News 06:00

BULLETIN 2 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# More than 2.6-million special voters are expected to cast their ballots today and tomorrow
# President Ramaphosa pledges to address the issues raised during their campaign
# And rugby: The Bok Women slip in the world rankings following their second defeat to Ireland

# The Electoral Commission has reiterated its readiness for the local government elections, as more than 2.6 million voters are set to cast special ballots today and tomorrow. A total of 80-percent of approved home visits are for voters older than 60, while women account for 74-percent of approved special votes. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo says special votes cater for people who are elderly, ill or living with disabilities, as well as those unable to vote at their registered stations on election day:

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the party has listened to concerns and challenges raised by South Africans during its election campaign. He delivered the keynote address at the party’s final Siyanqoba Rally ahead of the elections at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape on Sunday. Ramaphosa said the ANC has heard calls for better working conditions, the cost of living to go down, action against gender-based violence, and greater support for people with disabilities:

# Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the costs of unbundling Eskom’s transmission assets could range between 80-billion-rand and 130-billion-rand. The Eskom Restructuring Task Team’s first phase report has set out a high-level approach to establishing an independent transmission systems operator. Phase two of the task team’s work is currently underway and includes the development of a detailed implementation plan, legal due diligence, and a lender engagement strategy. Ramokgopa says South Africa is taking a cautious approach to electricity reform to avoid unintended consequences.

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says the provincial government has completed 21 of the 67 directives aimed at strengthening the response to gender-based violence and femicide, with a further 38 underway. He briefed the media yesterday on the province’s 90-Day GBVF Response Plan. This follows presidential directives and a four-point plan to combat the scourge of GBVF in the province. Lesufi acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in addressing forensic backlogs, obtaining outstanding case recovery information, and accelerating municipal safety interventions:

# Germany’s Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt has accused violent left-wing groups and troublemakers from migrant communities of hijacking peaceful protests over the weekend. Cost-of-living demonstrations organised by the ‘Gen Z has got this!’ movement turned violent as masked rioters looted shops in Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg. Police had to use water cannons to disperse crowds. At least 60 people were arrested in Berlin alone for offences including property damage, assault, and resistance against emergency forces. Dobrindt has called for harsh punishments for rioters and looters.

# Rugby: The Springbok Women have slipped back to tenth in the world rankings following their second successive Test defeat to Ireland in the W-15 Global Series at the weekend. Ireland won 38-17 in Cape Town on Saturday following last weekend’s 40-27 win. South Africa would’ve climbed to eighth on the world rankings with a first-ever victory over Ireland. Bok Women co-head coach Franzel September says they have made good strides this year, and the next phase of their development will be to beat teams like Ireland.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-63-cents and the euro at 18-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-29-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-836-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-896-dollars-5-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 116-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….