News 15:00

BULLETIN 7 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government directs regional coordination to secure fuel and fertiliser supply stability
# Cabinet condemns fake xenophobia videos
# And rugby: The Baby Boks will secure a maiden Under-20 championship with a victory over the Baby Blacks on Saturday

# Government has directed regional coordination through the Southern African Development Community to secure supply stability of fuel and fertiliser. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says government is intervening to reduce fuel prices amid global tensions linked to the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict. She says cabinet has approved a 17.2-billion-rand fuel subsidy announced by Finance minister Enoch Godongwana, to be implemented from April to June:

Cabinet has also condemned fake videos and images falsely showing attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. Ntshavheni says the misinformation damages the country’s reputation and fuels instability. She says while citizens may protest illegal immigration, violence and tribal mobilisation will not be tolerated. Ntshavheni emphasises authorities are strengthening border management, while municipalities have been instructed to enforce trading bylaws:

# The Public Servants Association of South Africa says the placing of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme under administration reflects a profound failure of governance and oversight. Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, made the decision following persistent governance, financial, and operational failures. PSA’s Claude Naicker says they have consistently raised concerns about the deepening crisis at NS-FAS and the devastating impact on students and employees:

# A report by the Business Council for Africa says most African countries are not yet capable of sustaining industrial growth. According to the report, only South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Mauritius currently meet the requirements for long-term industrialisation. The report highlights electricity, transport, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and strong financial institutions as key drivers. Meanwhile, corruption and security instability remain major obstacles to economic development across the continent.

# Rugby: Victory over two-time defending champion New Zealand on Saturday will hand the Junior Springboks their maiden title in the Under-20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. The Baby Boks comprehensively defeated Argentina and Australia earlier, while the Baby Blacks beat the young Wallabies but lost to Los Pumitas. There was some confusion earlier that South Africa had already secured the title, but SA Rugby confirmed there was still a slim chance they could be overtaken. Argentina and Australia face off in Saturday’s other encounter.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-30-cents and the euro at 19-rand-18-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-892-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-730-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 96-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….