News 13:00

BULLETIN 30 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Special Investigating Unit wins a court bid to recover millions the SABC paid to Hlaudi Motsoeneng
# Matthew Chaskalson steps in as the chief evidence leader at the Madlanga commission of inquiry
# And rugby: The Boks can clinch a consecutive Rugby Championship title for the first time on Saturday

# The Special Investigating Unit has secured a legal victory when the High Court in Johannesburg ordered three former SABC executives to repay over eleven-million-rand in unlawful success payments made to former chief operating official Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Mbulaheni Maguvhe, Ndivhoniswani Tshidzumba and Maleshane Raphela were found jointly liable after failing to oppose payments. The SIU has already seized part of Motsoeneng’s pension, but will now recover the balance, with added interest and legal costs.

# Senior counsel Matthew Chaskalson has been appointed chief evidence leader of the Madlanga commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the justice system. This follows Advocate Terry Motau’s abrupt resignation less than ten days into the role. Chaskalson, a veteran of the Marikana and the state capture inquiries, joins senior counsel Mahlape Sello and Adila Hassim. The high-pressure commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has six months to deliver its report to president Cyril Ramaphosa.

# Union federation Saftu says the revelations in the Special Investigating Unit’s report into Tembisa Hospital are not simply maladministration; it is a systematic theft of resources that should have saved lives. The report reveals three coordinated syndicates responsible for the looting of over two-billion-rand. Saftu’s spokesperson, Asive Dyani, says the looters stole not only money, but the lives and dignity of the working class and the poor who depend on public healthcare:

# Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier says with just three weeks to go to the start of the matric exams, learners must make sure they are familiar with the rules of the exams. All matric candidates will be required to sign two key documents: a matric pledge and a commitment agreement. Maynier says the consequences for infringing on the exam rules are severe. He adds that a total of 19 candidates were disqualified from the 2024 matric exams for possession of notes or cell phones:

# Rugby: A first-ever consecutive Rugby Championship title awaits the Springboks if everything goes according to plan come Saturday. South Africa faces Argentina at Twickenham in London in the last round after two huge victories over the All Blacks and the Pumas following mixed results in the first three rounds. If the Boks beat Los Pumas again, even a 100-point victory for New Zealand over the Wallabies earlier on Saturday won’t be enough. If South Africa loses, the team winning the New Zealand-Australian clash will win the competition.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-29-cents and the euro at 20-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-25-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-302-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-798-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-49-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….