News 06:00

BULLETIN 3 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA is ready to go to court over the censorship of the Phala Phala report
# Six workers are dead following a building collapse in Ormonde, Joburg
# And, Trump says the “big wave” of strikes against Iran is yet to come

# ActionSA says it’s ready to take legal action if any part of the declassified Phala Phala report is censored. The report, which examines alleged mishandling by the presidential protection unit during a robbery at president Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo, has finally been unsealed after more than a year of delays. ActionSA’s Michael Beaumont says the party will fight to expose the truth behind the nearly ten-million-rand found at Ramaphosa’s farm:

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi has called for patience following the arrest of three senior Department of Health officials. The officials, including director-general Sandile Buthelezi, were released on ten-thousand-rand bail each by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday. It’s alleged that they awarded over one-million-rand to an unregistered company in an irregular procurement, bypassing proper supply chain processes. The department’s Foster Mohale says the law must now take its course:

# The latest Absa purchasing managers’ index shows South Africa’s manufacturing sector shrinking in February. The headline index fell from 48.7 in January to 47.4 last month, as business activity and employment both declined. New orders stayed largely unchanged, while export sales remain weak. Supply chain delays, electricity disruptions, and low demand continue to affect the sector. On the positive side, businesses are slightly more optimistic about future conditions, but overall, the sector faces ongoing challenges.

# Six construction workers died after the collapse of the first-floor concrete slab of a two-storey building at Amethyst Business Park in Ormonde, southern Johannesburg, on Monday. They were part of a group of 12 workers building a factory on the site. According to EMS, two people remain trapped, one person has been rescued, and three are missing and unaccounted for. Johannesburg mayoral committee member for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, says a thorough investigation will be conducted.

# US president Donald Trump says the big wave of strikes against Iran is yet to come. The US and Israel struck Iran on Saturday, killing the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Israeli military launched new strikes on Tehran on Monday. Trump told CNN that Iran’s retaliatory attacks on neighbouring Arab countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been the biggest surprise. He added that the US is doing more beyond the military assault to help the Iranian people regain control of their country from the regime.

# Golf: Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero confirms preparations are complete for the 18th Joburg Open in Houghton this weekend. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Morero said the area has had no water issues, with golf courses relying on groundwater. The mayor highlighted the tourism attraction and interest internationally. He said hosting such events showcases Joburg as a sports hub and underscores ongoing infrastructure development:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-7-cents and the euro at 18-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-347-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-321-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….