News 13:00
BULLETIN 15 March 1 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The IEC reiterates a warning to political parties against Electoral Code violations
# Numsa wants the SIU to probe the failed SAA-Takatso deal
# And cricket: The injured Lungi Ngidi is ruled out of this season’s IPL
# The Independent Electoral Commission has emphasised the necessity for political parties to comply with the Electoral Code of Conduct ahead of the general elections. This follows threats from the uMkhonto we Sizwe party, supported by former president Jacob Zuma, of political turmoil if excluded from the ballot. CEO Sy Mamabolo affirmed during a National Press Club dialogue that violence and disruptions will not be tolerated:
# Metalworkers’ union Numsa wants the Special Investigating Unit to conduct an in-depth probe into the failed South African Airways-Takatso Consortium deal. Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan announced on Wednesday the deal to sell 51-percent of SAA to Takatso is off, saying talks were no longer yielding a fair deal for the public asset. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says they are not satisfied with the explanation given by Gordhan:
# Russians started voting in a three-day presidential election today that is set to hand veteran leader Vladimir Putin another six-year term as the raging conflict in Ukraine spreads further into Russian territory. Putin has been in power as president or prime minister since the final day of 1999. The former KGB agent is casting the election as a show of Russians’ loyalty and support for his military assault on Ukraine, now in its third year. Polling stations opened early morning in the country spread over eleven time zones.
# Cricket: Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been released by Delhi Capitals for this season’s Indian Premier League which starts next week, due to injury. The 27-year-old sustained a lower back injury during the playoffs of the SA20 last month. Ngidi is currently being monitored by Cricket South Africa’s medical team and undergoing rehab with his provincial team, the Titans. He is expected to return to play next month.
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-72-cents and the euro at 20-rand-38-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-935-dollars-4-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-169-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-80-cents a barrel.
# And finally: A 24-year-old Nelson Mandela University student has been accepted to do her PhD study in Anthropology at New York University next year. Asithandile Ntsondwa will research interdisciplinary archaeological anthropology, drawing from fields within both the sciences and the humanities. She says while studying at NMU, she had been exposed to a host of opportunities and the chance to work with renowned researchers in South Africa and around the world.
Stay tuned for more news………….