News 15:00

BULLETIN 13 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The NPA is confident in its case after Matlala’s plea deal collapses
# Oil prices spike as the American and Iranian conflict continues
# And the actor Sam Neill of Jurassic Park fame has passed away

# The National Prosecuting Authority can no longer use controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s statement as evidence after he rejected a 12-year prison sentence deal proposed by the Pretoria Specialised Crimes Court. The court declared his plea agreement in the 288-million-rand SAPS-Medicare24 tender fraud case null and void after previously rejecting the state’s proposed eight-year sentence. NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago expressed confidence in their case as Matlala will now stand trial:

# The Madlanga Commission has postponed proceedings after Investigating Directorate Against Corruption Advocate Andrea Johnson was hospitalised overnight. She was due to testify on allegations of misconduct involving Major-General Feroz Khan, and shed light on relations between key law enforcement agencies. Commissioners criticised her medical certificate as useless. Evidence leader Mahlape Sello and chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga agreed Johnson must testify in person when she recovers:

Moving abroad:

# Oil prices surged more than ‌three-percent after renewed military strikes between the United States and Iran reignited concerns over energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude prices for long-term delivery went up by 3.51-percent, to over 78-dollar per barrell. Reuters quotes Australia and New Zealand Banking Group analysts saying shipping operators are adopting a cautious approach and inbound movements through the strait have slowed under ​heightening security concerns. Fresh US and Iranian strikes over the weekend fuelled fears of ⁠a renewed escalation.

# Rugby: Prop Carlu Sadie, lock Ruben van Heerden, wing Jaco Williams, and flyhalf Vusi Moyo will all make their debut for the Springboks on Saturday after being named in Rassie Erasmus’ starting-15 for the Nations Championship clash with Wales in Durban. Moyo will play alongside scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, while captain Pieter-Steph du Toit will form the loose trio combination with Paul de Villiers and Jasper Wiese. Erasmus says Wales is on the rise and will come out with a point to prove this weekend.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-912-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-64-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The beloved New Zealand actor, Sam Neill, best known for his role in films such as Jurassic Park, and captain Borodin in the spy thriller The Hunt for Red October, has died aged 78. He died in the St Vincent ‘s private hospital in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by his family. Tributes have poured in from around the world. New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon remembered him as one of the greats who helped put the country’s film industry on the map.

Stay tuned for more news………….