News 14:00

BULLETIN 23 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Sindane seeks a postponement from the Madlanga Commission amid his medical condition
# The death toll rises to 26 after a ferry capsized in the Java Sea ten days ago
# And soccer: Mbappé continues his Ballon d’Or campaign

# Mpumalanga taxi boss Oupa “Bafana” Sindane has asked the Madlanga Commission to postpone his appearance until he is medically fit to attend and until an urgent application in the High Court in Pretoria is heard on October 6. He is seeking to interdict his testimony before the commission. Sindane’s lawyer, Thabani Masuku, says the request is aimed at protecting his client’s constitutional rights and preventing irreversible prejudice:

# Civic organisation Forum for South Africa has expressed concern at the allegations levelled against suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. The 59-year-old is accused of raping an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, in May, and sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl between July and August. FORUM4SA’s leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says regardless of rank and position, no one is above the law:

# Five people were killed and eleven injured in a three-vehicle crash at the corner of Old Pretoria Main Road and Maxwell Drive in Midrand, Gauteng, last night. Johannesburg Metro Police spokesperson Xolani Fihla says the driver of a taxi travelling northbound allegedly failed to stop at a red light and hit two vehicles travelling eastbound. The taxi driver was seriously injured. Fihla says a case of culpable homicide will be opened:

Moving abroad:

# The death toll from a passenger ferry that capsized in Indonesia’s Java Sea ten days ago has risen to 26, with 109 people still missing. The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, when it overturned in bad weather on September 13, while travelling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. Rescuers have recovered 14 bodies from inside the ship over the past three days, while two others washed ashore. The search is focusing on the cabins, where more passengers may be trapped. The operation has been extended until Sunday.

# Soccer: Real Madrid and French forward Kylian Mbappé is continuing his public campaign for the Ballon d’Or, saying he believes his performances make him a strong contender for the award. He was the top scorer in the World Cup, La Liga and Champions League last season. Mbappé scored 25 league goals and 15 in the Champions League before adding 10 at the World Cup. France reached the World Cup semi-finals, while Real Madrid finished without a major trophy. The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced in London on October 26.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-28-cents and the euro at 18-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-62-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-774-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-316-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 99-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….