News 15:00

BULLETIN 17 September 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mkhwanazi says his media briefing was a collective effort to expose challenges facing police investigations
# South Africa takes a solemn account of the findings on the genocide in Gaza
# And tennis: Aryna Sabalenka withdraws from the Chinese Open due to injury

# KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has told the Madlanga commission of inquiry the criminal justice system faces a real risk of total collapse if corruption and political interference are not addressed. Testifying first, Mkhwanazi said his 6 July media briefing reflected collective concerns from police officials about sabotage and wrongdoing within the system. He also defended the disbanded political killings task team, as it had achieved significant successes despite criticism:

The DA’s Lisa Schickerling says Mkhwanazi’s allegations has shaken public confidence. She says the commission must expose political interference and criminal infiltration without fear or favour:

# South Africa says it takes solemn account of the findings of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s independent international commission of inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Chrispin Phiri says the commission’s report shows the Israeli authorities and security forces continue killing and imposing measures intended to prevent births:

# Tennis: World number one and reigning US Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka, has withdrawn from next week’s Chinese Open due to a minor injury. The Belarusian is a three-time quarterfinalist in Beijing, having made the last eight in 2018, 2023 and last year. With Sabalenka’s withdrawal, world number two, Iga Swiatek from Poland, leads the field. Other participants include defending champion Coco Gauff, another American, Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova, Italian Jasmine Paolini, and home favourite Qinwen Zheng.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-38-cents and the euro at 20-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-321-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-665-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today is International Country Music Day, celebrating one of the world’s most popular genres. Country music has its origins in the rural southern United States and its roots in blues, church, and American folk music. Today is also the birthday of Hank Williams, one of the most influential country music artists of the 20th century. His most popular songs include Hey, Good Lookin’ and Your Cheatin’ Heart. The world’s best country music artists include Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Shania Twain.

Stay tuned for more news………….