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

Making headlines: Court orders oral evidence over Dlamini-Zuma’s ANC vote-buying claims; DA launches relentless final campaign push following surge in latest polls; And, PMI shows South Africa private sector contracts at fastest pace since December

Court orders oral evidence over Dlamini-Zuma’s ANC vote-buying claims

In a major legal development shaking the ANC, the High Court has directed that the defamation dispute between party veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula must be resolved through oral evidence.

Following the decision, Mbalula clarified that the judgment does not validate the allegations made against him.

The legal fallout erupted after Dlamini-Zuma alleged, during an appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast hosted by former EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, that illicit financial influence heavily dictated internal ANC election outcomes.

Acting Judge HM Viljoen declined to grant the immediate order for retraction sought by Mbalula. Instead, the court determined that the core factual disputes, and the gravity of the allegations, are better evaluated through witness testimonies and oral evidence under oath.

Dlamini-Zuma, who has filed a formal notice of intention to oppose the suit, welcomed the ruling.

Meanwhile, Mbalula also welcomed the court's decision to test the veracity of the statements under oath, noting that the judge did not dismiss the matter outright as Dlamini-Zuma had requested.

DA launches relentless final campaign push following surge in latest polls

The DA has announced it will work relentlessly over the next month to secure outright majorities in the City of Tshwane, City of Johannesburg, and the City of Cape Town municipalities, in its aim to “rescue” these key metros from what it terms the “chaos of unstable coalitions”.

This aggressive campaign strategy comes in response to the latest News24/SABI poll, which the DA said confirms a significant, tangible shift in South African politics.

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis noted that the poll indicates that his party is now within five percentage points of the ANC nationally.

Furthermore, the data reveals that the DA is the most favourably viewed party among polled voters and holds the leading position across almost all surveyed metros, except for eThekwini.

Hill-Lewis stated that the poll awards the DA the best net favourability score among all the political parties tested.

He said in the City of Tshwane the DA leads the ANC by eight points, in the City of Johannesburg Helen Zille is currently leading the mayoral race and, in the City of Cape Town, voters expressed a markedly more positive outlook regarding the direction of their city compared with their views on the direction of South Africa as a whole.

And, PMI shows South Africa private sector contracts at fastest pace since December

South Africa's private sector contracted in September at its fastest pace since December as new orders fell sharply and supply bottlenecks and fuel-driven cost pressures intensified, a business survey showed today.

The S&P Global South Africa Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 49.0 in September from 50.5 in August.

The 50-mark separates growth from contraction.

Principal Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence David Owen said the downturn came amid renewed contractions in business activity, new orders and stocks of purchases, as firms often reported a weaker demand environment linked to rising prices and increased economic uncertainty.

New orders dropped at the sharpest rate in two-and-a-half years as customers delayed spending amid uncertainty over fuel prices and domestic and international economic conditions. Export business bucked the trend, rising for a fourth straight month.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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