News 07:00

BULLETIN 28 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Thabo Mbeki predicts the formation of more coalition governments after the elections
# The state has paid 2.7-million-rand for Senzo Mchunu’s legal fees
# And, AfriForum is demanding answers on Tshwane’s water crisis

# Former president Thabo Mbeki says he suspects that the outcome of the local government elections will result in more coalition governments being formed. Recent polls show that compared with its 40.2-percent share of the vote in the 2024 national election, the ANC has fallen by at least six percentage points, while the DA has grown by at least three. Key battleground metros include Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town and eThekwini. Mbeki says coalition governments present significant challenges:

# North West University Business School economist Raymond Parsons says the government must step up diplomatic efforts to avoid losing preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Parsons warns losing access could hurt key sectors such as agriculture and the motor industry, putting jobs at risk. He added the impact may be manageable, but comes as South Africa’s growth forecast drops to 1.2-percent, making it important to expand trade with China, India and other African countries.

# The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has paid 2.7-million-rand in legal fees for minister of Police Senzo Mchunu, who is currently on special leave. The state is also paying Mchunu’s three-million-rand salary while he sits at home. In a written Parliamentary reply, Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia says the funding was provided under the department’s State Legal Representation Policy. Mchunu stands accused of political interference within the South African Police Service, links to criminal syndicates, and the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team.

# AfriForum has written to the City of Tshwane demanding answers regarding the current water supply and water quality issues. The metro has been dealing with a water contamination crisis in Bronkhorstspruit, which has resulted in 833 gastrointestinal illness cases being reported. This has been linked to inadequately chlorinated water supplied by the Bronkhorstspruit water treatment works, leaving residents relying on water tankers for their supply. AfriForum’s Marais de Vaal says Tshwane lacks the capacity to manage the metro’s water network effectively:

# Two British nationals have been charged under the UK’s National Security Act over a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford last month. Mohmed Abdulkarim has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service allegedly believed to be Iran, while Nouman Essghir has been charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Five other men remain on bail. UK head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, says investigations involving proxies take time to establish what individuals involved knew:

# Rugby: Retired Springbok hooker Scarra Ntubeni could make a surprise comeback for the Stormers in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match against Ulster in Cape Town. The hosts are experiencing a crisis after both André-Hugo Venter and Deon Fourie were injured against Scarlets last weekend, with Bok flanker Paul de Villiers taking over the lineout duties. Another hooker, JJ Kotzé, is serving a ban for foul play against Bristol Bears earlier. Director of rugby John Dobson asked Ntubeni to join the camp. He retired recently.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-67-cents and the euro at 18-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-17-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-855-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-45-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 116-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….