News 15:00

BULLETIN 26 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Collen Mashawana seeks a court order to halt Daily Maverick’s reports
# The IEC gears up for next year’s local government elections
# And motorsport: Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas are reportedly set to race for Cadillac next season

# Businessman and philanthropist Collen Mashawana has filed an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court to stop Daily Maverick from publishing further reports linking him to alleged corruption at the Independent Development Trust. The case names journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh as a respondent. The case follows revelations in Malaka’s Mansion, which detailed payments by Mashawana’s foundation toward a suspended IDT CEO’s 16-million-rand home. While Mashawana claims reputational harm, critics say the court bid threatens media freedom.

# Deputy national police commissioner for crime detection, Shadrack Sibiya, has requested the courts to appoint a full bench to hear his application to return to work. Sibiya was placed on special leave following explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of corruption in the justice system. This morning, the Madlanga Commission announced a delay in beginning the inquiry due to procurement delays. Sibiya insists he has done no wrong:

# The Electoral Commission says preparations are underway for next year’s local government elections, with a strong focus on inclusivity. The commission revealed that 55-percent of registered voters are women and over 34 new political parties have been registered since last year, bringing the total to 472. Chief Electoral Official Sy Mamabolo told the media the final ward boundaries are being finalised:

Moving abroad:

# Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, accusing the country of being behind anti-Semitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. It marks the first time Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War Two. Prime minister Anthony Albanese says intelligence services reached the conclusion that Iran directed at least two anti-Semitic attacks. It says it was behind the torching of a kosher cafe in Sydney’s Bondi suburb in October 2024, and also directed a major arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December.

# Motorsport: Mexican driver Sergio Pérez and Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas are reportedly set to race for Formula One newcomer Cadillac next season. General Motors was granted entry to F1 as an eleventh team last year and opted to join as the Cadillac brand. Pérez is not with a team this year after being dropped by Red Bull at the end of last season. Bottas was replaced at Sauber after a two-year stint, and this year has been back at his former team, Mercedes, in a reserve driver role.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-62-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-865-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-377-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-23-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….