News 11:00

BULLETIN 27 March 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# France denies that it was pressured by America to disinvite South Africa to the G7 Summit
# The acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia is providing president Ramaphosa with options on the Masemola matter
# And tennis: Aryna Sabalenka is to face Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final

# French Foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has denied that South Africa’s invitation to the G7 Summit in June was withdrawn due to pressure from the United States. The Presidency initially stated that it was no longer invited to the summit due to boycott threats from Washington, but it later backtracked, emphasising ongoing diplomatic engagement. Barrot says they have opted for a streamlined G7, inviting Kenya instead to help prepare France’s major Africa summit in Nairobi in May. He adds that South Africa remains an essential partner of France on all major global issues.

# Acting minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, says he has been tasked with providing options to president Cyril Ramaphosa in light of the latest developments involving National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. He has been summoned to appear in court in April, in connection with his alleged links to the 360-million-rand tender awarded to alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company, Medicare24. Cachalia told the SABC that any action taken by Ramaphosa must serve to strengthen the police service:

# Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya says her executive is serious about addressing allegations relating to financial governance, accountability, and oversight. This comes as the council has approved a report to institute disciplinary steps against the chief financial officer, Gareth Mnisi, including initiating steps to place him on precautionary suspension. He has been implicated at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry for allegedly manipulating and rigging tenders. The mayor’s spokesperson, Samkelo Mgobozi, says the process being undertaken does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing:

# The United Arab Emirates says it would participate in a multinational maritime task force intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway has been effectively closed for almost four weeks due to the conflict in the Middle East. The Strait is the main conduit for about 20-percent of the world’s oil and natural gas and fertilisers. According to the Financial Times, the UAE is working on a United Nations Security Council resolution with Bahrain to provide any future task force with a mandate.

# Tennis: World number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will face American Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final tomorrow. Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-3, to move within one win from securing the coveted Sunshine Double, following her victory at Indian Wells earlier this month. Gauff cruised past the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova, 6-1, 6-1, to reach her first Miami Open final. Sabalenka talks about what fans can expect from the final with Gauff:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-10-cents and the euro at 19-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-630-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-451-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….