News 15:00

BULLETIN 5 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Petrol and diesel prices drop on Wednesday 
# Minister Hlabisa defends presidential imbizo events against wasteful expenditure allegations
# 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-cents and 28-cents. Illuminating paraffin will see a 22-cents 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. 

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has defended president Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidential imbizo events against wasteful expenditure allegations. Hlabisa revealed that the events cost 44-million-rand over 18 months. They are aimed at addressing public service delivery issues and allow citizens to voice concerns. Responding to DA MP Frederik Badenhorst, Hlabisa argued that the expenses were justified. He told SABC News the criticism was exaggerated:

# The water and sanitation sector is grappling with numerous issues, leaving South Africans without access to clean water and safe sanitation. Addressing the media, minister Pemmy Majodina says communities still lack basic services as municipal water systems deteriorate leading to unsafe drinking water and environmental pollution. She says financial sustainability is threatened by mounting municipal debt to water boards:

# UK prime minister Keir Starmer is holding an emergency meeting today after further riots broke out across England over the weekend. He will chair a meeting to discuss how to quell the violence that first broke out in Southport in north-west England. The town was the scene of last Monday’s tragedy in which three young girls were killed and five more children critically injured during a knife attack. Riots have broken out across the country, with anti-immigration demonstrators facing off against police, and Muslim counter-protestors in some instances.

# 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.  

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-62-cents and the euro at 20-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 51-thousand-635-dollars-5-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-406-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….