News 08:00

BULLETIN 9 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau says the government has addressed the key hindrances to investment
# ActionSA says the Presidency is dragging its feet to complete lifestyle audits
# And rugby: Salmaan Moerat is leaving the Stormers to take up an opportunity in France

# Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, says government is working to create an environment conducive to investment. He addressed the global think tank, The European House – Ambrosetti CEO Community – African Chapter in Sandton, Johannesburg, yesterday. Tau said the government has managed to address key issues identified as hindrances to investment, including gross domestic product growth and ending loadshedding. The minister added that energy, minerals, and green industrialisation are among the key sectors that will drive the South African economy going forward.

# ActionSA says it is concerned about the delays in the publication of Cabinet performance agreements, and the outcomes of lifestyle audits president Cyril Ramaphosa promised. In a response to ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip, Ramaphosa stated that the lifestyle audit process is still ongoing. This comes as 24 officials in the Presidency have been identified for suspected undeclared income or concealed assets. Trollip says the lifestyle audit process, which started in 2024, should have been completed by now:

# The ANC in the Western Cape has welcomed the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to formally charge Bitou Municipality deputy mayor Nokuzola Kolwapi. This follows a viral video from December 2025, showing Kolwapi brandishing a firearm and firing multiple shots into the air while dancing. She claimed that it was a toy gun. ANC regional spokesperson, Moyisi Magalela, says Kolwapi’s conduct of discharging a firearm in public is a criminal offence:

# UK prime minister Keir Starmer says there is still a lot of work to do to reopen the important Strait of Hormuz, despite the US-Iran agreement on a two-week ceasefire. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims shipping through the Strait stopped following what it said was an Israeli ceasefire violation in Lebanon. Speaking during a visit to Saudi Arabia yesterday, Starmer said the shipping industry needs confidence that it can transit the Strait safely:

# Rugby: Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat will leave the club at the end of the season to take up an opportunity in France. He has previously been linked with Top 14 side La Rochelle. Moerat made his Stormers debut against the Highlanders in Dunedin in 2018 and has earned 70 caps. He has led the Stormers as club captain for the past two seasons. Stormers director of rugby John Dobson says this is an opportunity for Moerat’s family to achieve financial security that would not be possible in South Africa.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-18-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-2-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-2-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-709-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….