News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gwede Mantashe defends Fikile Mbalula over the ANC’s candidate list crisis
# The EFF condemns attempts to implicate it in the deadly shooting in Katlehong
# And, Zelensky says he feels betrayed by Trump over the Russian fuel deal

# ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has defended secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, saying people should not assign blame before the courts rule on their candidate list case. The Constitutional Court will deliver judgment today in the ANC’s application to reinstate 181 councillor candidates to the ballot for the 4 November local government elections. Mbalula is facing calls for his resignation from within the party following the failure to submit candidate lists before the deadline. Mantashe told the SABC that it’s unfair to blame one individual:

# Sakeliga has taken its legal challenge against the Property Practitioners Act to the Constitutional Court, seeking to overturn parts of the law’s licensing requirements. This follows a ruling by the High Court in Pretoria that declared the requirement for property practitioners to provide black economic empowerment certificates invalid. Sakeliga’s Anton Meijer wants property developers, bond brokers and property administrators to be excluded from regulations meant for estate agents:

# The EFF in Gauteng says it rejects attempts to associate the party with Tuesday’s deadly shooting in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni. Four people, including two ANC Youth League members, were shot dead while returning from a memorial service. The EFF says the individual, Fani Sibeko, who has been named in reports concerning the shooting, is a member and councillor candidate for the Afrika Mayibuye Movement, not the EFF. The party says that while a suspect is in custody, the police investigation must proceed without speculation or political interference.

# Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he feels betrayed by US president Donald Trump after he signed a fuel deal with Russia last week. The deal suspends fuel export sanctions on Moscow for six months to allow diesel sales at market prices. On Monday, Russian forces launched fresh attacks on Ukraine just hours after Trump claimed an “energy ceasefire” had come into effect. In an interview with British media personality Piers Morgan, Zelensky described the fuel agreement as a “simple victory” for Russia:

# Tennis: American Ann Li secured her biggest win to date by defeating three-time champion Aryna Sabalenka at the Wuhan Open. The Belarusian fought off nine match points before 31st-ranked Li finally sealed a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 victory to reach the last 16. American second seed Jessica Pegula was beaten, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3, by Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, while Czech Karolina Muchova fought back to defeat American qualifier Caty McNally, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6. Britain’s Sonay Kartal knocked out world number 12 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, 6-0, 7-5.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-55-cents and the euro at 18-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-113-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-151-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-37-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….