News 16:00

BULLETIN 12 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An IPID-deputy director warns of syndicates’ influence over law enforcement
# The global food system is better prepared for the super El Niño
# And rugby: Curwin Bosch makes his debut for the Bulls against the All Blacks

# The deputy director of Investigations of KwaZulu-Natal’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Len John, says criminal syndicates pose a heightened risk of corruptly influencing law enforcement and criminal justice processes. He alleged involvement of task teams and rival criminal groups before the Madlanga commission. John says there is a prima facie case against officer Deena Govender for deploying task teams to kill gang leader Bevan Loftus at the request of another criminal figure:

Meanwhile, Activists and Citizens Forum is calling on National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi to immediately withdraw the charges against suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola. Spokesperson Dennis Bloem says Mothibi told the Madlanga commission the charges would be reviewed. He questions the delay, saying Masemola should not continue facing what he describes as bogus charges. He is calling on president Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately reinstate Masemola:

# The draft updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2026 to 2035 has been published for public comment. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister David Maynier says the plan will guide South Africa’s efforts to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity. The strategy aligns with the global Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022. Government says it promotes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to protecting the country’s biodiversity. The public has 30 days to submit written comments.

# Agriculture experts have revealed that near-record food inventories, improved farming technology and stronger exporters are expected to cushion the global food systems against a potential severe El Niño weather phenomenon. In addition, advances in drought-tolerant crops, irrigation, precision agriculture and weather forecasting have strengthened resilience. However, experts warn that drought, fertilizer shortages and geopolitical disruptions could still pressure food supplies and prices later this year and into next year.

# Rugby: Former Springbok flyhalf Curwin Bosch will be thrown into the deep end when he makes his debut for the Bulls against the All Blacks this weekend. He left the Sharks in 2023 and played for Brive in France from the next year before recently signing for the Pretoria team. The 29-year-old, who played the first of his two Tests in 2017, says he has lost none of his ambition to play for the Boks again and believe a good showing on Saturday will help his cause.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-13-cents and the euro at 18-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-270-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-404-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-84-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….