MONEY MATTERS with Ntaoleng Lechela – Business Journalist

Guest: Prof. Barney Pityana - anti-apartheid stalwart 

 

Guest: Prof. Barney Pityana - anti-apartheid stalwart&nbsp;
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THE REALITY CHECK with Prof. Barney Pityana 

While the government has taken steps to cushion petrol prices last week, it has not provided similar relief for paraffin. As of 1 April 2026, the wholesale price of illuminating paraffin surged by R11.67 per litre. This surge will affect 2 million people or up to 500,000 households who rely on paraffin for basic survival. Our next guest has recently highlighted the severe impact of paraffin price hikes on low-income earners and how they contend with other costs of living such as transport, groceries, etc.

Guest: Mervyn Abrahams, Programme Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD)

While the government has taken steps to cushion petrol prices last week, it has not provided similar relief for paraffin. As of 1 April 2026, the wholesale price of illuminating paraffin surged by R11.67 per litre. This surge will affect 2 million people or up to 500,000 households who rely on paraffin for basic survival. Our next guest has recently highlighted the severe impact of paraffin price hikes on low-income earners and how they contend with other costs of living such as transport, groceries, etc.
Guest: Mervyn Abrahams, Programme Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice &amp; Dignity Group (PMBEJD)

EXPERT INTERVIEW  Paraffin crisis looming

The Minister of Finance, in consultation with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, is implementing a temporary R3.00 per litre reduction in the general fuel levy. The relief measure runs from 1 April 2026 to 5 May 2026. What is the national outlook for fuel reserves in the country?

Guest: Jacob Mbele, Director-General at the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy

The Minister of Finance, in consultation with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, is implementing a temporary R3.00 per litre reduction in the general fuel levy. The relief measure runs from 1 April 2026 to 5 May 2026. What is the national outlook for fuel reserves in the country?
Guest: Jacob Mbele, Director-General at the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy

The fuel hikes and national fuel outlook

We take a moment to reflect on what impact the fuel has on associations within the fuel industry who monitor logistics including regional shortages and panic buying. The industry stakeholders also face higher transport costs, increased working capital, and margin pressure. The associations also reported tight supply, particularly for diesel, exacerbated by panic buying and limited road tanker availability. To share their insights and whether the fuel outlook will remain stable, we will be joined by…

Guest: Avhapfani Tshifularo, Chief Executive Officer of the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa

 

We take a moment to reflect on what impact the fuel has on associations within the fuel industry who monitor logistics including regional shortages and panic buying. The industry stakeholders also face higher transport costs, increased working capital, and margin pressure. The associations also reported tight supply, particularly for diesel, exacerbated by panic buying and limited road tanker availability. To share their insights and whether the fuel outlook will remain stable, we will be joined by&hellip;
Guest: Avhapfani Tshifularo, Chief Executive Officer of the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa
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The fuel hikes and impact on industry stakeholders

The Madlanga Commission will resume this morning after a short Easter break. The Commission is currently in Phase 2 and focuses on responses from individuals implicated in initial allegations. Prior to the Commission recess, recent testimony has scrutinised the flow of funds to security service providers and municipal governance corruption. This morning, the Commission is set to continue hearing testimony in relation to the Tshwane Metro Police Department. Let us listen to the spokesperson of the Commission, Jeremy Michaels, on what will be covered in the resumption of the Commission…

Guest: Prof. Nimrala Gopal, Head of the Department of Criminology and Forensic Studies at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal

The Madlanga Commission will resume this morning after a short Easter break. The Commission is currently in Phase 2 and focuses on responses from individuals implicated in initial allegations. Prior to the Commission recess, recent testimony has scrutinised the flow of funds to security service providers and municipal governance corruption. This morning, the Commission is set to continue hearing testimony in relation to the Tshwane Metro Police Department. Let us listen to the spokesperson of the Commission, Jeremy Michaels, on what will be covered in the resumption of the Commission&hellip;
Guest: Prof. Nimrala Gopal, Head of the Department of Criminology and Forensic Studies at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal

Madlanga Commission resumption

AFRICA IN FOCUS WITH ADV. SIPHO MANTULA – Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: UNISA

AFRICA IN FOCUS WITH ADV. SIPHO MANTULA&nbsp;&ndash; Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public &amp; International Affairs: UNISA

In our Global Brief, we focus on the US-Iran conflict and the developments emerging from the weekend. US President Donald Trump has threatened fresh strikes on Iran if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions continue to escalate. Meanwhile, the ongoing blockade of the strait is now sparking fears of a global food crisis, with the World Trade Organization warning fertiliser shortages could drive up food prices while the World Food Programme says hunger levels could surge if supply disruptions persist. Finally, China and Russia are calling for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks to ease tensions in the region.

Guest: Prof. Anthoni Nieuwkerk, Professor in International and Diplomacy Studies at Thabo Mbeki School for International and Public Affairs in the University of South Africa

In our Global Brief, we focus on the US-Iran conflict and the developments emerging from the weekend. US President Donald Trump has threatened fresh strikes on Iran if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions continue to escalate. Meanwhile, the ongoing blockade of the strait is now sparking fears of a global food crisis, with the World Trade Organization warning fertiliser shortages could drive up food prices while the World Food Programme says hunger levels could surge if supply disruptions persist. Finally, China and Russia are calling for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks to ease tensions in the region.
Guest: Prof. Anthoni Nieuwkerk, Professor in International and Diplomacy Studies at Thabo Mbeki School for International and Public Affairs in the University of South Africa

THE GLOBAL BRIEF: US President Donald Trump has threatened fresh strikes on Iran if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions continue to escalate

South Africa’s water sector is facing a deepening crisis, as highlighted in the 2025 Green Drop, Blue Drop, and No Drop reports released by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. While the reports show pockets of improvement, they paint an overall picture of systemic decline in wastewater treatment, growing risks to drinking water, and massive losses of treated water.

Guest: Ayesha Laher: director at AHL Water & Water Expert

South Africa&rsquo;s water sector is facing a deepening crisis, as highlighted in the 2025 Green Drop, Blue Drop, and No Drop reports released by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. While the reports show pockets of improvement, they paint an overall picture of systemic decline in wastewater treatment, growing risks to drinking water, and massive losses of treated water.
Guest: Ayesha Laher: director at AHL Water &amp; Water Expert

South Africa’s water sector is facing a deepening crisis, as highlighted in the 2025 Green Drop, Blue Drop, and No Drop reports released by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina.

The National Briefing

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