News 18:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 6 pm

You are listening to ……..………. The time ………… I am……….……..….… with the news.
In the bulletin:

# The Eastern Cape is concerned over the shortage of coronavirus testing centres
# The DA want to stop Nehawu from continuing plans for a protest with 20 thousand participants
# And the Consumer Commission announces a toll-free number where consumers can report unfair price hikes

# The Eastern Cape government says the shortage of coronavirus testing centres in the province forces patients to wait approximately 48 hours before receiving their results. The only three testing centres in the province are Frere Hospital in East London, Nelson Mandela Academic hospital in Mthatha and Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth. The provincial Health department says although required preventative and precautionary measures have been put in place, the lack of testing centres remains a growing concern.

# The Democratic Alliance says it has approached the South African Police Service and the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Senzo Mchunu, regarding public workers union Nehawu’s intentions to deliberately expose workers to the coronavirus. This comes after the union indicated that it will proceed with its protest at the end of this month after it had been cancelled by the National Union of Mineworkers. The party says it has started consultations with lawyers to prevent the protest from taking place as 20 thousand workers will be taking part.

# Soccer: The suspension of matches in the fraternity due to the coronavirus scare is hitting hard on the pockets of some clubs and players are now taking the knock. Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has joined African players whose contracts have been terminated. 2015 AFCON winner Seydou Doumbia has also suffered the same fate. The Barnet Club in the UK has also released non-playing staff. Some clubs are also reportedly revising the pay cheques of their stars.

But Manchester United’s executive vice president, Ed Woodward, has assured the English club’s casual staff that they will continue getting their pay despite match cancellations. In a statement he praises the casual staff for the sterling work they have done in good times, adding that the payment will give them peace of mind in this difficult time. The English soccer league has suspended all the games till the end of April.

# Financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 17 rand-38 cents and the euro at 18 rand-64 cents. One British pound costs 20 rand-62 cents. Gold is selling at one thousand 492 dollars-70 cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 29 dollars-95 cents a barrel.

# And the National Consumer Commission announced a toll-free number where consumers can report unfair price hikes. This follows after the price of toilet paper and essential products rapidly increased because of the coronavirus pandemic. The number to call is 0800 014 880.

That is the end of this bulletin, our next newscast will be at ………



News 17:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 5 pm

You are listening to ……..………. The time ………… I am……….……..….… with the news.
In the bulletin:

# SAA cancells all international flights
# Air France says its flights to South Africa will continue
# And soccer players are feeling the financial pinch

# The South African Airways has cancelled all international flights until the end of May. Spokesperson Tlali Tlali told the media that the airline was struggling to fill its planes due to travel bans issued by governments around the world, South Africa included.

Play sound: ENG TlaliOnFlightCancellation

# France’s top airline, Air France, says flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Paris will remain at full capacity, despite France being under national lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. The airline has been forced to cut back and discontinue some of its flights to other countries. Management gives the assurance that its partner airline KLM’s schedule for South Africa remains as is for the foreseeable future.

# The minister of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, says that in nine years,  perlemoen worth 40 million rand has disappeared from government storage facilities. During question time in Parliament, she stated that only 73 tonnes of the more than 600 tonnes perlemoen taken from poachers by police since 2011 could be auctioned off by government to fish processing plants. Three officials have already been arrested for theft and fraud. Closed-circuit television and an alarm system have since been installed at the storage facility.

# Uganda’s former Security minister and presidential hopeful Henry Tumukunde will be spending two weeks in prison after he was found guilty of treason and the possession of illegal firearms. This comes after police and special command force discovered a modified AK47 rifle and 34 rounds of ammunition in the 60-year old retired general’s possession early this month. Police say Tumukunde’s arrest is linked to comments he made on radio and television calling for Rwanda to overthrow Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni.

# Soccer: The suspension of matches in the fraternity due to the coronavirus scare is hitting hard on the pockets of some clubs and players are now taking the knock. Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has joined African players whose contracts have been terminated. 2015 AFCON winner Seydou Doumbia has also suffered the same fate. The Barnet Club in the UK has also released non-playing staff. Some clubs are also reportedly revising the pay cheques of their stars.

# And financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 17 rand-44 cents and the euro at 18 rand-66 cents. One British pound costs 20 rand-51 cents. Gold is selling at one thousand 487 dollars-20 cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 29 dollars-95 cents a barrel.

