News 09:00

BULLETIN 29 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa signs the Intelligence Reform Bill into law
# The DA demands proactive measures to address prison smuggling network
# And, the US Vice President says America is to expand its focus on Arctic security for decades

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill into law, introducing major changes to intelligence services. The State Security Agency will be replaced by two new bodies, the Foreign Intelligence Service and the Domestic Intelligence Agency, following recommendations from the Zondo Commission and the High-Level Review Panel. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the law also revives the Intelligence Training Academy, strengthens parliamentary oversight, and enforces stricter controls on internet surveillance:

# The DA says it has written to the Select Committee on Security and Justice chairperson Jane Mananiso to request an urgent joint engagement with Police minister Senzo Mchunu and Correctional Services minister Pieter Groenewald. The DA’s Nicholas Gotsell says the joint engagement seeks clarity on joint anti-smuggling strategies within their departments in order to proactively address the scourge of crime involving gangsterism and drugs in the Western Cape and, in particular, on the Cape Flats:

# Eskom says the power system remains stable with emergency reserves being strategically utilised to meet electricity demand, especially during peak periods. The unplanned capacity loss factor, or unplanned outages, for the financial year-to date, stands at 25.85-percent, improving from 32.38-percent in the same period last year. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena says this reflects a 6.5-percent reduction and signifies increased fleet reliability:

# U.S. Vice President JD Vance told a media briefing during his visit to Greenland yesterday that U.S. interest in Arctic security would grow for decades. Vance suggested that it is in the interest of Greenland to have a US security umbrella over the territory However, America respects the self-determination of Greenland. The visit to the U.S. military base at Pituffik in the north of the Arctic island came just hours after a new broad government coalition, which aims to keep ties with Denmark for now, was presented in Greenland’s capital Nuuk.

# And, Cricket: England’s former Test captain, Joe Root, says he isn’t interested in become the country’s white-ball leader. A new captain must be appointed after Jos Buttler’s resignation following their poor showing in the Champions Trophy, where they couldn’t survive the group stage. Root says he’s done his time as captain, but he was sure whoever is appointed will do a brilliant job. Management said earlier Test captain Ben Stokes could be considered to become white-ball captain as well, but there are other options.

Stay tuned for more news………….