News 14:00

BULLETIN 10 April 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gauteng premier Lesufi welcomes the end of e-tolls
# Home Affairs introduces a new remote work visa
# And golf: Defending champion Rahm is paired with Fitzpatrick and Dunlap for the Masters

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed the end of e-tolls, expected to take effect from Friday. Lesufi, alongside Transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and Finance minister Enoch Godongwana, found common ground with the South African National Roads Agency on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. He says the provincial government now aims to enhance roads and convert freeways into smart freeways:

# Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi has announced a new addition to South Africa’s visa offerings, the remote work visa. This visa is designed for individuals employed in other countries who wish to work remotely while residing in South Africa. It targets professions such as information technology, auditing, and finance. Motsoaledi says applicants must earn at least the equivalent of one-million-rand annually and will enjoy a six-month tax exemption on their employment income:

# Eskom in Gauteng has rejected the City of Tshwane’s debt payment proposal to settle its arrears and current account. Mayoral committee member for Finance, Jacqui Uys, says the metro’s current Eskom debt is 2.9-billion-rand of which they paid 1.23-billion-rand last month. Eskom’s spokesperson, Amanda Qithi, says they did not accept the metro’s proposal due to the adverse impact it would have on the power utility’s cash flow. She adds the deteriorating payment patterns of Tshwane threaten Eskom’s financial stability.

# The Western Cape Education Department is reminding parents they have two days left to submit applications for Grade 1 and 8 admissions for 2025. MEC David Maynier confirmed that 80-thousand-583 applications have been received. He urges the parents of the more than 44-thousand learners yet to apply, to do so promptly. Maynier says pop-up admission sites are available across eight education districts for those unable to access the online portal:

# Golf: Defending champion Jon Rahm has been grouped with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and American Nick Dunlap for the 88th Masters starting at Augusta National in Georgia tomorrow. The Spaniard is bidding to become the first back-to-back winner since 15-time Major champion Tiger Woods, who returns to action for the first time since February. The American will tee off with compatriot Max Homa and Australian Jason Day. World number one Scottie Scheffler of the US is paired with compatriot Xander Schauffele and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-55-cents and the euro at 20-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-934-dollars-12-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-348-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….