News 08:00

BULLETIN 17 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Dada Morero is sworn in as Johannesburg’s 12th mayor in eight years
# The NPA’s Shamila Batohi calls for justice as the probe of financiers behind Libyan training camp continues
# And cricket, the commissioner of the SA-20 league is ecstatic over the exceptional talent attracted for Season 3

# Former mayoral committee member of Finance Dada Morero has been sworn in as Johannesburg’s 12th mayor in eight years. The ANC Regional chairperson secured 189 votes against the DA’s Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku’s 60 votes. Multiple parties, including ActionSA, supported Morero’s election. He previously served as mayor for just 25 days in 2022. Morero was sworn in by Regional Court President Modibedi Djaje:

# National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, has confirmed ongoing investigations into the financiers of a military training camp in Mpumalanga that hosted 95 Libyan nationals. While charges against the Libyans under the Immigration Act have been withdrawn, Batohi emphasised that the NPA, in collaboration with the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations, is determined to bring those responsible to justice:

# The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has granted former Limpopo ANC treasurer Danny Msiza and ex-ANC Youth League leader Kabelo Matsepe a trial separation from their co-accused in the VBS Mutual Bank heist case. However, their request for a temporary stay of prosecution was denied. The NPA expressed disappointment, citing concerns over the logistical strain of holding two trials. Msiza, Matsepe, and eleven others face charges including theft, fraud, and money laundering. The case has been postponed to 9 September.

# Cricket: The commissioner of the SA20 League, Graeme Smith, is ecstatic over the exceptional talent they’ve attracted for next year’s third season. This follows the confirmation international stars such as Ben Stokes, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Dinesh Karthik, Trent Boult, Jonny Bairstow, Devon Conway, Zak Crawley and Rashid Khan will come to South Africa early in January. Smith says the world-class cricket in front of capacity crowds in the first two seasons has positioned the competition as one of the Tier One franchise leagues globally.

# And finally, A shell-shocked Ukrainian lion is being driven more than two-thousand-200 kilometres to start a new life at an animal sanctuary in the UK. Yuna has psychological issues and coordination problems after debris landed near her enclosure in January. She and male lion Rori are the first of five lions being rescued. Yuna was originally found malnourished, had severe concussion and was living in a tiny two by four metre enclosure. One of three cubs who will later make the same journey, is believed to have been kept in a flat without any outdoor access for about six months.

Stay tuned for more news………….