News 09:00

BULLETIN 31 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BLSA says the National Prosecuting Authority needs to be appropriately resourced
# Saftu demands the scrapping of the general fuel levy
# And, Celine Dion is making a triumphant return to the stage

# Business Leadership South Africa says reform of the National Prosecuting Authority needs to continue, with fundamental changes to entrench its independence. The organisation has been involved in supporting the NPA within clear guardrails that protect its independence, particularly supporting a fund that provides top-level private sector forensic skills to help build cases. BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso says the NPA needs financial and operational independence from the Department of Justice. She adds that the NPA depends on a functioning and effective police force to investigate, build cases, and undertake arrests. 

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions says it supports calls by other labour formations for immediate government intervention amid fuel price hikes. The Central Energy Fund estimates petrol could increase by roughly six-rand per litre and diesel by around ten-rand per litre tomorrow, on the back of higher oil prices and a weaker rand. Saftu’s Asive Dyani says the government must scrap the general fuel levy and introduce price controls and public regulation of fuel pricing:

# Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has strongly condemned the violence and lawlessness following a protest in KuGompo City, formerly East London. This is over the so-called crowning of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko as the ‘Igwe Ndigbo’ of KuGompo. Angry protesters set several vehicles on fire and targeted local businesses. The premier’s spokesperson, Sonwabo Mbananga, says the Nigerian diplomatic mission has clarified that the controversial event was cultural in nature and not an attempt to assert territorial sovereignty:

# Cricket: Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi starred with the bat as the Rajasthan Royals defeated the Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in their Indian Premier League opener in Guwahati. Nandre Burger, Jofra Archer and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each as CSK were bowled out for a below-par 127 in 19.4 overs. In reply, Sooryavanshi smashed 52 off just 17 balls, with captain Yashasvi Jaiswal anchoring the run chase with an unbeaten 38 off 36 balls, as Rajasthan secured a comfortable victory with 47 balls to spare.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-17-cents and the euro at 19-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-66-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-572-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-562-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Pop icon Celine Dion is making her return to the stage with a ten-night residency at the 40-thousand-capacity Paris La Défense Arena in September and October. The 58-year-old was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2022, a rare neurological and autoimmune disorder that affects mobility and vocal ability. Dion, known for power ballads like My Heart Will Go On and Because You Loved Me, says she is feeling good, managing her health, and cannot wait to sing on stage again:

Stay tuned for more news………….