News 12:00

BULLETIN 3 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A court is to consider bail for officials in the Air Force sergeant killing tomorrow
# Tax Justice SA calls on the National Director of Public Prosecutions to prioritise illicit trade
# And rugby: The Bok coach says preparations for the 2027 World Cup are now going full steam ahead

# The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court will tomorrow consider a formal bail application of two VIP protection officials accused of killing South African Air Force sergeant Michael Swanton. Thabang Sohole and Michael Makampa appeared in court yesterday. National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says the officials assigned to the Madibeng municipality’s mayor, Douglas Maimane, are facing charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice:

# Tax Justice SA is calling on the new National Director of Public Prosecutions, Andy Mothibi, to make illicit trade his top priority. Illicit trade is robbing the country of over 100-billion-rand each year, with counterfeit and smuggled goods flooding markets and undercutting legitimate companies. Leader Yusuf Abramjee says illicit trade poses a direct threat to the country’s fiscal stability, economic security and the rule of law:

# DRDGold has concluded a five-year wage agreement at its Ergo mining operations. The agreement, signed with the National Union of Mineworkers, applies to all workers and includes annual wage increases of between six and seven-and-a-half percent, a new performance-based incentive, and improvements to housing allowances, backpay from July last year, and a once-off five-thousand-rand payment. DRDGold CEO Niël Pretorius says the deal balances improved wages with long-term business sustainability.

News from 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 World Cup title, will begin their title defence against Italy in Adelaide on October 3rd, 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-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-698-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-935-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….