News 11:00

BULLETIN 5 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The new SARS commissioner warns the fuel levy cut will cost the fiscus six-billion-rand
# Trump hails a dramatic US military rescue mission in Iran
# And tennis: Sinner will challenge Alcaraz for the number one ranking at this week’s Monte-Carlo Masters

# Newly-appointed Revenue Service commissioner Johnstone Makhubu says the organisation may be forced to intensify tax collection efforts to offset a revenue shortfall of about six-billion-rand per month following fuel levy relief measures. The gap was created to ease pressure on consumers following sharp rises in fuel prices. Makhuba says SARS could take a tougher stance on tax compliance, warning defaulters of stricter enforcement to recover lost revenue:

# Judges Matter has renewed calls for president Cyril Ramaphosa to explain delays in appointing two judges to the Constitutional Court. Research and advocacy official Mbekezeli Benjamin says no appointments have been made, nearly six months after the Judicial Service Commission submitted five recommended names. He told Newzroom Afrika this leads to delays in the efficient delivering of judgments:

# Gang violence continues to plague parts of the Cape Flats despite the deployment of the South African Defence Force under Operation Prosper. Shootings have been reported in Mitchells Plain, Manenberg, Delft, and surrounding areas. Police in Bishop Lavis have opened four attempted murder cases after a shooting in Kalksteenfontein. In a separate incident, a suspected gunman was stoned to death by community members. Activists are calling for stronger police-led intelligence operations to tackle crime and restore stability.

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump has praised a high-risk military operation that led to the successful rescue of an American officer stranded behind enemy lines in Iran. Trump describes the mission as one of the most daring in US history, revealing that another pilot was also rescued in a separate operation. He says the mission was executed without casualties, highlighting what he called overwhelming US air superiority, reaffirming commitment to never leave American personnel behind.

# And tennis: Italian Jannik Sinner has the possibility of returning to the world number one ranking at the Monte-Carlo Masters this week. The 24-year-old, who is fresh off title runs in Indian Wells and Miami last month, has surged to within 190 points of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Live Rankings. Alcaraz is the defending champion in Monte-Carlo. Sinner must reach the semifinals to have a chance of returning to number one, but if he reaches the final, he will dethrone Alcaraz unless the Spaniard wins the title.

Stay tuned for more news………….