News 15:00

BULLETIN 1 March 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Suspended judge Tshifhiwa Maumela is to appear before the Judicial Tribunal
# MEC Reagen Allen condemns the politicisation of the Joslin Smith case 
# And Rugby: Bongi Mbonambi will captain the Sharks against the Lions

# Suspended Gauteng High Court Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela is set to appear before a Judicial Conduct Tribunal this month. The probe, led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Chris Jafta, stems from a complaint by Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo. Allegations include excessive delays in delivering judgments. Judges Matter’s Research and Advocacy officer, Mbekezeli Benjamin says if Maumela is found guilty, potential consequences include impeachment and removal from office:

# Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, condemns the politicisation of the case of seven-year-old Joslin Smith of Saldanha Bay on the West Coast, who had been missing for almost two weeks. He urges individuals and groups to refrain from this practice, stressing its insensitivity to the affected families and communities. The MEC calls for a collective goal to find Joslin unharmed and safely reunite her with family. Allen is expected to provide an update on the investigation into Joslin’s disappearance:

# A man has been sentenced to 12 years direct imprisonment by the Skukuza Regional Court in Mpumalanga for various poaching-related offenses. Field rangers tracked footprints within the Kruger National Park, leading them to Lindelani Mdletshe. An alleged accomplice, Rhody Ndlovu, initially managed to escape, but both were apprehended in possession of illegal firearms. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa says Mdletshe was found guilty based on ballistic evidence linking the firearm to rhino poaching:

# Rugby: United Rugby Championship action resumes this weekend with the Sharks travelling to Johannesburg to take on the Lions tomorrow afternoon. World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi captains the Sharks in the absence of fellow Springbok Lukhanyo Am, with the highly rated young Ethan Hooker taking Am’s place at outside centre. George Cronjé is back at number eight, while Grant Williams and Siya Masuku will partner at half-back. Eduan Keyter plays on on the wing to form an exciting back three with Aphiwe Dyanti and Aphelele Fassi.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-17-cents and the euro at 20-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-892-dollars-27-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-55-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, Marcus Byrne, says before mating, some male and female dung beetles work together to move their brood balls to a location unknown to either. Dung beetles are known for collecting piles of dung for various uses. One of these is called a brood ball, where they lay an egg in each ball, after they have buried it. The brood ball is a vehicle that the adult beetles use to get their genes into the next generation.

Stay tuned for more news………….