News 09:00

BULLETIN 28 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile says the Expropriation Act will fast-track the land reform process
# The DA is demanding a review of Eskom’s electricity pricing policy
# And king Charles experiences temporary side effects from cancer

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says while the Expropriation Act should ensure redress for those whose land was taken away, the process must follow the law. Government currently has a backlog of five-thousand-600 land claims from 1998, with only 300 claims settled annually. Answering questions in the National Council of Provinces on Thursday, Mashatile dismissed suggestions by the US administration that the Expropriation Act was aimed at taking land from white people:

# The DA is demanding a comprehensive and transparent review of Eskom’s pricing model. This as a 12.74-percent tariff increase for the power utility’s direct customers is set to come into effect next Tuesday. The DA’s, Kevin Mileham, says the electricity pricing policy needs to review how Eskom bulk tariffs are determined, how municipal tariffs are set, and provide a safety net for indigent consumers that minimises the role of municipalities:

# The GOOD Party says the ANC caucus leader in Cape Town Banele Majingo has not only betrayed his party but all members of the opposition in the metro. Majingo has resigned and joined the DA. He says he has come to realise that his values and principles are now more aligned with those of the DA. GOOD’s, Jonathan Cupido, says just last month, Majingo submitted a motion of no confidence in council speaker Felicity Purchase on behalf of the multiparty opposition:

# King Charles required a short period of observation in hospital on Thursday, after experiencing temporary side-effects due to his ongoing medical treatment for cancer. The 76-year-old monarch was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February last year. Buckingham Palace says as a precautionary measure and acting on medical advice, the King’s diary programme for today will be rescheduled. King Charles and Queen Camilla are set for a state visit to Italy in just over a week.

# Cricket: Lucknow Super Giants secured a comprehensive five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad to earn their first win in this year’s Indian Premier League. Sunrisers posted 190 for nine after being asked to bat first with Travis Head scoring 47, while Shardul Thakur took four wickets. In reply, Nicholas Pooran smashed 70 from 26 balls as he helped the Super Giants reach the target with 23 balls to spare. Today the Chennai Super Kings take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-25-cents and the euro at 19-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-62-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-710-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-73-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-17-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….