News 18:00

BULLETIN 31 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy minister Sihle Zikalala launches the first phase of the small harbours programme
# Dutch centrist Rob Jetten wins the election race
# And cricket: Australia beats India by four wickets in the second T20

# Public Works and Infrastructure deputy minister Sihle Zikalala has launched phase one of South Africa’s first small harbours programme since democracy. The programme, starting in Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal, aims to boost coastal access, create jobs, and drive economic development in neglected towns. Zikalala says phase one is expected to generate over four-billion-rand in business sales and nearly six-thousand jobs:

Meanwhile, minister of Transport Barbara Creecy says the Cape Town container terminal is an essential component in exporting produce to global markets. She conducted an oversight visit assessing Transnet’s readiness for the deciduous fruit export season, Creecy emphasised the port is a key hub for the Western Cape, ensuring vital economic growth and job creation. She adds over four-billion-rand has been invested in upgrading port equipment nationwide:

# National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams has filed a criminal complaint against National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, alleging nepotism within the police. Adams claims several of Masemola’s relatives hold positions, some without proper credentials. Adams says the case has been referred to the Anti-Corruption Unit in Pretoria for investigation, urging transparency. He insists evidence includes names, dates, and timeframes and challenges Masemola to publicly deny the allegations:

Moving abroad:

# The Dutch centrist liberal party of Rob Jetten has won Wednesday’s neck-and-neck election race, according to vote analysis indicating it cannot be beaten by anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders. Jetten’s D66 currently has a narrow lead of 15-thousand votes over Wilders’ Freedom Party. Local news agency ANP says even though the vote count is not complete, Wilders can no longer win. Twenty-eight-year-old Jetten says he is very proud of this historic result, adding he now has a great responsibility to form a stable government.

# Cricket: Mitchell Marsh scored a brisk 46 after Josh Hazlewood took three for 13 as Australia beat India by four wickets to win the second T20. Sent in at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground, India slumped to 125 all out in their penultimate over. Abhishek Sharma scored 68 and Harshit Rana 35. Marsh then led the reply with 46 off just 26 deliveries and the hosts won with 40 balls remaining. This gives Australia a 1-0 lead after the opening game in Canberra was a wash-out.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-38-cents and the euro at 20-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-778-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-18-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-41-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….