cents and the euro at 20-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-11-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-286-dollar-35-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-160-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-74-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….