News 13:00

BULLETIN 20 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gayton McKenzie criticises Helen Zille for failing the residents of Johannesburg
# Russia says two people were killed in a ‘massive’ Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region
# And soccer: Pirates look to match Sundowns’ unbeaten road record

# Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie has criticised DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille over her record and approach to Johannesburg, amid campaigning ahead of the local government elections. McKenzie says Johannesburg needs alternative leadership and has promoted PA mayoral candidate Kenny Kunene. McKenzie’s remarks are part of the parties’ competing campaigns for Johannesburg. He emphasised Kunene’s ability to service delivery and ethical leadership:

# EFF leader Julius Malema says the party would provide what he describes as clean and ethical leadership in eThekwini if elected. Speaking at the EFF’s KwaZulu-Natal manifesto launch in Inanda, Malema criticised service delivery and infrastructure challenges, including water, sanitation and roads. He also backed the party’s eThekwini mayoral candidate, Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi. He says the party’s local government priorities include basic services, youth employment, municipal accountability and insourcing certain services:

# ANC National chairperson Gwede Mantashe has criticised National Executive Committee member Andile Lungisa’s decision to challenge his removal from the party’s Nelson Mandela Bay candidate list in court. Speaking during a door-to-door campaign in Kariega in the Eastern Cape ahead of the local government elections in November, Mantashe said the dispute should have been handled through ANC structures. The matter is expected to be heard later this month:

# A Yellow Level Two warning for severe thunderstorms has been issued for the western Free State this weekend. South African Weather Service forecaster Lungile Makondo says isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected across central and western areas, with scattered activity in the extreme west. The storms could bring heavy downpours, localised flooding, excessive lightning and strong, gusting winds. Makondo says isolated showers will continue from tomorrow, while temperatures are expected to remain cool before becoming cool to warm from today.

# Russian authorities say two people have been killed in a massive Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says more than one-thousand-600 drones were intercepted since Saturday, including 450 targeting the capital. Several drones reached an oil refinery in Moscow, while another struck a residential building. About 400 people, including 70 children, were evacuated from the Ramenskoye district, where homes were damaged. Ukraine has not commented on the reported attacks.

# And lastly, soccer: Orlando Pirates will look to extend their unbeaten away run to four league matches when they face Marumo Gallants in Rustenburg today. The Buccaneers have won at Chippa United and Kruger United, after drawing with AmaZulu. That matches the start Sundowns made on the road, where they have recorded two wins and two draws. Pirates are four points behind the leaders with a game in hand, while Gallants are still searching for their first victory of the season. The match kicks off at three this afternoon.

Stay tuned for more news………….