News 11:00

BULLETIN 14 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa’s energy transition is boosted by a new concessional climate loan from Germany
# Another minister is implicated in the Chinese SUV donation scandal
# And cricket: Tebogo Macheke earns a maiden call-up for the Proteas Women for the T20 series against India

# Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, says Germany has advanced its support for South Africa within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership. Germany has agreed to give South Africa a new 3.8-billion-rand concessional climate loan, which will support investment in the country’s power grid and renewable energy capacity. Lamola says the loan backs the country’s continued pursuit of more ambitious climate targets:

# Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, is being accused of giving luxury donated Chinese vehicles to her family without disclosing them as personal gifts. According to Daily Maverick, Ramokgopa allegedly accepted three BAIC X55 in 2023, intended as donations for the ANC Women’s League. The car retails at around 500-thousand-rand. Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, is also accused of the same thing. Ramokgopa has denied the allegations. Both the ANC and the Women’s League have said they have no knowledge or record of the donation.

# The City of Tshwane has condemned yesterday’s disruption of a public meeting in Hammanskraal which was intended to address ongoing water challenges. Residents were expecting to be addressed by mayor Nasiphi Moya, but mayoral committee member for Utilities, Frans Boshielo, arrived instead. Residents refused to hear from him, saying only Moya should speak to them regarding service delivery failures. Mayoral committee member for Community Safety, Hannes Coetzee, has criticised residents’ behaviour:

Moving abroad:

# US vice president JD Vance has accused Iran of economic terrorism by blocking traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The US blockade of ships using Iranian ports in the Gulf came into effect yesterday. About 20-percent of global oil and gas supply moved through the waterway before the start of the Middle Eastern conflict. In an interview with Fox News, Vance defended the US’ blockade of Iranian ports as an equal response:

# Cricket: Uncapped Titans wicketkeeper-batter, Tebogo Macheke, has been called to the Proteas Women’s squad for the five-match T20 series against India. She replaces the injured Karabo Meso. Titans all-rounder Eliz-Mari Marx has been recalled, replacing seamer Masabata Klaas. Anneke Bosch retains her place after replacing injured Dané van Niekerk during the T20 series against New Zealand. The first T20 will be played in Durban on Friday. This series will be the final tune-up before the Women’s T20 World Cup in England in June and July.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-32-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-717-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-792-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….