News 06:00
BULLETIN 3 April 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The MK Party appeals the IEC’s decision to remove Zuma from the candidate list
# SARS reports a tax revenue collection of over R2.1-trillion for the 2023/2024 financial year
# And the US is calling for a swift probe into the killing of humanitarian aid workers in Gaza
# The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has appealed to the Electoral Court the decision by the Independent Electoral Commission to remove former president Jacob Zuma from its candidates list. Last week, the IEC upheld an objection to Zuma’s candidature, meaning he was disqualified from standing for legislative seats in the upcoming general elections. The MK party has accused the IEC of not acting under the law in dealing with objections to candidates nominated.
Meanwhile, several political parties, including the African Christian Democratic Party, the DA, and the African Transformation Movement, have jointly petitioned president Cyril Ramaphosa to refer the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill back to the National Assembly for reconsideration. Ramaphosa is urged to delay the bill’s implementation pending further review. The parties argue certain aspects of the bill are unconstitutional, particularly its impact on the allocation of public funding to political parties, including independent candidates. They believe the bill’s provisions would have disastrous consequences for smaller political parties.
# The South African Revenue Service has announced a gross tax revenue of 2.155-trillion-rand for the 2023/24 financial year. SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter stated that this figure marks a 4.2-percent year-on-year growth against a nominal gross domestic product of 4.9-percent. Kieswetter says the net revenue, after refunds, reached 1.741-trillion-rand, surpassing Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s estimate by ten-billion-rand, with a 3.2-percent year-on-year growth. He also expressed concerns over fraud in the refund system despite significant refunds:
# The Economic Freedom Fighters in Gauteng have criticised the provincial government’s plan to create 500-thousand in-service training opportunities for youth, calling it a temporary fix. EFF Gauteng communications officer, Dumisani Baleni, has argued that short-term solutions will not solve chronic unemployment. Baleni says the EFF demands permanent jobs with benefits including pensions and medical aid. He has accused the government of using training as a political tactic ahead of the general elections:
# The US is calling for a swift and impartial investigation into the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza by an Israeli strike. The humanitarian aid workers were killed after leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah where they had unloaded food aid. Three British nationals were among those killed, along with Australian, Polish, and Palestinian workers and a dual US-Canadian citizen. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, says they have spoken directly to the Israeli government about this airstrike:
# Rugby: The most experienced All-Black of all time, Sam Whitelock, will retire at the end of the current French club season in June. The veteran of 153 Tests joined French top 14 club Pau after last year’s World Cup when his country lost to the Springboks in the final. The 35-year-old won 11 Tri Nations and Rugby Championship titles with New Zealand, and represented the Crusaders in 180 Super matches, winning seven titles. The All Blacks describe Whitelock as a legend of the game.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-80-cents and the euro at 20-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-63-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-413-dollar-30-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-278-dollar-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollar-95-cents -cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….