News 12:00

BULLETIN 26 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The National Prosecuting Authority intends to file an application against representing Batohi at the Nkabinde inquiry
# Tax Justice South Africa urges swift visible action to combat the illicit trade crisis
# And rugby: The Junior Boks are bolstered by the return of Reid and Mnebelele for the clash against Georgia

# The National Prosecuting Authority has expressed intentions to file an urgent application stating it cannot represent former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, at the Nkabinde inquiry due to a conflict of interest. The NPA seeks permission to participate independently, including leading evidence and cross-examining witnesses. Batohi has her own legal team on standby. The enquiry is probing the fitness to hold office of suspended Johannesburg Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke.

# Tax Justice South Africa says Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s admission that illicit trade is devastating the country will ring hollow unless his promises of action are swiftly followed by arrests, prosecutions and recovered revenue. Spokesperson Yusuf Abramjee says illicit trade is draining around 100-billion-rand from the fiscus annually:

# Western Cape premier Alan Winde has warned the province could trigger a formal intergovernmental dispute or approach the courts if there are no improvements in police staff shortages and investigations. A total of 345 people were murdered in the province in January alone. Winde said in his state of the province address there has been absolutely no real or meaningful investment in safety from national government over the last 30 years:

# Rugby: Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has named a strong 23-man squad for the second and final international against Georgia in Tbilisi tomorrow. South Africa won Sunday’s first encounter 35-0. Stalwarts Oliver Reid and Siphosethu Mnebelele have been recalled to the starting front row, while Zekhethelo Siyaya is included at fullback in the place of Dylan Miller, who is on the bench. Foote says having the experience of Reid and Mnebelele provides the team with the extra layer of composure and technical grit.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-86-cents and the euro at 18-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-46-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-111-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-186-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

# And finally: US-based nonprofit organisation, the Committee to Protect Journalists, says a record 129 journalists and media workers were killed in the course of their work last year. Eighty-six were killed by Israeli forces, more than 60-percent of whom were Palestinians reporting from Gaza. The toll also includes 31 media workers killed in a strike on a Houthi media centre in Yemen. The organisation’s CEO, Jodie Ginsberg, says it’s concerning that journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to information is more important than ever.

Stay tuned for more news………….