For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines: Ratings agency pours cold water on Godongwana's budget, South Africa calls for ‘enhanced diplomacy’ in Russia-Ukraine crisis and, 3 118 new Covid infections and six new deaths

Ratings agency pours cold water on Godongwana's budget

Fitch Ratings, one of the big three ratings agencies on which SA depends for its credit rating, has expressed doubt that Treasury has the ability to contain government spending pressures.

Following the tabling of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's maiden budget on Wednesday Fitch noted that even though South Africa’s revenue overrun of R180-billion over the past fiscal year had improved public finances, the country had continued to "breach expenditure ceilings, pointing to difficulties in containing spending".

Fitch also warns that South Africa’s revenue bonanza due to high commodity prices will prove temporary.

In his budget tabled yesterday, Godongwana split the R180-billion revenue, putting 55% towards "urgent spending" priorities and 45% towards reducing future borrowing.

South Africa calls for ‘enhanced diplomacy’ in Russia-Ukraine crisis

The South African government has broken its silence on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, saying it was concerned with the ongoing tension on the Ukraine and Russian border, and called for enhanced diplomacy.

Media reports have confirmed that Russia has begun its attack on the Ukraine moments after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had "decided to conduct a special military operation" to protect eastern Ukraine's Donbas region.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor said if this situation is allowed to deteriorate further, this could have regional and global ramifications.

3 118 new Covid infections and six new deaths

South Africa recorded 3 118 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, representing an 8.7% positivity rate.

As of Wednesday, the country recorded 3 665 149 laboratory-confirmed cases.

There were six new Covid-19-related deaths reported in the last 48 hours, bringing the confirmed death toll to 98 978.

Gauteng recorded 1 114 new cases on Wednesday, the Western Cape 658 and KwaZulu-Natal 463.

There were 86 new hospital admissions in the last 24-hour cycle. As of Wednesday, 3 097 people were in public and private hospitals for Covid-19.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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