News 13:00

BULLETIN 1 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema is found guilty in the firearm trial but Adriaan Snyman is not guilty
# The Madlanga commission adjourns as the Crime Intelligence boss falls ill
# And Munich’s Oktoberfest grounds remain closed after a bomb threat and explosions

# EFF leader Julius Malema has been found guilty on all counts in his firearm trial at the East London Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape. His co-accused, former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted. The charges stem from a rally in Mdantsane in 2018 where Malema fired a rifle. Magistrate Twanet Olivier ruled that state witnesses were credible. She postponed the case to 23 January next year for a pre-sentencing report:

# The Madlanga commission has adjourned for the day after Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo fell ill before taking the stand to continue testifying. Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels says a decision on whether proceedings will resume tomorrow will be announced later today. Khumalo was giving evidence on alleged links between businessmen Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and Brown Mogotsi, and suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu. Michaels noted the hearings remain in phase one:

# Forum for South Africa has criticised the late South African ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, saying his leadership left the Police and Sport, Arts and Culture Ministries in decline. Spokesperson Tebogo Mashilompane cited testimony at the Madlanga commission by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, alleging Mthethwa interfered in police operations while he was minister, weakening crime-fighting efforts. He stressed that leaders must be accountable, even in death, while extending condolences to Mthethwa’s family:

Moving abroad:

# Munich’s Oktoberfest grounds will remain temporarily closed after a fire and explosions rocked a building elsewhere in the southern German city. The organisers of the beer festival said on their website a bomb threat had been received. Police say explosive devices had been found in a residential building in northern Munich and they were investigating any possible link to the fest, held annually near the centre of the Bavarian capital.

# Cricket: Experienced Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell will miss the T20 series in New Zealand after breaking his arm in ‘n freak accident. He was hit by a shot from batter Mitchell Owen while bowling in the nets. Thirty-six-year-old Maxwell is prone to bizarre injuries. He fractured his leg when a friend fell on it during a party in 2022, and sustained concussion when falling off a golf cart the next year. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe will replace him in the squad for the three T20s.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-20-cents and the euro at 20-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-17-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-261-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-885-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….