News 08:00
BULLETIN 11 March 8 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Musi Maimane says difficult choices must be made regarding government expenditure
# The police have arrested over 14-thousand suspects in the past week
# And rugby: There were victories for the Eagles, Tuks, Ikeys and Maties in the 4th round of the Varsity Cup
# Parliament’s Standing Committee on Appropriations chairperson, Mmusi Maimane, says the country’s primary challenge is not value-added tax, but the lack of growth, which has averaged one-percent over the past decade. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver the budget on Wednesday after it was postponed last month due to a dispute among the government of national unity partners over a proposed two-percent VAT increase. Maimane says difficult choices must be made regarding government expenditure and efficiency:
Meanwhile, the National Shelter Movement of South Africa says a potential two-percent VAT increase could have severe consequences for shelters supporting victims of gender-based violence. With rising costs and inconsistent funding, shelters may be forced to reduce services or turn away those in need. The movement’s coordinator Anisa Moosa fears that the proposed VAT hike could further fuel financial strain and lead to an increase in violent crime against women and children:
# A total of 14-thousand-165 suspects were arrested and 155 illegal firearms were recovered in the last seven days across the country. In the latest success, the police’s anti-kidnapping task team recovered four illegal firearms and rescued an Ethiopian businessman from a kidnapping ring in Kensington, Johannesburg. Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says five kidnappers were arrested and one was shot dead:
# An investigation is underway after an oil tanker and a container ship collided off the British coast in the North Sea on Monday, causing a massive fire. Thirty-six crew members were rescued, and one person was taken to the hospital. One crew member is still unaccounted for, however, the Coastguard says the search has been called off. The collision involved the US-registered Stena Immaculate, which was transporting fuel on behalf of the US military, and the Portuguese-flagged Solong, which was carrying 15 containers of the chemical sodium cyanide.
# Rugby: North West University-Eagles stunned defending champions University of the Free State-Shimlas 59-14, to record their second consecutive victory in the fourth round of the Varsity Cup. University of Pretoria-Tuks returned to winning ways by thrashing Central University of Technology 63-23. University of Cape Town-Ikeys ran in ten tries as they recorded a 73-17 statement victory against the University of Witwatersrand. Meanwhile, the University of Johannesburg’s search for their first win continues after losing 25-7 against the University of Stellenbosch-Maties.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-30-cents and the euro at 19-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-59-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-419-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-896-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-6-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….