News 06:00

BULLETIN 3 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Middle East conflict threatens fuel prices in November
# Another former EFF MP joins the MK Party
# And rugby: Deon Fourie hopes to return to the Stormers next month

# South Africa’s fuel prices hit their lowest since February 2022 yesterday, however, tensions in the Middle East could reverse this trend. Brent Crude oil prices surged by over six-percent after Iran fired missiles at Israel, raising fears of a disrupted oil supply. With crude prices now above one-thousand-200-rand per barrel, analysts warn of potential fuel price increases in November if tensions escalate, affecting the global oil market and South African motorists.

Meanwhile, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, says his country’s missile strike was a necessity and a proportionate response to Israel’s continuous aggressive terrorist acts of the past two months. Iran launched high-speed missile barrages at Israel on Tuesday night, Tehran’s largest-ever attack on its regional foe. Iravani told the UN Security Council that the only way to prevent further escalation is for Israel to immediately cease its war on Gaza and its attacks on Lebanon:

# The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development says ActionSA laying criminal charges against minister Thembi Simelane is an appropriate route, whenever there are suspicions of unlawful conduct. The party laid criminal charges against Simelane for alleged violations of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and forgery. This is in connection with the minister allegedly receiving a 575-thouand-600-rand loan from Gundo Wealth Solutions, linked to unlawful investments in VBS Mutual Bank. The department says an investigation will allow the matter to finally reach its logical conclusion.

# Former EFF member of Parliament and human rights activist Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala has officially joined the MK Party. She announced her decision during an interview with fellow activist Ntsiki Mazwai on the Moya podcast. The former ANC uMkhonto we Sizwe operative and South African Navy’s first female rear admiral expressed concerns over the current direction of parliament and the government’s policies: 

# The DA has criticised the Gauteng Education Department for spending over 192-million-rand annually on rent for ten district offices, despite significant budget reductions. DA spokesperson Michael Waters says Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed that the department spends 16-million-rand monthly on rentals. Waters highlighted this expenditure occurs while the department cuts funding for school transport and feeding schemes to save approximately three-thousand-400 teaching jobs. He says the DA is advocating for the utilisation of state-owned properties to reduce costs.

# Rugby: The Stormers’ Springbok flanker, Deon Fourie hopes to return from a long-term injury next month. The 38-year-old sustained a knee injury nine months ago. He was a huge part of the Boks’ World Cup title campaign in France last year when he was utilised as an emergency hooker. Fourie’s goal is to be ready for the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship clash with the Sharks at the end of next month, but says he first has to make sure he is 100-percent fit.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-33-cents and the euro at 19-rand-16-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-1-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-666-dollars-42-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-660-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….