News 06:00

BULLETIN 15 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile says the transition to a sustainable economy must include everyone
# More fuel price hikes are expected in November
# And, a Karoo wire-car documentary is nominated for an Emmy

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says the most urgent national task is to achieve stronger growth and create jobs on a scale that substantially reduces poverty and inequality. He delivered the keynote address at the Federation of Unions of South Africa’s Eighth National Congress in Kempton Park, Gauteng yesterday. The economy contracted by 0.2 percent in the second quarter of this year, while the official unemployment stands at 33.6-percent. Mashatile stated that employment preservation must become a more deliberate part of the industrial policy:

# Newly elected COSATU president Mike Shingange has called for unity within the labour federation and the broader tripartite alliance. He was elected at the federation’s 15th National Congress in Kempton Park, Gauteng, yesterday, where he secured 973 votes, succeeding Zingiswa Losi, who was elected general secretary. Despite the South African Communist Party’s decision to contest the November local government elections independently from the tripartite alliance, Shingange says the congress has resolved to support both the ANC and the SACP in the elections:

# South African motorists are facing further fuel price increases next month, although the latest projections are lower than initially feared. Early estimates suggested petrol could rise by more than four-rand a litre. But the latest Central Energy Fund figures point to increases of around one-rand-80-cents a litre for petrol and one-rand for diesel. The estimates depend on international oil prices and the rand-dollar exchange rate holding at current levels. The final prices will be confirmed by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources closer to the end of the month.

# The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine says Russia is targeting American business in Kyiv, and there has been no response from the White House. Russian missiles and drones have damaged facilities belonging to some of America’s most notable brands, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, McDonald’s, and Oreo. The chamber’s president, Andy Hunder, says he struggles to understand president Donald Trump’s administration’s relative silence on the matter, particularly given how much they’ve portrayed themselves as pro-US business. A White House official says the administration remains committed to helping bring the war to an end.

# Rugby: Sharks head coach JP Pietersen has selected a 28-man squad that leaves this week for his team’s three overseas matches taking place in France, Wales and Ireland over the next three weekends. The group consists of 17 forwards and 11 backline players, with reinforcements to be sent over as the tour goes on. Several Springboks are among them, who are on mandatory rest after a gruelling few months of rugby. In their first game this Saturday, the Sharks take on Lyon in the Challenge Cup competition.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-57-cents and the euro at 18-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-354-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-111-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A documentary about children racing handmade wire cars in Philippistown in the Northern Cape has been nominated for an Emmy Award. The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix follows children who build cars from scrap materials and race them over three kilometres. The film is one of four nominees in the Sports Documentary category, and competes against productions from Brazil, Spain and Britain. The documentary was made to promote the town and attract support for programmes that benefit its youth. The ceremony takes place in New York on 23 November.

Stay tuned for more news………….