For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: DA says it will oppose any plan to increase taxes; Ramaphosa highlights strides made with infrastructure development, commits to more; And, UN seeks $6-billion to ease suffering in Sudan

DA says it will oppose any plan to increase taxes

The Democratic Alliance said it would oppose any tax increases after local media reported that the finance ministry was considering extra levies.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana may be considering raising value-added, personal-income and corporate taxes to offset a revenue shortfall and support the government’s efforts to stabilise its debt, the Sunday Times reported.

It said the Treasury declined to comment as it’s in closed period before Godongwana presents his annual budget on Wednesday.

The South African Communist Party has condemned and rejected the upcoming Budget if it entails an increase in value-added tax, and is instead calling for the budget to facilitate large-scale employment creation through broad-based industrialisation.

Ramaphosa highlights strides made with infrastructure development, commits to more

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s infrastructure build programme will play an increasingly prominent role as government continues to advance structural reforms in the country for an improved business operating environment.

He acknowledges that, to achieve the levels of growth that the country needs to create enough jobs for its people, far more construction and more reliable and consistent infrastructure maintenance is necessary.

Infrastructure development has, therefore, become a strategic priority for government, Ramaphosa states, adding that these developments often have multiplier effects driving productivity and job creation as well as improving basic service delivery.

The construction sector is a major source of employment. It accounted for the largest job increases between the second and third quarters of last year.

And, UN seeks $6-billion to ease suffering in Sudan

The United Nations said it is seeking $6-billion for Sudan this year from international donors to help ease suffering in what it called one of the most devastating crises of our times, characterised by mass displacement and growing famine.

The UN appeal represents a rise of more than 40% from last year's for Sudan at a time when aid budgets around the world are under increasing strain, partly due to a pause in funding announced by US President Donald Trump last month that has affected life-saving programs across the globe.

But the UN says the funds are necessary because the impact of the 22-month war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces - that has already displaced a fifth of its population and stoked severe hunger among around half its population - looks set to worsen.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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