News 07:00

BULLETIN 23 March 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile says public employment programmes must not entrench dependency
# Deputy minister condemns vendors for charging extra money for prepaid electricity
# And cricket: The Proteas beat New Zealand to level the T20 series

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says true progress is measured not in statistics, but in lives uplifted, dignity restored, and hope renewed. Mashatile was addressing NEDLAC’s annual organised labour school in Pretoria. He says South Africa’s public employment programmes must not entrench dependency. He adds that the government must create pathways to skills, work experience, and long-term opportunities:

# The SABC has pushed back strongly against suggestions that political pressure influenced the decision to cancel the current affairs programme Face the Nation, hosted by Clement Manyathela. According to the Sunday Times, the decision was made due to political pressure from the Presidency and ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, with officials allegedly complaining that Manyathela was too tough on them. The SABC says it regularly reviews its content and makes adjustments in line with industry norms. It adds that programming decisions are guided by performance metrics and strategic considerations.

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Sport, Arts and Culture has expressed concern at the ongoing strike at the National Arts Council. Workers have stated that they are owed more than one-million-rand in bonuses, which are for three years from the 2019/2020 to 2021/2022 financial years. Committee chairperson Joe McGluwa says this strike must come to an end immediately, as the entity supports poor artists, who have no alternative means of income if the industry does not book or support their artistic abilities. Today marks the sixth day of the strike.

# Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, has strongly condemned spaza shops and prepaid vendors for illegally charging extra fees when customers purchase prepaid electricity. She says the department was informed during the recent engagement with the communities of Adendorp and Nieu Bethesda in the Eastern Cape. The deputy minister says this is illegal, and it must stop:

# Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran has proven yet again that it is the enemy of civilisation and a danger to the free world, targeting children, families, and the elderly with terror missiles. On Sunday, he visited the site of Saturday’s missile strike in the southern city of Arad, where 115 people were wounded. Netanyahu says Iran is targeting civilian areas as they intend to murder civilians. He added that they will continue to go after the Iranian regime:

# Cricket: South Africa defeated New Zealand by 19 runs in the fourth T20 in Wellington to level the five-match series 2-2. Connor Esterhuizen scored 57 from 36 balls, his maiden half-century, as the Proteas posted a modest total of 164 for five. In reply, Gerald Coetzee took three wickets, with debutant offspinner Prenelan Subrayen claiming two wickets, as the Black Caps were dismissed for 145 inside 19 overs. The series will now be decided in Christchurch on Wednesday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-11-cents and the euro at 19-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-673-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-388-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….