News Bulletin of 4 June 2025, 7am

Good news for South African drivers this month, fuel prices are set to drop slightly from today. According to the Central Energy Fund, petrol may go down by a few cents, while diesel users could enjoy a bigger cut of over 30 cents per litre. This comes as a small win for motorists across the country, offering some relief at the pumps just in time for winter travels. However, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's recent announcement of a higher fuel levy means the savings may not stretch far.The overall reduction is seen as a positive development, providing some encouragement during a challenging economic climate.

The Department of Basic Education has officially launched the 2025 Road to Literacy campaign, one of South Africa’s largest mobile library drives. Minister Siviwe Gwarube says eight out of ten children can’t read for meaning by age ten – and this must change. With help from AVBOB and Oxford University Press SA, 1,000 schools and NGOs will receive mobile trolley libraries worth R57,000 each. Over 500,000 books will be distributed nationwide, with a strong focus on early literacy in all 11 official languages. CEO of the AVBOB Group Carl van der Riet: SOUND

China is leading the global push to bring sodium-ion batteries to the mainstream starting with electric scooters. In Hang Jo, flashy new mopeds powered by sodium not lithium are drawing crowds. These budget-friendly scooters, costing 300 to 500 pounds, use batteries made from abundant sea salt-based materials. At a Yaddy event in January 2025, fast-charging stations promised 80% charge in 15 minutes, and a battery-swap station let riders exchange batteries with a simple QR scan. Experts say this could reshape the future of urban mobility.