That is the end of this bulletin, our next newscast will be at ………



News 16:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 4 pm

You are listening to ……..………. The time ………… I am……….……..….… with the news.
In the bulletin:

# Foreigners are not allowed in South Africa anymore
# Coronavirus cases in South Africa increase to above 200
# And Australia’s Super rugby teams are going to play each other in empty stadiums

# The South African government’s travel ban on citizens from ten countries has come into effect. This include countries such as Switzerland, which is considered a high risk for the coronavirus. An employee at the OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, Dimakatso Mokibe, says as from today no foreigners will be allowed in South Africa:

Play sound: ENG-Dimakatso

Earlier, Health minister,Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that South Africa now has a total of 202 cases of the coronavirus. Gauteng has an additional 33 cases, the Western Cape eleven and KwaZulu-Natal one, while the Free State confirmed its first seven cases. Briefing the media in Bloemfontein today, Mkhize says the virus is going to be here for some time:

Play sound: ENG MkhizeOnVirus

# The British government says it’s working on plans to enforce the emergency closure of businesses in London to prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus. This comes after a bill giving the government the power to respond to the virus, was passed in parliament this week. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the bill can see the closure of schools, restaurants and other public spaces, including a restriction on the use of public transport, by this weekend. Only pharmacies or supermarkets would remain open under police guard.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has pleaded with former nurses and doctors to come and assist in hospitals as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread. Chief Nursing Official Ruth May told the media that the current health personnel are being overstretched due to the large number of people requiring health care. In a rare move, the Health ministry has also revealed its plans to deploy final year medical students to join the fight against the virus.

# Rugby: Australia’s four Super franchises decided to play a domestic competition behind closed doors from next month after the series was suspended due to the coronavirus. Axed team Western Force will also take part while the other team in the Australian conference, Japan’s Sunwolves, returned home. The chief of Rugby Australia, Raelene Castle, says the competition will consist of a round-robin home and away format and will start on the third of April.

# And financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 17 rand-32 cents and the euro at 18 rand-59 cents. One British pound costs 20 rand-42 cents. Gold is selling at one thousand 495 dollars-10 cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 29 dollars-95 cents a barrel.

That is the end of this bulletin, our next newscast will be at ………



News 15:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 3 pm

You are listening to ……..………. The time ………… I am……….……..….… with the news.
In the bulletin:

# Coronavirus cases in South Africa increase to above 200
# A transport union askes Government to suspend all train services
# En Australia’s Super rugby teams are going to play each other in empty stadiums

# Health minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that South Africa now has a total of 202 cases of the coronavirus. Gauteng has an additional 33 cases, the Western Cape eleven and KwaZulu-Natal one, while the Free State confirmed its first seven cases. Briefing the media in Bloemfontein today, Mkhize says the virus is going to be here for some time:

Play sound: ENG MkhizeOnVirus

# Transport union Untu is calling on the minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, to suspend train services until the 14th of next month to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The union’s secretary-general, Steve Harris, says there are between 300 and 400 commuters in carriages during peak hours, which is a violation of government’s ban on the gathering of more than 100 people. Harris says it is impossible to apply social distancing in trains:

Play sound: ENG HarrisOnTrains

# MTN has announced it will cut it’s data prices by next month in line with recommendations by the Competition Commission. CEO Godfrey Motsa announced that a 1-gigabyte monthly prepaid bundle will cost 25 to 50 percent less, while a 1-gigabyte monthly contract bundle will cost 99 rand, which is 33 percent less. Motsa says they will not only be cutting prices, but also ensure their customers get free data…

Play sound: ENG-GodfreyMotsaDataCuts

# Rugby: Australia’s four Super franchises decided to play a domestic competition behind closed doors from next month after the series was suspended due to the coronavirus. Axed team Western Force will also take part while the other team in the Australian conference, Japan’s Sunwolves, returned home. The chief of Rugby Australia, Raelene Castle, says the competition will consist of a round-robin home and away format and will start on the third of April.

# Financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 17 rand-35 cents and the euro at 18 rand-59 cents. One British pound costs 20 rand-35 cents. Gold is selling at one thousand 502 dollars-94 cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 29 dollars-95 cents a barrel.

# And British researchers may have discovered the oldest known bird relative. The nearly complete fossil of a fowl’s skull found on the Dutch-Belgian border could be the ancestor of every chicken. Living just before the asteroid strike that wiped out giant dinosaurs, the unique fossil, from about 67-million-years ago, gives a glimpse into the dawn of modern birds. Daniel Field of the University of Cambridge says they are calling the fossil wonderchicken.

That is the end of this bulletin, our next newscast will be at ………



News 13:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 1 pm

You are listening to ……..………. The time ………… I am……….……..….… with the news.
In the bulletin:
# National Treasury has issued instructions for emergency COVID-19 procurement
# India has executed for bus gang rapists and murderers
# And, the PRO14 season has been indefinitely suspended

# National Treasury has issued an instruction note to government departments, municipalities and entities to help speed up the procurement of goods and commodities required to reduce and control the spread of the coronavirus. Treasury says this aims to augment and enhance uniformity across organs of state. It adds that the instruction note also list prices of goods and commodities in efforts to curb the opportunistic use of the disaster to drive profit margins.

