News 17:00

BULLETIN 5 September 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A renowned Johannesburg insolvency attorney is shot dead
# Paul Mashatile urges farmers to partner with the government to aid land reform
# And Soccer: SA face Lesotho this evening in a vital FIFA World Cup qualifier

# Prominent insolvency attorney Bouwer van Niekerk has been shot dead at the Smit Sewgoolam law firm offices in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. Van Niekerk gained recognition for his involvement in high-profile business rescue cases of Gupta-linked companies. Van Niekerk represented the business rescue practitioners in their legal battles against Gupta-linked entities and was involved in the sale process of the Gupta’s mining assets. Further details surrounding the motive is yet to be released as the investigation continues.

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has urged commercial farmers to work with government in fast-tracking land reform. Speaking during a three-day oversight visit in the Overberg district of the Western Cape, Mashatile gave the assurance that South Africa will not follow Zimbabwe’s path of farm invasions, stressing negotiation and land purchases. He admitted past mistakes and noted that land reform beneficiaries often lacked proper government support.

# Civil rights group, AfriForum is calling for a national investigation into police involvement in stock theft. This follows the arrest of Constable Siyabonga Cindi from Standerton’s stock theft unit, accused of stealing cattle worth 450-thousand-rand. AfriForum cited previous convictions and arrests of police officials linked to livestock theft. The group’s Jacques Broodryk warns that police complicity undermines farmers’ survival and public trust, urging urgent, transparent action to root out corruption:

# US President Donald Trump will sign an executive order today that directs the Department of Defense to be known as the Department of War. This would restore a name the agency last held in the 1940s. According to documents seen by the BBC, the aim is to “project strength and resolve”. The new name will initially be used as a “secondary title” while the administration seeks congressional approval for the permanent change. US media expect a billion-dollar price tag for the overhaul of hundreds of agencies, emblems, email addresses and uniforms.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana will face Lesotho in Bloemfontein this evening in a vital FIFA World Cup qualifier. Bafana Bafana leads Group C with 13 points, while The Crocodiles sits fifth with six points. Injuries have forced changes, with Sipho Mbule replacing Patrick Maswanganyi and Thabo Moloisane stepping in for Ime Okon. Kick-off is at 6pm. Bafana Bafana captain, Ronwen Williams, says the squad knows its a must win game and will not underestimate Lesotho:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-58-cents and the euro at 20-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-54-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-580-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-57-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….