News 12:00

BULLETIN 3 October 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Hlabisa calls for a Local Government reset to boost service delivery
# The Communication Workers Union slams the SABC management for short-changing workers
# And Tennis: Novak Djokovic says players are not united enough to effect change of tennis calendar

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says government wants to press a reset button on local government to improve service delivery and financial management. Speaking at the Local Government Indaba in Midrand, Gauteng, Hlabisa stressed tackling corruption, appointing qualified officials, and strengthening metros as key to restoring efficiency, attracting investment, and creating jobs. He emphasised that local government must fulfills its role to citizens:

# The Communication Workers Union has accused the SABC management of disregarding workers’ rights, dignity, and livelihoods. This comes as the union says workers are owed 50-percent of their back pay for the 2023/2024 financial year. The union’s spokesperson, Moffat Seutlwadi, says management has also openly declared that there will be no salary increments, which means three consecutive years of frozen wages and broken promises:

# The DA in Mogale City condemns the ANC, EFF, and Freedom Front Plus coalition for approving a 100-million-rand overdraft in 2024/25, costing residents 4.9-million-rand in unnecessary interest. Electricity tariffs and poor service delivery have worsened under this alliance. Tyrone Gray says the DA opposes wasteful spending and pledges accountable governance, fair tariffs, and improved municipal services, offering residents a chance for affordable, effective service delivery in 2026:

# Israel faced international condemnation and protests on Thursday after its military intercepted almost all of about 40 boats in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza and took captive more than 450 foreign activists, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg. Cameras broadcasting live feeds from the boats showed armed Israeli soldiers in helmets and night vision goggles boarding the ships, while passengers huddled in life vests with their hands up. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on Israel to release the six South Africans on board the flotilla and other nationals who were abducted.

# Tennis: Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic says schedule reorganisation talks have occurred for over 15 years, but players are not united enough to effect change, citing self-interest. Top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek have criticised the demanding schedule and the number of tournaments they play each year. Djokovic says players are not investing enough time and energy into trying to make change happen:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-24-cents and the euro at 20-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-942-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-862-dollars-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….