News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA leader says the party is on the verge of something historic in the upcoming elections
# Duduzane Zuma says the MK Party won’t hesitate to remove people who are not doing their jobs
# And, Marine Le Pen vows to make a “true change” in France

# Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says the DA is on the verge of something truly historic in next week’s local government elections, with many South Africans considering voting for the party for the first time. He addressed supporters at the DA’s election rally in eThekwini yesterday. Hill-Lewis stated that the party will repay the trust of voters by working to root out corruption, get basic services working, create more jobs and make communities safer:

# MK Party first deputy president Duduzane Zuma says the upcoming local government elections are the party’s stepping stone to 2029. He spoke at a rally in uMlazi, KwaZulu-Natal yesterday. Zuma said that the only opportunity they have to demonstrate the party’s capabilities to the world is through the municipalities they govern. He also stated that they won’t hesitate to remove members who don’t do their jobs, following the recent removal of Sibonelo Nomvalo as its secretary-general last week:

# The South African National Christian Forum says it will approach the Johannesburg High Court to seek the removal of CRL Rights Commission chairperson, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva. Forum president Marothi Mashashane says the Commission has no legal or constitutional authority to regulate, license or vet Christian churches. Mashashane says the Commission’s mandate, under Section 185 of the Constitution, is to protect, promote and defend religious rights, and not to act as a regulatory or legislative body over churches:

# Western Cape Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers says progress is being made on the 373.7-million-rand upgrade of Sir Lowry’s Pass Road. The project aims to improve road safety, traffic flow and accessibility in the Gordon’s Bay area. Construction began in April 2026 and is scheduled for completion in April 2028, subject to favourable construction conditions. Simmers says the project involves reconstructing approximately 4.57-kilometres of the existing single-carriageway road into a dual carriageway between the N-two and Faure Marine Drive, also known as the R44.

# French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen says the country is not in the condition it is in because of its people but because of its leaders. This comes as France experienced another wave of largely peaceful protests over the weekend, with more than one-thousand people arrested on Saturday. Launching her 2027 presidential campaign in Orleans, Le Pen accused president Emmanuel Macron’s government of being soft on violent protesters and lacking authority. She has called for a ‘new renaissance’ in France, while vowing to make a “true change” in the country.

# Rugby: Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith has signed a three-year contract with the Bulls. The two-time World Cup winner recently completed an eight-year stint with Shizuoka Blue Revs in Japan. A major knee injury he suffered in May has ruled him out for the remainder of the season. This means the 33-year-old will make his Bulls debut early in the new year. Smith says he is excited to join the team, emphasising that playing under coach Johan Ackermann previously at the Lions was one of his best experiences.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-61-cents and the euro at 18-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-23-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-551-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-990-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 115-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….