News 09:00

BULLETIN 28 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The National Director of Public Prosecutions says weak law enforcement is fueling criminal networks
# TLU SA says the massive fuel hikes will have a huge impact on the agriculture sector
# And tennis: Novak Djokovic withdraws from the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters

# The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Andy Mothibi, says weak law enforcement is fuelling the growth of criminal networks. Mothibi warns that corruption in municipalities is increasingly organised, with officials and contractors colluding to siphon public funds and disrupt essential services. He says law enforcement agencies are often in a reactive position, which is not enough to stop the scale of the problem. Mothibi is calling for urgent strengthening of policing and prosecution capacity to disrupt these networks and restore confidence in the rule of law.

# The agriculture organisation, TLU SA, says the massive fuel hikes of 5-rand for petrol and 10-rand for diesel coming into effect on the first of April will have a huge impact on the agriculture sector. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says South African farmers are preparing to harvest a generally strong summer crops including maize, soybeans, groundnuts, sorghum, and dry beans. He says, however, this period is marred by severe concerns over rising input costs:

Meanwhile, the Public Servants Association is also extremely concerned about unprecedented fuel-price increases expected to hit South Africans from Wednesday. The association’s spokesperson, Claude Naicker, says South Africans cannot withstand simultaneous and rapid increases in transport, fuel, food, and electricity costs:

# The Freedom Front Plus is calling for stronger policing in rural areas following the brutal murder of an elderly couple on a farm in The Crags near Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape. The party says the attack highlights growing violence and the vulnerability of farming communities. The FF Plus’s Gert van Niekerk urged authorities to boost policing resources and visibility to prevent further crimes:

# U.S. Secretary ​of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. expects its military operations against Iran to conclude within weeks, not months, and all its objectives can be met without using ground troops. Rubio told ‌reporters after meeting G7 counterparts in France that Washington was on or ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, a U.S. official told Reuters an Iranian attack on an airbase in Saudi Arabia seriously wounded two U.S. military personnel and injured another ten, as drones and missiles continued to strike around the Gulf.

# And tennis: Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn from the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters, starting 4th April, due to a persistent right shoulder injury. The world number one, who previously skipped the Miami Open, confirmed he is prioritizing long-term health over immediate competition following a grueling start to the season. The 38-year-old plans to undergo non-invasive rehabilitation to ensure fitness for the French Open and Wimbledon. Fans now look toward the Madrid Open in late April for his potential return to the clay-court circuit.

Stay tuned for more news………….