News 16:00

BULLETIN 6 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Bad news for motorists on the fuel prices
# Rise Mzansi’s Gauteng premier candidate vows to address key issues
# And Cricket: Australia trashes the Windies to claim the O-D-I series 3-nill

# Petrol and diesel prices will increase from midnight. The follows steep price cuts in recent months. Unleaded petrol of both grades will rise by 75-cents a litre. The wholesale price of diesel will increase by between 70- and 73-cents. The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin will be hiked by 53-cents a litre and the maximum retail price for LP gas is going up by 37-cents per kilo. South African fuel prices are largely determined by international oil costs and the rand exchange rate, as oil is priced in dollars.

# Rise Mzansi’s national chairperson Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, has officially declared her candidacy for the position of Gauteng premier in the upcoming elections. Launching her campaign at Braamfontein’s Joubert Park, Ramokgopa highlighted her deep ties to the province while expressing grave concerns about its current state. Her campaign focuses on responsible spending, for improved municipal services, anti-corruption measures, revitalising education, healthcare, and spatial planning to create a prosperous and equal Gauteng:

# The Western Cape Department of Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning, is actively coordinating and planning essential services in response to a prolonged electricity outage in parts of the Central Karoo. The department’s MEC Anton Bredell, says that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre is focusing on ensuring the provision of critical services, including drinking water and wastewater systems, in the affected communities. Bredell says that they are committed to maintaining functioning public services, such as hospitals and schools, during this outage period:

# Cricket: Australia completed a whitewash in the one-day series against the Windies by beating the visitors by eight wickets in the third match in Canberra. The Windies were bowled out for just 86 in their 25th over. Xavier Bartlett took four wickets, while Alick Athanaze’s 32 was the highest score. Australia then reached the target within seven overs with just two wickets down. The two teams will now turn to T20s, with the first of the three encounters taking place in Hobart on Friday.  

# And finally: Kenyan president William Ruto has announced that all flags in the country will fly at half-mast to honour the late Namibian president, Hage Geingob, who passed away on Sunday. Ruto described the 82-year-old as a believer in a unified Africa and a strong advocate for the continent’s voice and visibility on the global stage. Ruto praised Geingob as a visionary leader. Former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta says Geingob was a man of wisdom and knowledge who led with humility and grace.

Stay tuned for more news………….