News 13:00

BULLETIN 19 May 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa designates minister Gwede Mantashe as acting president
# Diesel prices are poised to hit three-year lows next month
# And rugby: Ardie Savea is the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has designated Mineral and Petroleum Resources minister Gwede Mantashe as acting president until Thursday. Ramaphosa left with a delegation to the US, where he is set to meet president Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to discuss global and bilateral issues. This follows Trump’s claims about land seizures and the mistreatment of Afrikaners, and his offer to resettle them in the US. Deputy president Paul Mashatile is on an official trip to France.

# Diesel prices could drop by up to 94-cents-per-litre next month, potentially reaching their lowest levels in three years. The Central Energy Fund says the anticipated decreases are attributed to declining global oil prices and a strengthening rand, which has appreciated over ten-percent since mid-April. It is expected that diesel prices will reduce between 74- and 94-cents-per-litre, offering significant relief to freight and agricultural sectors. The fund has however warned that fluctuations in oil prices and exchange rates may influence the final adjustment.

# The Ministry of Police has praised the swift action of police and private security in Boksburg, Gauteng, where a group of most-wanted cash-in-transit suspects were fatally shot during a gunfight. Several firearms were recovered. The suspects were linked to violent crimes in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Ministry spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, says Police minister Senzo Mchunu has commended law enforcement who remains resolute in dismantling organised crime:

# The GOOD Party’s detailed assessment of the budget reveals that Capetonians will be asked to cough up nearly ten-percent extra on their monthly bills from the City of Cape Town. The metro’s budget will be voted on at a sitting of the council next Thursday. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says the deadline for public comments on the budget has passed without residents being fully informed of the tariff increases that await them:

# Rugby: Moana Pasifika’s Ardie Savea has won the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year award, as voted for by club captains and coaches. The All Blacks loose forward has made ten appearances for Moana this season, scoring five tries, completing 110 tackles and winning 15 turnovers. Super Rugby Pacific CEO, Jack Mesley, says Savea’s passionate leadership and dominant performances have made an indelible mark on his teammates, his opponents and the competition as a whole.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-3-cents and the euro at 20-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-246-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-236-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….