News 12:00

BULLETIN 14 July 12 pm

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An unlicensed firearm case delays a United Kingdom fugitive’s extradition
# The death toll from the Bangkok bar fire has risen to 30
# And golf: The injured Louis Oosthuizen withdraws from the British Open

# The National Prosecuting Authority says United Kingdom fugitive Ndodana Tshuma must first face South African charges before extradition proceedings can continue. Tshuma, who is wanted in Britain for the murders of his wife and two daughters, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition yesterday after Friday’s arrest in Kensington. Spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga says both matters were postponed to next Wednesday:

# Public Interest SA says the repeated failure of key witnesses to appear before the Madlanga commission, often citing last-minute medical emergencies, is becoming a serious public concern. Investigating Directorate Against Corruption head, Andrea Johnson, failed to appear yesterday after being hospitalised. She joins a list of witnesses who had fallen sick shortly before testifying. Public Interest SA says where circumstances warrant, the commission should conduct independent medical verification to ensure postponements are genuine and do not erode public confidence.

# Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, says there was nothing untoward about his meetings with Resolve Communications and international ICT companies. Political parties have called for an investigation following revelations Resolve, owned by former DA leader Tony Leon, facilitated meetings between DA ministers and private clients, including Elon Musk’s Starlink. Malatsi says while many avenues already exist to report pressure or undue lobbying, it’s not sure whether it’s sufficient:

Moving abroad:

# The death toll from a fire in a popular bar in Bangkok, Thailand, in the early hours of yesterday morning has risen to 30, the caital’s deadliest blaze in 17 years. More than 70 people were injured. Authorities have confirmed the identities of 27 victims, most believed to be Thai nationals. Preliminary investigations suggest the blaze was caused by a short circuit in an air conditioner. National police chief Kittiratt Phanphet says they have established negligence as the primary theory guiding their investigation.

# Golf: South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen has withdrawn from both the 154th British Open and LIV Golf’s UK event in Rocester due to a back injury. The 43-year-old, who won the 2010 Open at St Andrews, says his priority now is to focus on his recovery so he can return to competition. South African Aldrich Potgieter will replace Oosthuizen as the first alternate for the Open, starting at Royal Birkdale in England on Thursday. German Matti Schmid and Britain’s Andrew Wilson are now the first and second alternates, respectively.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 18-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-545-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-22-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….