News 14:00

BULLETIN 14 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# MPs are frustrated over the slow progress in implementing the Zondo commission’s recommendations 
# Cosatu says Parliament must reject the DA’s reckless Responsible Spending Bill
# And George North retires after 14 years of Test rugby for Wales 

# Members of Parliament have expressed frustration over the slow progress in implementing Zondo commission recommendations by state-owned enterprises. The Public Enterprises portfolio committee received updates on actions taken, including delinquency and criminal proceedings. Committee members seek more detailed progress reports, with concerns raised about the lack of transparency. The committee learned that 25 former senior Eskom executives are identified for inclusion in the database, highlighting the need for concrete action to address state capture implications.

# Cosatu calls upon the National Assembly to reject, what they call, the DA’s reckless Responsible Spending Bill. The union federation says the bill is an attempt to impose ten-percent plus salary cuts on nurses, teachers, police members and low-paid public servants for the next four years and beyond. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Matthew Parks, says the DA bill delinks increases in wages for cleaners, nurses and Correctional Service officials and other public servants from being pegged to inflation and be linked instead to the economy’s growth rate:

# The University of Pretoria’s Department of Accounting in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences has established the Lizette Kotzé support fund. The fund is in honour of the lecturer who passed away in December. Dean of the EMS Faculty, professor Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, says the fund aims to address the diverse needs of students. She says through this initiative, they honour Kotzé’s dedication to both her research and her students, ensuring that her spirit continues to inspire and uplift future generations of scholars at the university.

# Rugby: George North will wear the number 13 jersey in his final game for Wales when they take on Italy in a Six Nations clash in Cardiff on Saturday. The 31-year-old centre announced his retirement after playing 120 Tests, and scoring 235 points since making his debut in 2010. He also represented the British and Irish Lions in three matches. North missed last week’s loss to France. Wales is currently in last place on the log and needs to beat the Azzurri to prevent the wooden spoon.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-61-cents and the euro at 20-rand-37-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 73-thousand-216-dollars-81-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-169-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The City of Cape Town is gearing up for another busy week of events with at least 37 taking place in the coming days. The 13th Cape Town Carnival leads a stellar line-up of events taking place in the Mother City. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the carnival with over one-thousand-400 performers takes place on Saturday. He says the Cape Town Surf Pro is also happening at Long Beach in Kommetjie this weekend:

Stay tuned for more news………….