News 15:00

BULLETIN 24 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The US Treasury sanctions Islamic State operatives in South Africa
# Thabo Bester’s new legal team calls for a fair trial
# And, Olympic Games: French rugby star Dupont can draw a new generation of fans and put the spotlight on Sevens

# The United States Treasury has sanctioned two alleged Islamic State operatives in South Africa, accusing them of using robberies and kidnappings to fund the terror group. According to the US, Abubakar Swalleh, active in South Africa and Zambia, and Zayd Gangat, a facilitator and trainer, are linked to a wider ISIS network across Africa. ISIS leaders in South Africa have historically used robbery, extortion, and kidnap for ransom to generate funds for the group. The sanctions freeze their US assets and bar US citizens from doing business with them. 

# Facebook murderer Thabo Bester’s new legal team has called for a fair trial, submitting a motion regarding jurisdiction and consultation access. Advocate Lerato Moela emphasised Bester’s right to legal representation for pre-trial and trial proceedings. In response, Free State High Court deputy judge president Cagney Musi insists the application is not before the court, and that the matter must be attended to:

# Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, has welcomed the signing into law of the Small Enterprise Amendment Bill. The act streamlines the support services government provides to small and medium businesses, as part of broadening participation in the economy by a greater number of South Africans. The department’s Cornelius Monama says the lack of effective and affordable access to a just mechanism for small enterprises has been a concern for those in the small enterprise eco-system:

# Olympic Games: French rugby star Antoine Dupont has the capability of drawing in a new generation of fans while also putting sevens firmly in the spotlight. That’s according to ex-French winger Vincent Clerc. The scrum-half was criticised for skipping the Six Nations to make the Olympics team, but went on to help France to two victories in the World Rugby Sevens Series, including in the Madrid finals. In between, he skippered Toulouse to Top 14 and Champions Cup glory in the 15-a-side code.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-31-cents and the euro at 19-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-64-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-513-dollars-24-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-412-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

# And, the first rabies case in Mossel Bay has been confirmed following the necropsy of a Cape fur seal euthanised after showing rabid behaviour at a popular bathing spot. The Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team and Mossel Bay Municipality officials have taken action to protect public health. The municipality will install warning signs at beaches and has urged residents to avoid seals. Residents have been urged to report unusual behaviour immediately to prevent the spread of rabies.

Stay tuned for more news………….