News 11:00

BULLETIN 3 February 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Businessman Suleiman Carrim is heading to court to challenge the Madlanga commission’s subpoena
# The DA targets criminal syndicates behind land invasions and hijacked buildings
# And rugby: The Bok coach says preparations for the 2027 World Cup are now going full steam ahead

# Businessman and ANC member, Suleiman Carrim, is taking the Madlanga commission to court today in an urgent application to stop his subpoena, compelling him to testify before the commission. He was implicated in testimony by Witness X and Brown Mogotsi. In court papers, Carrim says the commission wants to compel him to testify before he has been given a fair chance to challenge the evidence against him. The commission says it will oppose the application.

# The DA says the housing crisis, which has left more than ten-million people without affordable housing, is being exploited by criminals who organise land invasions and hijack buildings. The party has launched a petition to stop these illegal acts, as desperate people are being forced to pay rent to criminal syndicates. The DA’s Luyolo Mphithi says their proposed law targets those who profit from the invasions, while protecting homeless people and restoring the rule of law:

# Action Society has condemned the fatal shooting of South African Air Force sergeant Michael Swanton, allegedly by VIP protection officers. Swanton was shot in front of his wife during a traffic-related incident on the R80 towards Mabopane in Tshwane last week. The organisation warns this reflects a wider pattern of misconduct by so-called ‘Blue Light Mafia’ units. Action Society’s Juanita du Preez says until reform is enforced, blue lights signal danger, not safety:

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump says the Justice Department should move on to other business after its latest release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Last week, the department released more than three-million pages of files related to the investigation into the late sex offender. Trump is known to have been an associate of Epstein for years, but says he did not know about his crimes. He says his administration has better things to do:

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says the announcement of the 2027 World Cup match schedule in Australia will now allow them to go full steam ahead with their planning and preparation. South Africa, bidding for a third consecutive title, will begin their title defence against Italy in Adelaide on October third before heading to Brisbane and Perth to face Georgia and Romania in their two remaining pool matches. Erasmus says they will leave no stone unturned in ensuring they are as well prepared as possible for the competition.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-95-cents and the euro at 18-rand-84-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-594-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-881-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….