News 07:00

BULLETIN 28 March 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile calls for deeper SA–China trade ties
# Raymond Parsons says a triple price shock could interrupt economic recovery
# And soccer: Bafana and Panama settle for a draw in their first international friendly

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has called for stronger economic cooperation between South Africa and China, urging increased investment in key sectors to support industrialisation, job creation, and sustainable growth. He addressed the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Forum in Cape Town. Mashatile highlighted that China remains South Africa’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade increasing by 6.4-percent from about 650-billion-rand in 2024 to nearly 690-billion-rand in 2025:

# North West University Business School economist Raymond Parsons says South Africa’s economic outlook is under growing pressure, with inflation risks now tilted to the upside. Parsons states this means interest rates are likely to stay higher for longer as policymakers remain cautious amid global uncertainty and rising energy costs. He warns that the combined impact of higher fuel prices, taxes, and electricity tariffs could weigh heavily on households and businesses from next month.

# The Public Servants Association is outraged after the Auditor-General’s findings revealed major irregularities at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. According to the union, the scheme continues to pay bursaries to more than 800 deceased students, while thousands of ineligible students, including those with higher incomes or poor academic records, are still receiving funding. The association’s Claude Naiker demands a full audit, recovery of funds, suspension of those responsible, and better financial controls.

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says it has uncovered a failed 39-million-rand sewer project in Pomona, in Kempton Park, where no working pipeline has been delivered despite years of funding and intervention. It says Ekurhuleni residents are still living with raw sewage flooding homes and polluting nearby wetlands. OUTA’s Rudie Heyneke urges the City of Ekurhuleni to disclose payments and provide a clear plan to complete the project and fix the damage:

# Vladimir Putin has asked oligarchs to donate to Russia’s budget to stabilise the country’s finances as he presses on with the war in Ukraine, According to Russian media, the Russian president held a closed-door meeting with leading businessmen on Thursday. He discussed military funding and the continuation of the war. The war, which has been raging on for five years since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has seen the country’s defence costs soar. Russia is facing both falling budget revenues from energy sales and an economic slowdown.

# And soccer: Bafana Bafana and Panama settled for a 1–1 draw in an entertaining international friendly at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium last night. The visitors struck first through Yoel Bárcenas, whose clinical finish in the 23rd minute gave Panama a halftime lead. South Africa responded immediately after the break, with Oswin Appollis netting the equaliser in the 48th minute. The sides won’t have to wait long for a rematch, as they face off again in Cape Town next Tuesday.

Stay tuned for more news………….