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Daily Maverick

As the 2 April deadline to pass the budget nears, the ANC struggles to secure coalition support. Opposition parties, including the DA, reject the budget due to a VAT increase. ANC leaders meet with various parties to gain support. Without the DA’s backing, ANC seeks opposition help to pass the budget by 1 May. DA states negotiations ongoing, will not support current budget form.
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BusinessTech

South Africa’s economy is expected to grow by 2.1% in 2025, surpassing central bank forecasts, due to increased spending and investment. Analysts at Absa are optimistic about the outlook, citing milder inflation and lower borrowing costs. However, concerns about strained relations with the US could impact growth prospects.
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CNN

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared highly classified information in a Signal chat with top Trump officials before an operation began. The updates included real-time details of the operation, breaching operational security. President Trump’s team downplayed the sensitivity of the information shared, but the text messages revealed specific details of the attack.
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Daily Maverick

South Africa’s porous borders are exploited by criminal networks due to corruption within the Border Management Authority and Department of Home Affairs. A new Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum has been launched to combat this issue. The forum aims to enforce accountability and reform systems to address corruption.
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Daily Maverick

President Trump has nominated conservative writer Leo Brent Bozell III as the next US ambassador to South Africa. The nomination surprised some, as Joel Pollak was expected. Bozell founded the Media Research Center in 1987 to identify liberal media bias. The MRC also established CNSNews. Bozell’s syndicated columns and CyberAlert newsletter are published on the MRC website.
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EWN

President Cyril Ramaphosa asserts his sole responsibility in appointing the new US ambassador, amid calls from the Democratic Alliance for consultation with Government of National Unity partners. South Africa is currently without an ambassador in Washington after Ebrahim Rasool’s expulsion. Ramaphosa emphasizes the need for a suitable replacement due to the US being a key trading partner.
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Daily Maverick

Eskom’s new residential electricity tariffs, effective April 1, will see an average 12.74% price increase for the 2025/26 financial year. Some customers may face higher or lower increases, while others could see reductions in their monthly bills. The tariffs include Homelight, Homepower, and Homeflex options, catering to different customer needs and consumption levels.
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EWN

Efforts are underway to save ArcelorMittal SA’s long steel business and 3,500 jobs. Discussions with Parks Tau and potential funding from the IDC to cover salaries for a year. Government may review steel tariffs to protect the industry. Concerns raised about pressure on ITAC and potential WTO violations.
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CNN

China’s maritime innovations, including massive barges and new cable-cutting technology, raise concerns about a potential invasion of Taiwan. The tools showcase China’s military and technological advancements amid escalating tensions with Taiwan. Meanwhile, Taiwan is anxious about US President Trump’s foreign policy shifts, as China displays its military capabilities near the island.
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