24 hours in pictures, 5 May 2025
24 hours in pictures, 5 May 2025
Through the lens: The Citizen's Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world.
epaselect epa12074195 People participate in the 'Balloon Parade' in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 04 May 2025. The event, considered the largest balloon parade in the world, featured a marine world theme. Floats decorated with balloons were created by 13 international artists from Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Picture: EPA-EFE/FRANCISCO GUASCO
Demonstrators protest against offshore oil and gas drilling in Cape Town, South Africa, on May 05, 2025. Demonstrators in Cape Town gathered outside the Western Cape High Court to protest offshore oil and gas drilling along South Africa's coastline, coinciding with a court case challenging the government's approval of exploration in blocks between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas. Organized by environmental groups The Green Connection and Natural Justice as part of the 'Who Stole Our Oceans' campaign, the protest raised concerns over threats to marine biodiversity, small-scale fishers' livelihoods, and the climate, calling instead for a shift to renewable energy. The demonstration highlights the ongoing clash between environmental advocates and government officials, such as Minister Gwede Mantashe, who promote oil and gas projects for economic growth. Picture: Matrix Images Activists protest outside Cape Town High Court on May 05, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. Civil organisations are questioning the environmental authorisation process and challenging the government's alleged failure to properly assess the significant risks posed by oil and gas exploration, including oil spills, climate change impacts and threats to small-scale fishers' livelihoods. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach) A picture taken with a drone shows rapeseed fields in full bloom in Rokietnica village, southeastern Poland, 05 May 2025. Picture: EPA-EFE/Darek Delmanowicz Participants run during the Wings for Life World Run App Run in Pretoria, on May 4, 2025. The Wings for Life World Run is a running competition held on the first weekend of May since 2014 to collect funds for the not-for-profit foundation Wings for Life. The entry fee goes completely to Spinal Cord Research. Picture: Tyrone Bradley A mitre of a cardinal as he attends the Ninth Novendiale Mass in memory of Pope Francis at Saint Peter's Basilica, in the Vatican in Rome, Italy on May 04, 2025. The Vatican announced on the 21 of April the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. The conclave with gathers a College of Cardinals is due to start meeting on the 07 of May to elect the new Pope. Picture: Matrix Images / Andre Pain Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Gwede Mantashe at the business breakfast engagement session on the Transformation Fund at Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum on May 05, 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa. The Transformation Fund is a key initiative aimed at accelerating transformation and supporting black-owned and black-managed businesses across various sectors in South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu) Tourists take selfies as they visit a section of the Great Wall of China near Beijing, China, 05 May 2025. During the May Day national holiday, observed in China over a period of five days from 01 until 05 May, popular tourist spots become very crowded. Picture: EPA-EFE/JESSICA LEE Environmental protesters gather outside the head offices of TotalEnergies in Johannesburg, South Africa, 05 May 2025. The protesters gathered to hand a memorandum to the company as they stand in solidarity with coastal communities in the Western Cape of South Africa and give their full support to The Green Connection and Natural Justice, who have brought a judicial review against the environmental authorization granted to TotalEnergies to conduct offshore oil and gas drilling along the coastline from Cape Town to Cape Agulhas. Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK Participants disguised as Christian and Moor soldiers take part in a re-enactment of Moors and Christians battles during the last day of 'Moors and Christians' festival in the town of Alcoy, Spain, 05 May 2025. The festival marks the battles between Muslim Moors and Christians to take control of the city of Alcoy in 1276. Picture: EPA-EFE/PABLO MIRANZO Gayton McKenzie (Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa) at the 2nd G20 Culture Working Group Session on Day 1 at the Sandton Convention Centre on May 05, 2025 in Sandton, South Africa. This significant gathering forms part of South Africa's G20 Presidency, the first to be hosted on African soil, and serves as a platform for in-depth discussions on four key priorities. (Photo by Gallo Images/OJ Koloti) A window cleaner works on a high-rise building in Bangkok, Thailand, 05 May 2025. The World Bank downgraded Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2025 to 1.6 percent from 2.9 percent, marking the lowest growth prediction among ASEAN economies due to the impact of US reciprocal tariff measures, lower than expected tourist arrival number, high public debt as well as the global economic slowdown. Picture: EPA-EFE/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
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IOL News
a day ago
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Petrol price drop offers slight relief for South African consumers
