Cape Town —
Update as at 16h30 SAST
Cash Strapped South Africans May See Some Relief If Fuel Price Dips In August
Motorists could see lower petrol and diesel prices in August if the current international price of Brent Crude keeps below the U.S.$100 mark. The current price is U.S.$99.95 according to News24. Whether the price of foodstuff will decrease is another matter. IAlthough the fuel price crisis is far from over, South Africans could enjoy lower petrol and diesel prices at the beginning of August if current trends persist.
ANCYL Treasurer Sindiso Magaqa's Killers to Appear In Court Next Week – Five Years Later
The murder trial of the suspected killers of former ANC Youth League treasurer Sindiso Magaqa will begin in the Pietermaritzburg High Court next week. Magaqa, a councillor at the time, was shot at a car wash in the town of Umzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal. According to IOL, the four accused will be charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempted murder, malicious injury to property and charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, one being a prohibited firearm. Magaqa died as a result of septic complications, weeks after the attack.
Hillary Gardee's Family Want Her Murder Case Moved to the Hawks
The family of Hillary Gardee, the daughter of former EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee, who was found murdered in May 2022, is frustrated at the slow pace at which her murder investigation is progressing and is wanting the case to be taken over by the Hawks, according to News24. The family accused the police of dragging their feet in arresting more people implicated in the murder. The family is also demanding to see the murder docket handed over to the Hawks. Gardee's body was found on May 3, 2022, in a timber plantation at Sabie.
Flags, Now Philharmonic Orchestra – What's Nathi Mthetwa's Next Move?
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthetwa has done it again – this time around he wants to establish a R30 million philharmonic orchestra that was according to News24, approved in 2018. Far from being music to the ears of political parties and cultural activists – whom together with ordinary South Africans – feel there are greater priorities on which the money need to be spent. The minister's idea follows closely on his R22 million flag idea which he envisaged would "unite" South Africa's people and which was shut down only on the insistence of President Cyril Ramaphosa, and not after furious South Africans took to social media to object.
Big Ticket Items Not a Priority For Households as Cost of Living Rises
Cut backs on furniture and hardware have become evident this year as rising petrol costs, rising food prices and load shedding impact households. According to reports, StatsSA has shown that the retail sector has only grown by 0.1% in May 2022 – year-on-year compared to growth of 4.3% in April 2022. Retailers in the hardware, paint and glass sectors have recorded the biggest decrease in sales, falling by 6.8%, while supermarkets, clothing stores, pharmacies, medical goods, cosmetics and household goods, also saw a significant contraction in sales.
Shut Up! Lobby Group Lays Complaint at Watchdog Against Police Minister
A heated exchange between Police Minister Bheki Cele and Lobby group, Action Society Director Ian Cameron in Gugulethu township last week, has led the group to lay a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. Cameron addressed Cele on the various challenges experienced in the township and asked him to do his job as minister. Cele reacted by telling Cameron to shut up, saying that he, Cameron, treated him like a garden boy. According to News24, Cameron also laid assault charges against the police officers who forcibly removed him from the meeting. Cele has since admitted that the situation could have been handled better.
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