News 12:00

BULLETIN 4 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Clash of campaigns for ANC, MK Party in Mpumalanga with Zuma speaking there 
# Economists warn tax data for 2022/23 is not as good as it seems
# And, cricket: 23 wickets in a day is most unusual for Newlands

# The ANC and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party will host separate events in Mpumalanga on Saturday, with former president Jacob Zuma speaking at the MK event. According to Mpumalanga ANC chairperson Mandla Ndlovu, ANC branches were perturbed by the move to bring the campaign to Mpumalanga, mainly because the area had offered Zuma a “haven” during turbulent periods in his political career.  The ANC’s spokesperson, Obama Masango, says Ndlovu met with branches to discussed the ANC’s 112th birthday celebration next Saturday at the Mbombela Stadium:

# Economists have cautioned against celebrating apparent positive tax data, emphasising the risk of the tax base collapsing as high-income earners increasingly emigrate. While SARS collected 2.07-trillion-rand in gross tax revenue for the 2022/23 fiscal year, concerns arise about personal income tax, which now constitutes 35.7-percent of tax revenue compared to 40-percent in previous years, indicating job losses. Emigration, especially among high-income earners seeking lower tax rates, better security, and improved services, threatens the tax base.

# The Department of Water and Sanitation says there are still acute water challenges in some parts of the country and efforts are underway to address inadequate water supply. The department’s acting spokesperson, Andile Tshona, says the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant will be applied to build, upgrade and refurbish water infrastructure in order to meet the demands of the communities they service:

# The death toll from the Japanese earthquakes has risen to 64. Prime minister Kishida Fumio declared the situation as a race against time to save lives, as around ten thousand soldiers are mobilised for search, rescue, and relief operations. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, while many remain trapped inside collapsed buildings in Ishikawa, Niigata, Fukui, Toyama, and Gifu provinces. The weather agency predicts intermittent rains today, adding to the challenges faced in the aftermath of the quakes.

# Cricket: 23 wickets fell on an extraordinary opening day in Cape Town yesterday in the second and final Test between South Africa and India at Newlands. The Proteas were bowled out for just 55 with Mohammed Siraj picking up six wickets. India were then in complete control at 153 for four, but lost their last six wickets for no runs in 11 balls after tea. Proteas batting consultant Ashwell Prince says is was a very unusual opening day at Newlands:

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-65-cents and the euro at 20-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-887-dollars-91-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-48-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-72-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….