News 07:00

BULLETIN 20 March 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile says South Africa wants to mend its relations with the USA
# The UN wants a probe into the death of a staff member in an airstrike in Gaza
# And Golf: Norway’s Karoline Lund leads the Platinum Ladies Open

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says South Africa is committed to improving mutually beneficial trade, political, and diplomatic relations with the US. South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool’s expulsion from America has plunged the country into a fresh diplomatic crisis, worsening already strained relations with the US. Mashatile says the government is looking to consider diversifying the country’s export markets to lessen the reliance on single trading partners. He adds that they are exploring opportunities to expand trade relations with countries such as Japan, China, Russia, India, and European countries.

# The DA says the Medium Term Development Plan 2024-2029 tabled in Parliament is a good first step in developing a government of national unity growth and jobs agenda. The plan incorporates three strategic priorities, drive inclusive economic growth and job creation, reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living, and build a capable, ethical, and developmental state. The DA’s head of Policy, Mat Cuthbert, says the plan does not go far enough in terms of growth and jobs:

# The Department of Higher Education and Training says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme has surpassed its funding targets, helping over 542-thousand university students for the 2025 academic year. More than one-million students have enrolled in universities and colleges. However, enrolments at community education and training colleges are lower than expected, Deputy Minister Buti Manamela states despite ongoing administrative challenges, and efforts are underway to improve efficiency and ensure better graduate job opportunities.

# The United Nations Office for Project Services is calling for a full investigation into the death of a staff member in Gaza. The staffer was killed and at least five others injured following an explosion at two UN guesthouses in Deir al Balah on Wednesday morning. The Israeli military, which has carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes since early Tuesday, has denied it targeted the UN compound. Office for Project Services head, Jorge Moreira da Silva, says this was not an accident:

# Golf: Norway’s Karoline Lund leads the Platinum Ladies Open after firing a seven-under-par 64 in the opening round at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate in Gauteng. The 26-year-old has a one-shot lead over Nikki Hofstede from the Netherlands and England’s Hayley Davis. South Africans Casandra Alexander and Tandi McCallum are two shots off the lead on five under par. The prize money has been increased by a further 200-thousand-rand to 1.2-million-rand. Lund says her strategy is to continue playing aggressively:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-9-cents and the euro at 19-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-134-dollar-40-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-55-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-9-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Gauteng government will today honour the late struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. MEC for Finance and Economic Development Lebogang Maile will deliver a memorial lecture as part of the Human Rights Festival. The event celebrates Madikizela-Mandela’s legacy as a fierce anti-apartheid activist who endured banning orders, detentions, and political persecution. She later served in government and dedicated her life to community development.

Stay tuned for more news………….