News 14:00

BULLETIN 28 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mbuyiseli Madlanga is to give a briefing on the commission of inquiry into Mkhwanazi’s claims
# The DA rejects a plan to turn the Pretoria City Hall into an Iranian cultural centre
# And cricket: India’s wicketkeeper will miss the fifth Test against England with a fractured foot

# Acting deputy chief justice, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, will outline details of the commission of inquiry into KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s claims of political interference in crime fighting this afternoon. Madlanga was appointed by president Cyril Ramaphosa to chair the probe into alleged criminal syndicate infiltration in law enforcement. Police minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy police commissioner for crime detection, Shadrack Sibiya, are on special leave. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court will hold a special sitting for Madlanga on Thursday to celebrate him before he officially retires.

# The DA in Tshwane has voiced opposition to any sale, lease, or donation of the Pretoria City Hall to Iran for a cultural centre. Caucus leader Cilliers Brink says Iran is not interested in restoring the landmark but seeks municipal property. Brink warns this move could damage diplomatic ties with the US, which is South Africa’s key trading partner. He emphasised that this compromises national interests for narrow political gain:

# A learner transport driver has been arrested for drunk driving after an accident on Westpark Drive in Randburg, Gauteng, this morning. The Johannesburg Metro Police says the driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle when he lost control. Spokesperson Xolani Fihla says 12 learners were injured and taken to various medical facilities for treatment:

# Cricket: India’s wicketkeeper, Rishab Pant, will miss the fifth and final Test against England after it was confirmed he fractured his foot in the fourth encounter at Old Trafford. He retired hurt in the first innings but returned to great applause later to score a half-century. Pant only fielded in England’s second innings and didn’t have to bat in India’s second innings as the visitors dug in to earn a draw. England leads the series 2-1, and the final Test starts at the Oval in London on Thursday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-85-cents and the euro at 20-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-945-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-338-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-42-cents a barrel.

# And finally: SANParks has concluded a series of focus group workshops shaping Table Mountain National Park under the new ten-year Park Management Plan and Marine Protected Area Management Plan from 2027 to 2036. Led by Chand Environmental Consultants, the sessions tackled marine protection, cultural heritage, socio-economic transformation, and biodiversity. SANParks says experts have highlighted key priorities including climate change, job creation, and heritage preservation. Public engagement will follow as the plan takes shape, aiming to secure the park’s ecological, cultural, and economic future.

Stay tuned for more news………….