News 08:00

BULLETIN 26 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Prosecuting Authority says Matlala’s plea agreement will not impact his other criminal cases
# Three suspected Rolex gang members were killed in a shootout with police in Joburg
# And motorsport: The weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix has been declared a heat hazard

# The National Prosecuting Authority says the plea agreement with alleged underworld figure Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala has no bearing on any other cases he is facing. He pleaded guilty to fraud and corruption charges related to a controversial 228-million-rand South African Police Service tender awarded to his company, Medicare24. The NPA’s spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, says Matlala will still have to answer to the attempted murder charges he faces alongside his wife in connection with three separate shooting incidents:

# Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille says government is demonstrating confidence in the tourism sector through continued investment in tourism infrastructure, aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation. The department has been allocated 2.54-billion-rand for the 2026/2027 financial year. Tourism sustained over 954-thousand direct jobs in 2024 and contributed 4.9-percent to gross domestic product. De Lille says domestic tourism remains the foundation of a resilient tourism sector. She adds that to date, 22 projects from the public and private sectors are currently undergoing screening to ensure they are investment-ready.

# Three suspects were killed in a shootout with police on the N3 at the Baccleuch Interchange in Johannesburg yesterday. Gauteng police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, says they received information about a group of men travelling in three separate vehicles around malls, suspected to be linked to the alleged Rolex gang. She says when the tactical response team attempted to stop one of the identified vehicles, it sped off, leading to a high-speed chase and shootout between suspects and the police:

# The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela near the capital Caracas has risen to 188, with more than one-thousand-500 people injured. The first 7.2-magnitude quake was followed seconds later by an even stronger 7.5-magnitude one, making it the country’s most powerful in more than a century. Many people are missing or still trapped beneath rubble, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors. United Nations Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, says they are helping with rescue efforts:

# Motorsport: The declaration of the weekend’s Formula One Grand Prix in Austria as a heat hazard means drivers can use a mandated cooling kit. Temperatures of over 31 degrees Celsius are forecast for Spielberg. The kit uses cooling liquid through a system of pipes in a fireproof top worn under overalls, but some prefer not to use it because of discomfort. The cockpit of a F1 car reportedly reaches temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius, meaning overheating is a serious concern because drivers wear several layers of clothing.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-54-cents and the euro at 18-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-81-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-105-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-996-dollars a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….