News 09:00
BULLETIN 23 October 9 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The MK Party fires its secretary-general
# Oil prices jump to a five-month high
# And rugby: The United Rugby Championship resumes after a break
# The MK Party has removed Sibonelo Nomvalo as secretary-general, citing concerns over internal factionalism, dual remuneration and councillor selection processes. The party accused Nomvalo of setting up high-level deployment committees without its leadership’s knowledge, while allegedly reshuffling its parliamentary caucus and administration without informing leader Jacob Zuma, national officials or the party’s presidency collective. Lindiwe Mtshali has been appointed as the acting secretary-general. The party has also appointed five new parliamentary whips and removed several existing office-bearers. The changes come less than two weeks before the local government elections.
# The South African Local Government Association has welcomed the revised White Paper on Local Government, calling it a landmark milestone for reforming the country’s municipal system and restoring public trust. The White Paper lays the foundation for far-reaching legislative, institutional and financial reform of the entire local government system. SALGA deputy president Xola Pakati says it is encouraging that the revised White Paper reflects several reforms the organisation has consistently advocated for, including a differentiated and fit-for-purpose local government system:
# KwaZulu-Natal Police have intensified deployments in areas affected by recent attacks on foreign nationals in Durban. This follows several incidents over the past two days, including one in which a foreign national died after allegedly being assaulted by a group of about 50 people in the city centre yesterday. Police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda says the motive for the killing is unknown at this stage, and the public is urged not to spread unverified information:
# Oil prices jumped to a five-month high yesterday, with Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, rising by three-percent to hit 112 dollars a barrel for the first time since 18 May. This comes as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have intensified attacks in Saudi Arabia, while four vessels involved in illegal oil transfers in the northern Gulf were hit in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has stated that the US will not attack Iran before the midterm elections, but has threatened future attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities.
# Rugby: The United Rugby Championship resumes today after a one-week break. The Sharks and Cardiff face off in Wales tonight, while Connacht will welcome Italian side Zebre to Ireland. Tomorrow, the Lions are away to Edinburgh in the Scottish capital and the Bulls will host Irish outfit Ulster at Loftus. The Stormers are at home against Wales’ Scarlets. Edinburgh is currently on top of the log after three rounds, followed by Glasgow Warriors, the Bulls and the Stormers. The Sharks are fifth and the Lions seventh.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-51-cents and the euro at 18-rand-51-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-11-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-553-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-6-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 114-dollars-83-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….