News 18:00

BULLETIN 30 April 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa moves to uncover the truth behind delays in prosecuting TRC cases
# The ANC welcomes the withdrawal of a VAT Increase, and hails the multi-party consensus 
# And in tennis, Jannik Sinner prepares for return to action after his doping ban

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says a judicial commission of inquiry will be set up to investigate delays in the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes handed over by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The move follows a legal case by victims’ families, who claim efforts were made to block justice. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the government also wants the commission to look into other unresolved matters, like possible rights violations and compensation:

# The ANC has welcomed the withdrawal of the proposed VAT increase and the revision of the 2025 fiscal framework, calling it a political victory rooted in democratic consultation. The party says the decision followed engagement with ten other parties in Parliament, including the IFP, ActionSA, Rise Mzansi and Build One South Africa. ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula told the media the outcome proves political cooperation is possible and necessary for effective governance:

# Saftu is calling on all workers, communities, and progressive formations to join the nationwide May Day rallies and marches across the country. Saftu’s spokesperson, Newton Masuku says the march is under the theme, Celebrating May Day: Uniting to Oppose VAT Increase and Anti-Worker Law Amendments. He says when workers and communities unite in action, victories are possible:

# The African Union has lifted sanctions against Gabon, after the central African nation was suspended from the organisation following a coup in August 2023. A meeting of the Peace and Security Council on Gabon’s political transition “reviewed the processes and found them to be generally successful”. The statement said Gabon would be welcome “to immediately resume her participation in the activities” of the AU. Gabon was suspended when General Brice Oligui Nguema took power after overthrowing President Ali Bongo, whose family had been in power for 55 years.

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner has insisted that he did not receive preferential treatment from anti-doping authorities as he prepares for his return to action at next week’s Italian Open in Rome. This follows a three-month ban which caused anger among a section of the men’s tennis tour. Both the International Tennis Integrity Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency accepted that he did not gain any competitive advantage from the banned substance, and that he bore no fault for an accidental contamination.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-62-cents and the euro at 21-rand-16-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-and-8-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-306-dollars-28-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….