News 09:00

BULLETIN 15 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the US following the expulsion of the ambassador
# The DA slams SASSA over resource misuse
# And motorsport: Cape Town or Kyalami will vie for a Formula One Grand Prix

# The Presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Ebrahim Rasool. The administration of president Donald Trump has declared Rasool a persona non grata in the United States. Us Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, posted on social media that Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates president Trump. Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya says the South African government will engage through diplomatic channels:

# The DA in the Western Cape has criticised SASSA for hosting a lavish media briefing instead of prioritising grant distribution. DA spokesperson Wendy Kaizer-Philander highlighted ongoing inefficiencies at Postbank sites, with long queues and system failures. She stressed that funds should be used to improve services rather than extravagant events as over 190-thousand SASSA Gold Cards still need replacement:

# Eskom says load-shedding remains suspended, supported by a stable power system and adequate emergency reserves. The power utility says it continues to maintain high levels of planned maintenance at power stations. This forms part of its efforts to improve fleet reliability in preparation for the high winter demand, while also meeting environmental license conditions and regulatory requirements. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena says currently, planned maintenance is at six-thousand-645-megawatts:

# In his first speech as Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney says negativity won’t win a trade war as the country faces a tariff standoff with US president Donald Trump. Carney says he will visit France and the UK on his first overseas trip in the job, adding that he currently has no plans to meet Trump, but he was looking  forward to speaking to him. He labelled the US secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comment that Canada would become the US’ 51st state crazy.

# And motorsport: South Africa will know later this year whether Cape Town or Johannesburg will vie to bring a Formula One Grand Prix to Africa for the first time in over three decades. A committee set up by Sport minister Gayton McKenzie will make the choice between a street race in the Mother City, or the historical Kyalami. Committee member Mlimandlela Ndamase is confident South Africa will succeed in hosting the F-1 in 2027. The last Grand Prix in Africa took place at Kyalami in 1993.

Stay tuned for more news………….