# Households will soon start to feel the financial impact of the coronavirus. This is according to FNB programme manager Dhashni Naidoo. Human Rights Watch believes that the virus will affect the poor worldwide the most. Naidoo says it is important that people plan, prioritise spending, manage debt, use resources sparingly and be disciplined about sticking to the plan:

Play sound: ENG NaidooOnHouseholds

# India executed four men this morning for the gang rape and murder of a woman on a bus in Delhi in 2012. The attack sparked huge nationwide protests and international revulsion. It is India’s first use of capital punishment since 2015. The courts expedited the trial and fast-tracked the death sentences.

# Rugby: The PRO14 season has now been indefinitely suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. The board of Celtic Rugby DAC says no decision on a definitive re-commencement date can be made until four key criteria have been met. These are that public health authorities cease to prohibit the resumption of sport and group training, travel restrictions between territories are lifted, no forced isolation or quarantine orders are in force, and player welfare is safeguarded.

# Financial Indicators: The dollar is trading at 17-rand-31-cents and the euro at 18-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 20-rand-36-cents. Gold is selling at one-thousand-507-dollars-13-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 29-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

# And finally: British researchers may have discovered the oldest known bird relative. The nearly complete fossil of a fowl’s skull found on the Dutch-Belgian border could be the ancestor of every chicken. Living just before the asteroid strike that wiped out giant dinosaurs, the unique fossil, from about 67-million-years ago, gives a glimpse into the dawn of modern birds. Daniel Field of the University of Cambridge says they are calling the fossil wonderchicken.

That is the end of this bulletin, our next newscast will be at ………



News 11:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 11am

You are listening to ……..………. The time ………… I am……….……..….… with the news.
In the bulletin:
# Cape Chamber believes the Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity to cut red tape
# An inquiry will probe allegations against Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer
# And, the PRO14 season has been indefinitely suspended

# The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic may present an opportunity to lower the cost of doing business by removing regulatory red tape. Surveys show that 40-percent of the barriers to small business growth is made up of government regulations. The chamber’s president Geoff Jacobs says speeding up and simplifying permit applications and registrations should be as important as protecting public health:

Play sound: ENG-JacobsOnBusinesses

# The national editors’ forum says government’s strict new regulations against people spreading fake news on the coronavirus should be limited to the pandemic. Sanef points out that the regulations are the first in democratic South Africa that criminalises disinformation. While it supports the curbing the spread of disinformation, and its potentially devastating consequences, it is equally mindful of the problem of setting dangerous precedents for the long term.

# Eskom’s board has established an inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption and victimisation levelled against its chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer. The power utility received correspondence from Corruption Watch and union federation Saftu on the allegations. Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says the board believes that the move is in the best interest of the power utility and both complainants:

Play sound: ENG-MantshantshaOnInquiry

# California governor Gavin Newsom has issued a statewide stay-at-home order in a bid to fight the coronavirus pandemic. It has claimed 205 lives in the US and infected more than 14-thousand people. Newsom says the order allows the nearly 40-million residents to only leave their homes to buy groceries or medicine, or walk a dog or take exercise. He has projected that roughly 56-percent of the state’s population will be infected with the virus over an eight-week period.

# Rugby: The PRO14 season has now been indefinitely suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. The board of Celtic Rugby DAC says no decision on a definitive re-commencement date can be made until four key criteria have been met within the respective competing territories. These are that public health authorities cease to prohibit the resumption of sport and group training, travel restrictions between territories are lifted, no forced isolation or quarantine orders are in force and player welfare is safeguarded.

# Financial Indicators: The dollar is trading at 17-rand-29-cents and the euro at 18-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 20-rand-32-cents. Gold is selling at one-thousand-504-dollars-25-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 29-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

That is the end of this bulletin, our next newscast will be at ………



News 09:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 9 am

You are listening to ……..………. The time ………… I am……….……..….… with the news.
In the bulletin:
# Western Cape train saved thanks to the rapid response of train staff
# An inquiry to probe allegations against Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer
# And, Monaco’s Prince Albert has contracted the coronavirus

# The rapid action by train staff on their way to Muldersvlei, Cape Town, helped separate the burning carriage from the rest of the train at the Eersterivier station. Eyewitnesses saw three suspects jump from the carriage after it had caught fire. The spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services, Jermaine Carelse, said Mfuleni, Kuils River and Belhar fire crews were able to extinguish the fire:

Play sound: ENG-FIN-JermaineCarelseonEersteriverFire

# Eskom’s board has established an inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption and victimisation levelled against its chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer. The power utility received correspondence from Corruption Watch and union federation Saftu on the allegations. Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says the board believes that the move is in the best interest of the power utility and both complainants:

