Update@Noon

A number of young candidates are fighting for a seat at the table in local councils in an effort to help bring change for the struggling youth.  As the country grapples with a high youth unemployment rate, they say communities need more energetic youth with bold ideas. However, data from the Independent Electoral Commission shows that young people are still inadequately represented on party lists.  Young people between 18 to 39 years make up 32 percent of all the candidates vying for seats in the November 4th local goverment elections .  Zanele Buthelezi spoke to three ward candidates from different political parties in eThekwini about their motivation to constest the elections... 

Economic Freedom Fighters president Julius Malema has outlined the party's commitments on education, housing, employment and basic services during a community engagement meeting in Bloemfontein. The party says it wants to improve residents' living conditions, while its mayoral candidate, Sam Matiase, accused the ANC-led municipality of failing to address poverty and infrastructure challenges. EFF members have also raised concerns about maladministration, corruption and unemployment. Lebohang Motshweneng reports…

Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, says she is pleased with the progress of the National Senior Certificate examinations so far. While no major irregularities or disruptions have been reported nationwide, concerns remain over political activities and protests in the lead-up to the Local Government Elections in November. Minister Gwarube has appealed to communities and political parties to ensure their activities do not disrupt the more than 800 thousand matric candidates currently writing their final exams. Zanele Buthelezi reports....

Youth employment, accountability and financial reform has taken center stage as President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the revised white paper on local government. The policy seeks to address municipal governance failures, financial mismanagement and poor service delivery. The launch saw the coming together of the three spheres of government, organised local government, traditional leadership, Parliament and other stakeholders to reflect on the reforms required to ensure that every municipality delivers reliable services and sound governance. President Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address in Boksburg. Zara Groenewald reports...

The United Nations Secretary-General is warning that the world's expanding wars are driving up the cost of survival — and deepening the inequalities fueling public anger. António Guterres says the consequences of conflict are reaching far beyond the battlefield, pushing up prices and squeezing already struggling households. Ahead of a visit to Egypt, he is also demanding action over restricted aid to Gaza and escalating Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports from New York.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has hit back at accusations that the newly announced temporary fuel levy relief is a political stunt aimed at winning votes ahead of next month's local government elections. ​Some opposition parties criticised the Minister's Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, claiming the timing of the three-rand per litre diesel reduction and one-rand-50 petrol relief-set to take effect on the 4th of November-was strategically linked to the upcoming polls. 

Government has revised down its economic growth forecast for 2026 to 1,2-percent from 1,6-percent projected in the February Budget.  Growth is expected to reach 2-percent by 2029. Government says it has identified 38-billion-rand in targeted savings to be redirected to social and economic priorities over the medium term. The South African Revenue Service has also collected an extra 17-billion rand in additional tax revenue due to higher precious metal prices. Meanwhile, consumers can also look forward to a temporary fuel relief until January next year. Naledi Mabitsela-Ngcobo reports.

International mediators gathered at a United Nations-backed consultative forum in Geneva, Switzerland today, seeking a coordinated push to end Sudan's war as drone attacks continue to kill civilians in markets and homes. Nearly two dozen countries took part, amid U.N. demands for greater pressure on the warring parties and those supplying their weapons. Neither the Sudanese government nor the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces attended the forum, which brings mediators together to coordinate peace efforts. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports that the meeting comes a day after the U.N. condemned deadly drone attacks on a market and fuel depot in the disputed Abyei region with reports putting the death toll at above 153.

Rand Water has warned that record-high water consumption by some municipal customers is placing the supply system under increasing pressure. The utility says it is pumping at maximum capacity, but demand continues to rise. Spokesperson Makenosi Maroo says municipalities must reduce consumption to allocated levels, warning that continued overconsumption could lead to supply restrictions to protect the system. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Rand spokesperson Makenosi Maroo 

Two former State Security Agency officers accused of fraud, forgery and theft for misappropriating R12 million in SSA funds will have their trial open to the media. The State Security Agency has granted media access to the trial of Thulani Dlomo and Patrick Mshothola taking place at the Pretoria High Court. The trial was previously closed to the public and the media after an order by Judge Mashudu Munzhelele. To discuss this further we are joined on the line by Executive Director of the Campaign for Free Expression, Nicole Fritz....