News 08:00

BULLETIN 10 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC remains committed to resolving the budget deadlock
# The defence force denies their deployment to the #JusticeForCwecwe march
# And the Dominican Republic declares three days of mourning

# The ANC says it continues to demonstrate its readiness to engage all parliamentary stakeholders with a clear focus on the national interest, public accountability, and advancing economic recovery. The party’s negotiating team led by Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, met with ActionSA to address the national budget impasse over the value-added tax hike. The ANC’s spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, says both parties recognise the urgency required to resolve the current budget impasse in a manner that upholds the principles of sound fiscal governance:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile will lead the 32nd commemoration of the death of liberation struggle icon and freedom fighter, Chris Hani, in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, today. The former South African Communist Party leader was assassinated outside his home in Boksburg on this day in 1993. His murderer Janusz Waluś was released on parole and deported back to Poland last year. Mashatile says Hani’s legacy stands as a beacon of courage, selflessness, and service to the people.

# The South African National Defence Force has denied the deployment of members to the #JusticeForCwecwe march in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday. The protest was calling for justice for the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl, affectionately known as Cwecwe, at Bergview College in October 2024. During the march residents criticised the noticeable presence of armed soldiers. The SANDF’s spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini, says soldiers are in the area on border safeguarding duties and nothing else:

# Dominican Republic president Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning following the deadly roof collapse at a nightclub in Santo Domingo on Tuesday morning. The death toll from the Jet Set club roof collapse has risen to 124, with emergency personnel still trying to find survivors under the rubble. Singer Rubby Pérez, and former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco are among those deceased. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has confirmed that at least one American national died in the incident.

# Soccer: Orlando Pirates are through to the CAF Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2013, after playing to a goalless draw against Algerian club MC Alger in the second leg at the Orlando Stadium. The Buccaneers qualified for the last four on a 1-0 aggregate having beaten MC Alger away in the first-leg last Friday. The semifinals will see Pirates face Pyramids FC while Mamelodi Sundowns meet Al Ahly. Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro, says his players gave everything:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-26-cents and the euro at 21-rand-17-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-622-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-129-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-37-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….