News 16:00

BULLETIN 13 March 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA calls for urgent tax collection reforms instead of a VAT increase
# Rugby: Scotland wants to end France’s Six Nations title hope on Saturday
# And an Amazon rain forest is felled to build a road for a climate summit

# The DA is calling for urgent tax collection reforms instead of increasing VAT as it will worsen poverty. They believe billions-of-rand can be recovered through improved enforcement and efficiency at the South African Revenue Service. The DA’s Mark Burke warns that the one-percent VAT hike will disproportionately impact the poor, driving up food prices and living costs:

Meanwhile, the ANC has welcomed the budget, stating it prioritises economic growth, job creation, and service delivery. Addressing the media in Johannesburg, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula called the budget a decisive intervention that tackles historical injustices. He emphasised that economic transformation remains central to governance, and reaffirmed the ANC’s commitment to eradicating poverty and reducing inequality, aligning with the party’s manifesto goals:

# Cabinet is optimistic about economic growth, citing a 0.6-percent gross domestic product increase in the fourth quarter of last year, with notable growth in the agriculture, finance, and trade sectors. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told the media that economic reforms, better service delivery, and private sector involvement will further stimulate growth this year:

# Rugby: Eighthman Jack Dempsey says Scotland is hell-bent on ruining France’s Six Nations title hopes in Saturday’s final round match in Paris. France is currently on top of the log with 16 points, followed by England on 15 and Ireland on 14. Victory over Scotland should clinch the competition for the French, while Scotland is definitely the underdogs after losing two of their four previous matches. But Dempsey says the Scots are going to the Stade de France to try and upset the hosts’ party.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-999-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-945-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A new four-lane highway cutting through tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest is being built for the COP30 climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belém. It aims to ease traffic to the city, which will host more than 50-thousand people, including world leaders, at the conference in November. The Amazon plays a vital role in absorbing carbon for the world and providing biodiversity, and many say this deforestation contradicts the very purpose of a climate summit.

Stay tuned for more news………….