News 16:00

BULLETIN 24 April 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for an unconditional ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
# SACCI welcomes the VAT u-turn and urges a focus on the bigger fiscal crisis
# And soccer: Sundowns will face Egypt’s Al Ahly in Cairo tomorrow night

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has renewed his call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Speaking alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Pretoria, Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa’s role in the African Peace Initiative, which has consistently advocated for peace, diplomacy, and dialogue. He says the initiative not only calls for an end to hostilities, but also urges the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia:

# The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to withdraw the proposed 0.5-percentage point VAT hike. While applauding the move, SACCI CEO Alan Mukoki warns that it doesn’t solve South Africa’s worsening debt and budgetary challenges. Mukoki stresses the need for expert financial analysis across all government levels, and calls for urgent collaboration beyond political divides. He maintains that a VAT increase would harm business confidence and worsen economic stagnation and unemployment.

Meanwhile, the Patriotic Alliance criticised the DA for claiming credit for the reversal of the VAT increase. According to the party, the DA attempted to leverage the VAT increase to push for privatisation and other political demands, such as the removal of the National Health Insurance and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. The party’s Kenny Kunene also accuses the DA of trying to manipulate the budget process for political gain, including making demands for positions in government:

# The High Court in Pretoria has ordered the City of Tshwane to stop cutting electricity to Road Accident Fund CEO Collins Letsoalo’s home. The metro undertook this measure amid a disputed 800-thousand-rand bill dating back to 2015. Letsoalo claimed that billing errors and a lack of statements led him to make monthly payments based on estimates. He also argued that the account linked to the bill was not his. Judge Nomsa Khumalo has ordered the metro to resolve this matter within 30 days and cover Letsoalo’s legal costs.

# Soccer: Mamelodi Sundowns faces Egypt’s Al Ahly in Cairo tomorrow in the second leg of their CAF Champions League semifinals. Their first match in Pretoria ended in a goalless draw last weekend. Sundowns’ head coach, Miguel Cardoso, says they should be able to win tomorrow despite harsh conditions. Al Ahly’s head coach, Marcel Koller, believes his team can finish the job in the Egyptian capital after not allowing Downs to control the game at Loftus.  

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-68-cents and the euro at 21-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-696-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-337-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….