News 14:00

BULLETIN 17 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Legal hurdles threaten South Africa’s bid to recoup 299-million-rand in repatriation costs
# The death toll from the Lake Kariba boat accident rises to 80
# And rugby: The injured Ollie Norris becomes the fourth All Black player to be sent home

# South Africa faces legal hurdles in its attempt to recover about 299-million-rand spent repatriating foreign nationals to Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia. The Department of Home Affairs says it has asked the three governments for reimbursement. International relations expert Kingsley Makhubela says South Africa could struggle to recover the money without legally binding agreements requiring the countries to cover the costs. He says the affected countries may have no legal liability to pay in the absence of such agreements.

# Businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has invoked his right against self-incrimination at the Madlanga commission. He says his privilege applies specifically to the Medicare24 contract, which is the subject of pending criminal charges. Matlala says his company was previously contracted by the Police Service to provide health and risk-related services, but the tender has since been terminated. He says exercising his legal right should not be viewed as unwillingness to assist the commission:

# Sophiatown police in Gauteng are investigating four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder following a shooting in Newclare on Saturday evening. Police spokesperson Tintswalo Sibeko says three victims were killed and another two sustained gunshot wounds. She says one of the victims, who had been receiving treatment in hospital, has since died of injuries:

# Zimbabwe’s national ​Police Service ‌says ​the death toll ​from last week’s boat accident ‌on ⁠Lake Kariba ​had ⁠risen ​to 80 ​after ⁠eight more ⁠bodies ​were ​found. The government-operated passenger ferry capsized in rough waters caused by heavy winds. It was licensed to hold only 90 passengers but reports indicate it was severely overloaded, carrying an estimated 120 to 153 people, including un-ticketed young children. President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially declared the tragedy a state of disaster, allowing the state to mobilise broader humanitarian aid and recovery resources.

# Rugby: All Blacks prop Ollie Norris is returning to New Zealand after suffering a cartilage injury and is set to be sidelined for six weeks. He is the fourth player to be ruled out of the remainder of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour in South Africa following injuries to George Bell, Billy Proctor and Caleb Clarke. Cortez Ratima may also be in doubt for the first Test against the Springboks after sustaining a knee injury, with Noah Hotham called up to the squad as his cover.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-16-cents and the euro at 18-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-272-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-393-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….