News 07:00

BULLETIN 25 March 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Steenhuisen welcomes the court decision on the national foot and mouth disease strategy
# Fikile Mbalula says the ANC is ready to face a court challenge over the Eastern Cape elective conference
# And rugby: Jean de Villiers says the Springboks cannot lose Malcolm Marx for the World Cup

# Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed the outcome in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, which has affirmed the department’s lawful authority to regulate and manage South Africa’s response to foot-and-mouth disease. The application brought by Sakeliga and others sought urgent interim relief that would have effectively allowed for unregulated private procurement and administration of vaccines, outside of the established national framework. Steenhuisen says the court has given the department a reasonable timeframe to publish a vaccination scheme:

# Everest Wealth says South Africa’s biggest economic risk is not rising inflation, but the slow implementation of necessary reforms. Economist Thys van Zyl warns that weak logistics, energy uncertainty, and delays in reform are holding back growth, currently around 1.5-percent, below other emerging markets. Van Zyl cited that urgent action is needed on ports, rail, and fuel reserves to boost growth to three-percent and protect against global shocks. He emphasised that faster execution, not planning, is the key to unlocking the country’s true economic potential.

# ANC secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, says the party will defend itself in court against attempts to interdict the Eastern Cape provincial elective conference. A faction of disgruntled members has turned to the courts in an attempt to try and interdict the conference. They have cited membership rigging, procedural irregularities, and factional manipulation by some leaders. Provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi has also raised concerns about the conference proceedings. Mbalula says ANC members are urged to avoid resolving party disputes in court:

# AfriForum has called on the Gauteng government to halt the rollout of new vehicle number plates following findings that three manufacturers were illegally fixing prices. The Competition Commission says the cartel has been operating since mid-2023, driving up costs for motorists. AfriForum’s Louis Boshoff warns that proceeding with the new plates could allow the manufacturers to profit further, urging authorities to wait until the Competition Tribunal completes its case:

# Lebanese president Joseph Aoun says the current conflict between Israel and Lebanon could have been avoided had Israel responded to calls to withdraw its occupation in parts of southern Lebanon. The Israeli army has been pounding Lebanon with air attacks since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2nd, in response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The number of people killed in Lebanon since Israel began its latest operations against Hezbollah has risen to over one-thousand. Aoun says Israel’s actions must be condemned.

# Rugby: Springboks legend Jean de Villiers says South Africa cannot afford to lose Malcolm Marx for the 2027 World Cup. The powerhouse forward was named World Rugby Player of the Year for his 2025 performances and played a big part in the Boks’ November games against France and Ireland. De Villers told Planet Rugby that if the Springboks lose Marx, they are in trouble, given his importance in the squad. The Boks are the favourites to secure an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-87-cents and the euro at 19-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-744-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-577-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….