News 18:00

BULLETIN 1 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The trade union Solidarity warns municipalities and state-owned enterprises against race-based tenders
# GIWUSA is concerned about the anticipated record-high fuel prices for October
# And, rugby: a challenging weekend lies ahead for the South African teams in the URC

# Trade union Solidarity has warned several state-owned enterprises and municipalities not to use provisions of the now-invalid Public Procurement Act in their tender processes. This follows a Constitutional Court ruling that the act was unlawfully enacted. Solidarity’s Theuns du Buisson says race, gender or disability requirements linked to the invalid act should not be used to exclude businesses from tenders. He added taxpayers’ money should deliver quality services and value for money:

# KPMG lead economist Frank Blackmore says changes in the global economy could create new opportunities for Africa. According to Blackmore, rising demand for artificial intelligence, renewable energy and electric vehicles is increasing the need for Africa’s minerals and energy resources. He says African countries need better infrastructure, reliable electricity, skills and processing facilities to attract more investment. Blackmore added affordable and reliable power will also be important for attracting data centres and technology businesses.

# The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa is warning that further fuel price hikes will deepen pressure on already struggling households. Month-end data from the Central Energy Fund shows that South Africa faces the highest petrol prices on record next week, with under-recoveries projected to push prices over 30-rand-per litre. GIWUSA president Mametlwe Sebei blames rising global oil prices, a volatile rand and domestic fuel levies:

# Bangladesh is warning that its dengue outbreak could worsen after September became the deadliest month for the disease this year. At least 148 people died from dengue last month, taking the year’s death toll to 245, with nearly 80-thousand patients admitted to hospital. Experts say recent rainfall and changing weather patterns could prolong transmission through October, as the mosquito-borne disease spreads beyond major cities into rural areas. The outbreak is also putting pressure on hospitals already dealing with a nationwide measles outbreak that has killed more than one-thousand-100 children.

# Rugby: The four South African teams in the United Rugby Championship plan to build on their good start to the season. The Stormers, the Bulls, the Lions and the Sharks all celebrated victories in the first round, but a challenging weekend lies ahead. The Stormers play Edinburgh in Scotland, the Lions face Ospreys in Johannesburg, the Sharks take on defending champion Leinster in Durban, and the Bulls play Munster in Ireland. The Bulls, the Sharks and the Stormers top the log, with the Lions in seventh place.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-67-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-3-cent and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-893-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-166-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 104-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….