News 14:00
BULLETIN 15 October 2 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Mbalula is emotional after the ANC wins the Constitutional Court battle over its candidate list
# Two ships sink after being hit by missiles around the Strate of Hormuz
# And cricket: Breetzke replaces Stubbs in the Proteas’ squad for the second Test against Australia
# ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula became emotional after the Constitutional Court ruled in the party’s favour over 181 excluded candidates. The court has ordered the affected candidates be included in the local government election process. Mbalula told the media the ruling vindicated both the ANC and voters who wanted to support the party in the affected municipalities. He also thanked individuals and political parties who stood by the ANC:
Meanwhile, local government association SALGA asks resources practitioners to help attract skilled professionals and technical experts to local government. CEO Sithole Mbanga says the country needs its best talent where the impact is most immediate. He says municipalities are where policy meets daily life; where water, sanitation, roads, electricity, human settlements and local economic development become real to communities. Mbanga says every investment, business expansion and infrastructure project ultimately finds expression in a municipality:
# Transnet Port Terminals is pursuing two major private sector partnerships to expand capacity and improve efficiency. CEO Jabu Mdaki says the initiatives target the Ngqura manganese export corridor in the Northern Cape and the Richards Bay dry bulk terminal in KwaZulu-Natal. The division is investing about four-billion-rand annually in equipment and reported a six-percent revenue increase in the current financial year. Transnet also plans further partnerships at underperforming terminals, while addressing operational disruptions at Durban gateway terminal following the introduction of new technology.
Moving abroad:
# A container ship and a dry bulk carrier have both sunk around the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours after being hit by projectiles in separate incidents. Maritime security sources say a small container vessel, the Singapore-flagged GFS Pride, sank while sailing through the route, while the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao sank close to the strait. Iran stepped up attacks over the past ten days in response to the US blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions introduced last month.
# Cricket: Matthew Breetzke could play his third Test for South Africa in the second encounter against Australia in Gqeberha after replacing Tristan Stubbs in the squad that lost the first Test in Durban. Breetzke hasn’t excelled for the Proteas in the longest format yet, but impressed in one-day matches for the country, including scoring a century in the first ODI against Australia in Durban last month. Ryan Rickelton will take over as wicketkeeper, although Kyle Verreynne remains in the squad. The second Test starts on Sunday.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 18-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-62-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-152-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-16-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….