News 11:00

BULLETIN 14 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Manamelawill comply with the court ruling on the National Skills Fund’s CEO position
# South African household vulnerability to hunger reached its highest level since 2010 last year
# And soccer: Banyana Banyana goes through to the third round of the 2028 LA Olympic qualifiers

# Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela will fully comply with the Labour Court’s ruling on the National Skills Fund’s CEO position. The court has issued an interim interdict stopping his directives to re-advertise the position, as the recruitment process has been concluded and a candidate recommended. Spokesperson Matshepo Seedat says Manamela remains committed to lawful, fair and transparent recruitment processes, sound governance and the effective functioning of the fund:

# Food security in South Africa deteriorated last year, with 12-percent of households reporting hunger while 14.7-percent of individuals experienced hunger. This is according to the South African Food Security Index 2026 commissioned by the Shoprite Group. The country’s overall food security score fell to 52.6 last year from 56.5 in 2024. This is because food inflation has reduced the availability of food, while access and dietary diversity remained stable. Shoprite Group’s Sanjeev Raghubir says rising electricity, transport, and other essential costs are eroding household budgets, so support must reach beyond the food basket.

# The ANC in Gauteng has condemned the killing of two Youth League members in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, yesterday evening. They were shot dead after leaving a memorial service for a party member at Mogobeng Primary School. Five people were wounded. One suspect handed himself over to police. ANC provincial task team coordinator Sochayile Khanyile has urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed and to refrain from circulating unverified information:

Moving abroad:

# UK prime minister Andy Burnham is set to host Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street today. The meeting comes amidst US president Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel. Burnham is expected to use the visit to announce an acceleration of military support for Kyiv and to pledge further rounds of sanctions aimed at Moscow. He will also reaffirm plans to fully implement a maritime services ban on Russian liquefied natural gas exports. Burnham says the UK’s support for Ukraine is rock solid.

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana went through to the third round of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers after a commanding 7-0 aggregate victory over Madagascar in Bloemfontein. South Africa won the second leg 3-0 with goals from Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado and a brace from substitute Ronnel Donnelly. The 2022 African champions will now face Angola in the third round early next year. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis is happy with the overall performance:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-46-cents and the euro at 18-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-495-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-149-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….