Daily Podcast – November 15, 2023

15th November 2023 By: Thabi Shomolekae - Creamer Media Senior Writer

Daily Podcast – November 15, 2023

Photo by: Bloomberg

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Petrol, diesel prices on track for cuts in December; State Security Agency head Thembisile Majola resigns; And, IEC declares readiness ahead of voter registration weekend

 

 

Petrol, diesel prices on track for cuts in December

Based on the current oil, international fuel and rand prices, the latest data from the Central Energy Fund shows that petrol prices could be cut by around R1.07 a litre in December, while diesel prices could be lowered by around R2.10 a litre.

However, there is still more than two weeks to go before the final prices are set. Fuel prices will only be adjusted on 6 December.

South African fuel prices are largely determined by international oil costs and the rand exchange rate, as oil is priced in dollars.

The price of Brent crude oil traded above $86 a barrel at the start of November but has since fallen to around $82.

 

 

State Security Agency head Thembisile Majola resigns

Thembisile Majola served just 20 months of her three-year contract as the director-general of the State Security Agency.

Before taking over in March 2022, the agency had been without a permanent head since Arthur Fraser's departure in 2018.

Announcing Majola's appointment last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa said it was "an important part of government's work to stabilise the country's intelligence services".

In a statement announcing Majola's resignation today, the parties had separated "by mutual consent with the president", effective from November 30.

Her resignation is a blow to an institution that has been in disarray since Jacob Zuma's presidency.

 

 

And, IEC declares readiness ahead of voter registration weekend

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa said it was ready to oversee the general voters registration weekend on November 18 and 19, and it encouraged registered voters to confirm their personal details by visiting registration stations.

IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mmabolo was briefing the media, where he explained that owing to amendment to prescripts, it was crucial that voters only vote in the districts in which they were registered.

He said that the deviation from this general rule was only allowed on pre-notification to the chief electoral officer by a date to be regulated in terms of the elections timetable.

Mmabolo explained that section 24A has been amended by Parliament to fortify the credibility of the process.

Over November 18 and 19, the IEC will welcome eligible citizens at 23 296 registration stations across the country. Registration stations will operate between 08:00 till 17:00 for the two days.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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