News 08:00

BULLETIN 27 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC welcomes the Afrikaners speaking out against the misuse of their identity in the US
# A possible strike is looming in the auto industry
# And the US and China have agreed on a potential trade deal

# The ANC says it welcomes the courageous stance taken by Afrikaans-speaking South Africans. Nearly 50 Afrikaner academics, church leaders, and other professionals authored and co-signed a letter titled, Not in our Name: Afrikaners Respond to the Misuse of Their Story in US Politics. In the letter, they reject the US narrative that casts Afrikaners as victims of racial persecution in post-apartheid South Africa. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu says they note with appreciation the group’s clear rejection of attempts to distort the country’s history and weaponise it to advance far-right agendas abroad.

# The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa says it has reached a deadlock in its wage negotiations in the auto industry, and strike action is possible. At the centre of the stalemate between the parties is the percentage increase that employers must offer to settle this round of negotiations for three years. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says they have rejected a 6.5-percent wage increase for the first year and five-percent increase for the following two years:

# The MK Party says it renews its call for comprehensive lifestyle audits for all members of the judiciary, funded by the public purse. This follows the explosive testimony of witnesses at the Madlanga Commission who testified that Gauteng acting Judge President Judge Aubrey Ledwaba received 2.5-million-rand bribe to grant alleged cartel boss Katiso “KT” Molefe bail. MK Party’s spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, is urging the implementation of decisive measures to restore public confidence, eradicate corruption, and ensure the equal application of the rule of law:

# The US has reached a framework agreement with China to avoid imposing an additional 100-percent tariff on Chinese imports. This comes ahead of the highly anticipated meeting between president Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Thursday. The Chinese government, in a statement, said that both negotiating teams reached a basic consensus on arrangements to address their respective concerns. Washington has also agreed and secured trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia, while frameworks have been agreed with Thailand and Vietnam.

# Motorsport: McLaren’s Lando Norris converted pole position into a dominant victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix, and now leads the drivers’ championship. The Briton crossed the finish line over 30-seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third. Haas’ Ollie Bearman finished in a career-best fourth with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in fifth. Norris, who leads the championship by one point from his teammate Piastri, says he is focused on his own performance with four races to go:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-19-cents and the euro at 20-rand. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 115-thousand-121-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-74-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….