News 08:00

BULLETIN 28 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government clarifies reports on alleged disruptions during the Freedom Day celebrations
# The DA urges minister Godongwana to continue the fuel levy relief for another month
# And, the White House shooting suspect is charged with attempting to assassinate the president

# Government says reports suggesting that the National Freedom Day celebrations in Bloemfontein were disrupted, after an individual made his way onto the stage towards president Cyril Ramaphosa and the minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, are misleading. Acting government spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa says the reports are incorrect and may overstate the nature of the incident. She says at the time of the incident, the formal programme had already concluded, and proceedings had transitioned into a cultural performance segment:

# The DA is urging Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to continue the fuel levy relief for at least one more month. In March, the government announced it would cut the general fuel levy by three-rand to cushion the blow of rising global oil prices caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. This relief is due to expire next Tuesday. The DA’s Mark Burke says while the party supports an extension, they will not support future tax or debt increases to pay for this relief:

# Build One South Africa says the next phase of South Africa’s journey must be defined by the expansion of economic freedom and the restoration of dignity for all. It says this requires bold reforms to grow the economy, create jobs, and ensure that opportunity is not determined by where you are born, but by your potential and effort. BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane says today, 57-percent of South Africa’s children live in multidimensional poverty, and unemployment, particularly among the youth, continues to rob a generation of hope and possibility.

# The suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, Cole Tomas Allen, has been charged with three federal charges. The 31-year-old appeared in court in Washington on Monday. Prosecutors say Allen was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, a pump-action shotgun, and three knives, and acted alone. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate the US president, transporting a firearm between states to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence:

# Tennis: Second-seeded German Alexander Zverev is through to the Madrid Open last 16 for the ninth time. He defeated Frenchman Terence Atmane, 6-3, 7-6. Belgian Alexander Blockx stunned world number five Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, 7-6, 6-3, while Russia’s Daniil Medvedev beat Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-3, 6-2. In the women’s draw, world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus beat Japan’s Naomi Osaka, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinals. American third seed Coco Gauff suffered a 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 defeat by Czech Linda Noskova.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-54-cents and the euro at 19-rand-38-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-38-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-723-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-672-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….