News 16:00

BULLETIN 28 January 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Lesetja Senona is accused of selective memory regarding the Babita Deokaran murder case
# Premier Oscar Mabuyane slams unauthorised Israeli embassy donations
# And tennis: Defending champion Jannik Sinner is through to the semifinal of the Australian Open

# The Madlanga commission has questioned KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona over claims he did not know controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was linked to Tembisa Hospital corruption exposed by murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran. Commissioner Sesi Baloyi said Deokaran’s killing in 2021 made national news, and she had flagged Matlala before her death. Senona insisted he only recalls hearing she was killed, but Baloyi didn’t buy that:

Meanwhile, North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has refused to appear before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of political interference in the justice system. Mogotsi insists that Parliament fund his personal protection detail. He was set to appear before the committee tomorrow. The committee’s chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, has described it as ridiculous, stating concerns over accountability and transparency in the ongoing inquiry:

# Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has criticised the Israeli embassy and AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo for coordinating visits and donations to institutions, including Walter Sisulu University and public hospitals, without provincial approval. Mabuyane says the actions breached diplomatic protocol and undermined national authority, calling it an affront to South Africa’s sovereignty. He has instructed Health MEC, Ntandokazi Capa, to probe how donations were accepted, adding government will work with national departments to prevent future unauthorised foreign engagements.

# Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, met with film industry representatives to raise concerns over delays in national film incentive rebates, which threaten local production and foreign investment. He says the city’s film sector, supporting over 30-thousand jobs, has seen full-time employment drop from four-thousand-943 in 2021 to 884 in 2024, with investment falling from six-billion- to 962-million-rand. Smith says they advocate for swift resolution:

# Tennis: Defending champion Jannik Sinner is through to the semifinals of the Australian Open. The Italian world number two worked hard against American Ben Shelton, but eventually won in straight sets to set up a match against ten-time champion Novak Djokovic. The 38-year-old Serbian thought he was on his way home when Lorenzo Musetti led by two sets to nil, but the fifth-seeded Italian had to retire with an injury in the third set. Top-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz will face third-seeded German Alexander Zverev in the other semifinal.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-88-cents and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-797-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-267-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….