News 15:00

BULLETIN 17 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Peet Viljoen is denied bail after the court deems him a flight risk
# Matlala denies a relationship with suspended minister of Police Senzo Mchunu
# And rugby: The Bulls launch a new kit inspired by Loftus Versfeld

# TV personality and disbarred attorney Peet Viljoen has been denied bail in a multi-million-rand fraud case. Viljoen appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court this morning, where he was deemed a flight risk. He faces more than 400 charges, including fraud and corruption linked to the 2010 sale of municipal property worth about 27-million-rand. Viljoen was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng after being deported from the United States.

# Businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala says he has no relationship with suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu and has never met or interacted with him directly. Testifying at the Madlanga commission, Matlala said he had not attended gatherings with Mchunu or asked anyone to engage him on his behalf. He clarified an attorney had communicated with Mchunu’s office regarding a letter to Parliament. Matlala also denies any involvement in Mchunu’s foundation:

# ActionSA’s leader, Herman Mashaba, says South Africa must stop outsourcing functions that government is capable of performing itself. He has questioned why, when a municipality requires people to collect refuse, clean public facilities, maintain infrastructure or provide security, intermediaries must be paid to employ the people doing work that government itself requires every day. ActionSA’s spokesperson, Omogolo Taunyane, says tenderpreneurs cannot be the economic policy of South Africa:

Moving abroad:

# The Iranian Army’s commander-in-chief, Amir Hatami, is offering a cash reward of around 484-thousand-rand for anyone who captures or kills a US soldier and hands them over to authorities. The number of American military personnel killed since the start of the war stands at 17, all killed outside of Iran, in countries including Jordan and Iraq. Hatami says courageous Iranian women who capture or kill a US soldier will receive double the reward. He reiterates Iran’s call for America to leave the Middle East.

# Rugby: The Bulls have unveiled their new home kit for the season, inspired by Loftus Versfeld. Dubbed “All Roads Lead to Loftus”, the jersey celebrates the stadium as the spiritual home of the team and their supporters. It features a gradient from deep navy to Loftus blue, with a map graphic showing roads converging on the iconic Pretoria venue. CEO Edgar Rathbone says the jersey captures the pride and passion connecting the team, fans and city. It also features moisture management, reinforced durability, stretch fabric and improved grip.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-16-cents and the euro at 18-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-588-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-402-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….