News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Godongwana rejects calls for his resignation
# Pope Francis is set to be laid to rest today
# And rugby, Bulls overpower defending champions Glasgow Warriors in the URC

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has rejected calls for him to resign, following his reversal of a planned 0.5-percent increase in value-added tax. The proposal to raise the VAT by one percentage point over two years, which was intended to boost state revenue, met resistance from some political parties and the business sector. The termination leaves a 75-billion-rand expenditure hole in the fiscus. Godongwana told Reuters that his job is to introduce money bills, and nothing says they must be popular.

# The DA says it has successfully pushed for a review of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment framework. Reports adopted by the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry, and Competition highlight concerns over elite capture and limited impact on job creation. The DA’s Toby Chance calls for an independent review, emphasising the need for a fresh approach to economic transformation, especially with the upcoming Transformation Fund initiative:

# The Gauteng Department of Health condemns the unruly behaviour of some community members blocking patients at Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria. Some were demanding identity documents at the gate over the past few days. The department’s Motalatale Modiba says no one has the right to prevent others from receiving healthcare services:

# Dignitaries from across the world, as well as tens of thousands of mourners, are expected at St Peter’s Square in Rome this morning for the funeral of Pope Francis. The 88-year-old died on Monday from a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. In the run-up to the pontiff’s funeral, people have paid their respects to the Pope as his body lay in state in an open wooden coffin in St Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday morning. He will be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.

# Rugby: Johan Goosen kicked 16 points as the Bulls beat defending champions Glasgow Warriors 26-19 in Scotland to secure a home quarterfinal in the United Rugby Champions. Three Goosen penalties gave the visitors a slender halftime advantage, with Jamie Dobie responding with a try for the hosts. Johann Grobbelaar and David Kriel crossed after the break to put the Bulls on the road to victory. However, Kyle Steyn and Stafford McDowall scored in the dying moments as Glasgow clung to that crucial second spot.

Stay tuned for more news………….