News 15:00
BULLETIN 4 March 3 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Ramaphosa urges Africa to seize the energy moment
# Iranians are bidding farewell to late Supreme Leader Khamenei from today
# And rugby: The new All Black coach is excited about the Greatest Rivalry Tour against the Springboks
# President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is time for Africa to advance its energy security, resilience and sustainability. He delivered the keynote at the Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town and highlighted the continent’s vast oil, gas, solar and critical mineral resources. Ramaphosa noted over 600-million Africans lack electricity, stressing that reliable, affordable energy is vital for industrialisation, growth and global competitiveness:
# North West businessman Brown Mogotsi apologised to the Madlanga commission for missing his testimony date, citing ongoing diarrhea since returning from Cape Town. The commission criticised witnessess’ vague medical certificates, warning they disrupt proceedings and saying they may require doctors to clarify conditions privately. Chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga says unclear certificates could be referred for medical review. Mogotsi raised no objection, with his next testimony date yet to be announced:
# The suspension bridges in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park in the Western Cape is undergoing planned reconstruction to ensure safety and longevity. Bridges 2 and 3 are closed until 23 March, while the main 77-metre bridge will be closed from 24 March until 23 June. SANParks spokesperson JP Louw says the project involves replacing superstructures, rehabilitating substructures, and repairing concrete. He says phased construction allows partial trail access, and visitors are urged to follow safety instructions.
Moving abroad:
# Iranians are bidding farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a ceremony in Tehran from today. Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council says the farewell ceremony would continue for three days and the funeral procession will be announced later. It says the public will be able to pay their respects to the body of the Ayatollah at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall. Khamenei was killed on Saturday, aged 86, in air strikes by Israel and the US.
# Rugby: New Zealand’s new head coach, Dave Rennie, says he is excited about the Greatest Rivalry Tour in South Africa later this year. In the maiden edition, the Springboks will host the All Blacks in August and September, with four Tests scheduled across Johannesburg, Cape Town and a historic first in the USA. Rennie says he is relishing the prospect of six intense weeks on South African soil:
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-31-cents and the euro at 19-rand. One British pound costs 21-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-310-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-196-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-12-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….