News 16:00

BULLETIN 17 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa vows diplomatic engagement with the US over the Ebrahim Rasool issue
# The EFF wants the proposed new US ambassador to South Africa banned
# And cricket: A maiden Cricket South Africa contract for the young Proteas women’s player Annerie Dercksen

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says government will send a new envoy to Washington following the expulsion of ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rasool of being a race-baiting politician who hates America, declaring him unwelcome in the US. Ramaphosa told the media he is awaiting a full report from Rasool and assures that diplomatic engagements with the US are ongoing:

Meanwhile, the EFF has noted that the US is in the process of appointing a new ambassador to South Africa and among the contenders is Joel Pollak. The party says he works for Breitbart, and according to the EFF it is well known for spreading racist and xenophobic views. The party says if Pollak is appointed, they will make sure that Ramaphosa does not sign his letters of credence and ban him from entering South Africa.

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Police has called for due process in the investigation of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is probing claims that he interfered in the 2023 arrest of a senior Correctional Services official linked to a drug cartel at Westville Maximum Prison. Mkhwanazi must submit a sworn statement by Wednesday. Committee chairperson Ian Cameron awaits the investigative report:

# Post Bank CEO Nikki Mbengashe has reiterated that the SASSA yellow/gold cards will not function after Thursday’s deadline. Thus far, over one million SASSA beneficiaries have swapped to black cards. Speaking on the upcoming deadline, Mbengashe said that black card issuance will continue. She assures beneficiaries without black cards that they can still access their grants from Post Office branches nationwide:

# Cricket: The International Cricket Council’s emerging women’s player of the year, Annerie Dercksen, has earned her maiden national contract with Cricket South Africa. The 23-year-old replaces Lara Goodall and Delmi Tucker on the list of 15 contracted players. Among the other players contracted for the 2025/26 season are captain Laura Wolvaardt, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus and Anneke Bosch. The Proteas women are gearing up for an important year, culminating in die One-day World Cup starting in India in October.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-13-cents and the euro at 19-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-52-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-195-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-993-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….