News 17:00

BULLETIN 11 November 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Collen Malatji says the ANC’s electoral decline requires collective accountability
# Forum4SA questions the salary hikes for office-bearers
# And: Meghan Markle’s father is returned to jail after removing his ankle monitor

# ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji says the ANC brand has been damaged over many years. Malatji was responding to former president Thabo Mbeki’s remarks that president Cyril Ramaphosa should consider resigning following the election outcome. Malatji says the party’s poor performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections cannot be blamed solely on its current leadership. He says the party’s leaders must accept greater responsibility for damaging its image:

# Forum4SA questions president Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to grant public office-bearers salary increases of 3.5-percent to four-percent for 2026/27, backdated to 1 April 2026. While acknowledging the Independent Commission’s role, spokesperson Tebogo Mashilompane says the increases are unjustified amid unemployment, poverty, rising living costs and poor service delivery. They call on the Presidency and Parliament to explain the economic justification, balance adjustments against citizens’ realities, prioritise service delivery and accountability.

# Agricultural Business Chamber’s Wandile Sihlobo says employment in the agricultural sector fell by about four-percent between the second and third quarters of 2026, but the sector remains resilient. South Africa’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 33.7-percent in the third quarter, up from 33.6-percent in the previous quarter, according to Statistics South Africa. Sihlobo says employment stands at 911-thousand, well above the long-term average of 800-thousand. He says farmers face rising input costs, fuel and fertiliser, which are putting pressure on the sector.

# Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Britain’s Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has been returned to federal custody in the United States after allegedly cutting off his electronic ankle monitor. The 82-year-old was initially released under house arrest after being charged with possessing child sexual abuse material. A judge revoked his release after authorities reported that he removed the monitoring device early on Tuesday. He will remain in custody without bail while the case proceeds. Markle denies the allegations against him.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-56-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 73-thousand-789-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-43-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Western Cape MEC of Social Development, Wendy Kaizer-Philander, has emphasised the importance of promoting active ageing and creating opportunities for older persons to live healthy, independent and socially connected lives. Ninety-two older persons represented the province at the National Active Ageing Programme, affectionately known as the Golden Games, in Bloemfontein last month. Kaizer-Philander says the seniors participated in various sporting activities aimed at promoting active ageing, physical health, mental well-being and social inclusion:

Stay tuned for more news………….