News 07:00
BULLETIN 16 October 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The DA says the court ruling on the ANC case raises serious concerns
# Minister Creecy says the rail network must form the backbone of transport
# And, AfriForum steps in after the police allegedly shelve a victim’s assault docket
# The DA says the Constitutional Court judgment in the ANC’s candidate list case raises serious concerns about the precedent it sets for complying with the Electoral Commission’s deadlines and requirements. The apex court overturned the Electoral Court’s decision that resulted in the exclusion of 181 ANC candidates from six municipalities ahead of the next month’s local government elections. The DA’s Ashor Sarupen says the courts have held that strict mechanical compliance applies to deadlines in every matter up to now:
Meanwhile, the MK Party has expressed disappointment at the Constitutional Court judgment. The MK Party says it is concerned that this judgment raises serious concerns about equality before the law, the consistent application of electoral rules and public confidence in the impartial administration of justice.
# Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy says government is committed to restoring the country’s rail network, attracting private investment and embedding reforms in law to ensure their continuity beyond the current administration. The National Rail Master Plan identifies a core rail network on which the government will focus investment, while allowing private operators to explore opportunities on other lines for mining, agriculture and tourism. Creecy cautioned that the pace of reform needed to account for the complexity of the broader transport system:
# AfriForum is supporting a gender-based violence victim who has laid criminal charges against two police officers for allegedly closing her assault case without completing the investigation. Emmah Mailula was allegedly assaulted at her home in Mamelodi in April. The organisation says police marked the docket as withdrawn despite the National Prosecuting Authority’s instruction to investigate further. Mailula says the justice system failed her and fears other women face similar challenges:
# Russia has nearly finished building a major new base for launching jet-powered drones in just six weeks. This is according to defence experts and a Reuters analysis of satellite imagery, in the latest expansion of its attack capability close to Ukraine. The construction coincides with a surge in the use of Russian jet-powered attack drones against Ukraine, which is struggling to intercept the faster weapons that can travel at speeds of up to 600 km per hour. Kyiv expects Russia to further escalate jet drone and missile attacks this winter.
# Cricket: KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union chief executive Heinrich Strydom says a thorough internal review will be conducted into the low crowd at Kingsmead in Durban for the first Test between South Africa and Australia. A total of just under 20-thousand fans attended across the five days, which was the Proteas’ first home Test since January 2025. Australia won the match by 214 runs. Strydom says they need to listen to the supporters, reconnect with communities, and continue to find ways to make Test cricket more accessible, engaging, and appealing.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-51-cents and the euro at 18-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-993-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-153-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-55-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….