News 14:00

BULLETIN 14 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Tshwane businessman Lucas Legabe is granted 50-thousand-rand bail in the Hawks’ 216-million-rand cocaine case
# Sweden’s election remains too close to call
# And tennis: Elena Rybakina is officially the world number one and Marta Kostyuk makes her top-ten debut

# Tshwane businessman Lucas Legabe has been granted 50-thousand-rand bail by the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court in KwaZulu-Natal. The state alleges he was part of a group that broke into the Hawks’ offices in 2021 and stole 541 kilograms of cocaine worth about 216-million-rand. The 49-year-old faces charges of housebreaking with intent to steal, and dealing in drugs. Legabe has been in custody since August 7. He maintains his innocence, denying involvement in the alleged theft.

# Former president Kgalema Motlanthe says South Africa must fully realise its democratic process, with land redistribution remaining a fundamental question. Speaking at the second Professor Stan Sangweni memorial lecture in Pretoria, Motlanthe reflected on Sangweni’s concerns about the unfinished business of economic liberation. He says he urged younger generations to continue the work of transformation, and highlighted Sangweni’s concerns over political interference in the Public Service:

# Western Cape Transport MEC Isaac Sileku sent condolences to the families of 21 people killed in a collision on the N1 between Prince Albert Road and Leeu-Gamka. Health and Wellness MEC Mireille Wenger also says her thoughts are with the bereaved families. Sileku, who visited the scene this morning, says it is a devastating loss of lives, and thanks the emergency teams working under difficult conditions:

Moving abroad:

# Sweden’s centre-left opposition is narrowly ahead in the parliamentary election, but the result remains too close to call. The bloc led by Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson is projected to win 176 seats, compared with 173 for the right-wing bloc backing prime minister Ulf Kristersson. Some votes, including those cast overseas, are still being counted. Andersson says her side is in the lead, but has stopped short of declaring victory. Kristersson will reach out to other party leaders for possible coalition talks if the right-wing bloc remains in contention.

# Tennis: Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina is officially the world number one woman for the first time in her career. The 27-year-old reached the milestone in the semifinals of the US Open, whereafter she defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the final and took over the top ranking from her. Americans Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are third and fourth, respectively, with Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva fifth in the WTA rankings. Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk has made her top-ten debut after her run to the round of 16 in New York.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents and the euro at 18-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-951-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-287-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….