News 16:00

BULLETIN 18 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa loses 20-percent of its dollar millionaires amid logistical issues and crime
# The UDM says service delivery is partnered with elaborate empty promises 
# And motorsport: New challenges await when F1 returns to Shanghai after five years 

# The number of millionaires in Africa has decreased by nearly 20-thousand over the past decade due to currency depreciations and economic challenges, with just 135-thousand-200 individuals now possessing wealth of one-million-dollars or more. South Africa, home to the highest number of wealthy people in Africa, has lost 20-percent of its dollar millionaires amid logistical issues and crime in the last decade. However, Henley & Partners reports Africa’s millionaire population is projected to rise by 65-percent in the next decade, driven by wealth growth in countries like Mauritius and Namibia.

# The United Democratic Movement is concerned that service delivery is only made a national focus during election times, where it is partnered with elaborate empty promises. The party says South Africa needs to start addressing service delivery with the seriousness it deserves, understanding its direct impact on the empowerment of individuals in society. The UDM’s secretary-general, Yongama Zigebe, says service delivery protests have become a norm in South Africa because local municipalities and national governments only listen when there is protest action:

# Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink says significant strides have been made in revitalising the municipality. Brink highlights the installation of a new top management team focused on driving performance and integrity. He announces an improvement in the 2023 audit outcome from adverse to qualified, with two adverse findings resolved. In his state of the capital address, Brink is confident about achieving an unqualified audit by addressing the remaining issue, stressing that the financial rescue mission is ongoing, with much work ahead:

# Thousands of people have been told to leave their homes after an Indonesian volcano erupted, sending ash thousands of feet high. According to Indonesian authorities the 725-metre high Ruang volcano on the northern side of Sulawesi island, has erupted at least five times in 24 hours. Authorities are concerned that part of the mountain could collapse into the sea and cause a tsunami. People were told to stay at least six kilometres away. Indonesia, an archipelago of 270-million people, has 120 active volcanoes.

# Motorsport: Formula One returns to China for the first time in five years this weekend, bringing with it new challenges. The first sprint race of the season will take place in Shanghai on Saturday. Drivers will only get one hour of free practice tomorrow to fine-tune their cars and do tyre assessments, while the engineers have only simulator data to prepare for the race. Tyres have changed significantly since 2019, and the little-used track may also be bumpier than before.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-5-cents and the euro at 20-rand-34-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-587-dollars-97-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-384-dollars-4-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….