News 09:00

BULLETIN 13 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The FF Plus says South Africans are being punished for the failures of the past
# Sadtu says the Gauteng Education Department must ensure scholar transport is safe
# And the EU is imposing countermeasures against Trump’s tariffs

# The Freedom Front Plus says that even though South Africa finds itself in an enormous financial crisis, it is short-sighted to think that increasing state revenue through a tax hike will adequately address the budget deficit. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana delivered his revised budget on Wednesday, where he increased the value-added tax by 0.5 percentage points in each of the next two years. FF Plus’, Wouter Wessels, says taxpayers, who are already overtaxed, should not be punished for the failures of the past:

Meanwhile, the Congress of the People says the government’s decision to increase value-added tax by 0.5-percent, cements the ANC’s abandonment of South Africans who are struggling. Godongwana says the proposed VAT increases are set to generate 13.5-billion-rand in revenue in 2025/2026 and 30-billion-rand in 2026/2027. COPE says the budget protects the wealthy elite while slashing hope for the poor, worsening inequality and deepening the trust deficit between citizens and government.

# The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union says there is an urgent need for the Gauteng Education Department to improve safety measures in scholar transport. On Monday, a multiple-vehicle accident on the N12 in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, claimed the lives of four learners. On Wednesday morning, an accident involving a scholar bus and truck also in Ekurhuleni left 19 primary school pupils injured. Sadtu’s spokesperson, Nomusa Cembi, says the department must provide immediate psycho-social services to all affected learners:

# The European Union says in response to unjustified US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, it is launching swift and proportionate countermeasures on American imports. As of Wednesday, the US is applying a 25-percent tariff on imports of steel and aluminium. America is the second-biggest export market for EU steel producers, representing 16-percent of the total exports. European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, says these tariffs are disrupting supply chains and bringing uncertainty to the economy:

# Soccer: Champions League defending champions Real Madrid are through to the quarterfinals after beating Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw on aggregate in the last 16. Madrid will face Premier League side Arsenal in the last eight, having kept alive their hopes of winning a record-extending 16th Champions League trophy. Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by PSV Eindhoven in the second leg but progressed to the quarterfinals 9-3 on aggregate. Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund are also through to the last eight.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-33-cents and the euro at 19-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-588-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-945-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….