News 17:00

BULLETIN 2 February 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A SAPS ballistics expert disputes Witness B’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission
# The Sanlam Investments and Ninety One deal comes into effect
# And tennis: Djokovic replaces Zverev as number three after reaching the final in Melbourne

# Senior SAPS ballistic expert Laurance Makgotloe has challenged parts of Witness B’s October testimony before the Madlanga Commission. Witness B had linked former officer Michael Pule Tau and alleged drug boss Katiso “KT” Molefe to multiple assassinations. Makgotloe clarified that firearms evidence connecting high-profile murders, including Armand Swart, DJ Somebody, DJ Vintos, and Don Tindleni, showed discrepancies. He raised concerns over whether these were genuine errors or deliberate omissions:

# Sanlam Investments has officially partnered with global asset manager Ninety One to strengthen its investment services. The deal includes transferring nearly 400-billion-rand in assets and strengthens Sanlam’s ability to offer multi-management, private wealth, and alternative investment solutions both locally and abroad. Sanlam CEO Carl Roothman says the partnership enables the company to focus on its core areas while using Ninety One’s global expertise. Ninety One CEO Hendrik du Toit added that the collaboration marks a future-focused investment in South Africa’s savings and investment landscape.

# Israel has reopened the Rafah-border between Gaza and Egypt for a limited number of people on foot. The crossing is the sole route in or out for nearly all of Gaza’s more than two-million residents. It has been largely shut for most of the war, and reopening it is one of the last major steps required under the initial phase of a US-brokered ceasefire reached in October. A Palestinian source says 50 Palestinians were expected to enter Gaza today and a similar number would be permitted to leave.

# Tennis: Thirty-eight-year-old Novak Djokovic of Serbia replaced German Alexander Zverev in third place in the world rankings after reaching the final of the Australian Open. Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz cemented his top position after beating the ten-time champion in four sets in Melbourne. Italian Jannik Sinner, who lost to Djokovic in the semifinal, is still second, with compatriot Lorenzo Musetti behind Zverev. They are followed by Australian Alex de Minaur, American Taylor Fritz, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, American Ben Shelton and Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-4-cents and the euro at 18-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-788-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-741-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

# And finally: President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed sadness at the passing of 96-year-old Leon Levy, the last surviving signatory of the Freedom Charter and accused No. 4 in the 1956 Treason Trial. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says Levy, a trade unionist and anti-apartheid activist, spent time in detention and exile alongside his twin brother, Norman. He says the president paid tribute to Levy’s role in South Africa’s liberation and his enduring legacy:

Stay tuned for more news………….