News 08:00

BULLETIN 5 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Competition Commission warns of continued pressure on household budgets
# Severe weather batters the Western, Eastern, and Southern Cape
# And, at least 37 people were killed by toxic fumes during an alleged petrol theft in Nigeria

# The Competition Commission says South African households are still under significant cost-of-living pressure, with essential expenses such as electricity, water, transport and healthcare rising faster than overall inflation. Spokesperson Siyabulela Makunga says the commission’s latest cost of living report shows electricity prices increased by eight-percent and water tariffs by ten-percent between July last year and July this year, while petrol prices rose by 26-percent in the first seven months of this year:

Meanwhile, the Motor Industry Staff Association says rising fuel prices are pushing South African workers below the survival line. The union argues petrol prices have increased by more than 70-percent over the past five years, while diesel prices have surged by 141-percent. MISA’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says rising fuel, electricity and food costs are placing growing pressure on households, with many workers forced to choose between transport, electricity and food:

# Severe weather is causing widespread damage across the Western, Eastern and Southern Cape with downed power lines and damaged water pipes reported in several areas. Strong winds and heavy rain have disrupted essential services, leaving some communities including the town of Prince Albert without electricity and affecting water supplies. Emergency crews are restoring damaged infrastructure and residents are urged to avoid fallen power lines, flooded areas and follow official safety warnings.

# At least 37 people have died after inhaling toxic fumes while allegedly stealing petrol from a pipeline in Nigeria’s Rivers State. An environmental group told the BBC many are still missing after more than 100 people descended on the Okari Jetty in Okrika in small boats to collect the refined fuel under cover of darkness. A police investigation was ongoing to determine the exact number of casualties.Locals say some fell into the Bonny River while others were taken to hospital. Theft from pipelines has been a problem for decades in Nigeria’s oil hub.

# Soccer: The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace near Rustenburg in North West will reportedly host Bafana Bafana’s first qualifier for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations on the 26th of this month. This will be the first match in charge for coach Pitso Mosimane, who just returned for a second stint at the national team. Bafana will face Guinea, while co-host Kenya an Eritrea are also in Group D. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will host the tournament from 19 June to 17 July next year.  

# And finally, JustMoney urges South African consumers to make smarter use of loyalty programmes to stretch their budgets amid the rising cost of living. Consumers are advised to focus on programmes linked to goods and services they already use, understand the terms, check when rewards expire and take advantage of partnerships. JustMoney’s Erica Liebenberg also warns shoppers not to overspend to earn points and to protect their personal information from scams:

Stay tuned for more news………….