News 07:00
BULLETIN 2 November 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Former president Jacob Zuma has dismissed health concerns
# Motorists anticipate relief at the fuel pumps this week
# And, Pope Leo hopes the Oleshky ceasefire can lead to broader peace efforts
# MK Party president Jacob Zuma has urged supporters to secure victory in the local government elections, reiterating that the party is ready to take over South Africa. He returned to the campaign trail yesterday after a health scare and addressed the party’s final election rally at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, eThekwini. Zuma dismissed reports that he was in critical health, attributing such claims to people spreading political propaganda. He told supporters that the MK Party is the only party that fights for the freedom of black South Africans.
# IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa has called on South Africans to exercise their right to vote, promising ethical leadership and sound governance in municipalities. He closed the party’s election campaign at the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Stadium in Ulundi, northern KwaZulu-Natal yesterday. Special voting begins today, with Wednesday as the main election day. Hlabisa said IFP-led municipalities will address failed service deliveries, dry taps, broken roads, unreliable electricity, uncollected refuse, dark streets and municipal offices that do not respond:
# South African motorists could get some relief at the pumps from Wednesday. Based on the latest available projections, petrol is expected to decrease by about 23 cents a litre and diesel by up to one-rand-70-cents. The expected price decreases follow the government’s decision to temporarily reduce the General Fuel Levy as part of measures announced by Finance minister Enoch Godongwana in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. The reductions are intended to offset rising fuel costs and limit the impact on motorists.
# The Gauteng Legislature’s portfolio committee on Community Safety is calling on all political parties, their supporters and members of the public to place peace, tolerance and respect for democratic principles at the centre of the electoral process. South Africans head to the polls this week in the local government elections. Committee chairperson Bandile Masuku says police must heighten their visibility in identified high-risk voting stations and areas where tensions or potential clashes could threaten public safety:
# Pope Leo says he hopes the ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky and the humanitarian mission can pave the way for broader peace efforts in Kyiv. Brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, the ceasefire allows for the delivery of aid and the safe evacuation of residents through humanitarian corridors. The Pontiff noted that the cooperation between Russia and Ukraine to facilitate this necessary humanitarian gesture should serve to strengthen both parties’ willingness to engage in further diplomatic dialogue.
# Tennis: Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz won the Vienna Open, his fourth trophy of an injury-disrupted season and 28th career title. The Spanish second defeated Australian Alex de Minaur, 6-1, 6-4, to complete a perfect 16-0 season at ATP 500 events, which includes title runs in Doha and Tokyo. Twenty-three-year-old Alcaraz will play the Paris Masters this week, where he will face either Czech Jiri Lehecka or American Alex Michelsen in his opening match on Wednesday.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-70-cents and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-424-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-910-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 115-dollars-61-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….