News 07:00

BULLETIN 9 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Constitutional Court says the Phala Phala judgment will be delivered within a month
# MISA demands urgent government intervention as paraffin prices surge
# And athletics: The Diamond League opener in Doha is postponed due to the Middle Eastern conflict

# The Constitutional Court says the judgment on whether Parliament erred in its handling of the Phala Phala matter will be delivered within a month. The EFF approached the court in 2024 to challenge Parliament’s December 2022 decision not to adopt the Section 89 panel report, which found that president Cyril Ramaphosa has a prima facie case to answer. This relates to the burglary at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in February 2020. The EFF says it is clear that the ConCourt is not immune to political pressures.

# The Motor Industry Staff Association is calling on the government to provide urgent relief on paraffin, which has risen by 11-rand-67-cents per litre. MISA warns that the price surge threatens millions of low-income households who rely on paraffin for cooking, heating, and lighting. The association’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says failure to act could worsen energy poverty and food insecurity, leaving vulnerable families facing even harsher living conditions:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile will deliver the keynote address at the second annual Gauteng Investment Conference at the Marriott Hotel, Melrose Arch, today. The conference is aimed at mobilising investment, advancing industrialisation, and accelerating inclusive economic growth. The provincial government is targeting some 200-billion-rand in new investment pledges, which form part of the province’s strategy to attract 800-billion-rand in new investments over three years. Last year’s conference garnered some 312.5-billion-rand in pledges in sectors including agro-processing, transport, infrastructure, property development, and aviation.

# The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has approved 22-million-rand in fodder support for livestock farmers affected by prolonged dry grazing conditions. Farmers are encouraged to apply for the support and continue sustainable grazing practices as part of long-term climate resilience planning. Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Ivan Meyer says the relief aims to protect herds, livelihoods, and grazing resources while stabilising production ahead of winter:

# US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, claims Iran begged for the ceasefire, saying “Operation Epic Fury” has been a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield. The US and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire, which included the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz. Hegseth says Tehran’s missile programme has been functionally destroyed. He adds that the ceasefire now in place allows for a chance at real peace and a real deal:

# Athletics: World Athletics has postponed the Diamond League’s season-opening event in Doha, Qatar, amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. The multi-discipline event originally scheduled for May 8 will now be held on June 19, should conditions allow. World Athletics says this decision has been taken due to concerns for player and spectator safety. This year’s Diamond League series will now begin on 16 May in Keqiao, China. The series has 15 stops, including Qatar, China, Morocco, Italy, Sweden, Poland, and Belgium. 

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-16-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-1-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-819-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-709-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….