News 07:00

BULLETIN 3 September 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum demands an independent audit of the fuel price and levy
# The ANC’s Malusi Gigaba is removed as Parliament’s Defence committee co-chairperson
# And rugby: Lienert-Brown says the super-fit All Blacks can outclass the Boks in Johannesburg

# AfriForum has written to minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, demanding an independent audit of the fuel price and levy, including the general fuel, carbon and Road Accident Fund levies. Petrol prices have gone up by one-rand-34-cents a litre and diesel prices by between two-rand-93- and three-rand-15-cents per litre this month. AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl says the temporary general fuel levy reduction should have been made permanent or, at minimum, extended well beyond the first July deadline:

# Business confidence has stabilised, but at a level that remains too low to support the stronger investment and employment growth South Africa needs. This is according to the latest Business Confidence Index published by financial services firm RMB and the Bureau for Economic Research. Business confidence dropped a point to 38 in the third quarter, the weakest since the third quarter of 2024. RMB’s Isaah Mhlanga says a sustained improvement will require better demand conditions, continued reform progress, and greater certainty in the operating environment, particularly at local government.

# Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence has elected the ANC’s Mzimasi Hala as its new co-chairperson, following the unexpected and unexplained removal of Malusi Gigaba from the position. Hala was elected with six votes to two, while the EFF abstained. Gigaba faces fraud and corruption charges linked to the Transnet tender for over one-thousand locomotives that cost the government more than 54-billion-rand. The ANC’s Windy Plaatjies says the party doesn’t owe an explanation, as this is an internal matter.

# Gauteng MEC of Education Lebogang Maile was part of another police-led search and seizure operation at six schools yesterday, bringing the total number of schools searched across the province to 23. Yesterday’s operation targeted Sehopotso Secondary School and BoteboTsebo Secondary School in Sebokeng, Residentia Secondary School in Vanderbijlpark, Sapphire Secondary School in Bophelong, and Mahareng Secondary School and Lekoa Shandu Secondary School in Sharpeville. Maile says the latest operation resulted in the recovery of 123 prohibited items:

# North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Secretary General Mark Rutte warns that Russia has grown increasingly reckless as it continues its war against Ukraine. He says NATO has seen more Russian drones and missiles crossing into allied airspace along the eastern flank, creating greater risk for Europe’s security. This comes as Germany has concluded that Moscow was responsible for a failed drone attack last month on Leipzig airport. The drone allegedly deliberately targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane. Rutte says the dangers Russia poses are clear:

# Rugby: Veteran All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown believes their tempo can outclass the Springboks in the final minutes of each half in Saturday’s third Test at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. He says they are incredibly fit, as was proved when they outscored South Africa in the second halves of both the previous two matches. Lienert-Brown believes Johannesburg’s altitude will be to their advantage in his 93rd Test. The All Blacks will arrive in the City of Gold today, giving them enough time to acclimatise.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-6-cents and the euro at 18-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-300-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-401-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….