News 11:00

BULLETIN 9 November 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Hlabisa says the attention now turns to constituting municipal councils within the prescribed 14-days
# ActionSA holds coalition talks with the ANC, but won’t compromise on Tshwane’s mayorship
# And cricket: An out-of-form Labuschagne is dropped for Australia’s Test series against New Zealand

# Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa says the local government election results will be gazetted on Wednesday. The Electoral Commission has declared the elections free and fair, with the ANC securing the most votes nationally, followed by the DA and the MK Party. Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni are among the 137 municipalities without an outright majority. Hlabisa says the attention will now turn to constituting municipal councils within the prescribed 14-day period:

Meanwhile, ActionSA held post-election coalition negotiations with the ANC, describing it as constructive. The party secured 5.67-percent of the national vote and is poised to play a key role in coalition negotiations. Leader Herman Mashaba says they are willing to work with the DA, but not with Helen Zille and Cilliers Brink. He insists ActionSA will not compromise on Nasiphi Moya remaining Tshwane’s mayor:

# The UDM has called on the Eastern Cape political killings task team to investigate the murder of its Nelson Mandela Bay councillor, Luxolo Namette. The 44-year-old was shot and killed at a barber shop in Motherwell, Gqeberha, on Saturday afternoon. UDM general secretary, Bulelani Bobotyane says it is deeply concerning that the killing may have been politically motivated.

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump has acknowledged that some bad messaging on economic issues and his tough immigration policies played a part in his Republican Party losing the midterm elections. The party lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to the Democrats last week. In his first sit-down interview since the election, Trump told CBS’ “60 Minutes” the primary reason for Republicans’ losses was that he was not on the ballot:

# Cricket: South African-born Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from the upcoming four-match Test Championship series against New Zealand. The 32-year-old has struggled with form, and since returning to the side for last season’s Ashes, has averaged 23.66 from ten Tests and scored two half-centuries from 19 innings. His century drought dates back to Australia’s fourth Test against England in 2023. In the final Test of last month’s series in South Africa, Labuschagne scored zero and four, having not reached 40 in the first two Tests. 

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-48-cents and the euro at 18-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-7-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-205-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-109-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 99-dollars-76-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….