News 06:00
BULLETIN 16 April 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Ramaphosa responds to Elon Musk saying South African laws are not racist
# Solidarity claims race-based policies are limiting internet access
# And rugby: Jake White leaves Selborne College after a clash with the principal
# President Cyril Ramaphosa says he sees empowerment laws as part of correcting the imbalances of the past, not as racist legislation. He was responding to billionaire Elon Musk’s claim that his satellite internet service, Starlink, was denied a licence to operate in South Africa because he is not black. Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment policies require foreign-owned telecommunications licenses to sell 30-percent of the equity in their local subsidiaries to historically disadvantaged groups. Ramaphosa says hundreds of international firms comply with the country’s regulations:
Meanwhile, trade union Solidarity says South Africa’s race-based policies are limiting access to affordable internet, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The union argues restrictions linked to black economic empowerment and licensing rules have delayed the rollout of services such as Musk’s Starlink. Solidarity’s Dirk Hermann says millions of people remain excluded from the digital economy due to high costs and poor network coverage:
# The South African Local Government Association says trust is the foundation and goal of professionalising local government, and without it, capability and service delivery collapse. The association is collaborating with advisory firm The Global Trust Project to pilot the voluntary Trust Equity Framework in up to 18 participating municipalities across South Africa. Salga says the initiative is intended to support stronger municipal trustworthiness, improved service delivery, better stakeholder relationships, and more credible local conditions for investment.
# The City of Tshwane has placed its chief financial officer, Gareth Mnisi, on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an investigation. This follows allegations at the Madlanga commission that he used his position to rig the awarding of tenders to his preferred bidders. He is expected to appear before the commission later this week. Mayoral spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi says the suspension is aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the investigation:
# Australia will raise defence spending to three-percent of gross domestic product by 2033 from about two-percent currently. This is in response to the most complex and threatening circumstances since World War Two. The government says the expansion would be achieved through an additional 116-billion-rand over four years and 620-billion-rand over the next decade. Australia wants to develop its defence capabilities amid concerns over rising geopolitical tensions and China’s tussle with the US for influence in the Indo-Pacific. In comparison, South Africa spends about 0.7-percent of its GDP on defence.
# Rugby: Former Springbok and Bulls coach Jake White is looking for new opportunities after leaving his position as consultant at Selborne College in KuGompu City, [East London], in the Eastern Cape. He cites a clash with principal Andrew Dewar, the same reason given for Derek Page’s resignation as director of rugby at the school. White says he was frustrated by Dewar’s lack of support for the school’s rugby programme. White, who coached the Boks between 2004 and 2007, was ousted by the Bulls through a players’ revolution.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-17-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-133-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-800-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-94-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….