News 11:00

BULLETIN 22 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA alleges the DA’s involvement in the VAT hike despite public opposition
# The UN chief says Pope Francis was a transcendent voice for peace
# And tennis: Alcaraz has renewed respect for Nadal over the gruelling clay court season

# ActionSA has accused the DA of hypocrisy over the controversial VAT increase despite its public opposition. According to ActionSA’s Alan Beesley, DA national Finance spokesperson Ashor Sarupen was involved in drafting the original budget speech that included the VAT hike. Beesley claims the DA’s actions are politically motivated to gain influence within the government of national unity as they head to court today:

# The EFF has expressed concern over a shooting incident targeting deputy president Paul Mashatile’s convoy. Mashatile was returning from an ANC national executive committee meeting in Boksburg, Gauteng, when shots were fired at his convoy about three weeks ago. The EFF says what is equally troubling is the silence from the Presidency and state security agencies regarding the details of the incident. It adds that any attempt on the life of the nation’s second-in-command, is not only alarming but also poses a significant threat to national security.

# The DA in the Western Cape is calling on Transnet to open its operations to meaningful private-sector investment and expertise. The party has welcomed the collaboration between the private sector and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism to fund and install two generators at the port of Cape Town. The DA’s Noko Masipa says Transnet and the port of Cape Town must act decisively to ensure that partnerships backed by the private sector translate into measurable improvements in efficiency:

# United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, says Pope Francis was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity, and social justice. The 88-year-old pontiff, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died of a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure yesterday morning. Joining the world in mourning the passing of the pontiff, Guterres says he leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, and compassion for all:

# Tennis: Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has renewed respect for his famous compatriot Rafael Nadal over Europe’s gruelling claycourt season. The world number two lost to Denmark’s Holger Rune in the final of the Barcelona Open this weekend after winning the Monte-Carlo Masters a week earlier. Alcaraz also plans to play in another tournament in his home country, the Madrid Open, this week, with the claycourt season culminating in the French Open, which Nadal won an unprecedented 14 times. Alcaraz says it’s tough to adapt to another tournament within days.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-65-cents and the euro at 21-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-255-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-474-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-14-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….