News 15:00

BULLETIN 10 April 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Border Management Authority issues a stern warning against illegal crossings this Easter
# Transnet launches a process to select a partner for a rail leasing company
# And tennis: Jannik Sinner is assured of the number one ranking when he returns from suspension

# The Border Management Authority has issued a stern warning against illegal border crossings during Easter. With heightened security and surveillance, including the use of drones, the authority is committed to deterring illegal activities and ensuring the safety and security of all travellers. Commissioner Michael Masiapato urged the public to comply with border laws and report any suspicious behaviour to authorities:

# Transnet has initiated a request for qualification to select a private partner for a new rail leasing company, ‘LeaseCo,’ aimed at supplying rolling stock to private train operating companies. This move is part of South Africa’s rail reform programme, aimed at improving competitiveness and encouraging private sector investment. This comes amid efforts to open the network to third-party operators, despite challenges like network conditions and tariff increases. The request for qualification period closes on 4 July.

# Stocks rocketed today as a relief rally spread through markets after Donald Trump paused crippling tariffs on US partners. Chinese investors even brushed off his decision to ramp up duties on Beijing to 125-percent. The across-the-board gains tracked a blistering performance on Wall Street as the US president said he would delay for 90 days the measures announced last week. Trump said he would keep in place a basic levy of 10-percent on dozens of countries. China’s own 84-percent retaliatory measures kicked in today.

# Tennis: Jannik Sinner of Italy will be certain of retaining the number one world ranking when he returns from his three-month doping suspension early next month. Alexander Zverev of Germany’s loss to Sinner’s compatriot, Matteo Berrettini, in the round of 32 in the Monte-Carlo Masters means he won’t be able to overtake Sinner. Zverev failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals of his last six tournaments. Twenty-three-year-old Sinner plans to return to the circuit in the Italian Open, starting in Rome on the fifth of May.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-45-cents and the euro at 21-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-494-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-117-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Based on an analysis of the 2025/26 draft budget, the City of Cape Town offers the lowest property rates for Commercial, Industrial, and Residential properties. The rate-in-rand is a statutory formula used by municipalities to calculate property rates. The formula shows how much a person would pay in rates for every rand of their property value. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City of Johannesburg is 42-percent higher for commercial and industrial property rates, and 33-percent higher for residential property rates:

Stay tuned for more news………….