News 15:00

BULLETIN 9 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Eastern Cape mass murderer Mzwandile Mahambehlala is sentenced to eight life terms
# Rugby: Concern over Etzebeth’s future after another concussion
# And the singer of Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonny, Tyler dies at the age of 75

# The High Court in Gqeberha has sentenced Mzwandile Mahambehlala to eight life terms for the 2023 mass shooting that claimed eight lives during a birthday celebration in KwaZakhele in the Eastern Cape. Acting Judge Samson Dunywa also imposed concurrent sentences for attempted murder and firearm offences. Mahambehlala was convicted on eleven charges, including eight counts of murder, one of attempted murder and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The court heard the attack was premeditated and Mahambehlala showed no remorse.

# Gun Free South Africa is calling on government to strengthen efforts to curb the circulation of illegal firearms as the country marks Gun Destruction Day. Spokesperson Claire Taylor says last night’s mass shootings in Cape Town highlight the urgent need to tackle the circulation of illegal firearms. She says government must strengthen intelligence-led law enforcement to trace the source of illegal firearms and close the pipeline supplying guns to criminals:

# Cosatu in Gauteng says corruption at Tembisa and other hospitals has obliterated the capacity of the public health institutions to provide quality healthcare. The union federation has acknowledged the efforts by MEC for Health, Faith Mazibuko, including conducting an audit on health infrastructure. Provincial chairperson, Amos Monyela, says they decided to launch a campaign to fight corruption, including training in ethical conduct for all shop stewards:

# Rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth’s future is causing concern after he again sustained concussion, forcing him out of the three Nations Championship matches in South Africa. He was injured during a practice before last weekend’s Test against England at Ellis Park. He will miss this weekend’s encounter with Scotland at Loftus and next weekend’s with Wales in Durban. Etzebeth was forced to rest for three months after three concussions within a year playing for Toulon in France, and also sustained the condition in a Test against England in 2016.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents and the euro at 18-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-674-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-104-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-42-cents a barrel.

# And we end on a sad note: Welsh singer Bonny Tyler, who produced the smash hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, has died at 75. She underwent emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal in May and had been in intensive care since. Tyler and her husband, Robert Sullivan, lived in the country from 1988. Born Gaynor Hopkins, she had a career spanning almost five decades after being discovered by talent scout Roger Bell in a club in Swansea in 1977. She also had hits with songs such as Lost in France and More than a Lover.  

Stay tuned for more news………….