News 06:00

BULLETIN 26 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s fate is deferred until 2 April
# The German software giant SAP is ordered to pay R500-million over invalid Eskom contracts
# And cricket: England slumps to the bottom of the World Test Championship log

# The High Court in Pretoria has scheduled the ruling on an urgent court bid by National Assembly speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, for the second of next month. Judge Sulet Potterill expressed dissatisfaction with Mapisa-Nqakula’s request to inspect evidence before the ruling. The State pledges not to arrest Mapisa-Nqakula until the court’s decision. On special leave, she seeks to prevent arrest over alleged bribery while Defence minister. National Prosecuting Authority counsel Makhosi Gwala clarifies the NPA never threatened Mapisa-Nqakula’s arrest:

# German software giant SAP has agreed to pay the Special Investigating Unit 500-million-rand within seven days over corrupt contracts at Eskom. The SIU says the settlement stems from two Eskom contracts worth around 1.1-billion-rand awarded to SAP between 2013 and 2016. The Special Tribunal declared the contracts constitutionally invalid, as an investigation found that the contracts were entered illegally. The SIU says the settlement agreement does not absolve SAP or any implicated party from possible prosecution.

# The case of the alleged killers of a well-known doctor, Michael Isabelle, has been postponed to the second of next month. Matwetwe Muningi and Tebogo Thutlwa appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court for the first time yesterday, accused of shooting Isabelle during a robbery at his Dobsonville practice. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane says the case was postponed for further investigations:

# The Green Connection and Natural Justice have taken legal action against the approval granted to TotalEnergies EP South Africa for exploratory drilling in blocks five, six, and seven off the Cape Coast. They argue that the decision fails to assess socio-economic impacts, ignores climate change effects, and neglects proper evaluation of oil spill contingency plans. Green Connection’s Strategic lead, Liziwe McDaid stresses the need for adherence to environmental laws and protection of coastal resources for future generations, to ensure sustainable management of the oceans. 

# United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is calling on the resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to be implemented immediately. The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, the release of all hostages, and the urgent need to expand the flow of aid into Gaza. There were 14 votes in favour with the US abstaining. Guterres says failure to implement the resolution would be unforgivable.

# Cricket: England slumped to the bottom of the World Test Championship log after Sri Lanka thrashed Bangladesh by 328 runs in their first Test in Sylhet. England is in ninth place after ten matches, just behind South Africa, who could only play four. India is in first position after nine Tests, followed by defending champion Australia after 12 games, and New Zealand after six. Pakistan is fourth, the Windies fifth, and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh joint seventh. The final will be played in June next year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-86-cents and the euro at 20-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-230-dollar-45-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-171-dollar-5-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollar-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….