News 16:00

BULLETIN 4 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Section 27 referral was never provided in the Khumalo case
# A joint operation disrupts cross-border vehicle smuggling
# And rugby: The All Blacks regard the tour opener against the Stormers as a proper Test

# The Investigating Directorate against Corruption’s deputy director of Public Prosecutions, Peter Seruya, has told the Madlanga commission he never received the Section 27 referral that initiated the investigation into Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and his co-accused. He told commissioner Sesi Baloyi he repeatedly requested the document, stating the missing referral became an issue when the accused requested further particulars during court proceedings:

# Agricultural organisation TLU SA has welcomed the expansion of the Industry Coordination Council which plays a crucial role in government’s efforts to tackle foot-and-mouth disease. Two new members have been added to the council: agricultural organisaion Saai’s executive director, Theo de Jager, and Veterinarian Network director, Danie Odendaal. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says the addition of the two is a positive step as the country works to combat the disease:

# Two Malawian nationals and a South African man have been arrested after Limpopo police recovered two stolen Nissan Navaras worth a combined 1.5-million-rand in separate intelligence-driven operations targeting cross-border vehicle smuggling. The vehicles, stolen in Gauteng, were intercepted while being transported to the Beitbridge border post. Provincial police commissioner Jan Scheepers praised the joint operation, saying it demonstrates the success of intelligence-led policing.

# Rugby: The All Blacks regard Friday’s tour opener against the Stormers in Cape Town as a fully-fledged Test. It will be the first of four tour matches against South Africa’s United Rugby Championship teams, the others being against the Sharks in Durban, the Bulls in Pretoria and the Lions in Johannesburg. New Zealand will also play three Tests against the Springboks in South Africa, and another in America. Eighthman Wallace Sititi regards the Stormers’ pack as a massive threat which they must respect. Kick-off is at 7pm.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents and the euro at 18-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-9-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-728-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-67-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube has congratulated team South Africa who secured a historic fourth-place finish at the inaugural World Spelling Bee Championships in Shanghai, China. Two learners finished among the world’s top ten, while all six team members advanced beyond the competition’s preliminary rounds. Klerksdorp Primary School in North West learner Mbulelo Tolom says the achievement shows South African learners can compete with the world’s best:

Stay tuned for more news………….