News 13:00

BULLETIN 13 December 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC warns against ministerial overreach in Information and Communications Technology policy
# The Asset Forfeiture Unit secures a preservation order of 12.1-million-rand against a mining syndicate
# And rugby: The Stormers and Sharks host Champions Cup matches today, while the Bulls travel to England

# The ANC has condemned a Government Gazette issued by Communications minister Solly Malatsi, which introduces measures exceeding legislative authority, threatening ICT transformation and the independence of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. The ANC spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, warns that allowing exemptions for foreign operators like Starlink undermines equity and national security. She urged Parliament and ICASA to ensure compliance with the law, safeguarding transformation, oversight, and South Africa’s strategic ICT sector:

# The High Court in Pretoria has granted the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit a preservation order worth over 12.1-million-rand against properties linked to Zama-Zama syndicate members, including Chimene Mlambo, Elias and Nason Ngobeni, and Alex Sithole. The NPA’s Linka Mahanjana says the order covers 25 immovable and 34 movable assets. She says the AFU will now seek a final forfeiture order to return proceeds of crime to the State:

# Legal analyst Elton Hart says the National Prosecuting Authority must prove beyond a reasonable doubt why the acquittal of televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused should be overturned. The Gqeberha High Court yesterday dismissed the state’s application for leave to appeal. Hart told SABC News that the State’s approach is flawed, arguing the defence has a stronger case. He emphasised that it’s unlikely an appeal court would overturn the trial court’s factual findings:

# The City of Ekurhuleni has suspended its head of Human Resources, Linda Gxasheka, for failing to implement disciplinary recommendations against suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi. This follows revelations at the Madlanga Commission that she was allegedly reluctant to suspend Mkhwanazi over claims of fitting state blue lights to private vehicles linked to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The City says her inaction undermined internal accountability processes. The suspension forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen governance within the municipality.

# Rugby: The Stormers and the Sharks are at home in the Champions Cup this weekend, while the Bulls are travelling overseas. The Stormers face French team La Rochelle in Gqeberha at three tomorrow afternoon, and the Sharks play English outfit Saracens in Durban just after five. Tomorrow afternoon, the Bulls take to the field in England to face the Saracens. The Stormers beat Bayonne in France in last weekend’s first round, the Sharks lost heavily to Toulouse, and Bordeaux-Begles was too strong for the Bulls at Loftus.

# And finally, a raccoon that broke into a Virginia store in the USA and joyfully drank its way through the liquor aisle is now suspected of a wider crime spree. A Hanover animal control officer suspects the stripe-tailed mammal also broke into a nearby karate studio and then raided the Department of Motor Vehicles for snacks. The raccoon, now nicknamed the “trashed panda” was first discovered passed out in the bathroom of the Ashland liquor store two days after Thanksgiving.  The county has been selling shirts with the logo “trashed panda” and has already raised more than three-million-rand for the shelter where the criminal was kept while sobering up.

Stay tuned for more news………….