News 13:00

BULLETIN 11 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul O’Sullivan denies claims of infiltrating the Independent Police Investigative Directorate
# South Africa records a 16-percent drop in rhino poaching in 2025
# And rugby: Ireland’s performance director expects the team to bounce back against Italy

# Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan has dismissed claims he infiltrated the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. He is testifying before Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing alleged political interference in the justice system. O’Sullivan says he opened a case against former acting police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane over alleged corruption, money laundering and racketeering in 2016. He confirmed interacting with IPID until 2018, calling infiltration allegations a blatant lie:

# South Africa recorded a 16-percent decline in rhino poaching in 2025, marking a second consecutive annual drop. The Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Ministry says 352 rhinos were killed last year, down from 420 in 2024. However, killings in Kruger National Park rose sharply to 175 from 88. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal saw a significant improvement, with poaching falling to 63. Minister Willie Aucamp credits strengthened anti-poaching and anti-trafficking operations and improved coordination among law enforcement agencies for the decline.

# The City of Tshwane says the Bronkhorstspruit water treatment plant is struggling to recover adequately due to high consumption. The plant supplies water to the Bronkhorstspruit, Zithobeni, and Ekandustria reservoirs, as well as the Zithobeni tower. The metro’s spokesperson, Selby Bokaba, says a 50/50 distribution split from the treatment plant has now been implemented, as technicians continue to monitor reservoir levels and system performance:

# Rugby: Ireland’s performance director, David Humphreys, expects the country to bounce back in Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Italy in Dublin. The Irish was overpowered by defending champions France in the first round last weekend, losing 36-14 in Paris, while the Azzuri is brimming with confidence after beating Scotland. Humphreys says they didn’t perform at the Stade de France, but the beauty of the competition is they have other chances over the next five weeks to really show what Irish rugby is about.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-87-cents and the euro at 18-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-815-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-52-dollars-22-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-37-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A brazen gang of masked robbers posing as police officials blew up a cash in transit vehicle on a busy highway in Italy – in full view and close to commuters. The episode was recorded on several cellphone videos that went wild on social media. Eyewitness footage shows several heavily armed men ducking behind parked cars as the cash van explodes. They had already brought traffic to a standstill by setting fire to a different truck and using vehicles with flashing lights to pretend to be officials.

Stay tuned for more news………….