News 14:00

BULLETIN 13 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cabinet is confident about a strong case against the Bushiris despite their intentions to appeal their extradition
# NUM says the continuation of Eskom’s legal separation into three businesses will not resolve the energy crisis
# And motorsport: Oscar Piastri’s new McLaren contract will earn him 477-million-rand per season

# Cabinet welcomes the ruling by Malawi’s Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court, to extradite self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary to South Africa. They face multiple criminal charges, including rape and financial crimes. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told the media despite the Bushiris’ intention to appeal,  government remains confident in the case and is collaborating with Interpol to ensure the accused are returned to stand trial:

# Mineworkers’ union NUM says the budget speech delivered by Finance minister Enoch Godongwana will exacerbate the energy crisis. It says the continuation of Eskom’s legal separation into three businesses will not resolve the energy crisis, instead, it is a means to open the energy business to the free market. NUM’s Khangela Baloyi says Godongwana announced that the last 70-billion-rand debt takeover for Eskom will be replaced with 40-billion-rand in the current financial year and 10-billion-rand in 2028/’29:

# The Eastern Cape Health Department says cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in the province have risen to 78. The disease is prevalent in children at daycare centres and learners in primary schools, mainly affecting learners from Grades R to 5. The department’s spokesperson, Siyanda Manana, says cases have spiked significantly in the Buffalo City Municipality in recent weeks:

# A United Nations investigation has concluded that Israel carried out genocidal acts in Gaza through the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities. The UN commission of inquiry said Israel had intentionally attacked and destroyed the Palestinian territory’s main fertility centre, and had simultaneously imposed a siege and blocked aid including medication for ensuring safe pregnancies, deliveries and neonatal care. Israel accused the commission of advancing a predetermined and biased political agenda in a shameless attempt to incriminate the Israeli Defence Force.

# Motorsport: Australian Oscar Piastri’s renewed multi-year contract with McLaren’s Formula One team is reportedly worth a whopping 477-million-rand per year. The 23-year-old was rewarded after ending fourth in the drivers’ championship last year and helping his team to win the constructors’ championship for the first time since 1998. His British teammate Lando Norris, who finished second last year, signed a long-term contract extension before last season. Piastri earned 128-million-rand per season during his previous contract.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-250-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-943-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….