Welcome to your Daily NovaNews Newscast — your trusted source for the stories that matter most, from your street to the world stage.

Government is moving to ban cash payments for scrap metal to choke off a trade costing the economy R45 billion a year. Draft amendments to the Second-Hand Goods Act would force dealers to pay by electronic bank transfer and record every seller’s identity. Eskom alone loses up to R7 billion a year to copper theft and spends another R2 billion replacing vandalised cables. Public comment is open until the 2nd of November.

Staying with new government measures, if you’re tired of telemarketing calls, you’ll soon be able to block them for free through a single national registry covering phone calls, SMSs and emails. A block takes up to 30 days to take effect and lasts five years. Businesses must check the registry before contacting anyone – or face fines of up to R1 million or 10% of their annual turnover.

And abroad, a 69-year-old South African woman living as a permanent resident in Minnesota faces federal charges for allegedly casting an illegal vote in the November 2024 US Presidential Election. She is one of 16 foreign nationals charged with election crimes across the United States. The US Justice Department says the charges are allegations only and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

That’s your NovaNews newscast for today. Follow our WhatsApp channel for news straight to your phone. Stay informed, and we’ll see you next time.