News 15:00

BULLETIN 27 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A Sasol outage disrupts jet fuel supply at the OR Tambo International Airport
# Rugby: Several changes are made to the All Blacks’ team to face the Boks in the second Test
# And the Reserve Bank honours the 1956 women’s legacy with commemorative coins

# Airlines are making contingency plans after an outage at Sasol’s Natref refinery disrupted jet fuel supplies to OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Gauteng. Airlines are considering tankering fuel from other airports, which would increase operating costs because aircraft carrying extra fuel burn more fuel. News24 reports FlySafair and Airlink said their operations have not been affected so far. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources held an emergency meeting with Airports Company South Africa and the fuel industry to address the disruption.

# Illovo Sugar South Africa says delays in implementing a revised Dollar-Based Reference Price for imported sugar are placing the local industry under growing pressure. The proposed reference price would increase from ten-thousand-838- to 14-thousand-425-rand per tonne. Illovo says rising imports have hurt growers and millers, while threatening jobs and rural livelihoods. The company is calling on government to urgently gazette the revised measure and consider interim safeguards.

# Eskom is urging South Africans to immediately report illegal electricity connections, exposed wires, damaged electrical infrastructure and other hazards. The power utility has recorded around 200 public safety impacts linked to electricity-related incidents. Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says illegal connections and exposed wires are not only unlawful but can electrocute people, start fires, overload the network and damage critical infrastructure:

# Rugby: All Blacks’ head coach Dave Rennie made several changes to his team for Saturday’s second Test against the Springboks in Cape Town. Prop George Bower replaces Ethan de Groot, who is injured, together with lock Josh Lord. Tupou Vaa’i moves to the second row, replacing Lord, with Simon Parker at flank. Xavier Numia comes into the 23 providing prop cover, while Patrick Tuipulotu is lock cover. Leroy Carter and Josh Moorby swap positions, with Carter starting at left wing and Moorby as back cover.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand and the euro at 18-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-602-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-595-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Reserve Bank has launched two commemorative circulation coins to celebrate the legacy of Charlotte Maxeke and the 1956 women’s march to the Union Buildings. The first two-rand coin marks 125-years since Maxeke became the first black South African woman to obtain a university degree. The second commemorates 70 years since the historic march against apartheid’s pass laws. Governor Lesetja Kganyago says this is a significant milestone in the advancement of women:

Stay tuned for more news………….