News 11:00

BULLETIN 22 March 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa encourages all South Africans to participate in public hearings
# Premier Winde says Western Cape FMD response is proceeding well as more vaccine doses arrive
# And a real possum was found among plush toy animals in an Australian airport gift shop

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is encouraging all South Africans to participate in public hearings, to contribute to the making of laws and be part of deciding the priorities for municipalities. He says South Africans must use Chapter 9 institutions to hold leaders accountable and to enforce their rights. Ramaphosa says over the course of the year, citizens should all be part of the shaping the future of the country through national dialogue:

# The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed the order granted by the Bloemfontein High Court, which authorises the final forfeiture in Gauteng, Free State and North West, of six luxury properties and a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG motor vehicle valued at approximately 32-million-rand. The NPA’s spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says the properties and vehicle were used in the commission of money laundering offences linked to the irregular 230-million-rand Free State asbestos roofing tender:

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa says South Africa’s metro municipality are under significant strain due to political instability, weak decision-making, declining revenues, and low collection rates. The department’s spokesperson, Pearl Maseko-Binqose says these challenges are further compounded by organisational inefficiencies, ageing infrastructure, and rapid urbanisation, which continues to intensify demand for housing, water, electricity, sanitation, and waste removal services:

# Western Cape premier Alan Winde says the province’s coordinated foot-and-mouth disease response plan has been further bolstered with the arrival of eight-thousand more vaccine doses in the province. He says this will supplement the 100-thousand doses the province received last week, bringing the total number to 170-thousand-400 doses received so far. Winde says more than 121-thousand vaccination doses have been administered across 438 vaccination sites, with the support of 29 private vets:

# Tennis: The world number two Jannik Sinner won on Saturday to reach the third round at the Miami Open. Reigning Wimbledon champion Sinner dispatched 76th-ranked Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He will next face France’s 31st-ranked Corentin Moutet, who outlasted the Czech Tomas Machac. Four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner captured his 25th career ATP title by beating Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final last weekend. He is trying to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to sweep the “Sunshine Double” by winning at Miami and Indian Wells.

# And finally, a passenger at the departure terminal shop at the Hobart Airport in Tasmania spotted a living Australian brushtail possum peering out from among the cuddly toys on display.  The possum made itself at home in the kangaroo section next to a Tasmanian devil.  Above the possum were bilbies, marsupials with rabbit-like long ears, and dingoes, Australia’s native dog. The intruder’s moving eyes gave it away and after being reported to airport management, the animal grew wary of the growing attention and left the shop.

Stay tuned for more news………….