News 13:00

BULLETIN 11 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The senior investigator in the Vusimusi Matlala plea deal is accused of extortion
# The South African Prisoners’ Organisation for Human Rights backs call to repatriate foreign inmates 
# And motorsport, the South African flag flies high at the Atlanta NASCAR showcase this weekend

# The Madlanga Commission has heard allegations of extortion and corruption against senior investigator of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, Suneel Bellochun. The investigator was recently involved in businessman Vusimusi Matlala’s plea deal on the SAPS-Medicare24 tender. Bellochun allegedly demanded regular protection payments from undocumented Pakistani spaza shop owners in the Eastern Cape. Witness N submitted bank records allegedly reflecting payments worth hundreds of thousands of rand:

# Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has welcomed the arrest of a Border Management Authority official accused of corruption at the Maseru border post. The official was arrested following a joint investigation involving Home Affairs’ Counter Corruption branch, SAPS Crime Intelligence and Ladybrand Detectives. The officer allegedly accepted a 600-rand payment to unlawfully endorse a Lesotho national’s passport. The accused faces a corruption charge and is expected to appear in the Ladybrand Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

# The South African Prisoners’ Organisation for Human Rights has backed the MK Party’s call for foreign nationals serving sentences in South African prisons to be repatriated. The party claims nearly 28-thousand foreign inmates cost taxpayers more than four-billion-rand annually. The party argues those funds could instead support South Africans. The organisation’s spokesperson Golden Miles Bhudu says repatriation would reduce the significant financial, human, managerial and infrastructure costs associated with housing foreign prisoners. 

# The Johannesburg Crisis Alliance has warned that the city’s worsening waste management failures are developing into a public health emergency. The organisation says prolonged refuse collection delays are creating health, environmental and safety risks for residents. The Alliance attributes the crisis to labour disputes, poor contractor performance, financial constraints and weak long-term planning. It says Pikitup’s ability to provide services is being affected by ageing infrastructure and challenges with accessing funds needed for daily operations. 

# Motorsport: Brand South Africa is taking the country’s flag to the EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta this weekend through a two-day NASCAR campaign. The president of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA, Neil Diamond, is spearheading this landmark showcase in the US. The programme combines business networking, tourism promotion and cultural diplomacy to showcase South Africa. NASCAR rookie Lavar Scott will drive a South Africa-branded Chevrolet during today’s race. The event will also highlight South African cuisine, while strengthening ties with US businesses and global South Africans. 

# And finally, the American rapper and singer-songwriter, Pitbull and his fans, have set a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps at his BST Hyde Park concert in London. A total of 22-thousand-141 fans, dressed in the rapper’s trademark suits, sunglasses and bald caps, were officially counted before the show. Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, described the achievement as a blessing and an honour. He thanked his fans, affectionately calling them “the baldies”, for their unwavering support.

Stay tuned for more news………….