News 14:00

BULLETIN 30 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Sibanyoni emphasises engagement and not interference in the PUTCO engagements
# Extradition proceedings start against a man accused of murdering his family in Britain
# And Tennessee is set to execute a woman for the first time in 200 years

# Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni has told the Madlanga Commission references to interference in bus company PUTCO concerned legitimate commercial engagements. He says discussions about the Kwaggafontein corridor involved industry and contractual matters, rather than criminal conduct. Responding to commissioner Sandile Khumalo and evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson, Sibanyoni says engagements were conducted to protect industry interests. He explains engagements were later halted after several buses were set alight:

# The Cape Independence Advocacy Group condemns minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s remark that those who feel South Africa is not good for them should leave, calling it abhorrent and hypocritical. Spokesperson Phil Craig says citizens protesting crime, racial discrimination and chants calling for murder are performing civic duty, not being unpatriotic:

# Formal extradition proceedings against Zimbabwean-British fugitive Ndodana Tshuma began in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today. The 45-year-old is wanted by British authorities to stand trial for the murders of his wife Nothabo and their daughters, Natalie and Nala, in the United Kingdom in July. Tshuma fled to South Africa shortly before the bodies were discovered, and was apprehended in Johannesburg. Tshuma has pleaded guilty to a local charge of possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

# The American state of Tennessee is due to execute a woman for the first time in over 200 years today. Christa Pike is scheduled to die by lethal injection. The 50-year-old was 18 when she was convicted of murdering 19-year-old classmate Colleen Slemmer in 1995. Her lawyers have sought clemency, citing severe childhood trauma and mental-health problems, but governor Bill Lee rejected the request. The US Supreme Court has also rejected a last-minute appeal. If carried out, Pike’s execution will be Tennessee’s first of a woman since 1820.

# Soccer: The Premier Soccer League has confirmed Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban as the venue for this year’s MTN8 Final. Orlando Pirates will face Mamelodi Sundowns next Saturday, with kick-off at six pm. Tickets go on sale online on Friday. The stadium will host its record tenth MTN8 final. The venue has undergone refurbishment and rehabilitation work since 2024, including pitch upgrades. The eThekwini Municipality estimates the broader project cost at 284-million-rand in total. 

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents and the euro at 18-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-770-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-188-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….