For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: South African factory mood sours in October; AfriForum celebrates Nersa court case victory; And, Tanzania's president Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn into office

South African factory mood sours in October

South Africa's manufacturing sentiment deteriorated in October, dragged down by subdued domestic demand and sluggish exports, a purchasing managers' index survey showed today.

The seasonally-adjusted PMI sponsored by South African bank Absa fell to 49.2 points in October from 50.8 in September, highlighting "the fragility of the manufacturing recovery," Absa said in a statement.

A reading below 50 indicates decreased activity.

The business activity sub-index dropped by 5 points to 49.4, marking the ninth month this year it has been in contractionary territory.

Another sub-index tracking expected business conditions in six months dropped more than 3 points to 46.1.

AfriForum celebrates Nersa court case victory

Lobby group AfriForum celebrated its court victory, after the Pretoria High Court ruled that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s approval for the implementation of municipal electricity tariffs without the use of proper cost studies and public participation processes was unconstitutional.

The case was won with costs and the court also granted AfriForum’s request for an interdict for specified timelines for future public participation processes.

AfriForum had argued that Nersa has been approving municipal electricity tariffs without the use of proper cost of supply studies and public participation processes.

AfriForum manager of local government Affairs Morné Mostert explained that the new timelines in the municipal electricity increase process will ensure that there is no shortage of opportunities for the public to provide input on the proposed electricity tariff increases.

AfriForum expressed confidence that Nersa’s fixed timelines will bring renewed stability to electricity tariff adjustments.

And, Tanzania's president Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn into office

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn into office today for her first elected term after winning a landslide victory in an election that set off deadly protests across the country.

Hassan, who came to power in 2021 following the death in office of her predecessor, was declared the winner of last week's election with 97.66% of the vote.

Hassan, 65, ran against only candidates from minor parties after her main challengers from the two biggest opposition parties were disqualified from the race.

Violent protests erupted during last Wednesday's voting, with some demonstrators setting fire to government buildings and police firing tear gas and gunshots, according to witnesses.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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