News 15:00

BULLETIN 13 March 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A Hawks task team arrests four suspects linked to Eastern Cape kidnapping cases
# Cricket: The Western Cape government allocates 15-million rand for World Cup infrastructure upgrades
# And the UDM calls for Parliament to honour Mosiuoa Lekota

# The Hawks have made a breakthrough in a series of violent kidnapping cases in the Eastern Cape. Four suspects appeared in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court after being linked to multiple murders, kidnappings, and robberies reported in several areas of Buffalo City municipality in August last year. Police spokesperson Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana says the suspects allegedly used a white Toyota Fortuner, which helped connect them to the incidents:

# Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso says a land restitution handover in Mpumalanga marks a key step in restoring dignity and identity to dispossessed communities. Title deeds handed to the Mtshoeni-Mtsweni family in Mpumalanga covers over 627-hectares benefiting 18-households, with roots dating back to the 1700s. Nyhontso says the programme forms part of government efforts to accelerate land reform and expand economic opportunities for rural communities:

# Trade, Industry and Competition deputy minister Alexandra Abrahams says government programmes are helping innovative companies in the aerospace and defence sector grow and compete globally. During an oversight visit, Abrahams highlighted Reutech Radar Systems in Stellenbosch as a beneficiary of initiatives supporting supplier development and export promotion. She says the sector invests about 500-million rand annually in research and technology development and employs around 12-thousand-500 highly skilled engineers, technicians and artisans, boosting economic growth, exports and job creation.

# Cricket: Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie, has welcomed the provincial government’s allocation of 15-million-rand towards preparations for the men’s 50-over World Cup next year. The tournament will be hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Mackenzie says the allocated funds will be shared between Cricket Boland and the Western Province Cricket Association for the upgrading and construction of infrastructure used for the tournament:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-80-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-322-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-90-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

# And lastly, the United Democratic Movement has asked Parliament to formally honour the late Mosiuoa Lekota. The party asked National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza for appropriate recognition for Lekota, who died in Johannesburg at the age of 77. UDM Member of Parliament Nqabayomzi Kwankwa suggested a special joint parliamentary sitting or memorial service, to recognise his contribution to South Africa’s democracy. Lekota will be laid to rest in the Free State this weekend.

Stay tuned for more news………….