News 15:00
BULLETIN 16 July 3 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Charges against a businessman are withdrawn in a 14.9-million-rand heist case
# Iran warns the Strait of Hormuz is a red line and it will resist until the end
# And rugby: Farrell relishes another chance to spoil the All Blacks’ record at Eden Park
# The state has withdrawn all charges against businessman Etienne van der Walt in the 14.9-million-rand precious stones theft case in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. Van der Walt spent ten-days in custody. His co-accused, former Ekurhuleni Metro Police officer Kersha-Leigh Stols, and current officer Adrian Mackenzie, have each been granted five-thousand-rand bail. Van der Walt’s lawyer, Peter Jay, says his client may sue the state as he has suffered financial loss and business since he was arrested.
# The family of the EFF in Tshwane’s murdered secretary and election coordinator, Monicca Dube, has revealed previous assassinations attempts on her life. Her husband, Hilton, believes more people are involved besides a 35-year-old suspect expected to appear in the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court today. Dube was shot dead at her Wallmannsthal home last month. Her husband says the arrest brings hope in a community where many killings remain unsolved:
# Western Cape police are offering a cash reward of up to 50-thousand-rand for information that could lead to the arrest of the murderers of a Ghanaian national. Thirty-five-year-old Bashira Issaka was shot and killed inside his container business premises last month after attackers demanded a protection fee from him. Police spokesperson, Thembakazi Mpendukana, says the investigating officer is exploring all avenues in a bid to bring the perpetrators to book:
Moving abroad:
# Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is an inviolable red line, warning if US president Donald Trump carries out his threat to attack Teheran’s infrastructure, it would strike all infrastructure across the Gulf region. This follows a fifth night of US attacks on Iran and the reimposition of a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, says the only way to reopen the strait was for the US to comply with the 14-point memorandum of understanding the two sides signed last month.
# Rugby: Ireland’s coach, Andy Farrell, relishes another chance to try and beat the All Blacks in Auckland for the first time in 32-years. New Zealand won its past 52 matches at Eden Park. They beat the Irish 42-19 in their previous Test at the stadium in 2022 before the visitors won the next two matches to clinch the series. Farrell picked all his key players for their fifth attempt to change the statistics after resting many of them for last weekend’s 36-20 victory over Japan.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 18-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-7-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-131-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-23-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-65-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….