News 15:00
BULLETIN 12 March 3 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Government departments face criticism for delayed payments to suppliers
# The Public Service Commission recommends benchmarking hybrid work conditions
# And motorsport: Felipe Massa files a lawsuit over the 2008 Formula One championship
# Over 60-percent of government departments face criticism for delayed payments to suppliers. According to the Public Service Commission, only 17 out of 40 national departments met timely payment requirements in the second quarter of 2023/24, a slight improvement from the first. The commission’s Anele Gxoyiya says some reasons cited for delays include budget constraints, invoice disputes, internal capacity issues, and late authorisation:
The commission has also recommended the Department of Public Service and Administration benchmark the management of hybrid working conditions observed during the Covid-19 pandemic. This follows a thorough study conducted by the commission on the nationwide implementation of hybrid working. The commission also encouraged government departments to continue implementing measures to protect workers and the public from Covid-19. Gxoyiya reminds public servants that some workers cannot work from home due to the nature of their work:
# The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa says dryer and hotter-than-usual weather conditions are set to drive food-price inflation higher, impacting the outlook for summer crops. The group specifically warns white maize products pose a major risk to consumer food inflation. According to the Crop Estimates Committee, there’s a forecasted 17.2-percent fall in the harvest of white maize and a 7.7-percent decrease in yellow maize harvests. The eagerly awaited second 2023/24 production forecast expected on 26 March, may indicate worsening conditions.
# A ship loaded with 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza left from Cyprus’s Larnaca port. The tow boat and barge embarked on the journey this morning, the first such shipment along a maritime corridor from Cyprus, aimed at carrying aid to desperate Palestinian civilians in Gaza. With the volume of aid entering Gaza by land far below pre-war levels and aid agencies warning of famine, foreign governments including Washington have turned to airdrops and are now also trying to set up a maritime aid corridor.
# Motorsport: Former Formula One driver Felipe Massa filed a lawsuit over the result of a Grand Prix race in 2008 that helped British driver Lewis Hamilton to snatch the world championship from him. Nelson Piquet Junior later admitted his Renault team ordered him to deliberately cause a crash in Singapore, leading to Massa, who was leading in his Ferrari, ending 13th. Hamilton ended the season just one point ahead of Massa. Former CEO Bernie Ecclestone admitted last year the executives were aware of the cover-up.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-55-cents and the euro at 20-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-246-dollars-33-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-172-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-36-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….