News 16:00

BULLETIN 5 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gauteng police confirm 16 bullets were used in the attempted assassination of a SAPS informer
# The Special Investigating Unit secures a second repayment in the 2016 Rio Olympics lottery funds probe
# And golf: Scheffler is excited about the return of Koepka and Reed to the PGA Tour

# Gauteng police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni has confirmed 16 bullets were fired at police informer Wiandré Pretorius outside his Boksburg residence in Ekurhuleni this morning. Pretorius was implicated by the Madlanga commission’s Witness D, the late Marius van der Merwe, in a 2022 case involving the suffocation of a robbery suspect and the dumping of his body in a dam. Mthombeni confirmed Pretorius is unharmed:

# The Special Investigating Unit has secured a second repayment in its probe into misused National Lotteries Commission funds linked to the 2016 Rio Olympics roadshow. The Special Tribunal ordered Imbizo Events to repay 70-thousand in instalments. This follows an earlier 50-percent repayment by media personality Minnie Dlamini. The SIU says money from a 24.9-million-rand grant was irregularly diverted, and civil action continues to recover more funds, with possible criminal referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority.

# The Maritime Business Chamber says South Africa’s re-election to the International Maritime Organisation Council for the 2026–2027 term affirms the country’s leadership role in global maritime governance. The IMO is the United Nations agency responsible for regulating global shipping and promoting maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. The IMO Council consists of 40 member states elected for two-year terms. The chamber’s executive chairperson, Unathi Sonti, says the country’s re-election is an important victory:

# Trade and Industry minister Parks Tau is on a visit to China to sign the China–Africa Economic Partnership Agreement. This will see South African exports gain duty-free access to the Chinese market. South Africa is seeking to boost exports amid a tariff row with the United States, its second-largest bilateral trading partner after China. Tau’s visit comes at a time when South Africa is pursuing market diversification and export growth. He will also meet Chinese companies interested in investing in South Africa.

# Golf: World number one Scottie Scheffler believes the return of LIV Golf players to the PGA Tour is a great start to having the world’s best talent competing together. Five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka made his PGA comeback last week at Torrey Pines, while 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed will make his return next year. Scheffler says having both players back is wonderful:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-17-cents and the euro at 19-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-205-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-827-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….