News 18:00

BULLETIN 30 September 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# DIRCO confirms the death of former minister Nathi Mthethwa in Paris
# Diesel goes down, but the price of petrol increases
# And rugby: Ox Nché is the only change to the Boks’ starting-15 for the clash against the Pumas at Twickenham

# The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has confirmed the death of South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa. The 58-year-old diplomat, who previously served as Police minister and minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, died in Paris under circumstances still being investigated by French authorities. Ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri says Mthethwa’s loss is not only felt at home but also within the global diplomatic community:

# The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has announced fuel price changes effective from midnight. Diesel will drop by between eight-and-ten-cents-per-litre. However, 95-octane petrol will rise by eight-cents and 93-octane petrol by one-cent-per-litre. The retail price of illuminating paraffine will decrease by 15-cents-per-litre and LP gas will also decrease by 17-cents-per-kilogram. The minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources approved a retail margin increase of 6-cents-per-litre for petrol from tomorrow. This is necessary to accommodate the wage increases of pump attendants, cashiers and administrative staff at service stations.

# The Mpumalanga High Court has ordered Alexander Forbes to suspend payments from former deputy president David Mabuza’s pension. He died in July. The funds, reportedly set aside for his wife, Nonhlahla Mnisi, are now frozen after an urgent application by Mabuza’s daughter from a customary marriage, Tamara Silinda. She seeks a 40-thousand-rand monthly maintenance and 127-thousand-990-rand for tuition. Judge Johannes Roelofse granted an interim order to protect potential beneficiaries until the matter is finalised:

Moving abroad: 

# A Palestinian source close to Hamas says that the group is reviewing US president Donald Trump’s proposal for ending the Gaza war, which is backed by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The source told AFP Hamas has begun a series of consultations within its political and military leaderships, both inside Palestine and abroad. Meanwhile, Russia said it supports Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war. It says it wants the plan to be implemented to bring events in the Middle East to a peaceful conclusion.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made four changes to his match-23 for Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider against the Pumas at Twickenham in London. Ox Nché returns to the starting team and Grant Williams, Jesse Kriel and Bongi Mbonambi are on the bench. Nché was a late withdrawal in Durban last week after he pulled up with a niggle. The rest of the squad remains unchanged, with Eben Etzebeth starting at lock alongside Ruan Nortjé in what will mark his 138th Test, while captain Siya Kolisi will earn his 98th cap.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-28-cents and the euro at 20-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-236-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-847-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….