News 09:00
BULLETIN 3 Maart 9 am
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The FF Plus leader blames the ANC for Eskom’s decline
# Minister Cele calls for unity and less politics in the search for Joslin Smith
# And, rugby: The Blitzboks are hoping for the 11th place at the LA Sevens
# Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald accuses the ANC of failing to punish corruption, saying black economic empowerment only benefits politically connected individuals. In his address at the party’s manifesto launch in Pretoria, he blamed the ANC for the decline of Eskom over 30 years, asserting ordinary citizens bear the consequences. Groenewald reiterated the FF Plus’ belief in self-determination and decentralisation of power, including in local municipalities. He claims president Cyril Ramaphosa is withholding the National Health Insurance Bill due to financial constraints:
# Police minister Bheki Cele has assured the community of Diazville in Saldanha Bay on the West Coast, where Joslin Smith went missing more than a week ago, that police remain committed to finding the seven-year-old girl and reuniting her with her family. Cele met with the family, as well as the residents of the broader Saldanha community, yesterday. He urged community members to not allow those who are trying to get political mileage out of the disappearance of a little girl to divide them:
# Western Cape MEC for Community Safety and Police Oversight, Reagen Allen, has welcomed the arrest of two SAPS members in connection with hijacking and theft. In August 2022, a truck transporting abalone to the value of 500-thousand-rand from the Buffelsjag abalone farm in Hermanus to Cape Town International Airport was hijacked on the N2 Freeway, allegedly by the officers. Allen says the crew of the truck was later released in a bush area in Mitchells Plain while the truck was recovered abandoned at Wolfgat Nature reserve, with all the abalone removed:
# Rugby: The Blitzboks once again failed to impress at the Los Angeles Sevens. They will be involved in an 11th place play-off clash with Canada this evening. In their only win, the South Africans beat Spain 22-19 early this morning. Earlier, they lost 19-10 to Samoa, 17-5 to Argentina and 17-0 to Ireland. The South African women’s sevens made history at the tournament as they secured their first ever quarter-final game. That sets them up for a clash against the USA in the knock-out stages tonight.
# And finally: Government is calling on South Africans to play their part towards strengthening human rights and to cherish the country’s freedom and democracy, which was attained at great cost. It says March is a heightened period in South Africa as the country marks Human Rights Month, commemorated under the theme, Three Decades of Respect For and Promotion of Human Rights. Government is encouraging South Africans to use this month to remember and honour those who fought for the liberation, and to reinforce the commitment to the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
Stay tuned for more news………….