News 13:00

BULLETIN 31 December 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Correctional Services say there is nothing sinister about Matlala being moved to a super-maximum prison
# The Police warn of criminal syndicates spiking drinks at clubs, taverns and other leisure spots
# And, three suspects are killed in KwaZulu-Natal tavern robbery shootout

# The Department of Correctional Services says there is nothing sinister about the decision to transfer attempted murder accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, to the country’s only super-maximum prison, the Ebongweni Correctional Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal. He was moved from the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria on 21 December. The department’s spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, says the transfer of detainees from one prison to another is based on security assessments and operational demands:

# Police have warned about criminal syndicates spiking drinks at clubs, taverns and other leisure spots to rob and, in some cases, kill unsuspecting victims. Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says there are two modus operandi: syndicates using young women to rob men, and another where young women are found dead after attending parties or visiting taverns. She says several cases have been reported in various parts of the country, such as Gauteng and the North West:

# Three men suspected of robbing a tavern in Newlands West, KwaZulu-Natal, were killed in a shootout with police last night. Police spokesperson Paul Magwaza says five men stole cash, alcohol, and cellphones. When officers signalled their getaway vehicle to stop, the suspects opened fire. Police returned fire, fatally wounding three, while two fled. A 9-mm pistol, alcohol, cash, and cellphones were recovered. A manhunt continues for two remaining suspects.

# Cricket: Former Australian Test and limited-overs batsman, Damien Martyn, is in an induced coma in hospital after falling ill with meningitis, a life-threatening infection that causes swelling of the brain. The 54-year-old played for the national team between 1992 and 2006, including several Ashes series and Australia’s World Cup win in 2003. During his career, Martyn scored four-thousand-406 Test runs with 13 centuries and five-thousand-346 ODI runs with five centuries. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has wished Martyn a quick recovery.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-61-cents and the euro at 19-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-30-cents to the dollar and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-425-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-316-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

# And foinally, the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has acknowledged that the excitement about the new year has been tempered by the sadness of terror inflicted on Jewish Australians on Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed when two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish Hanukkah festival on the iconic Sydney beach on 14 December. In his New Year’s message, Albanese says the response to the attack has given him optimism for the year ahead:

Stay tuned for more news………….