News 12:00

BULLETIN 5 November 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Affairs Research Institute expects voter turnout to surpass the 2021 levels
# The US Democrats will focus on affordability after winning control of the Congress and the House
# And rugby: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx signs for the Bulls

# The Public Affairs Research Institute says voter turnout in yesterday’s local government elections is on track to surpass the levels recorded in 2021. Its assessment points to increased voter participation in the current electoral process. The 2021 local government elections recorded a voter turnout of approximately 46-percent. The organisation’s Sithembile Mbete told SABCNews the final turnout figures will determine whether participation has increased compared with the previous elections:

Meanwhile, Mpumalanga police are investigating the death of a man who was shot outside a voting station in Bushbuckridge last night. Spokesperson Donald Mdhluli says the victim was found with gunshot wounds and was declared dead at the scene. No arrests have been made. Police condemn the incident, saying violence has no place in democratic processes. Mdhluli says investigations are underway and anyone with information are asked to contact their nearest police station:

Election news from abroad:

# US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says they will be fully focused on affordability and accountability, not on impeaching president Donald Trump. The Democrats secured both the Senate and the House of Representatives from the Republican Party in Tuesday’s midterm elections. According to exit polls from Associated Press, voters said the cost of living and government corruption were their two top issues. Jeffries says life is currently way too expensive for Americans:

# Rugby: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx is on his way to Pretoria. The Bulls confirmed the signing of the current world player of the year after he announced last week he will leave Japan middle next year. Thirty-two-year-old Marx will reunite with coach Johan Ackermann, who was his mentor playing for the Lions earlier. He has played 94 Tests for South Africa, scoring 29 tries – the most by any Bok forward. Ackermann says it’s humbling that a player of Marx’s quality committed to the Bulls.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents and the euro at 18-rand-37-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-540-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-123-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-22-sents a barrel.

# And finally: The Southern African Development Community has intensified regional efforts to conserve plant genetic resources, with approximately 82-thousand accessions now safeguarded. This is part of efforts to strengthen food security, preserve agricultural biodiversity and improve resilience to climate change. Sadec’s director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Fahari Marwa, says innovative policies, stronger partnerships and increased investment are needed to support conservation, capacity-building and the sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources.

Stay tuned for more news………….