News 18:00

BULLETIN 1 March 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A Western Cape MEC says no stone will be left unturned for the safe return of Joslin Smith
# Cosatu says the implementation of the wage adjustment will bring relief to six-million workers
# And Soccer: Paul Pogba plans to appeal his four-year ban

# Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, has confirmed that joint police operations have been established for the safe return of missing seven-year-old Joslin Smith of Saldanha Bay. He announced during a news conference that a drone had been deployed to assist in the search, which also includes the Navy and K-9 units. Allen also urged political parties not to interfere in the ongoing investigations, and called for a united front to find Joslin:

# Union federation Cosatu says the implementation of the minimum wage increase of 8.5-percent will bring relief to six-million workers across various sectors. The wage has been increased to 27-rand-58-cents from 25-rand-42-cents, effective from today. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says this increase also injects vitality into sectors like agriculture, retail, and hospitality, showcasing tangible benefits for a diverse workforce. He urges the Department of Employment and Labour to ensure strict enforcement of the National Minimum Wage Act to prevent employer violations:

# The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa aims to address mobile bundle concerns with its latest draft amendments, which strive to standardise regulations across all mobile service bundles. These changes include extending medium-term bundle durations, doubling rollover allowances for unused portions, and permitting bundle transfers within the same network at no cost. By balancing consumer interests with market dynamics, Icasa seeks to ensure fair treatment for users of all bundle types. Icasa councillor Charley Lewis believes the proposals effectively achieve this regulatory equilibrium.

# Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s widow and children couldn’t attend his funeral in Moscow today. They and his closest allies have left the country because they are considered extremists, and followed the proceedings via his YouTube channel. Thousands of supporters at the church chanted his name when the hearse arrived. His foundation later released a picture of the open casket, with his mother holding a candle next to it. Frank Sinatra’s song “My Way” was played when the coffin was lowered into the grave.

# Soccer: Juventus’s midfielder and former French international Paul Pogba promised to clear his name by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against his four-year ban for doping. Italy’s Anti-Doping Tribunal imposed the ban after he tested positive for synthetic testosterone after a Serie A match against Udinese in August least year. His counter-analysis the next month also yielded a positive result. Thirty-year-old Pogba played 91 matches for France from 2013 until 2022. He maintains he consumed the drug accidentally.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-15-cents and the euro at 20-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-428-dollars-84-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-54-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-16-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….