News 15:00

BULLETIN 25 March 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# One suspect is arrested in the Soshanguve mass shooting and the death toll rises to six
# President Cyril Ramaphosa urges Denosa to champion nurses’ role in the National Health Insurance
# And rugby: MTN SA ends its long-running sponsorship of the Springboks

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu has confirmed that one suspect has been arrested following Saturday’s clash between local patrollers and five unidentified men in Soshanguve which left four dead at the scene and eight injured. The death toll has also risen to six after two victims succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Six others remain in hospital. Addressing residents, Mchunu confirmed that authorities continue with the manhunt:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa urges nursing union Denosa to take a leading role in advocating for nurses in the implementation of the National Health Insurance. Addressing the ninth national congress of Denosa in Boksburg, Gauteng, he emphasised that nurses are critical to the success of NHI and the health system. Ramaphosa urged the union to ensure nurses are well-trained and supported amid a national shortage and growing recruitment abroad:

# 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:

# Rugby: MTN South Africa has ended its eight-year-long sponsorship agreement with SA Rugby. Under the sponsorship, the Springboks won the World Cup in 2019 as well as in 2023. MTN SA CEO, Charles Molapisi, says the sponsorship was about redefining transformation by returning rugby to the people and fostering the spirit of Ubuntu. SA Rugby president, Mark Alexander, says MTN has been supportive not only in the efforts to win matches and bring joy to the country but also in showcasing the power of South Africa’s diversity.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-50-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-289-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-25-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-69-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Tshwane University of Technology’s faculty of ICT has partnered with the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority, to launch an innovative technology skills development programme. With an investment of 12.4-million-rand, the programme will see the rollout of a pioneering one-year drone pilot training course, aimed at equipping young people with essential skills for the rapidly evolving agricultural industry. TUT says this first-of-its-kind programme in the country is poised to address the growing demand for technology-driven solutions in agriculture. 

Stay tuned for more news………….