News 18:00

BULLETIN 11 March 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa denounces AfriForum and Solidarity’s alleged misinformation abroad as unpatriotic
# The death toll in a Gauteng bus crash rises to 16
# And rugby: Georgia is to kick off its South African tour against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned what he terms AfriForum and Solidarity’s spreading of misinformation about South Africa abroad, calling their actions unpatriotic. Addressing oral questions in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa criticised the organisations for undermining the country’s sovereignty by seeking international intervention instead of resolving issues domestically. He also suggested the National Prosecuting Authority should look into whether their actions could be considered treasonous:

Also in Parliament: The Department of Basic Education says it has eradicated over 93-percent of pit toilets in public schools. Minister Siviwe Gwarube told Parliament despite fiscal challenges, her department is committed to meeting the March deadline set by president Ramaphosa. Gwarube will visit the Eastern Cape and Limpopo to monitor progress. In a statement, the department says it remains focused on ensuring all learners have safe sanitation, despite infrastructure backlogs and budget constraints.

# The death toll from this morning’s bus crash on the R21 in Kempton Park, Gauteng, has risen to 16 after four more passengers succumbed to their injuries in hospital. The Ekurhuleni municipality bus, carrying over 70 passengers from Katlehong to Kempton Park, overturned after the driver tried to avoid a car. Survivors described the scenes as chaotic as passengers were ejected through windows. The authorities insist the bus was roadworthy, while investigations into the crash continue.

# The Skukuza Regional Court in Mpumalanga has sentenced 38-year-old Mozambican national, Silas Mathebula to 30 years in prison for poaching-related crimes in the Kruger National Park. Mathebula was convicted of trespassing, killing three rhinos, and firearm offences. He was arrested in 2019, granted bail and rearrested in KwaZulu-Natal for a similar offence. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Monica Nyuswa has welcomed the sentence:

# Rugby: International rugby will return to Bloemfontein when Georgia’s national team take on the Cheetahs on 12 July, a week before their Test against the Springboks in Mbombela. CEO of the Free State Cheetahs, Rory Duncan, says they are thrilled to host Georgia for what promises to be an exciting encounter. Former England hooker and now the head coach of Georgia, Richard Cockerill, says playing the Cheetahs will be a great opportunity for them to prepare for the Test against the Boks.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-23-cents and the euro at 19-rand-90-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-379-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-917-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-90-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….