News 16:00

BULLETIN 25 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Home Affairs and the SIU collaborate to tackle immigration and border corruption
# South Africa’s bail system is under scrutiny as over 16-thousand bail absconders are on the run
# And Athletics South Africa calls for more indoor athletics facilities after athletes’ performance in China

# The Home Affairs Ministry and the Special Investigating Unit have launched the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum in Pretoria. The initiative aims to combat corruption in border control. Minister Leon Schreiber says fraud remains a serious issue, stressing the need for accountability. He welcomed the recent dismissal of corrupt officials and emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts to strengthen border security and immigration integrity:

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu has confirmed that one suspect has been arrested following Saturday’s clash between local patrollers and five unidentified men in Soshanguve, Pretoria, which left four dead at the scene and eight injured. The death toll has also risen to six after two people succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Six others remain in hospital. Addressing residents, Mchunu confirmed that authorities continue with the manhunt:

Mchunu has also revealed that over 16-thousand accused criminals have absconded after being granted bail. He said in response to a parliamentary question, more than four-thousand-500 of these cases have been unresolved for over five years, while 262 absconders are foreign nationals. He confirmed their cases will be reopened if they are arrested.

# Athletics South Africa’s president, James Moloi, has urged government and municipalities to build more indoor athletics facilities. This follows Prudence Sekgodiso’s 800-metre gold and Akani Simbine’s 60-metre bronze at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China. Speaking at the OR Tambo International Airport, Moloi emphasised that expanding indoor facilities will encourage more athletes and boost South Africa’s competitiveness on the global stage:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-16-cents and the euro at 19-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-250-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and=16-dollars-67-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Filipino billionaire Enrique Razon, whose company secured an 11-billion-rand Durban port deal, has acquired the Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and the Pearl Valley Hotel between Paarl and Franschhoek in the Boland. One of South Africa’s most exclusive estates is now under SA Golf, controlled by Razon. According to News24, Razon, a top port operator and golf enthusiast, also manages golf clubs in the Philippines. Val de Vie, which previously owned 50-percent, confirmed the sale, stating it never intended to be a long-term golf course operator.

Stay tuned for more news………….