News 12:00

BULLETIN 28 May 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Border Management Authority intercepts a drug consignment of one-billion-rand at Beitbridge
# The South African Weather Service flags extreme weather as Ceres sees record-breaking rainfall
# And soccer: Ramaphosa approves of Bafana Bafana’s World Cup squad

# The Border Management Authority intercepted a drug consignment valued at 998.2-million-rand at the Beit Bridge border post in Musina, Limpopo. Three Malawian suspects were arrested. An intelligence-driven operation coordinated out of the National Targeting Centre identified a truck travelling from Zimbabwe. According to the BMA, the truck was intercepted and examined through the sophisticated truck scanner on site. Spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi says a hidden compartment was discovered:

# The Department of Correctional Services cannot account for 27-thousand-797 high-risk parolees who have absconded, including offenders convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and armed robbery. An AmaBhungane investigation reveals 15-thousand-860 are archived absconders, parolees who were released between 1991 and 2004 and whom the state has failed to trace and rearrest. Gauteng has the highest number of absconders with nine-thousand-355. The department’s spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, says they maintain a results-driven tracking and tracing capability and continue to successfully return absconded parolees to the correctional system.

# The South African Weather Service says Ceres in the Western Cape has recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall since records began in 1955 during a severe storm between 10 and 12 May. The area recorded more than 500-millimetres of rain so far this month, far above the long-term average of about 80-millimetres. The service’s Hannelee Doubell says the event is extremely rare and could be a once-in-200-year rainfall occurrence:

Moving abroad:

# The US Justice Department has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into former magazine columnist E Jean Carroll. The 82-year-old accused president Donald Trump of sexual assault and won a federal civil lawsuit against him for sexual abuse and defamation. A court found Trump liable on both counts and awarded Carroll over 80-million-rand in damages. The investigation is reportedly focused on whether she committed perjury in testimony tied to her two civil lawsuits against Trump, which he is appealing.

# Soccer: President Cyril Ramaphosa says Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has selected the best team to represent South Africa at the World Cup in Northern America. Broos named uncapped defenders Olwethu Makhanya and Bradley Cross in his final 26-player squad, which will be captained by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. South Africa faces co-hosts Mexico in the tournament opener on 11 June. Ramaphosa has called on the players to show sportsmanship, camaraderie, professionalism, and teamwork:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-5-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 73-thousand-298-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-393-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….