News 08:00

BULLETIN 1 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA leader says the local government elections are a two-horse race between his party and the ANC
# Malema has framed the elections as victory or death
# And cricket: South Africa clinch the series against Australia and regain the number one Test ranking

# DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has described Wednesday’s local government elections as a two-horse race between his party and the ANC for first place in South Africa. He addressed supporters at the party’s national final rally in Tshwane yesterday. A recent Ipsos poll shows the DA at 25-percent nationally compared with the ANC’s 31-percent, but the gap is significantly narrow in key metros. Hill-Lewis said the election presents an opportunity for voters to change the country’s trajectory and restore confidence in South Africa’s future:

Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema has framed the local government elections as victory or death, saying if the party does not win, South Africans will continue to live under conditions of corruption, incompetence and failing local government. He addressed the party’s final rally at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto yesterday. Malema accused politicians and contractors of treating municipalities as personal cash cows while communities struggle with poor service delivery:

# Minister of Finance  Enoch Godongwana says economic growth is South Africa’s main priority, while acknowledging that fiscal policy alone cannot generate the growth needed to address unemployment. National Treasury has lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast to 1.2-percet, down from 1.6-percent, due to global pressures. He participated in the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation’s Drakensberg Inclusive Growth Forum debate on economic growth stimulation and job creation. Godongwana emphasised that government must contain debt to protect its ability to fund education, healthcare and other essential services:

# Eskom Group Chief Financial Officer Calib Cassim has retired, concluding 24 years of service to the power utility. Eskom says Cassim played a key role in strengthening the utility’s financial position and advancing the organisation’s long-term sustainability. It says returning to profitability reflects his significant contribution over more than two decades. Cassim will continue to serve in an acting GCFO capacity until the appointment of his successor becomes effective.

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has praised the authorisation of the potential sale of 500 Patriot missiles by the US State Department, but warns that it could take several years for the deliveries to arrive. Kyiv will pay for the missiles with donations from Canada, Germany, Norway and the European Union. Zelensky stressed that the interceptors must be delivered soon to protect against ongoing Russian attacks. He added that the US and European allies had sufficient stockpiles of Patriot interceptors to provide to Ukraine now.

# And cricket: South Africa won the third and final Test against Australia by 176 runs in Cape Town to take the series 2-1. Set a target of 288 for victory, the tourists were bowled out for 111, as the Proteas leapfrogged Australia to the top of the Test world rankings for the first time since January 2016. Spinner Simon Harmer took a career-best six wickets for 16 runs, while Kagiso Rabada claimed three wickets yesterday. The Proteas are also up to second in the ICC World Test Championship Standings.

Stay tuned for more news………….