News 16:00

BULLETIN 15 May 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African Police Service renames its Madlanga Task Team
# The DA calls for a forensic probe into the Correctional Services gravy scandal
# And golf: Gerhard Pepler has a commanding lead in the Sunshine Tour’s Pro Am tournament

# The South African Police Service says the unit previously known as the Madlanga Task Team will now be called the Commissions Recommendations Task Team, or CRTT. SAPS says the change is aimed at providing clarity on the team’s mandate, which is to investigate matters arising from recommendations made by the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Police have urged the public and media to use the new official name in future reporting. SAPS says the task team will continue carrying out its duties without fear or favour.

# The DA demands an urgent investigation into the Department of Correctional Services after it was revealed the department paid inflated prices for food supplies. This includes 726-rand for a litre of cooking oil and over three-thousand-700-rand for gravy powder. Prices were later reduced sharply after contracts were reviewed. The DA’s Janho Engelbrecht says the original contracts, involving 115 suppliers, reflect possible corruption or serious procurement failures:

# The Motor Industry Staff Association has called for urgent support for flood-hit communities in the Western Cape, where at least ten people have died, and thousands have been displaced by severe flooding and storms. The union says the disaster highlights the need for stronger emergency preparedness and better infrastructure maintenance. The association’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola urges South Africans to unite behind relief efforts as recovery costs are expected to run into billions of rand:

# Golf: Gerhard Pepler holds a commanding three-stroke lead at the Sunshine Tour’s Pro-Am tournament at the Irene Country Club in Gauteng. The 26-year-old South African surged ahead by firing a flawless, nine-under-par 63 during the opening round. Pepler attributes his relaxed mindset to a recent relocation to Ballito. He currently sits comfortably ahead of his closest challengers, Tyrone Ryan, Christiaan Burke, and Jack Davidson, who remain tied for second at six-under-par.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-69-cents and the euro at 19-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-424-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-544-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 105-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

# And finally: South African musician and MK Party Member of Parliament, Gezane Kobane, also known as Papa Penny, has resigned from Parliament and the MK Party. In a resignation letter addressed to party leader Jacob Zuma, the Shangaan Disco King cited internal attacks, vilification and belittling by Limpopo provincial leaders. Kobane says the treatment damaged his dignity and reputation built over decades. He thanked Zuma for the opportunity to serve and wished the party well after leaving the organisation he joined in 2024.

Stay tuned for more news………….