News 15:00

BULLETIN 19 February 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Finance minister’s budget speech is postponed
# Ramaphosa calls an emergency cabinet meeting after the DA threatened to reject the budget if VAT is increased
# And golf: Over 150 players are to tee off in the SA Open Championship in Durban

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget speech has been postponed after serious disagreement in cabinet about a proposed VAT hike.

Meanwhile, president Cyril Ramaphosa has called an emergency cabinet meeting after the DA threatened to reject the budget if VAT is increased. DA leader and Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen, says they will not support the budget with proposed tax hikes, which could prevent its approval. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana is set to announce a VAT increase as part of efforts to address South Africa’s fiscal challenges, including rising debt and increased spending pressures.

# The ANC has reconfigured its leadership structures in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal following a national executive committee meeting last month. The decision comes as the party prepares for next year’s local government elections. The reconfiguration, which includes experienced leaders and veterans, is part of the party’s renewal strategy. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says engagements with provincial and regional structures are underway, with a focus on political education, manifesto implementation, and reconnecting with communities:

# The South African Defence Force has confirmed that the funerals of 13 soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo will take place with full military honours from Saturday until the first of March. Another soldier was already laid to rest in Limpopo after the members’ remains were handed to the families last week. The 14 soldiers lost their lives in clashes with M23 rebels in the east of the DRC last month.

# EU countries has agreed a new round of sanctions on Russia, as the bloc looks to keep up pressure in the face of US talks with Moscow. The wide-ranging package, which includes a ban on imports of Russian aluminium, will be formally adopted by EU Foreign ministers on Monday, the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The EU’s 16th round of sanctions on Russia comes as Trump has undercut Kiev and its European backers by launching efforts with Moscow to end the war.

# Golf: The 114th SA Open Championship that will be held at Durban Country Club from 27 February to 2 March will see 156 national and international players tee off for a 27-million-rand prize purse. Sunshine Tour marketing manager Mcebisi Mtshali told SABC News the tournament creates a lot of excitement:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-293-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-945-dollars-67-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….