News 18:00

BULLETIN 15 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IEC commits to implementing the ConCourt judgment on the ANC candidates list
# SAFTU condemns the escalating political violence and killings
# And tennis, the Six Kings Slam is postponed to December after attacks on Saudi Arabia

# The Electoral Commission says it will implement the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the ANC’s 181 excluded candidates for the 4 November local government elections. The ruling followed a legal challenge by the ANC over the submission of its list. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo says the commission will provide more details on how the ruling will be implemented once its assessments are complete. He adds preparations for the elections remain a priority:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says investment pledges secured through the conference have exceeded 452-billion-rand, with more than 71-billion-rand already invested. Speaking at the 6th Limpopo Investment Conference, Mashatile said these investments have helped create nearly 24-thousand jobs. Mashatile says Limpopo is well positioned for further growth, and identified mining, mineral processing, agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy as key sectors to attract investment, expand the economy and create more jobs:

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions says the escalating political violence and killings strike at the heart of the country’s democracy. This follows the killing of two ANC Youth League members and two others in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, on Tuesday evening. At least 43 people have been murdered in suspected political assassinations in the country during the first nine months of this year. SAFTU’s Asive Dyani says political killings cannot be allowed to become an accepted feature of elections or public life:

# Former US President Barack Obama has warned that the drift towards extremism is not inevitable, saying social media can fuel anger, fear and resentment. Speaking in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday, Obama said online platforms that once helped mobilise people around democracy and human rights were also being used by hate groups. He called for stronger rules to hold those spreading misinformation and inciting violence accountable. Obama also urged people to protect democracy and continue believing that society can do better.

# Tennis: The Six Kings Slam had been postponed from this month to the end of December following deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia. Saturday’s strike on the international airport of Riyadh in which at least 12 people were killed and hundreds wounded is described as the deadliest attack in the kingdom in over a decade. The tournament’s organisers say they are committed to delivering sporting events to the highest standards. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Serbian Novak Djokovic, German Alexander Zverev and American Taylor Fritz already committed to the tournament.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-53-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-590-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-151-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….