News 14:00

BULLETIN 12 March 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Steenhuisen is concerned by the continued rise in fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict
# Viral video shows the North Korean leader and his teenage daughter watching cruise missile launches
# And soccer: Iran contemplates withdrawing from the World Cup due to the American attacks

# Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, says if fuel prices continue to rise, winter grain producers preparing to plant from May, as well as summer grain farmers entering the harvest period, will feel the effects. Diesel prices are expected to rise by approximately four-rand-40-cents per litre from next month, as a result of the Middle Eastern conflict. Steenhuisen says while South Africa has not imported any fertiliser directly from Iran since October 2023, the exposure is indirect as the country imports from Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

# The suspended head of police’s Organised Crime Unit, Richard Shibiri, says it would be unfair to judge him based on his past relationship with controversial businessman Vusimuzi Matlala. He is testifying before the Madlanga commission. Shibiri says the relationship developed over time and should not automatically imply wrongdoing. He maintains the assistance he provided was not improper, and argues judging him on a single incident would be unreasonable:

# The City of Johannesburg is investigating a sulphur-like odour reported by residents in some parts of Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, and Fourways since January. Monitoring data confirmed elevated levels of hydrogen sulphide at the Buccleuch and Alexandra monitoring stations. Spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane says the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department’s Air Quality Management Unit will continue working with other spheres of government to identify the source of the odour:

Moving abroad:

# A video that went viral on social media shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, observing the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from a warship.  The footage, originally from North Korean state media, has trended across TikTok and Instagram, showing the pair in a command centre and later visiting a munitions factory where they both fired pistols. Social media analysts have noted the imagery being cultivated for Ju Ae, further fuelling speculation she is being formally groomed as her father’s successor.

# Soccer: Iran’s government has indicated the possibility they may withdraw from the World Cup due to co-host America, and Israel, attacking the country. The tournament will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico, although most of Iran’s group matches will be played in America. US president Donald Trump earlier gave the assurance Iran’s team would be welcome in his country. But Iran’s minister for Sport, Ahmad Donyamali, says they cannot participate in a country which killed their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-54-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-71-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-184-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….