News 13:00

BULLETIN 25 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu is stunned by the extent of the corruption uncovered at Tembisa Hospital
# Germany’s knife attack suspect is said to be a member of Islamic State
# And, tennis: Controversy surrounding Sinner’s failed drug tests continues before US Open

# Cosatu says it is stunned by the extent of corruption at Tembisa Hospital in Ekurhuleni after more fraudulent transactions, totalling as much as three-billion-rand were unearthed. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Zanele Sabela, says a Special Investigating Unit probe has revealed a further five-thousand-500 fraudulent transactions. Whistleblower Babita Deokaran flagged corruption totalling 850-million-rand before she was assassinated three years ago:

# Eastern Cape MEC for Health Ntandokazi Capa has welcomed the findings of the Special Investigating Unit regarding medico-legal claims. The MEC’s spokesperson, Mkhululi Ndamase, says the department had maintained that some unscrupulous lawyers were colluding with healthcare workers to milk the department, and by extension, the provincial government dry. He says while province’s medico-legal contingent liability stands at 22.3-billion-rand, they are confident most of the claims will be dismissed in court:

# The DA in the Northern Cape is calling on the provincial Department of Education to ensure that the sewage flood at Greenpoint High School in Kimberley is urgently resolved before learners start their Grade 12 preliminary examinations. The DA’s Delmaine Christians says learners were sent home early last week because they could not use the bathrooms. By the end of the week, the school had to be completely closed:

# German prosecutors say the suspect arrested over a stabbing rampage in the city of Solingen is thought to be a member of Islamic State. Three people were killed and eight are injured after Friday night’s random knife attack at a festival. Düsseldorf police and prosecutors have revealed the 26-year-old Syrian man had turned himself in. German federal prosecutors, who have taken over the investigation, revealed his suspected ties to the extremist group. Islamic State yesterday claimed responsibility for the attack.

# And, tennis: The controversy surrounding world number one Jannik Sinner’s two failed drug tests continues unabated before tomorrow’s start of the US Open. It was only last week revealed he tested positive twice in March and was stripped of his ranking points and prize money for the Indian Wells Masters, but wasn’t suspended. Former world number one, Andy Roddick of America, defended the Italian, saying the miniscule amount of drugs in his system is entirely consistent with his explanation. But others accuse tennis chiefs of double standards.

Stay tuned for more news………….