News 08:00

BULLETIN 16 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC is confident Roelf Meyer will represent South Africa with distinction and integrity
# The NUM accepts Eskom’s 7-percent wage offer
# And swimming: Six South Africans secure Commonwealth Games spots

# The ANC has welcomed the appointment of Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s ambassador to the US, saying the decision reflects a masterstroke strategic deployment. His appointment follows the expulsion of former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, who was declared persona non grata in 2025 after the remarks he made during a webinar on US politics. The ANC says Meyer’s appointment comes at an important moment in the evolving relationship between South Africa and the US. It adds that Meyer will represent the country with distinction and integrity.

Meanwhile, the DA says Meyer’s appointment is a good pick, given the need for skilled diplomacy to repair the strained relationship between the two countries. The DA’s Ryan Smith, says Meyer’s success can and will only be gauged on his ability to break through several diplomatic impasses that still exist in Washington under the Trump administration:

# The National Union of Mineworkers has accepted Eskom’s seven-percent wage offer. This follows months of deliberation at the Central Bargaining Forum, where the union originally demanded a 15-percent pay hike, along with improved benefits. The current three-year wage agreement is set to expire in June. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has already rejected the wage offer. NUM deputy president, Olehile Kgware, told the SABC that job security is a priority:

# UK prime minister Keir Starmer says he is not going to yield to pressure from US president Donald Trump to join the US-Israeli conflict against Iran. Trump has persistently criticised Starmer after he refused to join the war when it began in late February. Trump has also threatened to change the terms of the UK-US trade deal. Starmer told the House of Commons that it’s not in Britain’s national interest to join the conflict:

# Swimming: Aimee Canny and Pieter Coetzé are among six swimmers who achieved Commonwealth Games qualifying times on the second day of the SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Canny achieved qualifying times in two events, the 200-metre freestyle and the 100-metre breaststroke. Coetzé swam under the required mark in the 50 and 100-metre backstroke. Erin Gallagher, Rebecca Meder, Jessica Thompson and Ruard van Renen also added their name to the list of qualifiers. The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2nd August.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-31-cents and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-17-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-83-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-823-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….