News 18:00

BULLETIN 12 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# DNA links witness D murder suspects to another murder
# Tshwane’s investment pipeline surges to 11.8-billion-rand
# And, the DA condemns Rand West multi-million tender awarded to state official

# A senior investigator in the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Nomsa Masuku, told the Madlanga Commission that suspects in Witness D, Marius van der Merwe’ murder in Brakpan voluntarily submitted DNA to eliminate themselves. The samples were later compared to control samples from the original crime scene on a victim named Mr. Benson, yielding a positive match. However, she confirmed the forensic report requested confidentiality to protect the ongoing criminal trial:

# The Tshwane Economic Development Agency has recorded a sharp recovery in investor confidence. The value of qualified new investment projects has risen from 1.7-billion-rand in 2024/2025 to 11.8-billion-rand in the second quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year. Mayoral committee member for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, says this milestone marks the strongest investment pipeline recorded in years and a decisive break from a prolonged downward trend:

# DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga has condemned Rand West District Municipality for awarding a 76.18-million-rand tender to a state official, as revealed in the Auditor-General’s 2023/24 municipal finance report. The AG noted 432 prohibited awards, highlighting weak internal controls. Msimanga criticised failing service delivery and unfunded mandates, pledging to question the tender in the Gauteng Legislature. The DA proposes a mandatory business declaration register to prevent officials from benefiting from government contracts.

# Parts of Spain and Portugal are on high alert with heavy rain and strong winds battering the Iberian peninsula, felling trees, disrupting transport and forcing the closure of some schools. A red alert has been decreed in the northern Spanish regions of Galicia, Cantabria and the Basque Country after yesterday’s arrival of Nils, the eighth storm to hit the country this year. Weather forecasters have warned of waves of up to nine metres tall. At least five people have been injured in the winds in Catalonia.

# Soccer: The acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, says ICE agents will form a key part of security at the men’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico between June and July. Seventy-eight of the 104 games will be played in America. ICE agents have come under major criticism following the killing of two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, during protests in Minneapolis. Lyons says ICE is dedicated to the security of all participants and visitors.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-82-cents and the euro at 18-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-61-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-890-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-64-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-56-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….