News 08:00

BULLETIN 12 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu wants a bold, progressive, and people-centred budget
# The Asset Forfeiture Unit seizes the assets of an alleged child pornography couple
# And Ukraine agrees to a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire

# Cosatu says it will reaffirm its rejection of a value-added tax increase and austerity budget cuts through multiple demonstrations today. The demonstrations in the Western Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Free State come as Finance minister Enoch Godongwana will table the budget in Parliament this afternoon. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Matthew Parks, says they hope that deliberations following the postponement of the budget last month have yielded a bold, progressive, and people-centred budget:

# The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit has seized assets belonging to Darryn Wilken and his girlfriend Tiona Moodley, who are accused of running a child pornography distribution ring. The couple, who were arrested in January, are facing charges of manufacturing and distributing child sexual abuse material, possession of drugs, and money laundering. NPA’s spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, says the investigation into this matter is ongoing both locally and abroad to protect the rights of children:

# The ANC Caucus in the City of Ekurhuleni has welcomed the decisive actions taken by the council on the allegations of misconduct and fraudulent activity within the Office of the Speaker. EFF council speaker, Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, has been accused of benefitting from kickbacks from service providers in exchange for government contracts. The ANC’s, Pelisa Nkunjana, says an ad-hoc committee has been established to investigate the allegations against the speaker thoroughly and impartially. She adds that they remain committed to clean governance, transparency, and accountability.

# Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, following peace talks with the US in Saudi Arabia. The deal covers the entire front line of the fighting with Moscow, not just the air and sea. Zelenskyy says it’s now up to America to convince Russia to agree to the deal. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, says if Russia rejects the offer, then the world will know what the impediment is to peace:

# Golf: Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods has undergone surgery after rupturing his left Achilles tendon while ramping up training at home. In a statement, the 49-year-old says doctor Charlton Stucken of the Hospital for Special Surgery in Florida performed a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair. He says the surgery went well, and he expects to make a full recovery. Woods, who last competed in an official PGA Tour event in July last year, could miss The Masters at Augusta National next month.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-24-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-310-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-919-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….