News 06:00

BULLETIN 12 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IEC is taking corrective measures following the leak of the candidate lists
# China, Russia, and Iran are conducting joint navy drills
# And rugby: The Bulls will recruit far less players in the coming off-season

# The Independent Electoral Commission says the official who allegedly leaked the candidate lists of the ANC and uMkhonto we Sizwe Party, has been requested to submit why the person’s contract of employment should not be terminated. The lists were leaked on social media over the weekend. An investigation indicates that the data leak emanated from internal system-generated reports within the commission. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo says several measures have been taken following the leak:

# National Treasury is urging local governments to enhance credit control and debt management as government debt to municipalities exceeds 22-billion-rand. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana revealed national departments owe 8-billion-rand, provincial departments 9.7-billion-rand, and other public institutions owe 4.2-billion-rand for municipal services. Godongwana has advised municipalities to restrict services to departments failing to settle their outstanding payments within the specified time frame. Treasury has implemented measures to assist municipalities in debt management and collections to ensure financial stability and efficiency.

# Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink says there has been a positive response to the city’s call for partnerships to improve services within communities. The community upliftment precinct initiative, launched last year, has received 30 applications so far, with six provisionally approved. The Silver Woods Homeowners Association, a successful applicant, is set to replace 41 street bulbs in its area. Brink advises interested communities to consult with their ward councillors to address service challenges through a structured process led by the city:

# The DA in eThekwini is calling for municipal workers who are part of the ongoing illegal strike to be fired. Workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union have been striking over salary increases since the 27th of last month. The DA says it condemns allegations of coordinated attempts to sabotage the metro’s water and electricity infrastructure. It adds that it is unlawful for a group of individuals to prevent the metro from carrying out its obligations, which must be dealt with harshly by law enforcement authorities.

# The navies of China, Russia and Iran are staging joint drills in the Gulf of Oman this week. China’s Defence ministry says the military activities, to be conducted from yesterday till Friday, are aimed at jointly maintaining regional maritime security. Drills in the area were held in March last year between the same three countries. This year’s round of joint exercises coincides with soaring tensions in the region as the war in Gaza rages and Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen have launched a flurry of attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

# Rugby: Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone says they will recruit far fewer players in the coming off-season because they are happy with the team’s progression under director of rugby Jake White. The Bulls are currently second on the United Rugby Championship log and are also in the play-off rounds of the Champions Cup. The union reportedly invested heavily in new players last year, gaining experienced players such as Springbok Willie le Roux and hooker Akker van der Merwe. Rathbone says they now have a settled core.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-69-cents and the euro at 20-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-379-dollar-68-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-180-dollars-98-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….