News 14:00

BULLETIN 6 December 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An Ahmed Kathrada Foundation director is subpoenaed to testify in the inquiry into the deaths of two MK members in 1989
# BOSA welcomes the NPA’s recovery of five-billion-rand
# And cricket: The Proteas’ first innings end on 358 after centuries by Rickelton and Verreyne

# Ahmed Kathrada Foundation executive director Neeshan Balton is expected to testify in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng today regarding the 1989 deaths of uMkhonto weSizwe members Prakash Napier and Yusuf Akhalwaya. The two died in a premature mine explosion at Park Station, Johannesburg. The Hawks, investigating potential murder linked to Truth and Reconciliation Commission findings, allege Balton holds critical information about the operation. He has denied involvement in the incident but pledges cooperation.

# Build One South Africa welcomes the recovery of five-billion-rand in stolen funds by the National Prosecuting Authority. This was revealed in a parliamentary reply by the Ministery of Justice and Constitutional Development. The ministery’s response states that the NPA operates at only 52-percent of its required capacity, hindering its ability to effectively prosecute criminal cases. BOSA’s spokesperson, Roger Solomons, says justice is further delayed due to 225 outstanding cases, many stalled in the Special Tribunal and High Courts:

# Six illegal miners who resurfaced from Stilfontein’s Shaft 11 in North Wes this morning, claimed they were forced to use gold to buy food donated underground by armed Basotho men. According to News24, the Mozambican men, arrested after midnight, described harrowing conditions, including sharing porridge among six people and surviving on cockroaches during a three-day escape. They allege over 800 miners remain trapped under the armed men’s control. Meanwhile, police continue efforts to disrupt illegal mining operations in the region.

# Cricket: Sri Lanka bowled South Africa out for 358 on the second morning of the second Test in Gqeberha – but not before Kyle Verreyne scored the hosts’ second century. He ended undefeated on 105 after Ryan Rickelton yesterday reached his first Test century. Captain Temba Bavuma contributed 78 and Kagiso Rabada a valuable 23. Lahiru Kumara claimed four wickets and Asitha Fernando three. South Africa won the first Test in Durban and another victory will enhance their chances of reaching the final of the World Test Championship.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-4-cents and the euro at 19-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 98-thousand-46-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-638-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Strengthening the quality and accessibility of public mental health services is key to breaking the cycle of gender-based violence, that begins with exposure to intimate partner violence and abuse in childhood. This is according to the South African Society of Psychiatrists. The organisation’s Sibongile Mashaphu says up to 34-percent of female victims of physical or sexual violence by their male partner, report witnessing their mothers being abused by a partner:

Stay tuned for more news………….