News 15:00
BULLETIN 12 August 3 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# An IPID official in KwaZulu-Natal alleges police members have links to the tow-truck industry and the drug trade
# The FF Plus says the alleged Blood River arson incident cannot be ignored
# And rugby: Nonu asked the All Blacks permission beforehand to perform his own haka
# The deputy director of Investigations of KwaZulu-Natal’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Len John, has told the Madlanga commission some police officials are closely linked to the tow-truck industry, describing it as a free rein to crime. He alleges tow trucks are being used to transport drugs, with police members involved in the operation. John stresses the industry and drug trade appear to be closely connected:
# The case against three Cape Town police officials accused of torturing barber Juma Igiraneza has been postponed to 21 September at the Wynberg Regional Court. Lieutenant-colonel Delmore Manuel and constables Jermaine Conradie and Leigh-Ann Maroon allegedly assaulted Igiraneza during a raid at his Mowbray workplace on 7 November 2023. The matter could not proceed today after Conradie’s lawyer failed to appear. Magistrate Karel Meyer says the postponement is necessary to allow all legal representatives to attend and set a trial date.
# The FF Plus says an alleged arson incident at the Blood River heritage site in KwaZulu-Natal highlights the importance of mutual recognition between communities. According to the Heritage Foundation, oil was set alight near the site manager’s home, injuring a camper who helped fight the blaze while electrical infrastructure and part of the campsite were affected. The party’s Wynand Boshoff says differences over identity and history should be openly discussed:
Moving abroad:
# President Vladimir Putin says Russia will respond in kind if European countries seize his country’s merchant vessels. TASS state news agency reports this comes as the European Union intensifies pressure on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, expanding sanctions against hundreds of vessels and detaining some ships and their crews for checks. Some European governments have said they are exploring tougher maritime enforcement measures. Putin says Russian retaliatory action would not be limited to those waters where their ships were seized, but wherever he deemed necessary and appropriate.
# Rugby: All Blacks veteran Ma’a Nonu obtained permission from his old team before performing his iconic reply to the traditional haka at King’s Park in Durban last night. He played for the Sharks against the touring team after joining them as a mentor recently. All Blacks coach Dave Rennie says Nonu asked forwards coach Tana Umaga about a respectful response. Nonu was apparently nervous about doing the traditional war dance on his own, but his presentation then went on to steal the show.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-15-cents and the euro at 18-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-96-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-410-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-59-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….