For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: DA wants Mantashe to disclose state of SA’s fuel reserves; Sars cracksdown on corruption in customs-inspection; And, Eswatini starts administering lenacapavir to curb spread of HIV

DA wants Mantashe to disclose state of SA’s fuel reserves

The Democratic Alliance today urged Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to declare South Africa's Fuel Reserves amid worries about potential fuel shortages, rationing and increasing energy prices triggered by the major conflicts in the Middle East.

DA spokesperson on Mineral and Petroleum Resources James Lorimer said in order to settle public worries about shortages, Mantashe should disclose the exact state of the country's fuel reserves without delay.

The party expressed concern at Mantashe’s failure to confirm whether the legal requirement of supplying transport fuel was being met by government, arguing that this raised serious concerns that the two-month reserve had not been maintained.

Lorimer explained that by law there were supposed to be two months' supply of transport fuel held in reserve at any time.

On Monday Mantashe assured during the Southern Africa Oil and Gas Conference in Cape Town that there was no need to panic about potential shortages of fuel caused by the war in the Persian Gulf.

Sars cracksdown on corruption in customs-inspection

The South African Revenue Service executed search and seizure, and preservation orders against six of its current and former employees, related to traders and taxpayers, to secure evidence and assets.

Sars has been investigating allegations that customs-inspection teams colluded with clearing agents and importers to manipulate physical inspections in exchange for cash bribes.

Investigations identified under-declared taxable income exceeding R45-million, resulting in income-tax prejudice of about R18-million.

Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said individuals are alleged to have failed to comply with their statutory obligations as taxpayers by participating in a corrupt scheme that has directly prejudiced all law-abiding taxpayers, traders and the fiscus.

He said to give full effect to the National Illicit Economy Disruption Programme, Sars will work with South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority on criminal investigations and prosecutions.

And, Eswatini starts administering lenacapavir to curb spread of HIV

Eswatini joined a handful of countries to officially roll out new HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, announcing that 2 000 Swazis had received the jab since December.

The United States, where the drug was formulated, and seven other African countries with high HIV prevalence rates have introduced it so far.

US-based Gilead Sciences' drug lenacapavir is an injection given twice a year. It aims to overcome problems associated with daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis pills, such as forgetting to take them and failing to acquire enough pills to keep taking them consistently.

Sindy Matse, programme manager for the Eswatini National AIDS Programme said the programme aimed to have it available in all 206 health facilities that had been offering PrEP.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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