News 07:00

BULLETIN 14 March 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa urges communities to team up with the defence force and police
# Business rescue practitioners want to liquidate the SA Post Office
# And the US intervenes in South Africa’s case against Israel

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on communities to join forces with the police and the South African National Defence Force in combating crime. Two-thousand-200 SANDF members will be deployed across the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, North West, and Western Cape to target illegal mining and gang violence. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the deployment runs from March this year to March next year and will cost over 823-million-rand:

Meanwhile, members of the South African National Defence Force have confiscated mining equipment and gold-bearing material during raids in Rietvallei, in Gauteng, this week, as part of ongoing operations against illegal mining. The soldiers carried out door-to-door searches targeting suspected illegal miners. The operation is part of Operation Prosper, formally authorised by Ramaphosa to combat crime across five provinces. Some residents welcomed the crackdown, though others said they were initially frightened by the military presence.

# The suspended head of the police’s Organised Crime Unit, Richard Shibiri, has told the Madlanga commission of inquiry that he cannot confirm whether Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is a member of the alleged ‘Big Five’ cartel. Shibiri testified that he only knows Matlala provided security for the late taxi boss Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi. He also said Msibi and businessman Ze Nxumalo are not part of the cartel:

# The minister of  Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, says discussions are underway within government to find a way forward for the South African Post Office. This follows a letter from the Post Office’s business rescue practitioners indicating their intention to apply for liquidation. Malatsi says talk of liquidation is premature, as the department and National Treasury are still engaged in talks to find a solution to protect jobs and public funds:

# The United States has formally intervened in South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Washington argues the accusations against Israel are part of a broader campaign to delegitimise the country and maintains civilian casualties in Gaza result from urban combat against Hamas, not a genocidal plan. South Africa filed the initial case in December 2023, and the court has ordered provisional measures urging Israel to prevent acts of genocide. The court will continue to collect written submissions from the approximately 20 intervening states before reaching a final judgment, which could take years.

# And Rugby: The Bulls packed their front row with Springboks for today’s United Rugby Championship match against the Stormers at Loftus. Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, and Wilco Louw will anchor the hosts’ scrum, replacing Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and Mornay Smith, who played in the recent match against the Sharks. Flanker Marco van Staden will be on the bench in his 100th match for the Pretoria team, forming the loose trio with captain Marcell Coetzee and Elrigh Louw.

Stay tuned for more news………….