News 06:00

BULLETIN 6 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IEC says the capturing and verification of election results is progressing steadily
# Statistics SA reports a 5.2-percent annual decline in electricity generation
# And, the EU Transport Commissioner says it’s too early to say if bomb threats are linked

# The Electoral Commission says the capturing and verification of the local government election results is progressing steadily across the country. More than 60-percent of the 66-thousand-and-73 results had been captured by 5 pm yesterday. Provincially, the Northern Cape, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape are leading in results captured. IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya says the verification and quality assurance processes are aimed at ensuring the accuracy, transparency and integrity of the results before they are finalised:

Moepya also says its enhanced Issue Tracker has resolved more than one-thousand cases logged since the start of special voting on Monday. The tracker operates within the commission’s virtual results operations platform to remotely log, monitor, and fast-track the resolution of election-day and special-voting complaints or logistical hurdles. Moepya says they expect the results collation process to be completed by the weekend:

# Solidarity says wage negotiations between Kumba Iron Ore and four unions have stalled after five months. While the salary increase offers of 4.5-percent to five-percent are acceptable, the deadlock centres on Kumba’s demand that workers accept a new shift roster requiring mandatory work on all 12 public holidays. Solidarity’s Gideon du Plessis says management is shirking its duty by pushing this issue onto them instead of engaging directly with employees. Du Plessis called on Kumba’s leadership to take responsibility.

# Statistics South Africa says electricity generation decreased by 5.2-percent in September. However, seasonally adjusted production recorded a slight monthly increase of 0.4-percent compared with August. Electricity consumption also increased by 1.5-percent compared with the same month last year. Monthly, electricity distribution fell by 0.9-percent. Stats SA’s Tsholofelo Ditinti says electricity generation fell by 0.4-percent between July and September, while electricity distribution increased by 0.4-percent:

# The European Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas says it is too early to determine whether a series of bomb threats targeting flights across Europe are connected. Passengers and crew on at least 18 planes were impacted by bomb threats yesterday, with multiple flights rerouted and some having to be escorted by fighter jets. The threats were reportedly made in an anonymous email. On Tuesday, similar threats hit at least seven flights, and no explosives were found. Tzitzikostas says authorities are closely monitoring the situation and that investigations are ongoing.

# Rugby: France coach Fabien Galthié has reunited star half-backs Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against Fiji in Lyon. The pair will start together for the first time since March last year, after both battled injuries. Dupont will captain the side, while Kalvin Gourgues earns his first start for France in the centres. Uncapped loose forward Esteban Capilla could make his debut from the bench after being called up following an injury to Oscar Jegou. France will face South Africa next Friday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-33-cents and the euro at 18-rand-42-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-541-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-87-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….