News 11:00

BULLETIN 6 November 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC isn’t expected to win a majority in any of the eight metros
# Melania Trump calls for a more enduring ceasefire in Ukraine
# And rugby: Nortjé backs Moerat following criticism over his inclusion in the Springbok squad

# The local government election results process continues to advance, with 72-percent of votes counted nationally. The ANC is leading nationally with 31.92-percent but it is on course for a bruising result, as its expected not to win a majority in any of the eight metros, while the DA is projected to finish first in at least five. The ANC has lost support in Gauteng, which the DA is leading by 34.44-percent, while ActionSA is second in Tshwane. Cape Town is the only metro that will be governed outright by the DA.

Meanwhile, Build One South Africa says the electorate was understandably cautious about placing its trust in a party without an established local government track record. The party will have elected representation in all four metropolitan municipalities which it contested: Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town and Ekurhuleni. BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane says they will approach the post-election period constructively, and where coalition arrangements are necessary, they will engage with other parties in the interests of residents:

# National Treasury says government continues to achieve its fiscal targets, with the fiscal metrics looking even better than projected. Treasury now projects that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio will fall below 70-percent by 2032/33, which is one year earlier than forecast in the mini-budget. The changes follow Statistics South Africa’s GDP rebasing and benchmarking exercise, which increased the measured size of the economy by 5.1-percent in 2025/26. Treasury’s director-general, Duncan Pieterse, says this does not reflect new revenue gains, spending cuts, or a reduction in government’s debt.

Moving abroad:

# US first lady Melania Trump has called for the temporary ceasefire in Oleshky to serve as a spark for lasting peace in Ukraine. The reprieve, which expired on Sunday, allowed vital humanitarian aid to reach the Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine while facilitating the evacuation of nearly 800 residents. Trump, who was widely credited with brokering the localised truce, emphasised the protection of innocent human lives must transcend the bitter divisions of war:

# Rugby: Springbok lock Ruan Nortjé has thrown his full support behind Salmaan Moerat ahead of tomorrow’s Nations Championship Test against Italy in Turin. The former Junior Springboks combine once again in the green and gold, renewing a partnership that stretches back to 2017. Twenty-eight-year-old Moerat, who has not played for the Boks this year, has received some criticism, with some questioning his inclusion. Nortjé is looking forward to going into battle with Moerat:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-54-cents and the euro at 18-rand-49-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-17-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-317-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-45-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-78-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….