News 15:00

BULLETIN 25 February 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Madlanga commission considers calling medical doctors to verify sick notes from witnesses
# Japan plans to deploy missiles to Yonaguni Island near Taiwan by 2031
# And motorsport: Horner dismisses suggestions that Verstappen was responsible for his Red Bull exit

# The Madlanga commission has raised concerns over a sick note submitted on behalf of a Crime Intelligence colonel scheduled to testify today. Proceedings were adjourned and the person is now expected to appear tomorrow. Last week, Witness F’s lawyers also produced a medical report, leading to his appearance being pushed to next month. Spokesperson Sesi Balyoi warns they may consider calling medical practitioners to verify certificates:

Meanwhile, Activists and Citizens Forum says suspended deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya’s confrontational behaviour towards evidence leader Adila Hassim at the commission is unacceptable. The forum accuses him of deflecting from damaging evidence, failing to answer questions, and blaming others. Spokesperson Dennis Bloem urges Sibiya to cooperate fully with the commission to uncover the truth and address corruption and misconduct within the Police Service:

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says South Africa’s energy security must be driven by science-based policy, with the state leading decision-making. Speaking at the South African National Energy Development Institute’s third annual conference in Ekurhuleni, he stressed removing emotion from policy processes. Meanwhile, Sanedi plans to launch an Energy Planning, Modelling and Data Management Centre of Excellence. The centre seeks to support the next Integrated Resource Plan, strengthen research, data access, and broader energy reforms.

Moving abroad:

# Japan’s Defence Ministry is planning to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles to Yonaguni Island, east of Taiwan, by 2031. The deployment is part of a broader defence build-up Japan is undertaking in its southwestern islands in response to China’s growing military assertiveness in the area. Defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi says the timing for the deployment of the missile unit and troops may change depending on the progress of future facility improvements. Japanese-made missile system can track up to 100 targets simultaneously and engage up to 12 at once.

# Motorsport: Christian Horner says he does not believe driver Max Verstappen or his father were in any way responsible for his exit from Red Bull in 2025. The 52-year-old, who was with the Formula One team since 2005, was dismissed as CEO and team principal in July and replaced by Laurent Mekies. Speaking on the latest Netflix Formula 1: Drive to Survive series, Horner said he feels a real sense of loss and hurt, as his exit was sudden.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-92-cents and the euro at 18-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-48-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-333-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-169-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….