News 18:00

BULLETIN 3 March 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cyril Ramaphosa says Nelson Mandela and OR Tambo would have insisted on dialogue amid the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran
# Tebello Mosikili says the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team should have had a formal demobilisation plan
# And, the Public Servants Association demands an urgent response from GEMS over healthcare concerns

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says former president Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid activist OR Tambo were united in defying unjust laws. Speaking at the unveiling of their statue in eThekwini, Ramaphosa said the leaders remained committed to peace, dialogue and integrity, and would have called for a Middle East ceasefire and negotiations in line with the United Nations Charter:

Meanwhile the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa has condemned the US-Israeli strikes against Iran. The strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. The Israeli military has since launched new strikes on Tehran and Beirut. GIWUSA president Mametlwe Sebei says this is not a war for democracy, human rights, or nuclear non-proliferation:

# Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team should follow a formal demobilisation plan. Mosikili explained all task teams should have outlined step-by-step activities. This included reducing personnel as threats decline, and coordination with combat teams, crime intelligence, forensic units, investigators, and other departments to ensure cases are finalised efficiently before disbandment:

# The Public Servants Association noted the Government Employees Medical Scheme’s request for an extension to respond to a memorandum of demands submitted by the PSA and other unions during a protest. The PSA’s Claude Naicker says these concerns, including affordability, governance, benefits, and sustainability, reflect long-standing frustrations among public servants. Any extension must be final, with GEMS providing substantive responses and concrete remedial actions. He says failure to act will lead to escalation through legal measures to protect workers’ rights.

# Netball: Netball South Africa new CEO Adam Brooke has described his appointment as the first man to hold the position as a huge responsibility. Brooke replaces Modiegi Komane, whose contract ended in October 2025 following a turbulent tenure. Brooke who starts on 16 March, seeks to prioritise professionalising the sport, citing financial backing as key, strengthen governance and grow netball’s profile ahead of upcoming international tournaments.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-51-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-13-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-135-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-155-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….