For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa to host Ukraine’s Zelenskyy following call with Putin; ANC welcomes investigation into Mashatile shooting incident; And, inflation eases to an almost five-year low

Ramaphosa to host Ukraine’s Zelenskyy following call with Putin

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his first official visit to South Africa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

This comes after Ramaphosa spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, where both Presidents affirmed strong bilateral relations, as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues.

Zelenskyy’s visit follows Ramaphosa’s 2023 visit to Ukraine, as part of the Africa Peace Initiative to Ukraine.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the visits provides South Africa and Ukraine with an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and expand bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture and education.

ANC welcomes investigation into Mashatile shooting incident

The African National Congress has been given assurances by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola that the incident involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s convoy is under active investigation by a high-level team, with a completed ballistics report and ongoing threat assessments by Crime Intelligence.

Mashatile’s official vehicle was shot at, returning from an ANC NEC meeting in Boksburg, over three weeks ago.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the high-level investigation affirmed the “seriousness” with which the country’s security agencies protect the national executive and safeguard democratic institutions.

She said the ANC was further reassured by confirmation that President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mashatile’s security had received necessary reinforcements under the Presidential Protection Service.

And, inflation eases to an almost five-year low

South African inflation slowed to an almost five-year low in March, taking it below the floor of the central bank’s target range.

The consumer price index rose 2.7% last month from a year earlier versus 3.2% in February, Statistics South Africa said today.

Policymakers, who aim to anchor inflation expectations around the midpoint of their 3% to 6% target range, will likely remain cautious because of the impact US President Donald Trump’s trade war may have on inflation and the rand.

Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago last week warned that confidence in the global economy has been dimmed by trade tensions and South Africa would not escape from the fallout.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA