News 13:00

BULLETIN 7 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will visit South Africa on 10 April
# The UK funds 6.4-million-rand for a study on South Africa’s electricity market reform
# And cricket: His predecessor describes Pakistan’s coach as a clown after the Champions Trophy disaster

# We start with a brief newsFlash – The Presidency has confirmed Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will visit South Africa on 10 April. More to follow.

# The United Kingdom has committed 6.4-million-rand to support a study by the Energy Council of South Africa on reforms needed to implement a wholesale electricity market. Announced during UK climate envoy Rachel Kyte’s visit to Cape Town, the study includes tariff modeling, legal assessments, and financial risk evaluations. The funding aligns with South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership, despite the US withdrawing its 27-billion-rand pledge. The UK government says it remains committed to supporting energy liberalisation and emissions reductions.

# The DA calls for the swift implementation of its Free State Community Policing Bill following a rise in police misconduct in the province. The latest Independent Police Investigative Directorate report shows an increase in deaths in custody, from eleven to 19, as well as a rise in assault and rape cases against police officials. The DA’s Roy Jankielsohn says despite 338 cases being referred to the National Prosecuting Authority, only seven resulted in prosecutions:

# South Africa’s Class of 2024 has until the 17th of this month to apply for a rewrite of their National Senior Certificate exams. Star Schools CEO Vimala Ariyan stresses a matric qualification’s role in breaking poverty cycles, as those without it earn 75-percent less over their lifetimes. While the Second Chance Matric Programme offers support, challenges like data access and study spaces remain. Ariyan urges students to choose accredited institutions with proper funding, emphasising that rewriting matric can unlock better education and job opportunities.

# Cricket: Pakistan’s previous Test head coach, Jason Gillespie, describes his successor, Aaqib Javed, as a clown and accuses him of undermining him and former white-ball coach, South African Gary Kirsten, so he could take over their roles. Both resigned late last year after being appointed in April. Javed said on social media Pakistan’s recent poor form can be contributed to a lack of continuity around selectors and coaches. Gillespie says Javed and the selectors should take responsibility for the hosts’ poor performance in the Champions Trophy.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-8-cents and the euro at 19-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-37-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-585-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-922-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Four-hundred-and-420 rhinos were poached in South Africa last year, with 320 being killed in state properties and 100 in privately owned parks, reserves or farms. This was a decrease of 79 in comparison to 499 rhinos poached in 2023. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister, Dion George, says wildlife trafficking remains a significant global issue that requires an intense and co-ordinated global endeavour, if they are to succeed in disrupting the criminal networks:

Stay tuned for more news………….