News 16:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 14 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Western Cape crime intelligence head Mzwandile Tiyo is dismissed by the SAPS
# A Kruger National Park ranger is injured by a charging buffalo
# And a pianist’s show in Melbourne is cancelled over his Gaza remarks 

# Western Cape Crime Intelligence head Mzwandile Tiyo has been dismissed from the South African Police Service following a Section 34 inquiry into his fitness to hold office. The inquiry came after allegations that Tiyo lost a laptop and firearm, then misused Crime Intelligence resources to locate the stolen items and allegedly assaulted the suspects. The chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on Police, Ian Cameron, welcomed the dismissal, stating it is crucial for regaining public trust in SAPS and ensuring ethical conduct.

# The DA renewed its call for justice in the VBS Mutual Bank looting scandal during a media briefing at the High Court in Pretoria, where the pre-trial in a VBS case is taking place. The DA’s Baxolile Nodada says six years after the scandal broke, the party demands that it is time for those responsible to be held accountable, including politicians who allegedly benefited from this crime:

# A field ranger of the Kruger National Park’s Pretoriuskop Section was injured by a charging buffalo. The ranger and a colleague were on patrol near the Sabie River when the animal attacked. The injured ranger held onto the buffalo’s horns until his colleague shot the animal. He was stabilised by a local doctor before being airlifted to a nearby medical facility. SANParks extended well wishes, and trauma counseling will be provided to the ranger’s family.

# The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia has cancelled an acclaimed pianist’s upcoming recital after comments he made on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Jayson Gillham premiered the piece called Witness at a show on Sunday. It was penned by another composer as a tribute to the Palestinian media. Gillham was scheduled to perform again tomorrow, but the programme was reworked after Gillham said during the performance Israel had killed more than 100 journalists. The orchestra says his remarks went beyond the remit of his contract.

# Rugby: Aphelele Fassi will start at fullback in his fourth Test for South Africa in Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against Australia in Perth. He replaces the experienced Willie le Roux in one of ten changes coach Rassie Erasmus made to the starting team that won the first Test in Brisbane 33-7. Fassi made his debut for the Springboks in 2021 and scored 10 points in his previous three Tests. He expects a huge effort from the Wallabies at the Optus Stadium:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-7-cents and the euro at 19-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-303-dollars-98-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-473-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….