News 06:00

BULLETIN 7 April 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says there is no guarantee that the VAT hike will be scrapped
# Rugby: The Blitzboks coach wants more consistency
# And World Health Day focuses on the survival of women and babies

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says business won’t dictate the country’s political trajectory as they are not elected to power. This comes after business leaders wrote a letter to Ramaphosa and DA leader John Steenhuisen, asking them to keep the current government of national unity intact. They stated that this was important to boost investor confidence. Speaking on the sidelines of an ANC event in Soweto on Sunday, Ramaphosa said he is taking the concerns of business seriously:

# Ramaphosa has also hinted that it is unlikely that the Treasury will find a way to scrap the value-added tax increase. The budget was passed in Parliament last week with a non-binding recommendation for the Treasury to find alternatives to the VAT hike and non-adjustment of tax brackets over the next 30 days. He says all options are being considered:

# The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association has welcomed Eskom’s extension of its zero-registration fee and free smart meter installation for small-scale solar systems until March 2026. SAPVIA says this reduces costs and boosts compliance for solar adoption. Eligible households can save over nine-thousand-rand. The association urges residents to act fast, meet safety standards, and register systems to support South Africa’s clean energy shift.

# The South African Medical Association Trade Union has welcomed Gauteng Department of Health’s decision to suspend its plan to downgrade doctors’ commuted overtime contracts. The union opposed the proposed changes, citing potential negative impacts on doctors’ welfare and patient care quality. The department agreed to a three-month consultation process with labour representatives to comprehensively review the matter. The union has called on doctors to maintain their current overtime commitments during this period.

# Rugby: Springbok Sevens coach, Philip Snyman, has bemoaned his team’s lack of consistency this season. The Blitzboks outclassed Australia 26-7 to finish ninth place in the Singapore Sevens, while Fiji were crowned champions for a fourth time after defeating Kenya 21-12 in the Cup final in Kallang. Snyman says they have made progress this season although they have set higher goals for themselves:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-26-cents and the euro at 21-rand-13-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-781-dollar-50-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-992-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The world is commemorating World Health Day today highlighting maternal and newborn health under the theme Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures. According to the World Health Organisation, nearly 300-thousand women die annually from pregnancy-related issues, with over two-million newborn deaths. The campaign urges renewed global investment to save lives. The organisation stresses support for midwives, emergency care, and mental health. It says maternal and newborn health is an investment, not a cost. The campaign runs until 2026.

Stay tuned for more news………….