News 13:00

BULLETIN 18 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA says the increase in the disability grant is not sufficient to offset the VAT increase
# The demand for electricity falls as solar installations surge
# And cricket: New Zealand beat Pakistan by five wickets in the second T20

# ActionSA says for over 3,3-million people with disabilities in South Africa, the proposed increase of 130-rand per month is not sufficient to cover their daily needs. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced the disability grant will increase from 1 April. ActionSA says the proposed VAT increase of 0.5-percent this year and 0.5-percent next year is only adding fuel to the fire of their financial plight. It says the financial challenges facing people with disabilities in South Africa leaves them dependant on others for their survival, and robs them of human dignity.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has proclaimed the Climate Change Act, which became effective on Monday. However, not all provisions of the Act have come into operation. This is due to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment developing a set of regulations that will enable the implementation of these provisions. Minister Dion George says the Act will enable the development of effective climate change policies and the long-term transition to a low-carbon economy and society. He adds that the legislation also aims to lay the foundation for a resilient green economy.

# South Africa’s electricity demand continued to decline in 2024 due to rapid growth in private solar installations. A new report by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research indicates peak demand fell one-percent to 33.5-gigawatts, while overall energy demand dropped three-percent. By September, over six gigawatts of private solar was installed, easing reliance on Eskom. The report also indicates that load-shedding hours sharply declined, and diesel-fueled power generation fell by 48-percent. Meanwhile, electricity tariffs rose by 190-percent over a decade, exceeding inflation and renewable energy costs.

# Cricket: New Zealand has taken a 2-0 lead in their five-match T20 series against Pakistan following a five-wicket victory in Dunedin. Four bowlers took two wickets each, as the visitors were restricted to 135 for nine after the match was reduced to 15 overs per side. In reply, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen’s opening stand of 66 off 28 balls helped the Black Caps reach the target with eleven balls to spare. Allen says they put on a clinical performance:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-4-cents and the euro at 19-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-43-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-108-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-24-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A groundbreaking study is underway to investigate whether rooibos could mitigate the harmful effects of petrochemical exposure among petrol attendants. Scientists from the National Institute for Occupational Health developed the idea in response to the industry’s significant occupational hazards. The institute’s epidemiologist, Kerry Wilson, says petrol attendants in South Africa work long hours at fuel stations, often inhaling hazardous petrochemical fumes:

Stay tuned for more news………….