Top 10 stories of the day: Ramaphosa unwell | Absa fined R10m | Court orders VAT scrapping

In today’s news update, as the country marks 31 years of freedom, President Cyril Ramaphosa will get some rest as he battles the flu.

Meanwhile, the National Treasury has been dealt another blow after the Western Cape High Court ordered the scrapping of the 0.5% VAT increase until Parliament passes legislation making Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to reverse the VAT hike an act of Parliament.

Furthermore, the Prudential Authority of the South African Reserve Bank has imposed administrative sanctions totaling R10 million on Absa for not complying with the provisions of FICA that require banks to conduct customer due diligence.

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News Today: 27 April 2025

Freedom Day: Ramaphosa not feeling well as country marks 31 years of freedom

As the country marks 31 years of freedom, President Cyril Ramaphosa will get some rest as he battles the flu.

Ramaphosa was expected to deliver the keynote address at the national Freedom Day celebration at the AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, on Sunday under the theme “United in Resilience for the Defence of Our Freedom and Democracy”.

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Western Cape High Court orders scrapping of the 0.5% VAT increase

National Treasury has been dealt another blow after the Western Cape High Court ordered the scrapping of the 0.5% VAT increase until Parliament passes legislation making Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to reverse the VAT hike an act of Parliament.

The court made the order on Sunday in the DA and EFF’s court challenge to have the VAT rate adjustment set aside.

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Prudential authority fines Absa R10 million for FICA non-compliance

The Prudential Authority of the South African Reserve Bank has imposed administrative sanctions totaling R10 million on Absa for not complying with the provisions of FICA that require banks to conduct customer due diligence.

According to a statement issues by the Prudential Authority, which regulates banks and insurance companies, it is mandated to supervise and enforce compliance by accountable institutions with the provisions of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) or any order, determination or directive made in terms thereof.

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EFF challenges budget process, calls for reset and VAT clarity

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) filed supplementary court papers in the Western Cape High Court on Saturday to intervene in the legal challenge regarding Parliament’s adopted fiscal framework and revenue proposals.

The political party is taking a stand to defend constitutional principles and protect South Africans from what they consider an unjust VAT increase.

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Ramaphosa to meet Trump face-to-face to resolve diplomatic fallout

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet face-to-face with US President Donald Trump to discuss the diplomatic fallout between the two countries.

A phone call this week between Ramaphosa and Trump appeared to have made strides towards resolving the simmering tensions between the US and South Africa.

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Here are five more stories of the day:

• Two Lesotho shepherds killed in violent stock theft incident in Free State
• Roblox Exposed: Risks to children playing Roblox concerning
• Zam Buk: The winter go-to
• Freedom Day: ‘SA a free and sovereign country, not a province of US,’ Mantashe says [VIDEOS]
• Conservative approach pays off for Lions, says team leadership

Yesterday’s News recap

READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: Missing police | Tanzania lifts agriculture ban | Mudslide survivor