News 16:00

BULLETIN 13 July 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The state investigates a UK murder fugitive’s legality
# A lawyer denies that Bellarmine Mugabe has returned to South Africa
# And cricket: Andy Flower and Justin Langer are among the leading contenders to become England’s next Test coach

# The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court postponed the bail application of Zimbabwean-British citizen Ndodana Tshuma to next Wednesday to consider his legal status. He is wanted in the UK over the murders of his wife and two children last week, and was arrested in Johannesburg this weekend. Tshuma also faces a South African charge of possessing an unlicensed firearm. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says Britain filed a provisional extradition request for Tshuma:

# The lawyer of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s son, Bellarmine, has dismissed viral social media claims that he was recently seen shopping in Gauteng. Sinenhlanhla Mnguni told the SABC the pictures are old, insisting Mugabe has not returned to South Africa since his deportation. He pleaded guilty in April to firearm and immigration offences following a shooting incident at his Hyde Park home in Johannesburg. Mnguni says the claims are misleading:

# The Cape Flats Safety Forum condemns the mass shooting in Wesbank, Cape Town, where a 22-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were killed and seven others, including an infant, injured early yesterday morning. Police have launched an investigation. Forum chairperson Abie Isaacs says the shooting highlights the urgent need to curb gun violence, and has urged law enforcement to arrest those responsible. He says the Western Cape government also appealed for community cooperation with police.

# ActionSA is concerned that the Gauteng Department of Health has budgeted more than 612-million-rand this financial year for the salaries of foreign healthcare professionals, while many qualified South African doctors and nurses remain unemployed. The party’s Mongezi Ntsebenze says the department employs 551 foreign nationals, and calls for a plan to prioritise the appointment of qualified local healthcare workers. He says they want an audit of foreign appointments:

# Cricket: England’s former coach, Andy Flower, and former Australian coach Justin Langer are among the leading contenders to replace Brendon McCullum as England’s Test head coach. Flower coached England to three Ashes victories between 2009 and 2013. He is currently in charge of Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Langer recorded 15 victories in charge of Australia, retaining the Ashes on British soil in 2019. Other names being floated around are former English captain Andrew Flintoff, former Proteas coach Mickey Arthur and Surrey’s head coach, Gareth Batty.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 18-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-789-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-56-dollars-57-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-69-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….