News 18:00

BULLETIN 25 March 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COSATU presents the Division of Revenue Bill
# The Forum for South Africa demands full disclosure of all Eskom contracts
# And, the NPA says the State bail hearing on Matiphandile Sotheni is ready and is waiting for defence

# COSATU has presented its submission on the 2026/27 Budget’s Division of Revenue Bill to Parliament’s Select Committee on Appropriations. Spokesperson Matthew Parks has criticised the 2026/27 Budget during its submission. Parks says the budget fails to tackle unemployment, slow growth and struggling public services. While welcoming allocations to health, education and infrastructure, Parks argues the plan focuses heavily on balancing finances instead of stimulating economic growth and job creation:

# The Forum for South Africa is demanding the full disclosure of all contracts at Eskom and a public audit of its coal and diesel procurement processes. On Monday, the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered the power utility to disclose details of its coal and diesel procurement contracts to AfriForum. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, has accused Eskom of deliberately withholding critical information:

# The National Prosecuting Authority says the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court has indicated that bail arrangements for former SAPS Special Task Force member, Matiphandile Sotheni, could be addressed sooner than May 14, if required. Sotheni is accused of allegedly assassinating Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D in December. NPA’s Lumka Mahanjana says investigations are ongoing, with more possible persons of interest that may emerge. She says the accused has a case to answer:

# Pakistan has delivered a proposal from the United States to Iran, that either Pakistan or Turkey could be venues for discussions to de-escalate the war in the Gulf. Reuters said this was revealed by a senior Iranian official, on condition of anonymity. The Iranian source did not disclose details of the proposal passed on by Pakistan, or whether it was the same as a 15-point US framework previously reported by news outlets. The ​comments were among rare signs that Tehran might consider diplomatic proposals, despite insisting in public that no talks were under way.

# Motorsport: Max Verstappen says the Japanese Grand Prix is one of his favourite races, but his chances of a fifth straight victory this weekend look slim as his Red Bull struggles with Formula One’s sweeping new regulations. Mercedes will carry its  early dominance into Suzuka with Ferrari its nearest challenger. Verstappen has been unbeaten in Japan for the past four years and he clinched his second world title there in 2022. His problems in China, where he retired because of a cooling issue, suggest his Suzuka dominance could end on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-92-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-63-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-394-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-553-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 96-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….