News 13:00

BULLETIN 6 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Geordin Hill-Lewis expresses optimism about the future of the DA and South Africa
# Pope Leo begins a 12-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
# And golf: There will be no LIV 2.0 as it moves into the liquidation phase

# DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis is hopeful about South Africa’s future, while calling on political party leaders to put aside their differences and prioritise citizens. The party is set to govern Cape Town outright and is on course to be the largest party in four other metros – Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Nelson Mandela Bay. Hill-Lewis says voters can see the effort the DA makes to govern well for everyone and improve everyone’s living conditions and dignity:

Meanwhile, the newly-formed Service Delivery Party is making headway in Mpumalanga, securing 15 council seats with nearly 80-percent of votes counted. The party has become the majority in Victor Khanye Local Municipality, winning 39-percent of the vote and seven seats. The ANC continues to lead in several municipalities, although many councils are hung. The MK Party and the South African Communist Party are also showing support in Mkhondo and Bushbuckridge, respectively.

# Strong winds and heavy storms have caused extensive damage in parts of the Free State, leaving several residents affected. The spokesperson for the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Zimasa Mbewu, says areas including Tweespruit, Welkom and Odendaalsrus have been hit by severe weather conditions. She says several homes have reportedly sustained damage, with roofs blown off by strong winds, leaving residents to deal with the aftermath:

Moving abroad:

# Pope Leo departed for his 12-day trip to Latin America from Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport this morning, just three weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. The 71-year-old is set to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, where he is expected to attract millions-strong crowds. Latin America is home to around 40-percent of the world’s 1.4-billion Catholics. The Vatican says no extraordinary measures are being taken in relation to the Pope’s health, emphasising he is not someone with a permanent medical condition.

# Golf: LIV Golf has confirmed plans to wind down operations and enter the liquidation phase due to a lack of financial support. The breakaway league was unable to secure fresh investment to relaunch next year after BC Partners Credit cancelled its planned 4.98-billion-rand financial backing. This was a result of a mass exodus of high-profile players, including Louis Oosthuizen, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Sergio Garcia. LIV GOLF says it will remain open and consider any value-maximising alternatives with third parties that might arise throughout the wind-down process.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 18-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-134-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-77-dollars-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-20-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….