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News today: Petrol price pain, Senzo Meyiwa, heatwave, Sassa pain, and more
Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
Photo: iStock
News today includes a sharp petrol price increase to put a severe dent in our pockets, and The Citizen joined pensioners in long queues as they waited for their Sassa payouts.
Meanwhile, the Ethics committee cleared Nxesi and Zwane of state capture allegations, and a tense standoff unfolded in the Gauteng High Court as the Senzo Meyiwa trial resumed.
News Today: 4 October 2023
In today’s weather update, an extremely high fire danger warning has been issued across three provinces, and a heatwave advisory is in effect from today until Friday.
Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.
Petrol price pain
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has announced the price of both 93 and 95 octane petrol will increase from Wednesday, 4 October 2023.
The department’s spokesperson Robert Maake said 93 octane will increase by R1.08 per litre to R25.22 and 95 octane petrol will increase by R1.14 per litre to R25.68
The price of diesel (0.05% sulphur) increases by R1.96 per litre to R25.01 while dies
CONTINUE: Massive petrol and diesel increases from Wednesday: Here’s how much more you’ll pay
Senzo Meyiwa trial
Key state witness, Constable Sizwe Zungu, faced tough questions about his failure to inform senior police officers about information that could have been crucial to solving the murder of Senzo Meyiwa.
The police officer took the stand in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday to continue with his evidence on Tuesday.
The defence in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial seeks the records a police officer used to document his travels on the day the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper died.
Constable Sizwe Zungu returned to the witness stand in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday for his cross-examination.
CONTINUE: Senzo Meyiwa trial: Tense standoff as witness insists travel records are with Saps
Ethics committee clears Nxesi and Zwane
The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests has cleared MPs Thulas Nxesi, Cedric Frolick, Mosebenzi Zwane and Winnie Ngwenya of any wrongdoing in the complaints arising from the commission of inquiry into state capture reports.
The committee this week finalised some cases that directly flowed from recommendations made by the Zondo commission and cleared the four MPs of any wrongdoing.
A complaint was laid by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in 2020 following controversial businessman Edwin Sodi’s testimony at the Zondo commission, in which he revealed he had paid R45,000 to underprivileged schoolchildren following Nxesi’s request.
CONTINUE: ‘Complaint unfounded’ – Ethics committee clears Nxesi and Zwane of state capture allegations
Queuing with pensioners after Sassa’s glitch
A “system offline” and declined cards at a point-of-sale terminal failed to instil confidence among pensioners as they queued up for their monthly payments on Tuesday.
Recipients woke before the sun to hesitantly make their way to the various payout points in Gauteng, hoping that they would not again encounter the same delays they did when a technical glitch wrecked September’s payout.
The Citizen joined pensioners in the long queues as they waited for their payouts.
CONTINUE: Early snags and long lines: Queuing with pensioners after Sassa’s devastating glitch
Meanwhile, pensioners in KZN were informed that some Post Office branches may not have cash for their Sassa grants.
Post Bank said recipients can also collect their grants from Boxer, Pick n Pay, Spar, Shoprite and Usave instead of South African Post Office branches.
“This is due to many Post Office branches in KwaZulu-Natal anticipating insufficient cash in store as a result of cash delivery delays,” it said.
READ: These KZN Post Office branches may not have cash for Sassa grants
Heatwave incoming
South Africa’s Weather Service (Saws) has sounded the alarm about an upcoming heatwave set to scorch several regions of the country.
Saws urged everyone in the affected areas to remain cool and stay hydrated.
The heatwave will kick in starting this Wednesday, October 4, and is expected to last until Friday, October 6.
CONTINUE: Sweltering heatwave threat across 4 provinces until Friday
In other news today:
- Two grade 1 pupils die after allegedly eating poisonous biscuits in Soweto
- SA grappling with a surge in banking app fraud, Sabric reveals
- Labour court verdict vindicates Kubayi’s concerns over hiring practices
- See a lioness in Joburg? Take a pic and send a pin, says the NSPCA
- WATCH: Joburg ‘no world-class African City’ after man caught peeing from moving car
Yesterday’s News recap
READ: Meyiwa trial, Shivambu’s VBS funds, JHB water outages, tricks hijackers use
