News 13:00

BULLETIN 22 June 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Central Energy Fund’s data points to strong fuel price relief in July
# TLU SA says replacing the Agriculture minister will not resolve the foot-and-mouth disease crisis
# And rugby: Ardie Savea is the new All Blacks captain

# South Africans can expect huge relief at the fuel pumps early next month. The Central Energy Fund’s latest data shows a strong over-recovery in petrol and diesel prices. Petrol prices are currently over-recovered by 2.94-rand per litre, while diesel prices range between 4.57- and 4.97-rand per litre. Analysts say this points to notable fuel price cuts in July, subject to levy adjustments. This follows after the country was heavily affected by global conflict, with punishing fuel prices weighing on businesses, motorists, airlines, and the taxi industry.

# ActionSA’s leader, Herman Mashaba, says government must stop treating South Africans like criminals around illegal migration. This is amid anti-illegal immigrant groups advocating for stronger immigration enforcement and the protection of opportunities for South African citizens. ActionSA’s spokesperson, Omogolo Taunyane, says the demand for the enforcement of immigration laws is not extremism, hatred or xenophobia, but a legitimate public policy concern in every functioning democracy:

# Agricultural organisation TLU SA says replacing minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, will not resolve the foot-and-mouth crisis. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has asked president Cyril Ramaphosa to replace Steenhuisen with the current minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp. TLU SA’s president, Bennie van Zyl, says what is needed is for government to change its centralised vaccination and procurement policies, and allow the private sector to take over the crisis:

# Rugby: Ardie Savea has been named new All Blacks captain ahead of next month’s Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland. He replaces Scott Barrett, who has a long-term injury. Coach Dave Rennie has selected a 34-strong squad which includes four uncapped players – Xavier Numia, Josh Moorby, Fehi Fineanganofo and Anton Segner. Savea says being captain is about empowering everyone in the group to be the best they can be:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 18-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-51-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-202-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Unilever has been ordered to alter the packaging of its Sunlight Platinum dishwashing liquid after the Advertising Regulatory Board found its marketing claims to be misleading. The front label prominently advertised a “100-percent plant-based active” formulation. A consumer complaint however revealed the back label says “other non-plant-based actives are included” in small print. The company argued the front label specifically referred to a 100-percent natural active surfactant, rhamnolipid. The board ruled an average consumer would reasonably assume the entire product, or its entire active base, was 100-percent plant-based. 

Stay tuned for more news………….