News 18:00

BULLETIN 5 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Hawks investigate a South African man serving as a sniper in the Israeli Army
# The investment broker Mark Kretzschmar surrenders to police over a multi-million-rand fraud case
# And Olympic Games: An aboriginal group launches a legal bid to stop Brisbane’s Olympic stadium

# The Hawks are investigating South African Aaron Bayhack for allegedly joining Israel’s elite Ghost unit without government approval. Bayhack, one of 21 snipers in the unit, is accused of breaching South Africa’s Foreign Military Assistance Act and participating in combat in Gaza that reportedly led to civilian casualties. His case highlights growing concerns over South Africans serving in foreign armies without consent, a move that carries legal consequences, including arrest.

# Johannesburg-based investment broker Mark Kretzschmar has surrendered himself to police amid allegations of defrauding clients and acquaintances of millions of rand. Kretzschmar, who once operated PCS Holdings, has become the subject of multiple complaints and a preliminary probe by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority for unlicensed investment activity. He is expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court tomorrow as investigators continue to assess the full scope of the alleged financial misconduct.

# Sakeliga has welcomed the High Court in Pretoria’s judgment to overturn the use of broad-based black economic empowerment criteria in air service licence applications. CEO Piet le Roux says the Air Services Licensing Council acted unlawfully by applying transformation rules not required by law. The group also opposed restrictions on recordings of licence application hearings. He says Sakeliga wants the court to declare these practices unconstitutional:

# ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has criticised the South African Communist Party’s decision to contest elections independently, as divisive and damaging to the alliance. Speaking at a media briefing following the party’s national executive committee meeting, Mbalula said the SACP’s move undermines unity and distracts from the shared goal of addressing the country’s challenges. He urged the party to reconsider, warning that disunity within the tripartite alliance could further fragment the progressive movement:

# Olympic Games: An Australian indigenous group has launched legal action to stop the construction of a 63-thousand-seat stadium for the 2032 Brisbane Games. The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation has petitioned the federal Environment minister to declare the park as a culturally significant site, which could protect it from development. The group says the park is home to ancient trees, artefacts and very important ecosystems, as well as possible ancestral remains. The stadium is meant to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-78-cents and the euro at 20-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-987-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-375-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….