News 18:00

BULLETIN 3 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA pushes for the arrest of minister Thembi Simelane in connection with the VBS Bank scandal
# Zizi Kodwa’s corruption case is postponed to 24 October
# And rugby: A cross-code match at Headingley will focus on motor neurone disease

# ActionSA is calling for the arrest of Justice and Constitutional Development minister Thembi Simelane over the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. The party filed criminal charges against Simelane this week, alleging she violated the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and committed forgery. This is in regards to a 575-thousand-600-rand loan from Gundo Wealth Solutions, allegedly used to buy a coffee shop. ActionSA’s Malebo Kobe claims documents were forged to legitimise this unlawful transaction: 

# The corruption case against former minister Zizi Kodwa and former executive Jehan Mackay of the technology solutions group EOH, has been postponed to 24 October. Mackay allegedly bribed Kodwa with 1.7-million-rand for tenders. Mackay’s lawyers have approached the Director of Public Prosecutions for the charges to be dropped, with a decision expected in two weeks. Kodwa’s lawyer, Zola Majavu, say they are ready to proceed:

# The DA is urging an immediate investigation into allegations of bursary fraud and corruption at the Gauteng Department of Education. This follows claims from anonymous employees that senior officials pressured staff to redirect funds intended for deserving learners in the Gauteng City Region Academy. The DA’s spokesperson, Sergio Isa dos Santos, says these allegations raise serious concerns about the bursary system’s integrity and include reports of intimidation against whistleblowers.

# The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has restored six of eight rail corridors in Durban after extensive vandalism during the Covid-19 period. PRASA’s Zipho Mlambo says the new trains are replacing older models, highlighting revamped stations, state-of-the-art technology, and improved safety features. She says the special trains will transport soccer fans to Saturday’s MTN 8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium:

# Rugby: A cross-code match will be played at Headingley in Leeds, England, on 17 November, to raise money for research into motor neurone disease, and support people with the condition. Former Springbok players Joost van der Westhuizen and Thinus Linee died from MND, while Leeds Rhinos league legend Rob Burrow worked on the project until his death in June. Former union players Danny Cipriani and Tom Youngs, and league players Keith Senior, Adrian Morley and Danny McGuire, are some of those committed to the match.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-51-cents and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-663-dollars-67-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-651-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-72-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….