News 09:00

BULLETIN 21 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# TLU SA says the impact of the rising global oil prices is already being felt
# The Forum for South Africa slams government for misleading South Africans on fuel security
# And Bahrain pledges support for the Strait of Hormuz safety efforts

# The agriculture organisation, TLU SA, says the impact of rising global oil prices is already being felt in South Africa. Government as well as the Fuels Industry Association, earlier reiterated that South Africa’s fuel supply remains stable in the immediate term, without any need for panic-buying. TLU SA spokesperson Caria van Der Merwe says the rising global oil prices will affect the agriculture sector:

Meanwhile, the Forum for South Africa has rejected government’s attempt to reassure the public on fuel supply as nothing more than a carefully worded effort to mask a growing national crisis. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says South Africans are not naïve. He says the facts paint a far more alarming picture: soaring global oil prices, supply chain disruptions, and a country that remains dangerously dependent on foreign fuel with little real protection in place:

# The Freedom Front Plus says the government must rethink its foreign policy towards the US in light of the Middle East conflict. The party warns that the government’s support for Iran, while straining relations with its second-largest trading partner, also ignores the needs of citizens.  Corné Mulder of the party says ideological ties should not come before the well-being of South Africans, of whom nearly 43-percent are unemployed. Mulder calls for trade relations that protect jobs and put people first.

# The South African Society of Psychiatrists says urgent action is needed to improve mental healthcare for children, with only one in ten getting help, calling it a human rights crisis. Marking Human Rights Day, the organisation blames underfunding, a shortage of specialists, and limited facilities. The society’s Renata Schoeman calls for more support in schools, better early intervention, and improved coordination across government to help children get the care they need:

# Bahrain has joined the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada in pledging support for the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Leaders from those nations earlier issued a joint condemnation of the attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. They have urged Iran to cease its threats immediately and expressed a readiness to contribute to efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. It is not yet clear what the efforts would entail or what the timeline would be.

# And motorsport: Formula One world champion Lando Norris has said it feels “surreal” to soon be joining other sports stars and celebrities by having his waxwork likeness unveiled at London’s Madame Tussauds. The 26-year-old British driver has been working with the design team at the nearly 200-year-old attraction to create a detailed Norris replica from helmet to toe. The new figure Norris will feature in Madame Tussauds alongside fellow British Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, and other sports stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Mo Salah and Anthony Joshua.

Stay tuned for more news………….