News 16:00

BULLETIN 4 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Freedom Front Plus says the high treason charges against AfriForum undermines democracy and free speech
# The US government considers scrapping contracts with Columbia University over anti-Semitism
# And tennis: Andy Murray once again coaches Novak Djokovic in the US

# The Freedom Front Plus says the high treason charge against AfriForum, under investigation by the Hawks, is unjustified and politically motivated. The party argues the ANC, not AfriForum, should be investigated for its role in state capture, which harmed South Africa, including misleading the public for years. FF Plus leader Corné Mulder says freedom of expression and transparency are crucial, urging the world to be informed about the true state of affairs in South Africa.

# Private companies have criticised the South African Post Office for its inability to adapt. This comes after the Department of Communications requested Treasury’s support for a task team to find partners for a public-private partnership. Critics believe that its future depends on its ability to adapt to the digital world. Independent analyst Khaya Sithole told SABC News that the Post Office has failed to reinvent itself:

# The DA says it will question the National Health Laboratory Service in Parliament’s portfolio committee on Health tomorrow about the ongoing anti-venom crisis that has reportedly led to deaths. The party will demand clarity on how much anti-venom has been produced and distributed since 2023. The DA’s Michele Clarke says the NHLS must also account for reported shortages in hospitals and what is being done to address them:

# The US government says it is considering scrapping more than 928-million-rand in contracts with New York’s Columbia University over allegations it failed to protect Jewish students. The prestigious Ivy League institution found itself at the centre of a firestorm last year over claims of anti-Semitism triggered by campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. Some Jewish students and campaign groups said Jewish students were intimidated and that authorities did not act to protect them.

# Tennis: Andy Murray has joined another former world number one, Novak Djokovic, in the US to help prepare the Serbian for the Indian Wells Open. The retired Brit was also in Djokovic’s box during the Australian Open in January, when he was injured during the semifinal. His only match since then was in the Qatar Open in Doha, where he lost in the first round. Djokovic plans to compete in the Sunshine Double – Indian Wells and the Miami Open – for the first time since 2019.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-52-cents and the euro at 19-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-620-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-920-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-37-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….