News 06:00

BULLETIN 25 April 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says it will push for a spending review to cut wasteful expenditure
# Donald Trump condemns Russia’s latest airstrikes on Ukraine
# And athletics: Gift Leotlela is crowned as the new 100-metre champion

# The DA says it will push hard for a broader spending review to cut wasteful expenditure. This comes after Finance minister Enoch Godongwana reversed the proposed 0.5-percent value-added tax hike scheduled to be implemented next Thursday. The termination of the VAT hike will leave a 75-billion-rand expenditure hole in the fiscus. The DA’s Federal Council chairperson, Helen Zille, says the spending review will also eliminate corruption and inefficiencies that have drained public resources:

Meanwhile, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse has urged the government of national unity to improve internal engagement after the confusion surrounding the now-scrapped VAT hike. While welcoming the decision to keep VAT at 15-percent, the organisation says the situation could have been avoided through better coordination. OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage says South Africa’s real issue isn’t revenue, but reckless spending and corruption:

# The minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has extended the deadline for public comments on the Draft Transformation Fund Concept Document to 28 May. Initially set for 7 May, the extension allows more time for public and organisational engagement. The fund aims to raise 100-billion-rand through a public-private effort to support black-owned enterprises, especially in rural and township areas. Stakeholders are urged to submit their written comments before the new deadline.

# The National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union will stage a picket at the Union Buildings in Pretoria today to urge Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a peace agreement with Russia. Zelensky met president Cyril Ramaphosa at the buildings yesterday. The gathering, which starts at 11 am, is expected to disperse by 2 pm. Motorists should expect traffic disruptions in Arcadia. Tshwane Metro Police and SAPS will be on-site to monitor proceedings.

# US president Donald Trump has condemned Russia’s latest deadly airstrikes on Ukraine, saying it was not necessary and very bad timing. Moscow sent 70 missiles and 145 drones toward Ukraine, mainly targeting Kyiv on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, killing at least 12 people and injuring around 90. The Russian Defence ministry claims the strikes targeted military infrastructure, including machine-building and tank industry companies. On Truth Social, Trump called on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to stop and get the peace deal done.

# Athletics: Sprinter Gift Leotlela has won the men’s 100-metre title at South Africa’s senior championships in Potchefstroom. He beat world junior champion and Olympic silver medallist Bayanda Walaza by just 0.01 seconds, finishing in 9.99 seconds. Walaza came second in ten seconds, and Benjamin Richardson took third place in 10.05 seconds. Both Leotlela and Walaza have now qualified for the 100-metre event at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-75-cents and the euro at 21-rand-33-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-940-dollar-80-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-354-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-53-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….