News 06:00

BULLETIN 22 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Markus Jooste allegedly committed suicide
# President Ramaphosa says the integrity of the elections must be protected
# And load-shedding is suspended until 4 pm

# Former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste has died after allegedly committing suicide at his home in Hermanus in the Western Cape. According to reports, the 63-year-old allegedly shot himself yesterday, a day before he and former Steinhoff head of legal, Stéhan Grobler, had to hand themselves over to the Hawks today. Jooste’s death comes after he was slapped with a 475-million-rand fine by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, for publishing false and misleading financial statements. Western Cape police spokesperson, Malcolm Poje, says an inquest docket has been opened:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the regularity, peacefulness, fairness, and integrity of the country’s elections are achievements that must be protected. He delivered the keynote address to commemorate Human Rights Day in Sharpeville, Gauteng, yesterday. South Africans will go to the polls to vote in the seventh democratic elections on the 29th of May. Ramaphosa says threats, intimidation, and undemocratic actions of those who want to undermine the electoral process will not be tolerated:

# After a short reprieve from load-shedding, Eskom implemented stage three from eight yesterday evening to five this morning. This was to replenish the low dam levels at the pumped storage power stations. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says load-shedding was suspended again from five this morning until four in the afternoon:

# Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo has confirmed an investigation into the source of funds used by deputy president Paul Mashatile’s son-in-law, Nceba Nonkwelo, to purchase a 28.9-million-rand house in Cape Town’s Constantia suburb last year. This follows criminal charges filed by various opposition leaders, including John Steenhuisen. The investigation is part of allegations against Mashatile and his family’s use of luxury properties belonging to state capture-accused businessman Edwin Sodi in Clifton, and a home in Fresnaye owned by Ndavhe Mareda, who had contracts with state entities between 2016 and 2022.

# Tennis: The WTA has begun a review of its rules that could see players with doping offences return to the circuit with special rankings in the future. The governing body of women’s tennis said the change is considered following the high-profile case of Simona Halep. The Romanian made her comeback at the Miami Open with a wildcard after her four-year doping ban was cut to nine months by sport’s highest court. Players banned for doping offences do not get protected rankings on their return and often have to rebuild their careers from scratch.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-80-cents and the euro at 20-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-830-dollar-18-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-184-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

# And finally: World Water Day this year is seeking to leverage water for peace globally. This day emphasises the critical role of freshwater in global stability and prosperity. United Nations Water says with 2.2-billion people lacking access to safe water, this year’s focus is on addressing the water crisis and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030. The day also underscores the importance of international cooperation and collaboration to manage shared water resources, as climate change impacts escalate, and ensure water security for all.

Stay tuned for more news………….