News 11:00

BULLETIN 3 November 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Business Leadership SA says Operation Vulindlela’s wins are real, but implementation momentum is slowing
# George Clooney says it was a mistake to have Harris replace Biden in last year’s election in the US
# And cricket: Government applauds the Proteas Women for their performance in the World Cup

# Business Leadership South Africa says Operation Vulindlela has delivered tangible wins in electricity and visa reform, but implementation has slowed on other critical reforms. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery. BLSA CEO Busiswe Mavuso says the establishment of the Transport Economic Regulator and the unbundling of Transnet’s National Ports Authority have stalled. She adds that ultimately, the critical test of reform success is whether government can get the economy growing.

# The National Union of Mineworkers has expressed concern over the escalating crisis of retrenchments and the shrinkage of key industrial sectors. Numerous companies in the metal sector are retrenching workers due to intense competition, particularly from China. NUM’s spokesperson, Livhuwani Mammburu, says government must urgently intervene to save up to 688 jobs at Beeshoek iron ore mine in the Northern Cape. He says proactive measures are needed to prevent a socio-economic disaster:

# The DA in the Western Cape has rejected any attempt to exploit race or identity for political gain. This comes as two former DA councillors, Marchell Kleynhans and Brendon Adams, who left the party to join the Patriotic Alliance last week, have accused the DA of sidelining coloured and Khoi people in the George Municipality. DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers says the party does not have a coloured caucus or any form of racial division within its structures. He adds their focus remains on good governance.

Moving abroad:

# Actor and prominent financial donor to the Democratic party, George Clooney, says it was a mistake to have former vice president, Kamala Harris, replace former president, Joe Biden, as the democratic nominee in last year’s US presidential election. A virtual vote of party delegates nominated Harris after Biden ended his bid for re-election in July. Clooney told CBS he had no regrets about writing his New York Times op-ed, insisting that Biden bow out of the presidential election:

# Cricket: Government has applauded the Proteas Women for their exceptional performance in the Women’s one-day World Cup final against India. The co-hostesses were crowned champions for the first time after defeating South Africa by 52 runs in Mumbai. Government deputy spokesperson, William Baloyi, says the Proteas Women should be proud of their performance, as they showed determination, skill, and a fighting spirit:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-30-cents and the euro at 19-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-47-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-259-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-20-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….