News 16:00

BULLETIN 21 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Godongwana announces temporary fuel levy cuts in his mini-budget
# Trump warns Americans the country could burn if the Democrats win the mid-terms
# And cricket: Australia follows on after being skittled out for just 99 in the second Test

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has announced temporary fuel levy cuts to ease pressure on households and businesses. The levy will be reduced by one-rand-50-cents a litre for petrol and three-rand a litre for diesel from the fourth of next month until the first of December. Godongwana says Treasury has increased its tax revenue forecast by 17.1-billion-rand, while the budget deficit is now expected to narrow to 4.3-percent of GDP:

Godongwana has also lowered South Africa’s economic growth forecast for this year from 1.6- to 1.2-percent. He says growth remains too low, despite government’s efforts to stabilise public finances and reduce debt:

# President Donald Trump has warned the United States could face unrest like France if Democrats win next month’s midterm elections. Speaking at a campaign rally in Kansas, Trump blamed immigrants and left-wing politicians for violent protests and looting in France, claiming Democrats wanted similar chaos in America. He was campaigning for Republican senator Roger Marshall, who faces a challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton. The election on 3 November will determine control of Congress, amid growing voter concerns about rising fuel prices and the cost of living.

# Cricket: South Africa bowled Australia out for just 99 on the penultimate day of the second Test in Gqeberha for a first innings lead of 326 runs. Fast bowler Marco Jansen was the destroyer-in-chief, claiming five wickets and conceding just 33 runs. Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder both took two wickets and Anrich Nortjé the remaining one. Australia’s best score was Steven Smith’s 28. Captain Temba Bavuma forced the visitors to follow one, hoping to bowl them out a second time and equal the three-match series.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents and the euro at 18-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-470-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-138-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 110-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Tributes are pouring in for 65-year-old Janine Lochrenberg, who died in a shark attack at Orient Beach in KuGompo City in the Eastern Cape yesterday. The retired nuclear radiographer and medical physicist was also a talented musician and passionate open-water swimmer. She has been described as intelligent, thoughtful and brave. The East London Open Water Swimming Association says Lochrenberg died in her happy place, remembering her beautiful smile, kindness and contribution to the swimming community and musical ensemble Viva Musica.

Stay tuned for more news………….