For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: South Africa producer inflation accelerates to 7.8% y/y in May; SAPS urges taxi industry to use influence to prevent disruption ahead of June 30 march; And, Kenya police disperse group marking deadly 2024 protests

South Africa's producer inflation quickened to 7.8% year on year in May, up from 4.8% in April, statistics agency data showed today.

The Producer Price Index increased 2.6% month on month in May, Statistics South Africa said.

The South African Police Service has called on the country’s taxi industry to reject any attempts to destabilise South Africa or disrupt economic activity ahead of a planned nationwide protest against undocumented immigration on June 30.

Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane made the appeal during high-level engagements with South African National Taxi Council president Abner Tsebe and his leadership team. The meeting was prompted by the upcoming march demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country.

Highlighting the massive influence of the taxi industry, Dimpane urged operators to stand firmly with law enforcement and the public.

SAPS has specifically requested that taxi operators maintain normal transportation routes for all commuters; reject any calls to block national, provincial, or local roads; and to prevent criminal elements from “hijacking the industry for unlawful gains”.

The SAPS urged the taxi industry to actively oppose any form of passenger or driver intimidation.

Kenyan police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Nairobi after dozens took to the streets in memory of demonstrators killed two years ago in anti-government rallies against tax hikes and the cost of living.

Organisers had planned marches to mark the second anniversary of the unrest, when protesters breached parliament grounds before a crackdown left at least 60 people dead, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

A Reuters correspondent saw police fire tear gas to scatter people gathering peacefully at Nairobi's main police station after security forces detained at least six outside parliament, where they had laid flowers.

Footage broadcast on Citizen TV also showed police firing tear gas on the outskirts of Nairobi.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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