News 14:00

BULLETIN 15 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The head of the presidential protection services is cleared in the Phala Phala case
# Former president Thabo Mbeki emphasises South Africa wants no trade wars with the US
# And cycling: South Africa’s Allan Hatherley successfully defends his World Mountain Bike Championship title

# Presidential protection services head Wally Rhoode has been cleared of misconduct in a police disciplinary hearing. He was accused of improperly running an unofficial probe into the 2020 Phala Phala theft, where ten-million-rand was stolen from president Cyril Ramaphosa’s game farm in Limpopo. Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka had found he acted improperly, but the committee ruled otherwise. Rhoode remains Ramaphosa’s top bodyguard, while the trial of three accused in the theft resumed in the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo today.

# Former president Thabo Mbeki has urged South Africa to pursue constructive dialogue with the United States to avert a trade war, while safeguarding national sovereignty. Speaking on economic challenges at UNISA, he cautioned against confrontation after Washington DC’s imposed 30-percent tariffs on key South African exports. Mbeki endorsed government efforts, stressing diplomacy and trade diversification with Europe, China, and BRICS as vital. He also insisted South Africa’s stance on its independence:

# ActionSA has revealed that the Ministry of Defence under minister Angie Motshekga and her deputies have blown a staggering 20-million-rand on travel alone since taking office. The party says they were jetting off to destinations like Vietnam, Cuba, Malaysia, Japan, and Turkey with no discernible justification or benefit to match the cost. ActionSA’s Lerato Ngobeni says among the most shocking excesses are 4.9-million-rand blown on car hire, 5.5-million-rand wasted on domestic travel and over 3-million-rand squandered on luxury accommodation:

# Eskom is urging the public to stand against illegal connections and electricity theft. Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says these actions harm the power supply and endanger community safety. She says electricity should only be purchased through Eskom-accredited vendors, and customers are encouraged to regularise their electricity usage. Mokwena adds these actions are critical to securing safe, reliable, and fair access to electricity for all.

# Cycling: South Africa’s Allan Hatherley successfully defended his World Mountain Bike Championship title by winning gold at the Crans-Montana in Switzerland. He is the fourth rider in history to achieve this feat. The 24-year-old Durban-born rider completed the race in one-hour-30-minutes. Italy’s Simone Avendetto finished second with Victor Koretzky of France in third. Mathieu van der Poel’s quest for a world title in a fourth separate discipline failed as the Dutchman finished 29th.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-33-cents and the euro at 20-rand-38-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-59-cents and Bitcoin trades at 114-thousand-840-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-645-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….