News 09:00

BULLETIN 8 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Department is reviewing the local fuel price mechanism
# Iran will coordinate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire
# And cricket: The Rajasthan Royals beat the Mumbai Indians to move to the top of the IPL table

# The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources says it is reviewing the local fuel price mechanism, with the process to be completed in March next year. Last week, the government announced a temporary three-rand reduction in the general fuel levy to cushion consumers, as fuel prices have skyrocketed due to the Middle East conflict. The department’s director of Fuel Pricing Mechanism, Robert Maake, says the price of fuel is the result of a multitude of global and domestic forces:

# The Bureau for Economic Research says the government of national unity must accelerate reforms or risk economic stagnation. Its latest report outlines three scenarios, ranging from slow growth to strong economic expansion and job creation. The bureau warns that simply keeping the coalition together is not enough, and that clear, coordinated policies are needed to boost investment and growth. It also says political disagreements, slow progress, and outside pressures could harm the economy if not addressed.

# The Western Cape Department of Mobility says 19 people lost their lives on the province’s roads over the Easter weekend, compared to the 22 fatalities during the same period last year. This is a 14-percent drop in road deaths this year. Traffic officers checked 44-thousand-555 vehicles and made 149 arrests, including 108 for driving under the influence. Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku says it is clear that constant visible policing is effectively discouraging risky behaviour:

# Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it will only accept the war’s conclusion once details are finalised in line with a ten-point peace plan submitted to the US via Pakistani intermediaries. This comes as Tehran has agreed to coordinate with the military a safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire with the US. The ten-point plan includes the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran, continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, and US military withdrawal from the Middle East.

# Cricket: The Rajasthan Royals have moved to the top of the Indian Premier League table following a comprehensive 27-run victory over the Mumbai Indians in Guwahati. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed an unbeaten 77 off 32 balls, and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 39 off just 14 deliveries, to help lead the Royals to 150 for three from their rain-reduced eleven overs. In reply, Mumbai was restricted to 123 for nine with Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, and Ravi Bishnoi claiming two wickets each.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-514-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-796-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….