News 18:00

BULLETIN 16 March 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gwede Mantashe says South Africa should boost fuel refining amid global oil price surge
# The DA welcomes the Special Investigating Unit’s probe into the 777-million-rand Tshwane water tanker spending
# And, Jacob Zuma’s lawyers seek access to the TRC Inquiry chair’s messages

# The minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, says South Africa must urgently increase fuel refining capacity to shield the economy. This comes amid rising oil prices due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Speaking at the Southern Africa Oil and Gas Conference in Cape Town, Mantashe warned petrol costs could spike next month. He stressed that activating existing refineries, including PetroSA and South African Petroleum Refineries, is key to maintaining fuel availability:

# The DA says the Special Investigating Unit investigation into 777-million-rand spent on water tankers by the City of Tshwane in the 2024/2025 financial year is a step toward exposing alleged corruption linked to a water tanker mafia. The DA’s Cilliers Brink claims companies connected to ANC deputy mayor and mayoral Committee member for Finance Eugene Modise received more than 31-million-rand in contracts despite not owning tankers:

# Former president Jacob Zuma’s legal team is requesting access to emails and WhatsApp messages between Truth and Reconciliation Commission Cases Inquiry chairperson, retired Justice Sisi Khampepe, and chief evidence leader Ishmael Semenya. This comes as the High Court in Johannesburg is hearing Zuma and former president Thabo Mbeki’s review over Kampepe’s refusal to recuse herself alleging bias, conflict of interest, and secret advice to Semenya. The lawyers allege improper intervention in last year’s failed attempt to have Semenya step down.

# The British prime minister Keir Starmer said the UK will not be drawn into a “wider war” over Iran and he is “working with allies” on a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz but insisted it would not be a Nato mission. The prime minister said it is clear the US operation has weakened the military capability of Iran. He said after the conflict there will have to be some agreement limiting Iran’s ability to rebuild their nuclear programme and secure international shipping. Starmer said the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to ensure stability in the markets.

# Rugby: SA Rugby and the CANAL-Plus (ploes) Group reaffirmed their continued partnership with SuperSport. SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer says SuperSport has been at their side for decades, bringing rugby fans all the action, including World Cups, and they are excited to continue this journey. CANAL-Plus’ Director for Sports Content, Rendani Ramovha, says rugby plays an important role in the sports package they deliver to South African audiences, and the partnership with SA Rugby is crucial to delivering the very best in local and international rugby.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-71-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-042-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-23-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-80-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….