News 06:00

BULLETIN 14 April 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says policy uncertainty influences investments
# The DA welcomes the decision to prosecute individuals involved in the Life Esidimeni tragedy
# And, Donald Trump threatens to sink Iranian ships that come near the US blockade

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is one of many economies vying for investment at a time when many investors are unsure about the direction of the world economy. In his weekly newsletter, he says the global landscape has become increasingly uncertain and competitive. Ramaphosa says progress is being made in removing impediments to investment, as investments cannot be realised under conditions of policy uncertainty. He adds that the government is taking decisive steps to root out corruption, prevent extortion at construction sites, and break the back of the illicit economy.

# The African Transformation Movement is calling on Parliament to establish an independent impeachment inquiry panel over allegations against president Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala scandal. The allegations relate to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate report into the 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, during which US dollars were stolen. ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona says the findings, along with a previous independent panel report, provide grounds for possible impeachment proceedings:

# COSATU and the Federation of Unions of South Africa, FEDUSA, are escalating their campaign against a 9.5-percent Government Employees Medical Scheme contribution increase, which wipes out recent salary gains. The organisations warn that this will push public servants into financial distress amid rising living costs. The unions say GEMS has ignored demands for a reversal of the 2026 hike. The unions will intensify action and are prepared for mass protest if talks fail.

# The DA in Gauteng has welcomed the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to institute legal action against individuals implicated in the Life Esidimeni tragedy. The tragedy unfolded between 2015 and 2016 when psychiatric patients were moved from licensed care facilities to unregistered and ill-equipped centres, resulting in the death of some 141 patients. The charges will include culpable homicide. The DA’s Jack Bloom says successful prosecutions will serve as a deterrent by showing real consequences for those who abuse vulnerable patients:

# US president Donald Trump has threatened to sink any Iranian ships that come near the American blockade of Iranian ports. The blockade came into effect yesterday evening, with Trump claiming to have “obliterated” 158 Iranian ships. Ships of the US Central Command travelling between non-Iranian ports will be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Trump says they will use the same system of kill that they have used against the drug dealers on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, where over 300 alleged drug smugglers have been killed since September last year.

# Cricket: Former Lions player Beyers Swanepoel is free to play county cricket for Worcestershire after receiving a no-objection certificate from Cricket South Africa. He was in limbo after being sacked by the Lions for leaving midway through the One-day Cup final against the Titans to catch a flight to Britain. This left his team with just ten players, and they eventually lost the match. CSA says it is contractually obligated to grant Swanepoel the certificate after he and the Lions reached a mutual termination agreement.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-280-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-748-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….