News 09:00

BULLETIN 5 November 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# With 12-percent of the votes counted, the DA is leading Gauteng, with the MK Party ahead in KZN
# The MK Party reiterates its tough stance on illegal immigration
# And, Trump says the Iran war is largely behind the Republicans’ losses

# Around 12-percent of the votes have been counted in two-thousand-911 voting districts. In Gauteng, 4.9-percent of the votes have been declared, with the DA leading the ANC and ActionSA. In the Western Cape, a DA stronghold, the party is ahead with 18.19-percent of the votes declared, followed by the Patriotic Alliance and the ANC. In another contested province, KwaZulu-Natal, the MK Party is leading with 5.6-percent of the votes declared, followed by the ANC and the IFP. In the Eastern Cape, 22-percent of the votes have been declared, with the ANC leading.

Meanwhile, deputy president Paul Mashatile says councillors elected should prioritise communities’ needs and concerns over personal interests. South Africans voted in the local government elections yesterday to elect representatives to municipal councils. Elected councillors will be responsible for improving communities, delivering services, passing bylaws and overseeing their implementation. Mashatile says councillors must focus on improving service delivery:

# The MK Party says illegal and undocumented foreign nationals must leave South Africa, while those who are in the country legally should be given a chance to sort out their immigration documents. In its election message, the party has also pledged to fight municipal corruption, create more job opportunities for black women and young people, and reduce high municipal rates and tariffs. MK vows to focus on improving water, electricity, roads and sanitation, while making municipal leaders more accountable to residents. 

# US president Donald Trump says it’s largely true that the Iran war driving up oil prices contributed to the Republican Party losing the midterm elections. The Democrats swept to victory, decisively winning back the Senate and the House of Representatives from Republicans. In a lengthy post on X, vice president JD Vance listed the Iran war, cost of living, and America’s relationship with Israel as some of the reasons Republicans lost. Trump says he has no regrets about the war:

# Last season’s runners-up Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague to preserve their unbeaten start in the Champions League group stage. Fifteen-time champions Real Madrid staged yet another trademark late comeback to seal a dramatic 3-2 win over AEK Athens. Tournament debutants Como stole the headlines by matching the biggest victory in competition history, dismantling Lens 9-1 on the road. Elsewhere, Erling Haaland scored a late winner to secure a 3-2 victory for Manchester City against RB Leipzig, while Liverpool suffered a disappointing 3-2 defeat away to Fenerbahçe.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-33-cents and the euro at 18-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-343-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-135-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-9-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….