For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Sharp increase in assault on women in quarterly crime stats; Joburg mayor Phalatse confident ahead of vote of no confidence; And, survey highlights that ANC likely to lose its majority, but marginal inroads expected from DA

Sharp increase in assault on women in quarterly crime stats

Police Minister Bheki Cele said today that a double-digit percentage increase for murder, attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against women was recorded.

The quarterly crime statistics reflected crimes that were reported to the South African Police Service between July 1 and September 30.

Cele said as the country edge closer to the commencement of the global 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign on November 25, the reality is women continue to be victims of violent crimes in South Africa.

Over 13 000 women were victims of assault with intend to cause grievous bodily harm between July and September.

1 277 women were victims of attempted murder and 989 women were murdered during this reporting period.

Cele said the rate at which women are abused, violated and some killed in the country remains worrying and unacceptable. Many are killed by people they know, love and trust, he said.

Joburg mayor Phalatse confident ahead of vote of no confidence

City of Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse is confident she will defeat the motion of no confidence in her as she faces another attempt to remove her from her post.

Phalatse spoke this morning, shortly before the council was due to start its two-day ordinary sitting.

On the council's agenda for the sitting are two items for voting – the motion of no confidence in the mayor, and the DA-led multiparty government's application to approve a short-term loan.

She said the DA have got six political parties coalition, the DA, ACDP, IFP, UIM, FF+ and ActionSA, saying she does not know how the EFF will vote.

The mayor said she was confident the council would approve the R2-billion Development Bank of Southern Africa loan application.

And, survey highlights that ANC likely to lose its majority, but marginal inroads expected from DA

The African National Congress stands to lose its majority in the 2024 general elections, but the Democratic Alliance can be expected to bag a slightly increased number of votes, according to a new survey of 1 000 registered voters who say they are "definitely set to vote" come 2024.

The survey on voter opinion, conducted by Johannesburg-based think tank The Brenthurst Foundation, indicates that the ANC is likely to receive around 47.6% of the vote - a 10% drop from its 57.50% achievement during the last national elections.

In addition, according to the survey, the DA is expected to receive 24% of the votes - a very marginal improvement from the 20.77% it achieved in the 2019 national elections.

Giving an indication of what could be fuelling the ANC's decline in popularity, more than 50% of survey respondents "blame the ANC government of the last three decades for the problems facing the country".

Even though ANC leaders often blame apartheid for most of the problems, only 8.9% of the survey participants believe the country's challenges can be attributed to the apartheid regime. 

At least 80% of respondents believe South Africa is going in the wrong direction under the ANC's leadership.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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