News 14:00

BULLETIN 28 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A call for a probe into alleged vote buying within the ANC
# Sibanyoni reveals the Shongwe commission linked taxi violence to high-calibre firearms
# And tennis: Alcaraz and Djokovic are in the same half of the US Open draw and could meet in the semifinals

# The Activists and Citizens Forum says allegations of vote buying within the ANC are longstanding and require greater public scrutiny. This follows recent allegations by National Executive Committee member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The group claims the practice has occurred during leadership contests, including the 2007 Polokwane conference. Spokesperson Dennis Bloem alleges branches and regions have received money in exchange for votes. He says a related court challenge could help expose and address alleged corruption within the governing party.

# Taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni says the Shongwe commission found that victims of taxi-related violence in Gauteng were shot with high-calibre rifles and other firearms. Sibanyoni told the Madlanga commission some weapons were similar to those issued to state agencies, including the South African National Defence Force and police. He says the commission also identified Ezinkabi as hired specialists involved in targeted killings:

# The DA in the Western Cape has noted the recognition by the ANC that the persistent killings and violent crime affecting communities across the province require urgent attention. The DA’s Gillion Bosman says however recognising the problem is not enough. He is calling on ANC members of the provincial legislature to use their influence to hold their national colleagues accountable for the law enforcement failures that continue to leave communities vulnerable:

# Five of the six South African citizens missing after the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet are from KwaZulu-Natal. Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, says the other one is from KuGumpo City in the Eastern Cape. At least 270 people have reportedly died, while over one-thousand-300 are still unaccounted for. The department’s spokesperson, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, says they are providing support to the families:

# Tennis: World number three Carlos Alcaraz will start his US Open title defence against Russia’s Roman Safiullin. The Spaniard has not played a competitive singles match since April due to a wrist injury. Alcaraz could meet four-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. The Serbian will face Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the first round. Top seeded German Alexander Zverev will meet Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in his first-round match. Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and in-form Italian Flavio Cobolli are in Zverev’s half of the draw.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-98-cents and the euro at 18-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-200-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-605-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….