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Here’s your daily news update for 30 April: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
Picture: iStock / The Citizen / Cheryl Kahla
News today includes Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana confirming that a new national budget will be presented in parliament on 21 May.
Meanwhile, Advocate Dali Mpofu has dismissed the misconduct charges against him as “nonsensical” following the postponement of his disciplinary inquiry before the Legal Practice Council.
Furthermore, Afrikaans TV content sees a decline while state broadcaster SABC struggles to pay for the productions.
Severe thunderstorms and hail are expected across four provinces on Workers’ Day, with warnings for strong winds, dangerous sea conditions along the coast, and icy conditions in the Northern Cape and Western Cape until Friday. Full weather forecast here.
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Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has confirmed that a new national budget will be presented in parliament on 21 May.
The decision to introduce a revised budget comes in the wake of government’s move to abandon the plan by the National Treasury to increase the value-added tax (VAT).
The original proposal aimed to raise VAT by 0.5% starting on 1 May 2025, followed by an additional 0.5% hike in the 2026/2027 financial year.
The plan was intended to bolster government revenue, but it faced significant public and political resistance due to concerns over the potential impact on the cost of living and economic inequality.
CONTINUE READING: Budget 3.0 to be tabled on 21 May — Godongwana confirms
Advocate Dali Mpofu has dismissed the misconduct charges against him as “nonsensical” following the postponement of his disciplinary inquiry before the Legal Practice Council (LPC).
The legal practitioner was scheduled to appear on Wednesday before an independent disciplinary committee at the LPC’s offices in Pretoria.
Mpofu faced seven charges of misconduct, including matters involving former public protector Thuli Madonsela and Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.
Speaking to the media after the postponement, Mpofu described the inquiry as “a mighty waste of our time”.
CONTINUE READING: ‘They should be embarrassed’: Mpofu slams charges as disciplinary hearing postponed
State broadcaster SABC doesn’t seem to have a vendetta against the Afrikaans language – but is so broke it cannot pay for the productions.
One of the Afrikaans shows, Voetspore, could soon face the axe.
Earlier this month, Afrikaners saw red when the SABC failed to broadcast the Afrikaans news on the first weekend of the month due to technical issues.
CONTINUE READING: Afrikaans TV content dwindles amid SABC cash crunch
President Cyril Ramaphosa is establishing a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate attempts to prevent the investigation or prosecution of apartheid-era crimes referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The commission will probe allegations of improper influence in delaying or hindering the investigation and prosecution of crimes referred by the TRC to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“Allegations of improper influence in delaying or hindering the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes have persisted from previous administrations,” the Presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.
CONTINUE READING: Ramaphosa launches commission of inquiry into apartheid-era justice delays
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has made it clear he has no plans to step down, despite mounting pressure and calls for his resignation following the 2025 budget impasse.
Godongwana announced at a media briefing on Wednesday that a third revised budget will be tabled in Parliament on 21 May.
This follows a court ruling that reversed the recently proposed value-added tax (VAT) increase.
CONTINUE READING: 2025 budget: Godongwana refuses to resign as Mbalula warns against another ‘weekend special’
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