News 06:00

BULLETIN 27 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Kubayi launches a probe after Francesca Albanese was irregularly served with court papers
# The MK Party says South Africa’s removal from the grey list does not automatically translate into investments
# And motorsport: Alex Marquez wins in Malaysia and clinches the second spot in the MotoGP world championship

# Justice and Constitutional Development minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has launched an investigation after the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, was irregularly served with court papers by a sheriff. The incident occurred while Albanese was in South Africa for a Nelson Mandela Foundation event on Saturday. The department confirmed that the service of the court papers was unauthorised and did not follow proper legal and diplomatic protocols. Kubayi has apologised to Albanese and described the incident as regrettable.

# The MK Party says it cautions that South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list does not automatically translate into greater investment or improved economic conditions for the people. The MK Party’s Des Van Rooyen says to believe so is to fall for yet another illusion presented by the first world, suggesting that compliance and alignment with their interests will yield prosperity. He says history has shown that such expectations never materialise:

 # ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, says the party won’t undermine the City of Johannesburg council with regard to the appointment of the city manager, and processes will be followed with ANC input. Last week, the council withdrew a report recommending Floyd Brink’s appointment to the position. Brink was removed twice after the High Court in Johannesburg ruled that his 2023 and 2024 appointments were irregular. Mbalula says the ANC will meet today to finalise its support for the appointment of a new city manager:

# The South African Communist Party has welcomed the advisory opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice, reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right to an independent and sovereign statehood and self-determination. The SACP’s Pius Vilakati says this fundamental right has been suppressed by the apartheid Israeli regime since it invaded and occupied Palestine in 1947. He says  the apartheid Israeli regime has used starvation as part of its genocidal assault on Gaza, and has blocked urgently needed humanitarian aid:

# Motorsport: MotoGP Gresini Racing rider, Alex Marquez, clinched his third win of the season following victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The 29-year-old Spaniard finished over two seconds clear of compatriot Pedro Acosta for Red Bull KTM Racing, with Honda’s Joan Mir in third. Marquez has clinched second place overall in the World Championship behind the champion, his brother Marc, who was absent from the race because of a season-ending injury. South Africa’s Brad Binder finished ninth for Red Bull KTM.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-19-cents and the euro at 20-rand. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 114-thousand-618-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-67-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The City of Cape Town’s Energy Directorate has announced that its Paardevlei 132-kilovolt Switching Station has received two major accolades. The station won the International Project Management Association Global Project Excellence Awards 2025 Silver Winner and the Project Management Summit and Prestige Awards 2025 project of the year runner up. Mayoral committee member for Energy, Xanthea Limberg says these awards demonstrate excellence in infrastructure delivery and highlights the capabilities of the teams , not only in the Energy Directorate but across the municipality:

Stay tuned for more news………….