News 07:00

BULLETIN 19 March 7 am

Good morning I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula says the ANC’s People’s March is a reaffirmation of South Africa’s true values
# The MK Party confirms Hlophe’s return to party leadership
# And rugby: The southern hemisphere’s U-20 championships return to Gqeberha

# ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says the upcoming People’s March is a reaffirmation of the true values of South Africa’s democracy, a rejection of division and misinformation, and a call for unity amongst all citizens. The mobilisation will be led by the ANC and its alliance partners together with business formations, labour, faith-based organisations, and civil society movements in Johannesburg on Saturday, Human Rights Day. Mbalula says the march is an expression of the collective demand for accelerated and inclusive economic transformation:

# The MK Party has reinstated John Hlophe as its first deputy president and parliamentary party leader. The former judge of the High Court in the Western Cape was previously suspended in November following internal disputes. However, after an independent legal review and discussions with party leader Jacob Zuma, Hlophe has been cleared to return immediately. MK’s Nhlamulo Ndhlela thanked acting parliamentary leader Des Van Rooyen for serving during the interim period.

# Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, has dissolved the Ingonyama Trust Board. This follows the resignation of several board members before the expiry of their terms of office, which has resulted in the board remaining with only four members, including the Ingonyama, King Misuzulu Zulu. Nyhontso says the current circumstances have created a governance position that is no longer sustainable for the trust’s effective administration. He adds that an administrator will be designated to oversee the day-to-day operations of the trust.

# The Gauteng Education Department has appointed law firm KRM Incorporated to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a Grade 5 learner at Reagile Primary School in Tembisa. Ten-year-old Milton Neo Mokgoatsane died earlier last month after a soccer goalpost fell on him during break time at school. KRM Incorporated director, Katlego Ralikhuvhana, says the investigation must include clear findings and recommendations regarding any unlawful conduct and possible disciplinary action:

# NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, says discussions are underway on how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz safely. The strait, through which 20-percent of the world’s oil travels, has been all but closed since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran, raising global energy supply fears. US president Donald Trump criticised several NATO members earlier this week, after they rejected his demands to send warships to escort oil tankers through the Strait. Rutte has stressed the importance of the key waterway:

# Rugby: SANZAAR’s Rugby Championship Under-20 competition returns to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha at the end of April with the best junior talent from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina competing. Following last year’s tournament, the Junior Boks and New Zealand Under-20s contested the final, with South Africa taking gold. SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer says it was a feather in the cap of SA Rugby and the Eastern Cape to host the tournament for a second time.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-94-cents and the euro at 19-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-50-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-100-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-853-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….