News 14:00

BULLETIN 24 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# No plea agreement is reached in the Mugabe and Matonhodze attempted murder case
# Treasury is advancing inclusive economic growth in the SA-TIED Conference
# And tennis: The Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko reaches the Miami quarters and earns a Grand Slam backing from Roddick

# The attempted murder case against Bellarmine Mugabe, the son of Zimbabwe’s late president Robert Mugabe, and co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze has been postponed to April 17 at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court. They are accused of shooting a 23-year-old gardener at the Mugabe residence in Hyde Park in February. No plea agreement was reached. The pair abandoned their bail application after the state argued they may be a flight risk due to their alleged illegal status. They are facing charges including attempted murder and the unlawful possession of a firearm.

# National Treasury’s second phase of its Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development Close-Out Conference in Pretoria is looking into economic reforms and inclusive growth in South Africa. The event focuses on evidence-based solutions to challenges including unemployment, fiscal pressure and energy transition. Speaking in the event, deputy Finance minister David Masondo called for strengthened collaboration to examine how economic research, data, and sustained institutional collaboration are shaping reform efforts. The conference will also see the launch of Phase three of the SA-TIED.

# The City of Tshwane says youth unemployment in South Africa is not just an economic issue; it is a social and developmental emergency. According to Statistics South Africa, youth unemployment among those aged 15-34 stood at approximately 46.1-percent in the first quarter of 2025. Mayoral committee member for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, says Tshwane’s Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme seeks to address youth unemployment and expand opportunities for young people:

# The United Nations has warned that the longer the Russia-Ukraine war continues, the deadlier it becomes. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 15-thousand-364 civilians have been killed, including 775 children, and more than 42-thousand others injured. At least 188 civilians were killed in February alone, and 757 injured, a 45-percent increase over the same period last year. The UN’s Rosemary DiCarlo says reports point to an increase in strikes targeting railroads and other transport infrastructure:

# Tennis:  The Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko’s beat fellow teenager Mirra Andreeva 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 on Monday to reach the Miami Open quarterfinals where she will face Karolina Muchova. Mboko picked up her first WTA Tour-level win in Miami last year and has reached the quarterfinals of several tournaments in 2026 with a fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open. Former US Open champion Andy Roddick believes Mboko is going to win a grand slam in the next two years. He says she is strong and can withstand the stress of big tennis.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-98-cents and the euro at 19-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-143-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-424-dollars-9-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….