News 09:00

BULLETIN 24 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Zelensky is ready for his meeting with Ramaphosa
# The Reserve Bank urges the G20 to refocus for global impact
# And a third sluice gate is opened at the Vaal Dam

# Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, arrived in South Africa on an official visit on Wednesday evening. He was welcomed by minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola. This official visit to the country is the first by a Ukrainian president. Zelensky says he will be having important meetings with president Cyril Ramaphosa and representatives of political, civil, and student communities of African countries. He says his country counts on South Africa’s meaningful participation in the International Coalition for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

# South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago says the G20 must prioritise key global issues and streamline decision-making to regain relevance. Speaking in Washington at The Brookings’ Global Economy and Development programme, Kganyago highlighted the G20’s potential to tackle emerging challenges and promote sustainable growth. He emphasised that better processes are essential for the G20 to strengthen global governance in today’s increasingly complex economic landscape:

# The Department of Water and Sanitation says the Vaal Dam is currently experiencing increased water inflows due to heavy rainfall on the upper catchment. As a result, it has reopened a third sluice gate to manage the water outflows. The department’s spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, says the water level at the dam is at 108.4-percent and there is a possibility that another sluice gate will be opened today. She adds that at Bloemhof Dam, water outflows have also increased:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has rejected the Department of Traditional Affairs’ targets addressing harmful practices associated with illegal initiation schools. The department plans to reduce initiation deaths from 63 to 13 and illegal schools from 429 to 229 by 2029. This will be done through increased oversight and regulatory reform. Committee chairperson Zweli Mkhize says the targets for safer initiation practices are inconsistent with the government’s zero-tolerance approach to initiation casualties. He adds that the department must re-examine these targets immediately.

# Soccer: Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening, leaving Liverpool needing just one point to be crowned Premier League champions for the second time in five seasons. The Reds now need to avoid defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday to clinch their 20th league title, equalling Manchester United’s record. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says recording 13 draws this season is not good enough:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-65-cents and the euro at 21-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-723-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-327-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….