Daily news update: Repo rate, new Ekurhuleni mayor and Spurs deal off

Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.

Daily news update: 31 March

Shock as repo rate hiked by 50 basis points – prime rate highest in 13 years

Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, confirmed on Thursday that the repo rate would be hiked by 50 basis points, with effect from 31 March 2023.

This brings the rate to 7.75%. In January, the repo rate was hiked by 25 basis points to 7.25%. The prime lending rate, which is the rate at which banks lend money to consumers, increases to 11.25%.

READ MORE: Shock as repo rate hiked by 50 basis points – prime rate highest in 13 years

AIC councillor Sivuyile Ngodwana elected new Ekurhuleni mayor

African Independent Congress councillor Sivuyile Ngodwana has been elected new mayor of Ekurhuleni metro.

Ngodwana was going up against the Democratic Alliance’s Tania Campbell, who was voted out earlier in the day.

READ MORE: AIC councillor Sivuyile Ngodwana elected new Ekurhuleni mayor

SA Tourism-Spurs deal officially canned

The proposed sponsorship deal between SA Tourism and Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur will not proceed, Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille confirmed on Thursday.

The official confirmation comes nearly a week after De Lille “advised” SA Tourism board to stop the deal because it was unlawful and invalid.

READ MORE: SA Tourism-Spurs deal officially canned

Lawyer slams police for ‘unlawful arrest’ of AKA murder suspects

The lawyer representing four men who were arrested in connection with murders of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane has denied their involvement in the crime and slammed police for their unlawful arrest.

Over the weekend reports emerged that men had been apprehended in connection with the murders of the rapper and his friend.

READ MORE: Lawyer slams police for ‘unlawful arrest’ of AKA murder suspects

Celebrities who have visited Dr Nandipha’s clinic

Celebrity aesthetics doctor Nandipha Magudumana has been in the news for all the wrong reasons the past few weeks as it appears she has been implicated in the Thabo Bester “Facebook rapist” saga. 

Dr Nandipha as she is popularly known is a name that first started doing the rounds on the news after her brother Nkosinathi Sekeleni exposed her relationship with Bester on Facebook. 

READ MORE: Celebrities who have visited Dr Nandipha’s clinic

Spurs managing director Paratici handed worldwide FIFA ban

Tottenham managing director of football Fabio Paratici has been given a worldwide ban by FIFA that could end his time with the north London club.

ALSO READ: Conte thanks fans who shared his ‘passion’ after Tottenham exit

Paratici was handed a 30-month ban from Italian football in January after his former club Juventus were found guilty of false accounting.

READ MORE: Spurs managing director Paratici handed worldwide FIFA ban