News 13:00

BULLETIN 14 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A parliamentary ad hoc committee meets on Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations
# The bail conditions of seven senior Crime Intelligence officers are amended
# And a Northern Cape teacher is placed on precautionary suspension over a blackface incident

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is meeting today to consider its terms of reference. The committee was established to probe claims of political interference in crime fighting efforts and must outline the scope of its work before proceeding. Parliament says the process aims to ensure transparency, fairness, and adherence to due process in addressing the allegations.

# The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has amended bail conditions for seven senior Crime Intelligence officials, including boss Dumisani Khumalo, to protect witnesses in the ongoing fraud and corruption case. Khumalo and his co-accused face charges stemming from the alleged irregular appointment of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele to a senior position within Crime Intelligence, allegedly bypassing required vetting procedures. According to the state, some witnesses are also police members, and they are known by the accused.

# The Northern Cape Education Department has placed an Upington teacher on precautionary suspension with immediate effect pending an investigation. This follows a blackface paint incident at a function at Duineveld High School last week. Jaco Liebenberg allegedly wore blackface during a school function, sparking widespread outrage after images went viral on social media. The Freedom Front Plus’ Wynand Boshoff says the investigation should not turn into a witch-hunt aimed at proving racism in a bid to justify the disruption:

# SA Canegrowers is urging Trade, Industry and Competition minister Parks Tau to finalise the regulations that will allow retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, millers and growers to collectively negotiate about purchasing mainly local sugar. The country’s sugar industry faces a significant threat from the 30-percent tariffs imposed on sugar exports to the United States. SA Canegrowers chairperson, Higgins Mdluli, says the country’s sugar industry is a national asset which should be protected:

# Athletics: Pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis is excited over the prospect of fulfilling an ambassadorial role for next year’s inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship. The Swedish-American athlete had just set his 13th world record in the item and also won two Olympic gold medals. He had been named Star Athlete for the championship. The event will take place in Budapest, Hungary, at the end of the 2026 season, and then every two years. Prize money for the first year will be 175-million-rand.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-56-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 121-thousand-845-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-357-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….