News 18:00

BULLETIN 15 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls for an overhaul of local government to fix the ongoing service delivery crisis 
# Diesel prices are expected to drop in June, but petrol is likely to rise again
# And, Rugby: SARU denies minister Gayton McKenzie’s dream of hosting another World Cup in South Africa 

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a major overhaul of local government to address South Africa’s ongoing service delivery crisis. Speaking during the National Council of Provinces’ programme of taking parliament to the people in North West, Ramaphosa said municipalities are central to delivering basic services and driving development. He warned that poor governance, corruption and weak administration are undermining communities:

# According to mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund, diesel prices are expected to drop in June, offering relief to farmers, logistics companies and motorists. Petrol prices are likely to rise by between 13-cents and 19-cents per litre, while diesel could fall by between three-rand-52-cents and four-rand-41-cents per litre. Final fuel price adjustments will be announced at the end of this month, depending on global oil prices, exchange rates and local fuel levies.

# Madlanga Commissions evidence leader, advocate Adila Hassim has urged the Madlanga Commission to refer North West businessman Brown Mogotsi for investigations for contraventions of the Commission’s Act and regulations. Making argument against the recusal of evidence leader Michael Charlkalson, Hassim said Mogotsi presented a materially incomplete WhatsApp record and admitted deleting key material from it. Hassim told the commission this raises concerns of possible perjury and forgery. She argued Mogotsi has misled the commission:

# Africa’s top health agency has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said around 246 cases and 65 deaths have been reported, mainly in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara. The centre is convening a meeting neighbouring countries and other international partners to discuss response efforts and cross-border surveillance. The viral disease was first discovered in 1976 and is thought to have spread from bats. There is no proven cure for Ebola and the average fatality rate is around 50-percent.

# Rugby: The local governing body says there are no plans to bid for 2035’s World Cup, despite the comments from minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie. He said this week he wouldn’t rest after South Africa hosts the tournament again after the Springboks won the home tournament in 1995. But SA Rugby’s president, Mark Alexander, and CEO Rian Oberholzer say it’s financially unfeasible for World Rugby to bring the tournament to South Africa because the international governing body can gain much more financially in Europe from its biggest money-spinner.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-67-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-25-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-957-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-535-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 105-dollars-22cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….