News 16:00

BULLETIN 21 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Sin taxes are increased by more than inflation 
# The National Assembly will proceed with consideration of Judge Hlophe’s dismissal
# And Rugby: The Boks face Wales at Twickenham in June

# We take a look at the Budget speech where Finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced excise duties for alcohol products will see above inflation increases of between 6.7- and 7.2-percent for 2024/25. This means:
 A can of beer increases by 14 cents;
 A can of a cider and alcoholic fruit beverage goes up by 14 cents;
 A bottle of wine will cost an extra 28 cents;
 A bottle of fortified wine will cost an extra 47 cents;
 A bottle of sparkling wine will cost an extra 89 cents; and
 A bottle of spirits, including whisky, gin or vodka, increases by 5-rand-53-cents.
Excise duties for tobacco will increase by 4.7-percent for cigarettes and cigarette tobacco, and by 8.2-per-cent for pipe tobacco and cigars. This translates to a 97-cents increase on a pack of cigarettes.

Meanwhile, Godongwana announced that the carbon fuel levy will increase to 11-cents per litre for petrol and 14-cents per litre for diesel from 3 April. A discussion paper outlining proposals for the second phase of the carbon tax will be published for public comment later in the year. Godongwana says government is mindful of the already high cost of living and the impact fuel prices have on food and transport costs. This is the reason the general fuel levy will not be increased this year.

# Parliament says it will proceed with considering the reports on both suspended Western Cape Judge-president John Hlophe and retired Judge Nkola Motata, who were found guilty of gross misconduct by the Judicial Service Commission. This comes after the High Court in Cape Town rejected Hlophe’s urgent petition to halt the vote on his removal pending his Constitutional Court application. The court ruled Hlophe’s application did not meet the requirements of an urgent interdict. Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says Parliament will oppose Hlophe’s ConCourt application and file its answering affidavit:

# The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union is urging the Department of Correctional Services to fast-track the process of terminating the contract with G-4-S Security at Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, Free State. The facility became popular in May 2022 when convicted Facebook rapist and murderer Thabo Bester made a daring escape. Popcru’s spokesperson, Richard Mamabolo, says the department had to extend the contract by three months:

# Rugby: The Springboks will return to the field for the first time since last year’s World Cup final when they face Wales at the iconic Twickenham in London in a blockbuster match on 22 June. The match in London for the Qatar Airways Cup will serve as the ideal preparation for the series against Ireland, which starts two weeks later. The match will mark a repeat of the Boks’ 2015 World Cup quarter-final at Twickenham, which South Africa won 23-19.

Stay tuned for more news………….