News 14:00

BULLETIN 5 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Petrol and diesel prices drop on Wednesday 
# The ANC pushes for local government stabilisation amid growing voter concerns
# And, rugby: An early start for Springbok fans on Saturday

# Petrol and diesel prices will be reduced on Wednesday. Unleaded petrol 93-octane and 95-octane will decrease by 15-cents per litre, while diesel prices will drop by 17- and 28-cents. Illuminating paraffin will see a 22-cent reduction. The price cuts bring petrol to 23-rand-eleven-cents per litre in Gauteng and 22-rand-32-cents per litre at the coast, with diesel prices also reaching their lowest levels since January. A stronger rand influences the adjustments despite a slight increase in Brent crude oil prices. 

# The ANC calls for a renewed focus on stabilising local government amid growing voter concerns, as national and local issues increasingly overlap. The party notes that citizens view national and local governance as interconnected, particularly in addressing problems like sanitation and water. Briefing the media on the national executive committee lekgotla in Boksburg, acting spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi says the goal is to ensure effective local governance and improve public services:  

# Australia has raised its terrorism threat level to “probable”, with the country’s top intelligence official citing a homegrown rise in extreme ideologies. Intelligence chief Mike Burgess says there was no indication of an imminent attack, but there was an increased threat of violence in the next 12 months. He told reporters Australia’s security environment is degrading, more volatile and more unpredictable. Burgess says politically motivated violence now joins espionage and foreign interference as their principal security concerns.

# Rugby: Springbok fans will have to get up early on Saturday as the Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane will kick off just after 6.30. Head coach Rassie Erasmus is expected to name his strongest possible team tomorrow since South Africa hasn’t done well in Australia in recent years, despite the Wallabies plunging to ninth in the world rankings while the world champions are number one. The Boks have won just one of their last nine Tests in Australia.  

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-63-cents and the euro at 20-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 51-thousand-425-dollars-58-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-421-dollars-5-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A new initiative for disabled people in Mossel Bay has introduced a five-star rating system. Named the Disability Accessibility Mossel Bay, it seeks to assess business accessibility for people with disabilities. The system was created by and for individuals with disabilities. DAM helps evaluate restaurants, accommodations, and retailers to enhance accessibility for wheelchair users, as well as those who are deaf, blind, or have neurological conditions like autism. Mayor Dirk Kotzé says the project aims to improve inclusivity:

Stay tuned for more news………….