It’s Monday, 31 March 2026, and this is News Bite, your fast, reliable update on South Africa and the world, with Marcelle Gordon.
South Africans are facing a brutal fuel shock from midnight, with petrol set to rise by R3.06 a litre, diesel by R7.37 and paraffin by just over R11. Government has announced a temporary R3 fuel levy reduction for April, with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana saying the state will take the crisis month by month as it tries to manage the fallout from the oil price surge triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.
Pressure is already building at the pumps. Motorists have been struggling to find diesel at some garages, raising concerns that some retailers may be holding back stock ahead of the increase. The Automobile Association is calling on government to intervene, while Agbiz says the food supply chain may be able to absorb the shock for now. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group warns that many households are already drowning in debt and can barely keep food on the table.
In Washington, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says the United States is still pursuing a deal with Iran, even as bombing continues. The Trump administration insists Iran is sounding more reasonable in private talks, but the White House will not say who exactly it is engaging with while strikes continue. President Donald Trump has meanwhile suggested on Truth Social that countries like the UK should simply go to the Strait of Hormuz and take fuel.
Israel’s parliament has also passed a controversial law introducing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism in military courts, with executions to be carried out by hanging within 90 days. The move, promoted by far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has been condemned by the UK, France, Germany and Italy.
Nigerian embassy officials have apologised for the controversy surrounding the alleged coronation of an Igbo king in the Eastern Cape, distancing the Nigerian government from the incident after a wave of public backlash.
The Higher Education Department has slammed NSFAS after the Auditor-General found major discrepancies in how bursary funds were disbursed. The findings include 822 students recorded as deceased who continued to receive funding, as well as 14 000 students whose household income was above the eligibility threshold.
Helen Zille has gone viral after taking a swim in a water-filled pothole in Johannesburg, saying the stunt was meant to spotlight collapsing infrastructure after years of repeated repairs to what residents say is a burst pipe problem.
IN OTHER NEWS…
· Five suspected drug mules are due in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court after being arrested at OR Tambo with drugs worth R5 million allegedly hidden in their shoes and underwear while travelling on a route to China via Dubai.
IN SPORT…
· Bafana Bafana’s friendly against Panama in Cape Town could be a final audition for players hoping to convince Hugo Broos ahead of the World Cup, even though the coach says the result itself will not shape his final thinking.
· In cricket, Beyers Swanepoel’s future with the Lions is under scrutiny after he left the one-day cup final early to catch a flight to the UK for a county contract, with the franchise now investigating the matter after the team narrowly lost the match.
· And finally, Nestlé says a truck carrying more than 400 000 KitKat bars from its new range has vanished somewhere between central Italy and Poland, raising fears of an Easter shortage if the stolen chocolate ends up on the black market.
That’s your News Bite for 31 March 2026.
For developments on these stories and more, visit enca.com or watch eNCA on DStv Channel 403.