News 18:00

BULLETIN 18 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Shadrack Sibiya says Fannie Masemola did not object to the disbandment of the task team for political killings
# United Africans Transformation says persons with disabilities are still excluded from economic participation
# And, Pule Mabe’s corruption case is postponed to 5 May

# Suspended Deputy National Police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya told the Madlanga Commission that National Police commissioner Fannie Masemola did not object to the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team. He said Police minister Senzo Mchunu ordered the PKTT’s immediate deactivation. Sibiya emphasised he acted solely on official instructions, following the established chain of command. He emphasised that he would have breached the law by defying his superior’s directive:

# United Africans Transformation says nearly two decades after employment equity policies, persons with disabilities remain vastly underrepresented in South Africa’s workforce. Only about 1.4-percent of employees are persons with disabilities, with less than 1.3-percent in senior management. The union’s Kwena Maupje, says temporary learnerships and internships fail to provide lasting opportunities. He says government, private sector, and SETAs must enforce employment equity, create permanent jobs, and ensure meaningful inclusion:

# The Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng has postponed former ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe’s corruption case to 5 May. He and his co-accused are charged in connection with an alleged irregular 27-million-rand tender awarded to his company, Enviro Mobi, in 2017. Mabe says his legal team has expanded submissions to the National Prosecuting Authority, and may supplement them later. He also emphasised his continued allegiance to the ANC:

# A panel of independent experts appointed by the United Nations’ Human Rights Council says crimes outlined in the millions of files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were committed against a backdrop of supremacist beliefs, racism, corruption and extreme misogyny. They say the allegations require an independent, thorough and impartial investigation. Inquiries should also be launched into how it was possible for such crimes to be committed for so long.  The documents have revealed Epstein’s ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business.

# Golf: Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods says competing at this year’s Masters is not off the table. The 50-year-old has not competed in an official PGA Tour event since July 2024. The American missed the entire 2025 season having ruptured his Achilles in March before undergoing disc replacement in October. Speaking ahead of the Genesis Invitational, which he is hosting, Woods says he is trying to get stronger every day:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-6-cents and the euro at 18-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-262-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-983-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….