News 07:00

BULLETIN 24 March 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IFP president says the party has made an immeasurable contribution to the country
# Minister Tau seeks public input on the Transformation Fund
# And the Canadian prime minister calls a snap election

# IFP president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says the party has a great legacy and a testimony of perseverance and integrity. On Sunday, the party celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Stadium in Ulundi, northern KwaZulu-Natal. The celebrations got off on a sad note after a bus carrying supporters to the stadium overturned on the R34 route near Vryheid, leaving 22 people injured. Hlabisa says the IFP’s role in South Africa’s pursuit of freedom, unity, and democracy cannot be understated:

# Trade and Industries minister Parks Tau has released a draft plan for a 100-billion-rand Transformation Fund to support black-owned businesses. The proposal, open for public comment until 7 May, aims to pool private, public, and developmental funds. Critics, including the DA, warn it could increase triple-B-EE obligations and risk corruption. Tau insists no new requirements will be imposed. He says the fund will focus on small enterprises, especially those owned by women, youth, and people with disabilities in rural areas.

# The EFF in Gauteng has expressed outrage over the killing of four community patrollers in Soshanguve’s Marry Me informal settlement in Pretoria. The victims, who were protecting the community, were shot and partially burnt. The party has criticised the slow police response and warned of rising crime in the area. The EFF is demanding urgent intervention, including increased patrols and intelligence efforts. The party calls for swift justice.

# Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has called a snap general election for 28 April. He assumed his role as Liberal leader and prime minister after his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, announced his resignation in January amid a polling slump and an internal revolt in his cabinet. In the elections, Carney’s main rival will be the Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. Carney says he needs a clear mandate to deal with US president Donald Trump:

# Motorsport: Three drivers were disqualified from the F1 Chinese Grand Prix, after failing post-race technical checks. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lost fifth place after his car was deemed underweight in post-race checks. His teammate Lewis Hamilton, who finished sixth, was disqualified after his car was found to be less than the required thickness after the race. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly lost eleventh place for failing post-race weight checks. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the race in Shanghai with his teammate Lando Norris in second and Mercedes’ George Russell in third.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-21-cents and the euro at 19-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-673-dollar-10-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-21-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-1-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Deputy president and South African National AIDS Council chairperson, Paul Mashatile, will deliver the keynote address at the national World TB Day commemorative event in KwaZulu-Natal today. This year’s official theme is, Yes! You and I Can End TB–Commit, Invest, Deliver. South Africa remains among the countries hardest hit by TB, which has remained the leading cause of death claiming around an estimated 56-thousand lives a year, more than 54-percent of which are people living with HIV.

Stay tuned for more news………….