News 08:00

BULLETIN 5 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Nathi Nhleko resigns from the ANC because the party has become unrecognisable
# France becomes the first country to constitutionalise abortion rights
# And rugby: Seven uncapped players are included in the Bok Women’s international tour

# Former ANC national executive committee member and Police minister, Nathi Nhleko, has resigned from the governing party. This comes after secretary general Fikile Mbalula accused him of lying in Parliament, in defence of former president Jacob Zuma during the inquiry into the Nkandla scandal. In his resignation letter, Nhleko, says Mbalula’s accusations demonstrated the bankruptcy, lunacy, and defunct manner which has unfortunately defined the barren form the ANC has undertaken. He adds that the ruling party has turned into something unrecognisable.

# The Azanian People’s Organisation calls on voters to exercise vigilance and discernment as they navigate the political landscape. They criticise the lack of thought leadership, moral values, and rampant corruption, leading to an uninspiring vision for the future. Azapo’s spokesperson Jabu Rakwena challenges the narrative that there is no future beyond the current ANC government. Rakwena urges voters to look beyond and consider their long-term prosperity, when choosing a government that prioritises their best interests on 29 May:

# Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister, Blade Nzimande, says the country must not tolerate the growing culture of impunity on the part of criminal elements, and a blatant disregard for human life. Yesterday, he visited the family of the University of Johannesburg student who was killed in a crossfire in Braamfontein last week Thursday. The department’s spokesperson, Veli Mbele, says the minister will contact Police minister, Bheki Cele, to jointly implement the necessary measures to ensure the safety of students:

# France has become the first country in the world to make abortion a constitutional right. Out of 925 parliamentarians, 780 supported the amendment, which will give women the guaranteed freedom to choose an abortion. Seventy-two voted against the amendment. President Emmanuel Macron described the outcome of the vote as French pride, saying this is an entry of a new freedom guaranteed in the constitution. Macron will attend a ceremony to finalise the constitutional amendment on Friday, International Women’s Day.

# Rugby: Seven uncapped players have been included in the Springbok Women’s squad of 32 players for a three-week tour of the United Kingdom and Spain later this month. Nolusindiso Booi will captain the side, with Babalwa Latsha and Tayla Kinsey as the vice-captains. The team will play Spain in Valladolid on the 23rd of this month and the USA in London on the 30th. Springbok Women coach, Louis Koen, says the tour provides invaluable preparation for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar in May:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-5-cents and the euro at 20-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-95-dollars-97-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-113-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….