News 13:00

BULLETIN 26 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The KZN prosecutions boss tells the Madlanga commission she was never formally told of the police task team’s disbandment
# Rugby: Kwagga Smith is expecting a physical battle against Argentina
# And World Environmental Health Day today is observed under the theme Clean Air, Healthy People.

# KwaZulu-Natal Director of Public Prosecutions, Elaine Harrison has told the Madlanga commission she was never formally informed of the disbandment of the political killings task team. Harrison said she only learnt about it through social media and initially dismissed the news as fake. She testified that the task team had been vital in coordinating investigators and dedicated prosecutors, leading to better conviction rates in political killings cases:

# Action Society says South Africa’s courts are failing victims and their families with endless postponements and years of long delays. The organisation has highlighted two cases, that of Asiphe Cetywayo and Nadia Lotz. The Cetywayo case will mark one and a half years since her brutal murder, while Lotz’s case has already dragged on for two and a half years since her partner murdered her in March 2023. Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm says justice for victims and their families must be prioritised:

# UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to introduce a free digital ID for both nationals and those residing in the country in a bid to curb illegal migration. The government says it will make it simpler to apply for services like driver’s licences, childcare and welfare. The new digital ID will be held on people’s phones and there will be no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it. However, it will be mandatory as a means of proving your right to work.

# Rugby: Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith says they are expecting a tough and physical battle against Argentina in Durban tomorrow. Just two points separate the table-topping Australia from last-placed Argentina with two rounds remaining in the Rugby Championship. The All Blacks face the Wallabies in Auckland also on Saturday. Smith says they are fully focused on doing what they need to this weekend to stay in the race to defend the title:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-45-cents and the euro at 20-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-609-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-747-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today is World Environmental Health Day, observed under the theme, Clean Air, Healthy People. This day encourages collaboration between public and private institutions to implement sustainable practices, reduce pollution, and adapt to climate change to protect public health. Globally, approximately 99-percent of people breathe air that exceeds World Health Organisation safety guidelines, exposing them to dangerous pollutant levels. International Federation of Environmental Health says sustainable practices and policies can mitigate the effects of air pollution and improve people’s health and well-being.

Stay tuned for more news………….