News 15:00
BULLETIN 30 March 3 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Medicare24’s CEO denies Jeff Wicks’ allegations over a police tender probe
# Israel reports a second attack from Yemen as the Middle Eastern conflict escalates
# And rugby: Joe Lewis is appointed as the Springbok’s performance analyst
# Medicare24 CEO Mike van Wyk has condemned News24 investigative journalist Jeff Wicks over a 360-million-rand police tender. This follows the release of a video titled “Who Is Mike van Wyk?” amid ongoing investigations into alleged corruption in the 2024 occupational health services contract awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District. The matter is linked to businessman Vusimuzi Matlala. Van Wyk denies wrongdoing, insists his company is separate, and has declined to confirm if he is a state witness in the case.
# The ANC Youth League is demanding a full audit and system overhaul within the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to ensure real-time data verification with Home Affairs and other relevant departments. The Auditor-General revealed the scheme continued payment of bursaries to over 800 deceased beneficiaries. Spokesperson Sindiswa Scheepers says it is unacceptable that public resources are being misdirected due to weak systems, poor verification processes, and a lack of accountability:
# The Soil of Africa Movement is calling on all South Africans to stand together and unite with traditional leaders to fight gang violence in communities. Five people were gunned down in two separate incidents in Gugulethu and Philippi East, Cape Town, over the weekend. The movement’s chairperson, Bongani Ramontja, says these acts of violence are not random; they reflect a bigger problem in the country:
Moving abroad:
# The Israeli military says Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel today, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for only the second time since the US-Israeli war began. It says two drones from Yemen were intercepted early this morning. Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militia entered the war on Saturday, firing missiles at Israel and escalating the conflict. The latest attacks came a day after US president Donald Trump said his country and Iran had been meeting directly and indirectly.
On to sports news:
# SA Rugby has appointed former England, Scarlets, and Ospreys technical analyst Joe Lewis to the Springbok management team as performance analyst. He will join the team before the international season, which kicks off against the Barbarians on the 20th of June. Head coach Rassie Erasmus believes Lewis will add great value to the squad, given his vast experience in technical and performance analysis at international and club level, as they prepare for a busy season ahead of next year’s World Cup in Australia.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-13-cents and the euro at 19-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-488-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-538-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-67-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….