Play sound: ENG-MantshantshaOnInquiry

# Agricultural economist Dawie Maree says the decision by the South African Reserve Bank to cut the repo rate by a full percentage point is good news for consumers and agricultural producers. The rate now stands at five-point-25-percent. Maree says producers have experienced adverse agricultural conditions over the last few years, and consumers are also feeling the economic pinch at this stage:

Play sound: ENG-MareeOnMoney

# Cricket: Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar has compared the fight against the coronavirus fight to Test cricket. He urges patience and teamwork, and warns that people have to defend well. Tendular is quoted in The Times of India as saying lessons can be drawn from what he calls the grand old format of the game. The 46-year-old retired in 2013 after scoring 15-thousand-921 runs in 200 Tests and has considerable influence in Indian society.

# Financial Indicators: The dollar is trading at 17-rand-46-cents and the euro at 19-rand-4-cents. One British pound costs 20-rand-6-cents. Gold is selling at one-thousand-468-dollars-88-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 25-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

# Finally: Prince Albert of Monaco has tested positive for the coronavirus. The palace says the principality’s 62-year-old head of state is continuing to work from his apartment and his state of health is not a cause for concern. No mention is made of the health of his wife, former South African Charlene, Princess of Monaco, or their twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques. Albert is being treated by his GP and specialists from the Princess Grace Hospital.

That is the end of this bulletin, our next newscast will be at ………



News Headlines 08:30

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 08:30 am
You are listening to ……..………. The time is ………… I am……….……..….… with the news headlines:

# An inquiry is set to investigate allegations against Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer
# An economist says the repo rate cut is good news for consumers and the agriculture sector
# And, quick reaction limits the damage in a Western Cape train fire

Our newscast follows at…………



News 08:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 8 am

You are listening to ……..………. The time ………… I am……….……..….… with the news.
In the bulletin:
# Repo rate cut is good news for consumers and the agriculture sector
# SA’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases is expected to pass 200
# And, wreckage found may contain clues in Garden Route family tragedy

# Agricultural economist Dawie Maree says the decision by the South African Reserve Bank to cut the repo rate by a full percentage point is good news for consumers and agricultural producers. The rate now stands at five-point-25-percent. Maree says producers have experienced adverse agricultural conditions over the last few years, and consumers are also feeling the economic pinch at this stage:

Play sound: ENG-MareeOnMoney

# Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize says the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in South Africa is expected to go beyond 200. He engaged with medical doctors on the virus at the SA Medical Association’s offices in Pretoria yesterday evening. Mkhize says there is currently no vaccine against the virus but trials are expected in June. He adds that they are looking at how to increase testing capabilities:

Play sound: ENG-MkhizeOnTesting

SA Medical Association chairperson Angelique Coetzee says it is important that the medical sector works together to fight the virus:

Play sound: ENG-CoetzeeOnPartnership

# George police have recovered wreckage from the sea which was seen by a drone operator at Voëlklip, Herolds Bay. Southern Cape police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, says investigations into whether it is part of the vehicle that crashed over the cliffs last October, with Heidi Scheepers, her six-year-old daughter and two-year-old son in, are underway. Only the bodies of the mother and son have been found.

# The number of deaths in Italy from the coronavirus now stands at three-thousand-405, surpassing China’s total where the virus originated last year. There have been 220-thousand cases of the virus worldwide with more than nine-thousand deaths. The BBC reports that a lockdown imposed earlier this month in Italy has been extended. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte says the country will not be able to return immediately to life as it was before, even when the measures end.

# Golf: South African player Victor Lange has tested positive for the coronavirus. Lange received his diagnosis this week, having played on the Professional Golf Association’s Tour’s Latin America circuit. The 26-year-old was tested when he returned to South Africa from Mexico. Lange says he has no symptoms but remains under quarantine and with medical supervision at his home in Johannesburg.

# Financial Indicators: The dollar is trading at 17-rand-43-cents and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 20-rand-7-cents. Gold is selling at one-thousand-474-dollars-32-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 28-dollars-20-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Willowton Group has partnered with Pick n Pay to donate over 750-thousand bars of soap to young learners and selected old-age homes and frail care centres across the country. The donation is worth around five-million-rand and is aimed at promoting good hand hygiene and help curb the spread of the coronavirus. The schools received the bars of soap before they were closed on Wednesday.

That is the end of this bulletin, our next newscast will be at ………



News Headlines 07:30

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 20 March 07:30 am
You are listening to ……..………. The time is ………… I am……….……..….… with the news headlines:

# An economist says the repo rate cut is good news for consumers and the agriculture sector
# Zweli Mkhize says the number of Covid-19 cases in the country is expected to go beyond 200
# And, over 750-thousand bars of soap have been donated to young learners and selected old-age homes

Our newscast follows at…………