News 16:00

BULLETIN 20 January 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A shooting outside the Booysens Magistrate’s Court leaves two dead and three wounded
# A report on the Vaal learner transport crash is expected by the week’s end
# And cricket: The line-up for the SA20 playoffs is confirmed

# Two people were killed and three others injured in a shooting outside the Booysens Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg this afternoon. One of the survivors is a well-known attorney believed to have represented a notorious gangster in court for a consultation. Police are on the scene investigating the incident. Authorities have confirmed the situation is ongoing, and further details are expected as the investigation continues.

# A report on the Vaal school learner transport crash that killed 12 learners is expected by the end of the week. Deputy Transport minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa says Road Traffic Management Corporation investigators are probing the incident, which occurred despite promised increased patrols and inspections of scholar transport vehicles. The Gauteng Education Department confirmed that one of the bodies has yet to be identified. Seven learners were hospitalised, with one already discharged.

# The DA says the deadly mass shooting in Philippi East in Cape Town has renewed calls for decisive action against extortion gangs. The party believes the attack, which claimed eight lives on Saturday, may be linked to extortion-related crime and has raised concern that, despite hundreds of arrests, convictions remain extremely low. The DA’s Benedicta van Minnen urges police to act urgently to dismantle extortion networks and restore safety in affected communities:

# Deputy Sports, Arts and Culture minister Peace Mabe is in Lesotho on a four-day bilateral visit focused on finalising arrangements to repatriate the remains of South Africans killed in the 1982 and 1985 massacres. The delegation will conduct site visits, lay wreaths, and hold high-level talks with Lesotho counterparts. Mabe says the process is crucial for family closure and strengthening cultural and heritage cooperation between the two countries:

# Cricket: The stage is set for the SA20 playoffs. Top-of-the-table Sunrisers Eastern Cape will take on second-placed Pretoria Capitals in the first qualifier in Durban tomorrow. Third-placed Paarl Royals and fourth-placed Joburg Super Kings will collide in the eliminator in Centurion on Thursday. The loser of qualifier one and the winner of the eliminator will meet in the second qualifier at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday. Sunday’s final will be between the winner of Friday’s game and the winner of qualifier one at Newlands in Cape Town.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-13-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-971-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-729-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….