News 13:00

BULLETIN 26 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government forms a committee to look into the possibility of a fuel levy cut
# Minister Manamela directs the NSFAS board to audit all accredited private accommodation providers
# And soccer: FIFA’s vice president says concerns about the World Cup are exaggerated

# Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, says cabinet has set up a committee to investigate whether the fuel levy would need to be cut, to ease fuel price risks. This is due to the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has resulted in a spike in fuel prices. According to the Central Energy Fund, South Africans will see the petrol price rise by five-rand-41-cents a litre and diesel by eight-rand-84-cents a litre from the 1st of April. Godongwana says fuel levy decisions remain his prerogative.

# Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela,  has directed the National Student Financial Aid Scheme board to audit all accredited private accommodation providers and suspend any provider found in breach of contract standards. This follows the release of a report by the Auditor General, which has documented accommodation conditions that are unsafe, undignified and in direct breach of the contracts that service providers signed with NSFAS. The ministry’s spokesperson, Matshepo Seedat, says some students are being housed in areas near taverns:

# Deputy minister of Defence and Military Veterans and UDM leader, Bantu Holomisa, says the fire that gutted the historic Botha Sigcau building in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, points to neglect of state facilities. The 11-storey building housed several departments, including health, education, social development, and transport. Holomisa says government must ensure that essential services previously provided at the building continue without disruption, while also carrying out a full investigation into the cause of the fire and accountability where necessary:

# The Australian government is temporarily stopping Iranians from entering the country on tourist visas, saying it is acting in the national interest amid rapidly changing global conditions. This will block more than seven-thousand people already granted Iranian visitor visas from entering the country. The arrival control determination will remain in place for six months. Home Affairs minister Tony Burke says some Iranians will still be able to travel to Australia, including those on longer-term visas or those with children or spouses in the country:

# Soccer: FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani says widespread political and security concerns surrounding the upcoming World Cup are nothing new, and will be forgotten once the first ball is kicked. The soccer tournament is set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and the buildup has been complicated by the war in the Middle East, including president Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Montagliani told a Business of Soccer conference in Atlanta that the reality of World Cups is that there have always been geopolitical issues.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-3-cents and the euro at 19-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-907-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-429-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….