News 11:00

BULLETIN 8 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa will receive credentials from envoys from 20 countries, including American ambassador Brent Bozell
# The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Department is reviewing the local fuel price mechanism
# And golf: Rory McIlroy is grouped with Cameron Young and Mason Howell as he begins his Masters’ title defence

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will receive the credentials of the US ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell, in Pretoria today. This comes against the backdrop of strained relations between the two nations, including last year’s expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool. Last month, Bozell was issued a démarche order over his remarks questioning a domestic court ruling on hate speech. He will present his credentials alongside envoys from 19 other nations, including Ukraine, Ghana, Denmark, Cuba, Norway, and Lebanon.

# The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources says it is reviewing the local fuel price mechanism, with the process to be completed in March next year. Last week, government announced a temporary three-rand reduction in the general fuel levy to cushion consumers as fuel prices have skyrocketed due to the Middle Eastern conflict. The department’s Director of Fuel Pricing Mechanism, Robert Maake, says the price of fuel is the result of a multitude of global and domestic forces:

# Newly appointed Gauteng MEC for Finance, Nkululeko Dunga, says his primary mission is to stabilise the province’s finances. The 2026/27 budget is nearly 180-billion-rand, which supports three priorities, namely driving inclusive growth and jobs, crowding in investment and improving living conditions and wellbeing through reliable services. Dunga says the budget is restrictive, and revenue enhancement is needed to bring in more money:

# Israel says it supports US president Donald Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, but emphasised the ceasefire does not include Lebanon. This contradicts mediator Pakistan’s statement confirming the ceasefire did include Lebanon. The Israeli Defence Force’s attacks on Lebanon since the start of the war have killed more than one-thousand-500 people, including 130 children. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat.

# Golf: Defending champion Rory McIlroy has been grouped alongside Americans Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell for the first two rounds of the US Masters which tees off at Augusta in Georgia tomorrow. The Northern Irishman completed the career Grand Slam with last year’s play-off victory. World number one Scottie Scheffler of the US will play alongside Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre and compatriot Gary Woodland. Last year’s runner-up, Justin Rose of England, has been grouped with 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-14-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-707-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-815-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….