News 14:00

BULLETIN 4 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Huge fuel price increases are confirmed as from Wednesday
# The Madlanga commission is delayed by a technical glitch
# And former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is hospitalised in a critical condition

# More pain awaits South Africans at the fuel pumps from Wednesday. Minister of Mineral and Petroleum resources, Gwede Mantashe, announced huge increases at midnight tomorrow, driven by higher global oil prices, supply disruptions, and geopolitical tensions affecting crude oil markets. Petrol prices will rise by three-rand-27-cents per litre and diesel by six-rand-19-cents per litre. Illuminating paraffin and LPG gas will also see significant increases. Mantashe says despite fuel levy relief measures, international cost pressures continue to drive up local fuel prices.

# The Madlanga commission’s proceedings have been delayed due to technical issues. A crime intelligence official handling informants, Witness G, is to testify partly in camera. The witness’s lawyer, Tshepo Matlala, previously warned revealing his client’s identity could endanger lives. The commission says certain portions of the two-day testimony may be heard entirely in private and not released publicly. Today marks 100 days of testimonies before the commission probing corruption and political interference in the justice system.

# The president of the Township Economic Commission of South Africa, Bheki Twala, says violent crime continues to affect spaza shop owners. He responded to the kidnapping of Gauteng spaza shop owner Mazwi Kubheka, who had been reported missing for almost a month. Twala told SABC News small township businesses often operate under constant threat, yet cases are rarely formally recorded. He warns this underreporting masks the true scale of the problem:

Moving abroad:

#  Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is in a critical but stable condition in hospital. The 81-year-old garnered acclaim for ​his response to the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the city, earning the nickname “America’s Mayor.” Giuliani ‌worked ⁠as an attorney for president Donald Trump in his failed efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. That led to criminal ​charges against ​Giuliani in ⁠two US states and a defamation lawsuit from election workers. He has denied ​wrongdoing in the criminal cases.

# Soccer: Manchester United’s interim manager, Michael Carrick, refuses to be drawn on whether he will secure the job permanently, saying all he is focused on is finishing the season strong. The Red Devils defeated Liverpool 3-2 in the Premier League at Old Trafford yesterday to secure a Champions League spot for next season after a two-year absence. Carrick says the players and the coaching staff deserve a lot of credit:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-73-cents and the euro at 19-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-64-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-717-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-541-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 111-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….