News 16:00

BULLETIN 24 November 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Members of Parliament are to hear Matlala’s testimony at the Kgoši Mampuru Prison
# The Tembisa Hospital bribery case is postponed to 2 December
# And cricket: McCullum urges England’s supporters to keep the faith after the capitulation in Perth

# Members of Parliament’s ad hoc committee will visit the Kgoši Mampuru Correctional Centre in Tshwane this week to hear testimony from controversial businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. The committee is investigating allegations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, including criminal infiltration, corruption, and political interference in the justice system. The visit follows security assessments confirming the facility can safely host the sessions. Matlala, linked to the two-billion-rand fraud at Tembisa Hospital and two attempted murder cases, remains in custody after being denied bail.

Meanwhile, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has postponed the corruption case against a Hawks official and a Tembisa Hospital official to next Tuesday. Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo confirmed the pair handed over 100-thousand-rand to an undercover investigator to derail a hospital tender investigation. They face charges of attempting to bribe a Hawks member. Earlier this year, the Special Investigating Unit revealed about two-billion-rand of taxpayers’ money was embezzled through the hospital’s contracts. Acting Hawks head Siphosihle Nkosi says investigations will continue undeterred.

# The DA announced it will investigate disputes among senior office bearers. The party’s federal executive has referred the matter to its Federal Legal Commission to probe alleged breaches of its constitution. All parties involved have been ordered to stop taking their arguments to the media and allow internal processes to run their course. Federal council chairperson, Helen Zille, emphasised the party’s commitment to ethical and accountable leadership.

# The City of Cape Town is looking to expand on its marketing campaign targeting Chinese travellers. According to recent data from the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation, Chinese travellers were the biggest outbound spending category by country last year. Mayoral committee member for Economic Growth, James Vos, says they will now move to expand the metro’s reach to other major social platforms in China, where they will leverage the growing library of Chinese language content, including articles, brochures, and destination videos:

# Cricket: England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, has asked supporters to keep the faith despite the eight-wicket loss to Australia in the first Ashes Test in Perth. The hosts won within two days despite the visitors grinding out a first-innings lead of 40 runs. England was then bowled out for just 164 runs in their second innings, whereafter the Baggy Green easily reached the winning target of 205. McCullum says they have to stay calm and plot their way back:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-30-cents and the euro at 19-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-964-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-68-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….