News 16:00

BULLETIN 28 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Bester prison escape trial is set for April next year
# Rugby: Pollard will miss the second Test against the All Blacks and Kolbe is back
# And King Harald the Fifth of Norway dies at the age of 89

# The prison escape trial of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, Nandipha Magudumana and their co-accused will run in the Free State High Court from 19 April to 18 June next year. They face charges including aiding and abetting escape, arson and violating a corpse. During their brief pre-trial appearance today, Bester’s lawyer, MoAfrica Wa Maila, raised concerns over his virtual appearance and alleged harassment by correctional officials. He say they have struggled to consult Bester and obtain the case docket. The state says it’s ready for trial.

# Acting Police minister, Firoz Cachalia, says attacks on police officials are attacks on the rule of law and the authority of the democratic state. This follows the recent killings of police members in Reiger Park, Gauteng, and Knysna in the Western Cape. Cachalia briefed the media on the crime statistics for April to June and says the loss of officials affects the entire country. He extended condolences to their families:

# Taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni alleges some law enforcement officials act as proxies for individuals in the taxi industry. He told the Madlanga commission such arrangements are known within some taxi associations, but he could not identify specific officials or associations. Sibanyoni says these are private, one-on-one agreements that are difficult to establish and hence he was unable to assist the commission with further details:

# Rugby: The Springboks confirmed experienced flyhalf Handré Pollard will miss tomorrow’s second Test against the All Blacks with a calf injury. He is replaced in the number ten jersey by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, while Manie Libbok will provide cover on the bench. Coach Rassie Erasmus also announced prolific try-scorer Cheslin Kolbe had been added to the starting team after initially being ruled out with a foot problem. He replaces Kurt-Lee Arendse and will probably again be given the kicking duties.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-99-cents and the euro at 18-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-504-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-594-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Norway’s King Harald the Fifth has died at the age of 89 at Oslo University Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for a bacterial infection and a blood disorder. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, has automatically succeeded him and is now King Haakon the Eight. Harald had reigned for 35 years and was Norway’s longest-serving monarch in modern times. The royal palace says he died peacefully. The new king is expected to formally confirm his name and royal motto at an extraordinary council of state.

Stay tuned for more news………….