News 18:00

BULLETIN 20 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The High Court closes Nafiz Modack’s defence case, and postpones the trial
# Three suspected kidnappers are killed in a shootout with the police in KwaZulu-Natal
# And, minister Willie Aucamp calls for urgent global climate cooperation ahead of the Copenhagen summit on climate action

# The High Court in the Western Cape High Court has postponed the case against alleged underworld gang boss Nafiz Modack and co-accused to Monday. Judge Robert Henney ruled that Modack’s defence case be closed after failure to secure new witnesses. Modack faces 120 charges, including the 2020 assassination of Anti-Gang Unit detective Charl Kinnear. Judge Henney ruled the trial will now continue with co-accused Ziyad Poole, who faces 122 charges:

# Three suspected kidnappers were killed in a shootout with KwaZulu-Natal police in Mariannhill after officers acted on intelligence about their whereabouts this morning. Police say the men were wanted in connection with a Greenwood Park kidnapping and fraud case, as well as illegal possession of firearms. When officers attempted to stop their vehicle, the suspects fled, triggering a high-speed chase and exchange of gunfire, resulting in all three suspects being fatally shot.

# The DA in Gauteng is calling on the provincial government to immediately reverse the devastating 64-percent budget cuts to Quintile 5 public schools. The party has formally submitted a petition signed by more than 16-thousand residents to the Gauteng Education portfolio committee. The DA’s Michael Waters says these cuts are not abstract numbers on a spreadsheet; they directly affect classrooms, learner safety, educational quality, and the future of children:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp calls for urgent global cooperation ahead of the 2026 Copenhagen Ministerial Summit on climate action. He says South Africa remains committed to multilateralism focused on implementation, climate resilience, and a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Aucamp emphasises that developing countries require financial and technical support to unlock green economy opportunities. He highlights the need for stronger international partnerships on adaptation, mitigation, and innovation to address escalating climate-related challenges worldwide.

# Soccer: Orbit College FC have confirmed that tickets for its crucial Premiership clash against Orlando Pirates sold out within five hours of going on sale. The highly anticipated match will take place at Mbombela Stadium, Mpumalanga, with thousands of Buccaneers supporters expected to attend. Orlando Pirates could secure the league title with a victory, ending a 14-year wait for the crown. Orbit College also has plenty at stake, as a win could help secure their top-flight status.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-62-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-116-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-483-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 105-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….