News 09:00

BULLETIN 30 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Nhlanhla Mkwanazi is named Newsmaker of the year at the National Press Club awards
# AfriForum demands transparency over the stalled firearm probe involving a Johannesburg MMC
# And: Sasol’s just transition report warns of job risks

# KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has received the National Press Club’s 2025 Newsmaker of the Year award at a gala event in Pretoria held in partnership with UNISA. The award recognises Mkhwanazi’s major impact on the national news agenda through his outspoken stance on crime and corruption. He gained national attention in July 2025 after alleging that a Gauteng-based drug cartel had infiltrated senior police:

# Suspended KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona is challenging his suspension, calling it unlawful and unfair. Through his legal team, Senona argues that being mentioned at the Madlanga Commission is not enough to justify suspension. He also claims the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation failed to hold a disciplinary hearing within the required 60-day period. Senona was suspended in March over allegations linked to alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi Matlala and reported security protocol breaches. He is expected to make a return at the Madlanga Commission on Monday.

# AfriForum says selective enforcement of the law undermines public trust in the justice system. The organisation has raised concerns over delays in the investigation into former Johannesburg mayor and mayoral committee member for Community Development, Thapelo Amad, following a viral video allegedly showing him firing shots into the air at a funeral in Soweto. AfriForum’s Jacques Broodryk says no one should be treated differently because of their political connections:

# The City of Tshwane Utility Services mayoral committee member, Frans Boshielo has reiterated calls to its residents to use water sparingly as major maintenance by Rand Water and Eskom continues until June 2. The work will affect 69 reservoirs, causing low water pressure and intermittent supply interruptions. He confirmed that an Emergency Shutdown Operations Centre has been established and warned that recovery of the network could take longer than usual:

# A new report on South Africa’s just energy transition warns that thousands of jobs linked to Sasol could be at risk without urgent planning. Chemical engineer Bruce Young says about 27-thousand direct and 425-thousand indirect jobs depend on Sasol’s operations. Ageing infrastructure, declining coal quality, gas shortages and global pressure to cut emissions are placing the company under strain, with major restructuring likely in Secunda, Mpumalanga and Sasolburg, Free State. He urges government, labour and business to coordinate retraining and economic support plans.

# And rugby: Stormers coach John Dobson sees today’s United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Cardiff as a defining point in the season as it will be an opportunity for the team to show everyone who they are.  Dobson says the Stormers started the season off well, but today’s game will determine if they are still the team that was so good in the early part of the season. Both Dobson and skipper Ruhan Nel are expecting tough opposition from Cardiff. The game at the Cape Town stadium starts of 3.30 this afternoon.

Stay tuned for more news………….