Experts say that a slight decrease in petrol price will create some breathing room for consumers. Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers Experts say that a slight decrease in petrol price will create some breathing room for consumers. This follows the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe announcing on Wednesday a 5 cents per litre decrease on both grades of petrol and 36.90 cents per litre decrease on both grades of diesel. Waldo Krugell, an economics professor at the North-West University (NWU), said that consumers are lucky that the slightly stronger rand–dollar exchange rate and stable crude oil price have absorbed the impact of the increase in the fuel levy that came into effect today. 'It is not quite relief, but the fact that the price is not going up adds to the little bit of breathing room in household budgets. Last week's repo rate cut will also help. And it is really important as we saw in yesterday's Q1 GDP numbers that household spending is all that is keeping the economy going.' Dr Eliphas Ndou, an economist and author at Unisa's Department of Economics, said that the decreases in fuel prices due to the rand appreciation against the US dollar and lower oil prices are good news for the logistics sector and commuters, as transport costs and fares will remain low. 'It's also good news to producers using these fuels as inputs in their production processes. It's a huge relief to financially constrained consumers, facing an expensive food basket and high administered prices, as food prices may not rise due to low transportation costs.' Ndou added that the latest IMF World Economic Outlook report forecasts oil prices to remain around $65 (R1155) per barrel at least throughout the year. 'Hence, fluctuations at low prices may keep fuel prices lower in the near future, thereby cushioning motorists and producers against the fuel levy increase.' Lerato Nkosi, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Unisa, said that what is crucial about the fuel price is the impact it's going to have on the consumer. 'The fuel levy increase is already a tax burden that the consumers are facing. A decrease in fuel price will decrease transportation costs and as far as logistics go that will be transportation cost of foods. We hope this will lead to a decrease in the price of food and a decrease in consumer price index (CPI).' Lebo Ramolahloane, National Vice Chairperson of the South African Petroleum Retailers Association (SAPRA), said that while the price drop is welcome; the benefits are significantly muted by the simultaneous tax hikes. 'Consumers and businesses were hoping for a more meaningful reprieve, especially after a third consecutive month of fuel price cuts. Unfortunately, the new increases in fuel levies - 16c per litre for petrol and 15c for diesel - are eroding much of that anticipated relief.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Ramolahloane added that the revised General Fuel Levy, now R4.15 per litre for petrol and R4.02 for diesel, alongside the Road Accident Fund Levy, still at R2.18 per litre, continues to contribute heavily to the overall fuel price structure. 'Fuel is a key cost driver in virtually every industry. Any increase in fuel-related taxes pushes up the cost of transport, goods, and services. So while the price adjustments in June technically decrease, the net gain to consumers is marginal.' CEO of Debt Rescue Neil Roets says there is no way to sugarcoat the reaction of South Africans to this news. ''This is a slap in the face of motorists and commuters, who have been battling to make ends meet in the face of ever-escalating living costs for over a year, with authorities seemingly turning a blind eye. It is no secret that this minuscule cut in the price of petrol is a direct result of the General Fuel Levy (GFL), which kicks in from Wednesday, 4th June. Petrol was, in fact, set to decrease by around 20c per litre, but with the 15-cent hike in the GFL, this amounted to a reduction of just five cents per litre.' BUSINESS REPORT Visist:
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Gwede Mantashe highlights the importance of foreign investment in South Africa's mining industry
Foreign investment remains key to the growth of South Africa's mining and energy sectors Image: GCIS Foreign investment remains key to the growth of South Africa's mining and energy sectors, according to Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. During a visit to Orion Minerals' copper project in Prieska, Northern Cape, Mantashe emphasised the crucial role of global capital in unlocking the country's mineral wealth. The project is expected to start copper production within two years. 'Orion is important because it reflects the interest of foreign direct investment,' Mantashe said in an interview with public broadcaster SABC. "It is an Australian company that is very interested in producing copper here, and we want to encourage them to do that. It is important for South Africans to always appreciate that attracting an investor is quite a huge effort, and it is very important for society to have investment in their society.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ IOL previously reported that South Africa's mining sector faces ongoing challenges, threatening its export potential and overall viability. According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), mining production fell by 2.8% year-on-year in March, following a sharper 9.7% decline in February. 'Seasonally adjusted mining production declined by 4.5% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the fourth quarter of 2024,' Jean-Pierre Terblanche, principal service statistician at Stats SA, told IOL two weeks ago.
