News 15:00

BULLETIN 30 October 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Witness C says Matlala claimed he made regular cash payments of up to one-million-rand to Sibiya
# The Vaal Dam has reached full capacity again
# And golf: St Andrews’ Old Course is lengthened for the 2027 Open

# Witness C says businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala claimed he paid deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya up to one-million-rand in cash after each police tender payment. Testifying remotely off camera, he told the Madlanga commission that Matlala said Sibiya only accepted cash, which he personally delivered to his home or another property in Sandton, Johannesburg. C says Matlala believed the payments secured protection and helped him win lucrative police contracts, including a 360-million-rand health services tender:

# The DA has filed a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to compel the Pollice Service and acting minister Firoz Cachalia to release the long-overdue crime statistics for the quarter between January and March. The DA’s Police spokesperson, Lisa Schickerling, says despite repeated requests and promises, the data remains withheld. She warns that concealing crime figures undermines transparency, accountability, and public trust in law enforcement:

# RISE Mzansi will spotlight South Africa’s 1.5-trillion-rand gambling crisis during a National Assembly mini-plenary debate tomorrow. The National Gambling Board’s latest report shows gross gambling revenue surged from 59-billion-rand in 2023/24 to 75-billion-rand in 2024/25, highlighting an urgent need for intervention. RISE Mzansi Member of Parliament, Makashule Gana, says the campaign seeks to address the social and public health impact of gambling, which is destroying lives and livelihoods:

# The Department of Water and Sanitation says the Vaal Dam has reached full capacity again, recording a level of 100.88-percent on Tuesday. During the same period last year, the dam stood at just 34.77-percent. The department says consistent rainfall across Gauteng and parts of the Free State has allowed the dam to maintain steady levels. It adds that although the levels are healthy, authorities will continue to monitor the system closely to maintain balance across the catchment area.

# Golf: Six holes will be lengthened at St Andrews’ Old Course for the 2027 Open. This will mostly be done by moving the tee boxes. This will increase the overall length for the competition to six-thousand-807 metres. Other changes include the movement of bunkers on the second hole and adding bunkers to three other holes. The CEO of management firm St Andrews Links Trust, Neil Coulson, says the work will restore features that have changed subtly over time and refine others to preserve the course’s unique character.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-27-cents and the euro at 20-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-917-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-969-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-82 -cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….