News 15:00

BULLETIN 28 March 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Dean Macpherson announces progress in the fight against the construction mafia
# Ramaphosa launches a new smart membership card for the ANC
# And rugby: A comprehensive victory for the Blitzboks over Uruguay at the start of the Hong Kong Sevens

# Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has confirmed significant progress in tackling the construction mafia. He revealed at a news conference arrests are rising and construction stoppages are being successfully resolved. The minister confirmed that reforms are accelerating, including blacklisting non-performing contractors since the signing of the Durban Declaration last year. He also highlighted mafia infiltration into security firms:

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a new smart membership card, designed to enhance the party’s internal processes and improve member engagement. The card is part of the party’s efforts to modernise and strengthen operations, with plans to incorporate advanced technology like artificial intelligence. Addressing the first day of the national executive committee meeting in Boksburg, Gauteng, Ramaphosa said these changes will reinforce the integrity of the party and ensure better operations:

# ActionSA’s Lerato Ngobeni has threatened legal action if Cape Independence Advocacy Group leader Phil Craig is granted citizenship. Ngobeni urged Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber to reject Craig’s application, arguing he does not meet legal requirements. This comes as Craig, British by birth, advocates for Western Cape secession. Craig will seek US diplomatic support next month. Ngobeni cites Craig’s stance as undermining national unity:

# The new JRC Advance report on Forest Fires in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, shows that in 2024, Ukraine had the worst fire season ever recorded in the European Union Forest Fires Information System. Nearly one-million hectares burnt in Ukraine. The report says the spatial distribution of the fires matches the line of the war front between Ukraine and Russia. Meanwhile, 2024 was the worst year for forest fires in Portugal since 2017, with 147-thousand hectares of land affected. 

# Rugby: South Africa beat Uruguay 40-7 in their world series tournament opener in Hong Kong. The Blitzboks led 19-0 at half-time after tries by Siviwe Soyizwapi, Quewin Nortjé and Shilton van Wyk. They added another four in the second half, while the opponents could just answer with one consolation try. The Blitzboks play Australia later today, and take on New Zealand in their final Pool B match tomorrow morning. The quarterfinals take place later tomorrow, followed by the semifinals and final on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-46-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-858-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-77-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….