News 17:00

BULLETIN 18 March 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa commends South Africa’s human rights progress
# The Gauteng police bust the alleged mastermind behind the blue light robberies 
# And rugby: Ruan Pienaar hopes to become a coach after ending his playing career

# President Cyril Ramaphosa praised South Africa’s strides in advancing human rights, during his keynote address at the State of Human Rights Conference in Boksburg. He highlighted the significance of the Constitution’s adoption in the nation’s democratic struggle, emphasising the pursuit of a free and equal society. Ramaphosa condemned apartheid’s infringement on basic humanity and underscored the Constitution’s role in promoting people’s wellbeing:

# Gauteng police have arrested a suspect believed to be a mastermind behind blue light robberies. The arrest made in Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni, follows information from National Crime Intelligence. The suspect was found in possession of blue lights, a traffic department uniform, firearms, ammunition, and a suspected hijacked vehicle. He faces charges including possession of unlicensed firearms and possession of a hijacked motor vehicle. Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo says there might be more arrests pending the investigation.

# Independent certification body, JC Auditors, urges proactive measures ahead of the Easter holiday to address road safety challenges. With road fatalities soaring by nearly 40-percent over last year’s Easter weekend, heightened vigilance is imperative. JC Auditors advocates for simple yet impactful safety campaigns in the road transport sector, changing drivers’ mindsets and behaviours, as these contribute to over 80-percent of accidents. Managing director Oliver Naidoo says historically the Easter holiday faces alarming road safety challenges, with accidents and fatalities spiking significantly:

# Global anti-poverty charity Oxfam says Israel is deliberately obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza, violating international humanitarian law. According to the organisation, Israel is systematically preventing aid delivery to the Palestinian territory, despite an emergency ruling by the International Court of Justice. They criticise Israel for the catastrophic situation in Gaza and for its failure to protect civilians. Oxfam condemns Israel’s inefficiency in aid inspection and arbitrary rejection of essential items. The charity warns of dire consequences, with 1.7-million Palestinians at risk of famine.

# Rugby: Former Springbok Ruan Pienaar is expected to start a coaching role when he ends his career. The 40-year-old recently announced that he plans to hang up his boots in May after a career stretching over 20 years. He was part of the Bok’s World Cup-winning squad of 2007 and played 88 Tests for South Africa, scoring 135 points. Pienaar also played locally for the Sharks and the Cheetahs. He hopes to become involved as coach of the Cheetahs’ junior teams.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-87-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-858-dollars-65-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-156-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….