News 09:00

BULLETIN 27 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Business Leadership SA says Treasury’s success in getting spending under control is only half the battle
# SAFTU says the government of national unity cannot claim the active electoral support of a majority of eligible South Africans
# And tennis, Jannik Sinner will return to action at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh in December

# Business Leadership South Africa says the risk of fiscal calamity has receded, giving investors greater confidence to put their money at risk and back the country for the long term. In the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, Treasury reported that debt-to-gross domestic product had stabilised at 78.4-percent in 2025/2026 and is now projected to decline. BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso says that while growth is the point of sound fiscal management, it is a means to a more important end: ensuring citizens have access to good jobs and can live good lives.

# Union federation SAFTU believes the government of national unity lacks the democratic backing of the majority of South Africans and operates as a vehicle for anti-worker, neoliberal economic policies. It says the low participation in the 2024 elections reflected a profound loss of confidence that the political system can change people’s lives. SAFTU’s Asive Dyani says the ANC has weakened its claim to offer a distinct pro-poor alternative, and there is little meaningful difference between its economic programme and that of the DA:

# The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department says the N12 freeway near Lenasia and Nana’s Farm is now fully reopened to traffic following overnight protest action. The service delivery protest also disrupted traffic on Klipspruit Valley Road, known as the K43, and Abubakar Drive yesterday, where roads were blocked with rocks, debris and burnt obstructions. JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla says police and traffic officers have now been able to clear the roads and restore traffic flow:

# Nigeria has evacuated its only confirmed Ebola patient to Switzerland, where she holds citizenship. The 42-year-old woman began showing symptoms after arriving in the capital, Abuja, from Uganda earlier this month. She is being treated at Geneva University Hospital, while her husband is in isolation at Zurich University Hospital. Nigerian authorities are monitoring 52 people who had been in contact with her. The World Health Organisation’s regional director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, says the patient was able to be evacuated as she was clinically stable:

# Tennis: Two-time champion Jannik Sinner says he plans to play in the rescheduled Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December. The Italian has not played since winning Wimbledon in July due to a right knee injury. Sinner initially withdrew from the Six Kings Slam, which was scheduled for this month; however, the tournament’s postponement to late December due to deadly strikes in Saudi Arabia has opened the door for him to return. The event will also feature the likes of Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-62-cents and the euro at 18-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-17-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-604-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-19-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 114-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….