News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 March 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa pledges to address the charges against Fannie Masemola
# AfriForum probes South Africa’s fuel reserves
# And, the UN chief warns of a wider war amid the Middle Eastern conflict

President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the charges against national police commissioner Fannie Masemola over the 360-million-rand Medicare24 health services tender linked to Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, and his upcoming court appearance next month. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says Ramaphosa also noted the arrests of 12 senior police officers linked to a procurement investigation:

# AfriForum is seeking detailed information from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources on South Africa’s strategic fuel reserves amid a worsening global energy crisis. The organisation warns South Africa may have only weeks of fuel left, far below the 90-day international benchmark, with prices set to rise sharply next month. AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl calls for a full disclosure on reserve levels, usage and energy security planning:

# Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, says an Auditor-General’s report describes a deepening breakdown in governance, financial controls, and accountability in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. Findings from a data analytics investigation identified 822 students who were recorded as deceased in the Home Affairs database, but continued to receive funding. It also identified over 14-thousand students whose household incomes exceed the scheme’s eligibility threshold, but were still funded. Manamela has directed the NSFAS board to activate its forensic unit and to work with the Special Investigating Unit.

# The Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure says a team of engineers has been tasked with assessing the full extent of damage caused by a fire that gutted the historic Botha Sigcau building in Mthatha. The 11-storey building housed several government departments, including transport, social development, and health. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the blaze. The department says every effort is being made to put contingency measures in place to ensure that critical service delivery functions continue uninterrupted. 

# With the Middle East conflict now in its third week, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres is calling on the warring parties to stop fighting, find a diplomatic solution, and let peace prevail. Since the US and Israel began a joint military campaign against Iran last month, over one-thousand-500 people have been killed. Guterres has appointed veteran UN diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to support efforts to end the Middle East conflict. He warns that the world is staring down the barrel of a wider war:

# Cricket: Proteas all-rounder George Linde has been rewarded for his performance in the T20 series against New Zealand. He has gained one place to improve to 22nd on the list for the men’s T20 International all-rounders ranking, following some strong contributions with both bat and ball. South Africa clinched the series 3-2. Meanwhile, Proteas stand-in captain for the series, Keshav Maharaj, has moved up five places to 47th in the T20 bowler rankings. His compatriots Ottneil Baartman is up to the 66th, and Gerald Coetzee has moved up to 88.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-97-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-303-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-532-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….