News 06:00

BULLETIN 18 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Commissioner Fannie Masemola says criminal syndicates have infiltrated the SAPS
# Solidarity warns against expanding access to retirement savings
# And, Donald Trump’s top official on counterterrorism has resigned

# National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, has confirmed that criminal syndicates have infiltrated the South African Police Service and other arms of the state. He appeared before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Tuesday for his closing testimony. The committee is investigating alleged corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system. Masemola addressed concerns over the Political Killings Task Team handling matters typically linked to organised crime investigations:

# Trade union Solidarity says proposals to allow further access to retirement savings under the two-pot system would weaken long-term financial security. The union warns that additional withdrawals during financial hardship could increase the risk of poverty in old age. Solidarity’s Marius Croucamp urges the government to focus on reducing living costs, creating jobs and helping vulnerable households instead of changing the system:

# The Government Employees Pension Fund has announced a 3.5-percent pension increase effective from next month, matching the latest inflation rate. The adjustment matches inflation for the 12 months ending in November last year. Pensioners who retired before April last year will receive the full increase, while those who retired later will get a smaller, proportional adjustment based on the time they have been receiving their pension. The fund says this approach ensures fairness while maintaining the fund’s long-term stability.

# The Department of Correctional Services says escaped offender Thulani Gcaleka has been rearrested in Gauteng. Gcaleka had been on the run since escaping from Sevontein Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal on 5 February. He is serving a life sentence for serious crimes, including rape, attempted murder, and robbery. Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says disciplinary action is ongoing against any staff found negligent:

# The United States’ ​National Counterterrorism ​Centre director, Joseph Kent, ⁠has ​resigned over ​the US-Israel war in ​Iran. His resignation marks the first high-profile departure of president Donald Trump’s second term over a major policy issue. Kent, a US special forces and CIA veteran, says he cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war, as Iran posed no imminent threat to America. He claims that the Trump administration started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

# Rugby: Uncapped prop Carlu Sadie and lock JJ van der Mescht attended a virtual Springbok alignment camp before the start of the Test season. The former Junior Boks both play overseas at the moment – Sadie for Bordeaux Begles in France, and Van der Mescht for Northampton Saints in England. They joined Bok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies, who last played for South Africa in 2023, as well as other World Cup winners such as Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lood de Jager, Faf de Klerk, and Manie Libbok.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-65-cents and the euro at 19-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-285-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-997-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….