News 06:00

BULLETIN 11 April 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa warns against trade driven by global power politics
# Paul Mashatile says the government of national unity will not collapse
# And minister Lamola strengthens the country’s ties with Senegal

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that global trade, risks becoming dominated by power politics if the multilateral system is not protected. Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the World Trade Organisation, he said unilateral and protectionist measures by wealthy nations undermine fair trade. Ramaphosa called for urgent reforms to ensure developing countries benefit from global trade, including more policy space to industrialise:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says the government of national unity will be reconfigured and the ANC will bring in parties that want to work together. Tensions in the coalition government are at an all-time high after the DA and Freedom Front Plus rejected the budget fiscal framework. He was speaking at the commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of anti-apartheid struggle hero Chris Hani’s death in the Eastern Cape on Thursday. Mashatile believes the coalition government will not collapse despite internal challenges:

# The Gauteng Health Department has responded to misleading media reports about security costs at Chris Hani Baragwanath and Charlotte Maxeke hospitals. Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba clarified that the long-term contracts, which started in April 2024, ensure compliance with regulations and improve security. Modiba says 113 companies safeguard 37 hospitals and over 300 clinics. He says the increase in security costs aligns with current market rates:

# The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has withdrawn its investigation into KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, clearing him of wrongdoing. In 2023, he was accused of abusing his power and interfering with the arrest of a senior correctional services official who was allegedly running a drug cartel at the Westville Maximum Prison in Durban. The IPID says the investigation has been closed as there was insufficient evidence to proceed. Mkhwanazi has always maintained his innocence.

# International Relations minister Ronald Lamola, is in Dakar, Senegal, for a two-day visit aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic ties. Lamola met with Senegalese counterpart Yassine Fall to launch the inaugural Ministerial Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. The commission will enhance collaboration in political dialogue, regional integration, and multilateral coordination. Lamola’s visit underscores South Africa’s commitment to fostering African solidarity and advancing partnerships to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development.

# Rugby: Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar says he isn’t interested in becoming Australia’s sixth coach in five years. The position will become vacant later this year when Joe Schmidt departs after taking over after 2023’s World Cup. McKellar had been touted as a potential candidate to succeed the New Zealander but says he returned to his country from Leicester Tigers in England to help the Waratahs and New South Wales. Reds coach Les Kiss is now seen as the frontrunner to become the next Wallaby coach.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-42-cents and the euro at 21-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-574-dollar-30-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-189-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….