News 07:00

BULLETIN 11 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula says the engagements on the budget impasse are going well
# The government of national unity’s reconfiguration will be addressed once parties walk away
# And the White House says China’s tariff rate is now at 145-percent

# ANC secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, says engagements around the budget impasse have been constructive, and they are optimistic that these will produce the desired outcomes. The party has been engaging with parties including ActionSA and Build One South Africa. The budget fiscal framework was adopted in Parliament last week, but parties still want the 0.5-percent value-added tax scrapped. Briefing the media in Sandton on Thursday, Mbalula said they intend to conclude the discussions next week:

Mbalula also says the question of reconfiguration of the government of national unity can only be addressed fully if one or two partners walk away. There have been calls for the DA to be kicked out of the coalition government after voting against the adoption of the budget fiscal framework last week. Mbalula said the ANC is advocating for a rules-based approach in terms of the function of the coalition government going forward:

# ActionSA has welcomed Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya State of the City Address which outlined strong strides made under the coalition. Highlights include a fully funded budget, 2.8-billion-rand in projected reserves, and a one-billion-rand reduction in Eskom debt. ActionSA’s Michael Beaumont says economic revitalisation, SMME support, and infrastructure upgrades are underway. He says with over one-thousand-200 illegal dumping sites cleared, Tshwane is on a steady path toward financial stability, safety, and prosperity.

# Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina will visit Bloemhof Dam today to assess infrastructure following evacuations downstream due to flooding. Spokesperson Wisane Mavasa says the dam, now at 111.07-percent, is releasing over two-thousand-cubic metres per second to manage heavy inflows from the Vaal Dam, which sits at 115.57-percent. She says five sluice gates remain open as both dams deal with high water levels, causing a flood-risk:

# The White House has confirmed that the tariffs imposed on Chinese goods now total 145-percent, effective immediately. President Donald Trump announced a 125-percent levy on imports from China on Wednesday. However, the White House says this is on top of an existing 20-percent fee, which Trump put in place in the opening weeks of his second-term presidency in response to China’s alleged inaction on curtailing fentanyl flows. Meanwhile, Beijing has imposed an 84-percent tariff on US goods entering the country.

# Cricket: Veteran batter Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead Chennai Super Kings for the remainder of the Indian Premier League season after an injury ruled out Ruturaj Gaikwad. An MRI confirmed that Gaikwad has an elbow fracture. The 43-year old Dhoni led Chennai from 2008 until 2024, when he handed the captaincy to Gaikwad.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-40-cents and the euro at 21-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-432-dollar-80-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-214-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-98-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….