News 16:00

BULLETIN 26 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The National Prosecuting Authority is to oppose Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s bail application in September
# The Constitutional Court dismisses the Lungu family’s bid for a direct appeal
# And rugby: Lock Will Skelton will miss the Wallabies’ two Rugby Championship matches against the Pumas

# The bail application of businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala has been postponed to Monday in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Phindi Mjonondwane told Newzroom Afrika the postponement was requested to finalise the centralisation of seven dockets across different jurisdictions. She also confirmed the case against Matlala, his wife, and three others will return to court on 7 October:

# The Constitutional Court has dismissed the Lungu family’s application for a direct appeal against a full bench judgment affirming the Zambian government’s right to repatriate former president Edgar Lungu for a state funeral. The court found the family had not made a sufficient case for a direct route, meaning the established legal process will proceed without bypassing appeal protocols. This decision clears the way for government plans to proceed, despite the family’s objections.

# The Electoral Commission has urged South Africans to take part in public consultations on the possible introduction of electronic voting in future elections. The consultations are open across all provinces, and citizens are encouraged to share their views, proposals, and concerns by the end of next month. Chief Electoral Official Sy Mamabolo stressed that traditional ballot papers will be used in the local government elections next year:

Moving abroad:

# Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, accusing the country of being behind anti-Semitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. It marks the first time Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War Two. Prime minister Anthony Albanese says intelligence services reached the conclusion that Iran directed at least two anti-Semitic attacks. It says it was behind the torching of a kosher cafe in Sydney’s Bondi suburb in October 2024, and also directed a major arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December.

# Rugby: Lock Will Skelton will miss the Wallabies’ two Rugby Championship matches against Argentina after opting to return to his French club, La Rochelle, for the start of the Top 14 season. It’s not sure yet whether he will return Down Under for the two Bledisloe Tests against New Zealand. The Wallabies are currently second on the log behind the All Blacks after mixed results against the Springboks in South Africa. Skelton is described as an important player for Australia’s hope to clinch the championship.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-65-cents and the euro at 20-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-716-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-377-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-21-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….