News 07:00
BULLETIN 20 March 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Opposition parties call for Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to step down as her integrity is in question
# President Ramaphosa says the agriculture master plan aims to create 75-thousand new positions by 2030
# And rugby: The Springboks will face Scotland in November
# The Democratic Alliance is demanding the resignation of National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula following reports of her Johannesburg house being raided by the Hawks over corruption allegations. Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly received and solicited 2.3-million-rand in cash during her tenure as minister of Defence. DA chief whip, Siviwe Gwarube, says that maintaining public trust in the legislature requires her immediate resignation to uphold integrity and accountability:
Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus says National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula must act in the best interest of Parliament and step aside. FF Plus leader, Pieter Groenewald, says if Mapisa-Nqakula remains in her position the integrity of Parliament will be affected:
# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the agriculture and agro-processing master plan aims to maintain current jobs and create 75-thousand new positions by 2030. Addressing oral questions in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa said initiatives like the National Rural Youth Service Corps and the presidential employment stimulus are also aiding in skills development and employment, facilitating over one-thousand-100 jobs this year. Over 180-thousand agricultural production input vouchers have been issued, aiding subsistence producers, with support extended to over 62-thousand others to enhance self-employment and food security:
# The City of Johannesburg produced its draft budget for the 2024/2025 financial year at the ordinary council meeting yesterday. Reportedly, proposed hikes for the new financial year include water going up by 7.7-percent, electricity up by 10.7-percent, and refuse up 5.9-percent. The proposed budget is set to increase in the new financial year from 80.9-billion-rand to 83-billion-rand. The council will continue to inspect and approve the items on the budget today.
# Hong Kong has passed a tough security law that authorities say is necessary for stability, but which critics fear will further erode civil liberties. The law expands on a controversial national security law earlier imposed by China, which criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces in Hong Kong. Critics said the new law is another crushing blow to human rights. According to Human Rights Watch in Hong Kong even possessing a book critical of the Chinese government can now violate national security and lead to years in prison.
# Rugby: Reigning world champions South Africa will play Scotland at Murrayfield on the tenth of November. This is part of Scotland’s autumn international Tests, where they will also play Fiji, Portugal, and Australia. The Springboks last met Scotland in last year’s World Cup, winning the group-stage encounter 18-3. Scotland finished fourth in the Six Nations Championship. Head coach Gregor Townsend says taking on the reigning world champions is the ultimate test for any team in rugby right now, and they are looking forward to the match.
# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-91-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-777-dollar-46-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-158-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-10-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….