News 16:00

BULLETIN 27 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa pledges a national turnaround plan for water and sanitation challenges
# Cape Town’s mayor tables a 39.7-billion-rand budget for the next financial year
# And rugby: Neethling Fouché takes over the Stormers’ captaincy for the Ulster clash

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says a national turnaround plan will be implemented to tackle water and sanitation challenges. The plan will align with government’s medium-term development strategy and focus on reforms to improve water quality, infrastructure, and service delivery, including 23-billion-rand in investments for water projects and strengthened local government services. Addressing the National Water and Sanitation Indaba in Midrand, Ramaphosa acknowledged issues like poor management, vandalism, and outdated infrastructure:

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced an infrastructure investment of 39,7-billion-rand over three years during the tabling of the metro’s budget for 2025/’26. Hill-Lewis says the budget brings hope, and major tariff structure reforms will further bring notable relief for lower income households, with just a two-percent electricity price increase compared to Eskom’s 11.32-percent increase to municipalities:

# The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department has urged residents to stay alert as a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms is in place for today. Heavy rain, hail, and strong winds could lead to flooding, infrastructure damage, and traffic disruptions. Residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid flooded roads, and report emergencies. The city confirmed that officials will monitor conditions as they remain on high alert.

# Rugby: Tighthead prop Neethling Fouché will take over the Stormers’ captaincy for tomorrow night’s United Rugby Championship encounter with Ulster in Belfast. He comes in for Frans Malherbe, who is being rested according to national team requirements, along with regular skipper Salmaan Moerat. Connor Evans will start in the second row, and Dave Ewers start on the flank in place of injured Deon Fourie. Damian Willemse starts at fullback while a fit Suleiman Hartzenberg starts at outside centre. Experienced scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage is also back in the starting-15.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-22-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-960-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-53-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Chinchilla Rooftop Bar and Cafe in Camps Bay, Cape Town, has been recognised by Time Out Travel as one of the Top 20 rooftop bars in the world. Located on Victoria Road, the bar which is ranked sixth has been praised for its stunning ocean and mountain views, and laid-back and loungey setup. Sky Bar by Seen in Lisbon, Portugal tops the list followed by Le Perchoir in Paris and Terrasse William Gray in Montreal, Canada in third place.

Stay tuned for more news………….