News 15:00

BULLETIN 2 April 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Consumer Commission confirms the recall of over 500 Ford and Toyota vehicles
# Minister Macpherson hails Infrastructure South Africa for unlocking a major investment
# And soccer: It’s doom and gloom in soccer-mad Italy after another World Cup miss

# The National Consumer Commission has announced a recall affecting over 500 Ford and Toyota vehicles in South Africa over safety defects. Head of Complaints and Investigations, Prudence Moilwa, says 438 Ford Ranger XLT and Wildtrak models, and 26 Ford Puma units are impacted due to potential engine and safety system faults. Toyota is recalling 58 Hino 700 vehicles over fuel pump defects. Moilwa warns these issues could increase accident risks, urging owners to visit authorised dealerships for free inspections and repairs.

# Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson welcomes the government agency Infrastructure South Africa’s role in unlocking a 17-billion-rand investment pledge by global agricultural company United Phosphorus Limited at the South African investment conference in Sandton. The investment will support a large-scale bio-ethanol project using sugarcane and maize, create jobs, boost rural development, and benefit farmers. Macpherson says the project demonstrates government’s role in removing bottlenecks, coordinating stakeholders, and driving economic growth.

# Union federation Cosatu has congratulated the South African Revenue Service for collecting record net revenue of two-trillion-rand in the 2025/26 financial year, surpassing targets. This is an 8.4-percent increase from the 1.855-trillion-rand collected in the previous financial year. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says SARS has achieved these record revenue targets in the midst of challenges, including a weak economy:

# The DA in Gauteng condemns the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for owing over 670-thousand-rand in rates and taxes to the City of Johannesburg. The party’s Nico de Jager says the arrears undermine local government, worsen service delivery, and reflect broader financial mismanagement. He demands urgent accountability for full payment to protect residents and municipal services:

# Soccer: Italian media is ruing what it describes as the country’s World Cup curse after the national team failed to qualify for this year’s tournament in Northern America. The four-time champion will miss the third consecutive World Cup. Italy lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday’s final qualifier after also losing its previous playoffs against Sweden and North Macedonia. The defeat sparked outrage in the soccer-mad country, with politicians calling for the resignation of the president of the governing body, Gabriele Gravina.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-1-cent and the euro at 19-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-44-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-418-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-619-dollars-67-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….