News 14:00

BULLETIN 30 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Significant petrol and diesel price cuts are announced for Wednesday
# Minister Leon Schreiber launches a five-year vision for digital Home Affairs
# And soccer: The Sports minister calls for the implementation of video assistant referees in South Africa

# South Africans will see fuel prices drop significantly on Wednesday. The price of 95 unleaded petrol will be reduced by 1-rand-14-cents per litre, and 93 octane petrol by 1-rand-6-cents per litre. Diesel prices will fall by up to 1-rand -14-cents per litre, while illuminating paraffin drops by 1-rand-11-cents per litre. However, liquefied petroleum gas prices will rise by 23-cents per kilogramme. These reductions bring fuel costs to pre-Ukraine invasion levels, driven by falling Brent oil prices and a stronger rand.

# Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber has unveiled a five-year strategy called ‘Home Affairs at home,’ aiming to digitise the department’s services by 2029. The initiative will allow citizens to access services like ID and passport applications online, eliminating the need for in-person visits and enhancing efficiency and security. Schreiber emphasises that digital transformation is key for economic growth and user-friendly services:

Meanwhile, Business Leadership South Africa says the government of national unity has helped embed a sense of optimism that meaningful economic reform is possible. Today marks 100 days since the establishment of the coalition government. BLSA CEO Busiswe Mavuso says from a business perspective, the changes that have made the most difference, are the rapid improvements in the performance of the Home Affairs Department. She says it would be highly damaging if the government of national unity fell apart, reversing the tentative confidence that has begun to take hold.

# Soccer: Sports minister Gayton McKenzie has called for the implementation of video assistant referee technology in South African matches. He made the plea on Facebook and emphasised the need for VAR to assist referees by reviewing decisions through video footage and providing guidance. McKenzie plans to hold meetings with the South African Soccder Association and the South African Premiership this week to discuss introducing VAR in leagues.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-17-cents and the euro at 19-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-491-dollars-52-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-647-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Former South African first lady Graça Machel has welcomed former minister Naledi Pandor as the new chairperson of the board of trustees of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Machel extended best wishes to outgoing chairperson Njabulo Ndebele, who served for 25 years. Pandor is the third person to hold the position since the foundation’s establishment. Machel expressed full confidence in Pandor’s leadership:

Stay tuned for more news………….