News 17:00

BULLETIN 10 September 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Data points to more fuel price pain in October
# South Africa’s mining production plunges by 7.5-percent in July
# And tennis: The top four seeds will battle it out for a place in the US Open women’s final

# Current Central Energy Fund data points to huge fuel price increases next month, which could send petrol prices to an all-time high and diesel prices close to the record high reached in May. At this stage, petrol prices can go up about two-rand-five-cents on 7 October, and diesel prices between one-rand-65- and one-rand-98-cents per litre. This is ascribed to the price of crude oil, with Brent reaching over 100-dollar per barrel yesterday for the first time since late July due to the escalating Middle Eastern conflict.

# Statistics South Africa says mining production fell by 7.5-percent year-on-year in July, mainly due to declines in platinum group metals, coal and iron ore. Mineral sales also dropped by 5.6-percent, with gold sales plunging by more than 33-percent. Stats SA’s Juan-Pierre Terblanche says on a monthly basis, seasonally adjusted mineral sales fell by 15.1-percent, while mining production declined by 1.9-percent compared with June:

# The City of Johannesburg has issued an urgent public warning to residents and property owners following an escalation in sophisticated fraudulent schemes targeting municipal account holders. Scammers impersonating City, Johannesburg Water, and City Power officials or contractors are approaching residents through fake emails, SMSs, telephone calls and door-to-door visits. The city’s spokesperson, Poppy Louw says criminals are physically visiting private properties, presenting forged job cards and threatening immediate service disconnections:

# At least 20 people have died in a fire that broke out on a cargo ship in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao. The blaze started mid-morning and was brought under control several hours later. State media says the vessel was carrying cargo when the fire began, and several people were trapped on board. Emergency teams rescued some crew members, while an investigation into the cause of the fire is under way. Authorities have not yet released the nationalities of the victims.

# Tennis: The US Open women’s semifinals will see the top four seeds compete for a spot in the final. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who is bidding for a third straight title at Flushing Meadows, will face American ‌Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka denied Pegula the title in 2024. The new world number one, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, will face former champion, American Coco Gauff. This is the first time since Wimbledon in ​2009 that all four top seeds at a Grand Slam have reached the semifinals.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-18-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-942-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-349-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….