News 14:00

BULLETIN 25 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa’s total employment decreased by 91-thousand in 2024
# President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for a stronger nursing role in the healthcare system
# And cricket: Faf Du Plessis supports the IPL’s impact player rule

# The total number of people employed in South Africa decreased by 91-thousand from December 2023 to December last year. According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics published by Statistics SA, full-time employment decreased by 26-thousand and part-time employment was down by 65-thousand. Director of Quarterly Employment Statistics at Statistics SA, Matlapane Masupye, says the news was a bit better for the fourth quarter of last year:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says nurses are essential to the healthcare system and should play a key role in health reforms. Speaking at the ninth national congress of nursing union Denosa in Ekurhuleni, the president called for a stronger nursing presence in policy development, job creation, and strengthening the healthcare system. Ramaphosa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the nursing profession, ensuring they work in the best possible conditions to improve healthcare outcomes across the country:

# Municipal workers union SAMWU has condemned the ongoing salary payment delays in municipalities. The union blamed National Treasury for inadequate funding and neglect of rural communities. Municipal workers in areas like Mamusa in North West and Kopanong in the Free State have reportedly gone for months without pay, while essential services suffer. SAMWU is now demanding emergency funding to cover unpaid salaries. They also call for a moratorium on debt and legal action against municipalities violating labour contracts.

# The International Air Transport Association says it will soon be launching the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Registry, which will be managed by the Civil Aviation Decarbonisation Organisation. The use of sustainable aviation fuel instead of conventional jet fuel could cut aviation carbon emissions by up to 80-percent. The registry will help solve the challenge of limited sustainable aviation fuel, which is acutely scarce. IATA director-general, Willie Walsh, says the registry should inspire governments, fossil fuel producers, and investors to engage in the sustainable aviation fuel market with commensurate vigour.

# Cricket: Delhi Capitals vice-captain, Faf du Plessis, says he supports the Indian Premier League’s impact player rule. The rule allows a player, batter or bowler, to be substituted into the starting 11 at any time of the match. Impact player substitute Ashutosh Sharma’s unbeaten 66 off 31 balls helped Delhi clinch a one-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants yesterday. Du Plessis says Sharma showed the value of the rule:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-18-cents and the euro at 19-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-52-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-990-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-21-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….