News 13:00

BULLETIN 4 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema is confident of youth support for the EFF
# Spain’s minister of Transport resigns following two deadly rail accidents
# And soccer: The Asian Cup is postponed to December 2027 after attacks in Saudi Arabia

# EFF leader Julius Malema expects strong support from young voters in today’s local government elections. He was speaking after voting in Seshego, Limpopo. Malema attributed this confidence to the party’s youth mobilisation and student advocacy. He highlights the EFF’s opposition to blacklisting students over university debt and withholding qualifications, as well as its focus on tackling youth unemployment and economic barriers facing young people:

Meanwhile, minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela has encouraged students to embrace the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote, saying decisions taken by municipalities directly affect their daily lives. About 29.2 million registered voters are expected to vote today. Manamela’s spokesperson, Matshepo Seedat, says young people should recognise the significance of a right secured through generations of struggle and sacrifice:

# Union federation SAFTU is calling for an alternative economic programme centred on urgent industrialisation, localisation and job creation. It says South Africa needs to rebuild its manufacturing capacity, strengthen local supply chains and reduce dependence on imported finished goods. SAFTU’s Asive Dyani calls for the diversification of the country’s trade relations through mutually beneficial partnerships with African countries, BRICS members, the Global South and other international partners:

Moving abroad:

# Spain’s Transport minister, Óscar Puente, has resigned, saying he cannot remain in office after two serious accidents in less than a year. Last week, a high-speed train collision claimed the lives of 69 people near the town of Urda, one of Europe’s deadliest rail incidents this century. In January, 46 people died in a train accident in the southern region of Andalusia. Puente has also withdrawn from the upcoming general election. He has emphasised government will work tirelessly to regain the public’s trust in high-speed rail.

# Soccer: Next year’s Asian Cup had been postponed by over 11 months because of deadly attacks in the host country of Saudi Arabia. The tournament was planned to start on 7 January, but will now only begin on the 23rd of December next year. The Asian governing boday, AFC, says the decision was taken in light of the current exceptional circumstances in the Middle East, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions. World body FIFA must still approve the new dates.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 18-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-246-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-45-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-53-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….