News 13:00

BULLETIN 22 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ukraine urges South Africa to support president Volodymr Zelensky’s visit and G20 inclusion
# The DA labels the pending VAT hike as an anti-poor strategy
# And rugby: New Zealand’s Portia Woodman-Wickliffe comes out of retirement to play at the Women’s World Cup

# Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa, Liubov Abravitova, has called on South Africans to support president Volodymr Zelensky’s state visit on Thursday. This follows president Cyril Ramaphosa’s formal invitation to Zelensky and participation in the upcoming G20 leaders’ summit. Abravitova emphasised that South Africa’s leadership of the G20 would be incomplete without engaging Ukraine and supporting efforts toward a just and sustainable peace. She highlights the importance of condemning Russia’s invasion and ensuring Ukraine’s inclusion in global peace discussions.​

# The DA has criticised the planned 0.5-percent VAT increase, labelling it as an anti-growth, anti-jobs, and anti-poor strategy. The Western Cape High Court is today hearing the party’s urgent application to interdict the pending VAT hike. Speaking outside the court, the DA’s Mark Burke says they oppose a blind and blundering budget that will make life more expensive for South Africans:

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has expressed his condolences to the Catholic community of the metro on the passing of Pope Francis. The 88-year-old died of a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure yesterday morning. He was recently discharged from hospital after weeks of treatment for an infection. Hill-Lewis says it is significant that Pope Francis passed away during the holiest week in Christianity, Easter:

Meanwhile, Al Jama-ah Party leader, Ganief Hendricks, says Pope Francis’ advocacy for human rights and for speaking up against Israeli atrocities committed in Gaza will be missed. Hendricks says the pontiff leaves behind a proud legacy of challenging injustice:

# Rugby: Winger Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has come out of retirement in the hopes of helping New Zealand’s attempt to win a third successive Women’s World Cup later this year. The 33-year-old retired in August last year after helping the Black Ferns Sevens win a second Olympic gold medal. Since retiring, she has had a stint playing in Japan and a hugely successful three months with the Blues in Super Rugby Aupiki. Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting says Woodman-Wickliffe will be a great addition to the team.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-60-cents and the euro at 21-rand-38-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-87-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-427-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-455-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-41-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….