News 07:00
BULLETIN 22 March 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula takes special leave amid her corruption investigation
# The US Justice Department files a lawsuit against Apple
# And rugby: Four uncapped players are named in the Springbok Women’s squad to face Spain
# National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, says she has decided to take special leave effective immediately to protect the integrity of Parliament. She says while the Investigative Directorate of the National Prosecution Authority conducted a search and seizure at her home, there has been no formal notification of an arrest warrant or communication regarding an imminent arrest for her. Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of receiving over two-million-rand from a contractor while she was Defence minister. She says she is ready to comply and cooperate with law enforcement agencies should the need arise.
# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Thembi Nkadimeng has stressed the importance of voting in the upcoming elections. Addressing a conference on intergovernmental relations at the University of the Western Cape Nkadimeng emphasised that voting symbolises citizens’ commitment to democracy. She called on South Africans to unite, emphasising that voting is a human right earned through the sacrifice of anti-apartheid activists and struggle stalwarts. The nation is set to go to the polls on May 29, 2024.
# Gauteng Human Settlements and Infrastructure MEC, Lebogang Maile, says they will be taking an intergovernmental approach to address immediate challenges in Diepkloof. He and Johannesburg mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda, engaged residents of Diepkloof hostel in Soweto yesterday. This comes after residents embarked on a service delivery protest earlier this week. Maile says some people in the hostel will be moved to 67 nearby flats that were built, while the remaining ones will be put in temporary structures, which will be built soon:
# The US Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple. It accuses the tech giant of monopolising the smartphone market and crushing the competition. The case is a direct challenge to the company’s core products and practices, including its iMessage service and how devices such as the iPhone and Apple Watch connect. Attorney General, Merrick Garland, says Apple’s anti-trust behaviour has hurt developers and consumers:
# Rugby: Four uncapped players have been included in the Springbok Women’s squad to face Spain in a one-off Test at the Pepe Rojo Stadium in Valladolid tomorrow. Xoliswa Khuzwayo and Anathi Qolo are in the starting line-up, while Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen and Samantha Els have been included on the bench for this encounter. Coach, Louis Koen, says the key is to get as many players to experience international rugby, heading into the World Cup qualifying tournament in Madagascar in May:
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-90-cents and the euro at 20-rand-51-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-490-dollar-61-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-174-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-20-cents a barrel.
# And finally: The final season of Netflix’s The Crown leads this year’s Bafta TV Award nominations with a total of eight, despite controversy over its depiction of the royal family. Happy Valley and the Black Mirror final episode Demon 79 both have seven nominations. Slow Horses, The Sixth Commandment, and Succession received six nominations each. Although it leads the Bafta field, The Crown missed out on a nomination for best drama series. The four nominees in that category are The Gold, Happy Valley, Slow Horses, and Top Boy. The main awards ceremony will take place on 12 May.
Stay tuned for more news………….