News 08:00
BULLETIN 21 April 8 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Minister Godongwana says there might be a short extension of the fuel levy relief
# The MK Party wants the local government elections postponed
# And Laureus Awards: Alcaraz and Sabalenka are named Laureus athletes of 2025
# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says the government may extend the temporary fuel levy relief for up to two more months but cannot afford long-term support due to budget constraints. According to News24, Godongwana stated the current three-rand per litre cut in the fuel levy, which costs about six-billion-rand a month, is due to end on 5 May. He has also ruled out tax increases, as any extra spending would require cuts to key services like health, education, policing and infrastructure.
# The MK Party is calling for the upcoming local government elections to be delayed pending its vote-rigging case by the IEC. The party alleged widespread rigging of the 2024 general election results, which it said it had won. It cited technical glitches that caused the results to disappear from the national results dashboard for two hours, claiming this was done deliberately to steal the party’s votes. The MK Party’s spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, says this matter must be solved before the elections can be held:
# National Assembly speaker, Thoko Didiza, has described South Africa’s participation and impact at the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Turkey as a resounding success in advancing the country’s international priorities. The country’s delegation supported an emergency item on peacebuilding in the Middle East and secured support for key amendments to draft resolutions. Didiza stressed that sustainable peace requires inclusive engagement and collective action, particularly through the meaningful participation of young people:
# President Donald Trump says the US will not lift its blockade of Iranian ports until Tehran has agreed to a deal to end the war. Since the blockade began, American forces have directed 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port, and also intercepted and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship. Iran has maintained its own blockade on the critical Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, Trump insisted that a deal with Iran will happen relatively quickly.
# Laureus Awards: Tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were crowned Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively, at the Laureus Awards in Madrid. Alcaraz won eight ATP Tour titles, including two Grand Slams in 2025. Sabalenka won a second US Open crown and four WTA titles. Rory McIlroy claimed the World Comeback of the Year Award, with Formula 1’s Lando Norris named World Breakthrough of the Year. Barcelona and Spain’s Lamine Yamal was named the Young Sportsperson of the Year, and Paris St-Germain won the World Team of the Year.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-15-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-603-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-795-dollars-8-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-16-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….