News 15:00

BULLETIN 31 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fuel prices will rise sharply again on Wednesday
# Cellphone operators oppose the no-expiry data rule and head to court
# And rugby: Rassie changes his front row for the third Test against the All Blacks

# South African motorists are facing more huge fuel price increases on Wednesday, with petrol and diesel prices rising sharply. Petrol prices will increase by around one-rand-34-cents-per-litre, while diesel prices will increase by between two-rand-93- and three-rand-14-cents-per-litre. The increases are being driven by higher international oil prices and a weaker rand. The latest hikes will add further pressure to household budgets and transport costs.

# Eskom has reported a second consecutive profitable year, with profit after tax more than doubling from 14-billion-rand last year to 30.3-billion-rand this year. CEO Dan Marokane says improved power-station availability, cost discipline and reduced diesel use supported the turnaround. Eskom’s cost optimisation programme delivered 22.4-billion rand in savings and revenue. Marokane emphasises profits will support increased investment in generation and infrastructure. He highlights municipal debt and electricity theft as concerns:

# Cell-C says the end of the expiration of mobile date will slow its revenue growth, as consumers will buy less data. From January next year, unused mobile data will no longer expire, described as a major victory for consumers. The new rule means customers can carry over data indefinitely, ending the “use it or lose it” system. Vodacom and MTN are taking the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa to court to challenge the regulation, arguing it will hurt investment and sustainability in the sector.

# The DA in Gauteng accuses premier Panyaza Lesufi of failing to act against officials implicated in corruption, allowing their redeployment. The DA’s Solly Msimanga demands Lesufi blacklist them on the national register. He says ex-Gauteng Health hea of department Arnold Malotana, implicated in the Tembisa Hospital scandal and Special Investigating Unit probes, was appointed Joburg HOD for Public Safety:

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made minimal changes to his starting team for Saturday’s third Test against the All Blacks at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium. The front row of Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw return while Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit move to the bench. Cheslin Kolbe moves to fullback in place of injured Damian Willemse, and Kurt-Lee Arendse will start on the wing. Erasmus expects New Zealand to come out firing after South Africa squared the series in Cape Town on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-11-cents and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-385-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-455-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-28-cents a barrel

Stay tuned for more news………….