News 07:00

BULLETIN 6 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula maintains the allegations of vote-buying are false
# The EFF calls on government to urgently reduce the fuel levy
# And tennis: Novak Djokovic is through to the China Open final

# ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has welcomed the decision by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, ordering that his defamation dispute with ANC National Executive Committee member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma be determined through oral evidence. Mbalula is suing Dlamini-Zuma after she accused him of “dishing out” cash to delegates to gain votes at the party’s 2022 national elective conference. Mbalula says the order does not amount to a finding that the allegations against him are true. He says the allegations are false and he has nothing to hide.

# The EFF says the latest escalation in fuel prices is devastating for working-class and poor South Africans. From tomorrow, petrol prices will go up between three-rand-12-cents and three-rand-33-cents per litre; diesel prices by between two-rand-84-cents and three-rand-24-cents a litre, while illuminating paraffin rises by four-rand-77-cents a litre. The EFF’s Sixolise Gcilishe says South Africa does not control the international price of crude oil; however, the government does control taxation, fiscal policy, regulation, and the extent to which it intervenes to protect citizens from economic shocks:

# The Competition Commission has issued new guidelines aimed at giving consumers more choice and cheaper repair options. The guidelines cover mobile phones, electronics, household appliances, medical devices and backup power systems. The commission’s Siyabulela Makunga says manufacturers should not block access to spare parts, repair information or diagnostic tools, or prevent independent repairers from competing. Makunga added more competition could lower repair costs, support small businesses and help consumers use their products for longer.

# The DA says Delft residents in the Western Cape are being left vulnerable as police face severe staff shortages and heavy workloads. This follows the killing of three men in two separate incidents in the area. The party’s Benedicta van Minnen says one police officer is responsible for about 726 residents, while each detective handles an average of 77 cases. Van Minnen calls for more visible policing and properly resourced murder investigations:

# Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US still has confidence in the security of all of its bases. This comes after the US removed all its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain to bases in America. The British air base was the target of a suspected terror attack last month, which resulted in the arrest of five British nationals, who were later released on bail. Rubio says he would not directly tie the removal of bombers from Fairford to last week’s incident:

# Tennis: Six-time champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the China Open final after Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from their semifinal clash in Beijing. The Serb was serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3 when a ball bounced off the back wall; the Russian accidentally hit it, sending it into the air and striking a spectator in the eye. Medvedev was defaulted and will lose all points and prize money earned from the event. Djokovic will face Australian Alex de Minaur in today’s championship match.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-62-cents and the euro at 18-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-661-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-133-dollars-9-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….