News 17:00

BULLETIN 13 March 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Southern African Development Community ends its military mission in the DRC
# A former Australian Test cricketer is found guilty on a drug-related charge
# And Wits students hold a nude protest over the registration crisis

# The Southern African Development Community has decided to end its military deployment in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following heavy casualties. A virtual summit today confirmed a phased withdrawal of SADC troops. The mission, deployed in December 2023, aimed to restore stability but faced mounting losses, including 14 South African soldiers. Meanwhile, Angola announced peace talks between the DRC and the M23 rebels will begin in Luanda next week.

# The minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says Eskom’s power generation has significantly improved, with 98-percent of the days since last year’s summer free from load-shedding. Cabinet has welcomed efforts to stabilise the national grid, including the return of offline units at Kusile and Koeberg power stations. Ntshavheni told the media the utility’s efforts have led to a more stable electricity supply, with government backing ongoing progress:

# The Automobile Association is urging collective action to curb road fatalities in South Africa. It says multiple bus accidents nationwide have resulted in 32 deaths including a bus crash on the R21 in Ekurhuleni which claimed 13 lives on Tuesday. AA spokesperson Eleanor Mavimbela highlights poor driver behaviour as a leading cause and calls for stronger law enforcement, public awareness, and improved road infrastructure:

# A former Australian Test cricketer was found guilty of participating in the supply of a prohibited drug in Sydney. The case against 54-year-old Stuart MacGill related to an introduction he made between a cocaine dealer and another person in April 2021. The court in New South Wales heard his involvement was limited to the introduction, but the dealer also took part in two other supplies. MacGill will be sentenced in May. The former spin bowler took 208 wickets in 44 Tests for Australia from 1998 until 2008.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-42-cents and the euro at 19-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-718-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-944-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

# And finally: The Wits Hunger Strike Solidarity Committee is holding a nude protest in Johannesburg today, demanding the registration of all unregistered students, regardless of historical debt. This follows a 12-day hunger strike during which Wits University refused to engage. Protesters accuse the institution of perpetuating financial exclusion. The demonstration seeks resistance against systemic oppression. Students vow to escalate their fight, linking their cause to broader struggles for accessible higher education.

Stay tuned for more news………….