News 17:00

BULLETIN 24 October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg appears in court for the first time in his corruption case
# The Wilgenhof Alumni Association seeks to nullify a report over the closure of the historical men’s residence
# And rugby: Siya Kolisi moves from flanker to eighthman for the Sharks in the Munster clash

# The diamond dealer embroiled in a four-billion-rand investment scam, Louis Liebenberg, made a striking entrance in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng, shouting “Viva Msholozi, viva MK”. Liebenberg, arrested alongside his wife Dezzi and seven others, face racketeering and fraud charges linked to allegations of swindling investors. The state is opposing bail for three of the accused, but has proposed that bail be set at 50-thousand-rand each for the rest of the defendants. 

# The Wilgenhof Alumni Association is pursuing a High Court application to overturn a report by Stellenbosch University that recommended the closure of Wilgenhof men’s residence. The association claims the report contains defamatory findings, including allegations of racism, causing reputational harm to former residents. The group says while the university reached a settlement with the Association for the Advancement of Wilgenhof Residents over the closure, the report cannot stand, citing ignored transformation efforts.

# Deputy minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, says exposure to the advances in science, engineering and technology can play an important role for policymakers, experts, practitioners and consumers. The technological growth in the water sector will allow an acceleration when it comes to infrastructure planning. Mahlobo says the department is running complex systems on the basis that it have to guarantee water security:

# The South African Local Government Association reports that 90-percent of prepaid electricity meters have been recoded under the Standard Transfer Specification Association. SALGA energy expert Silas Mulaudzi says the remaining ten-percent will be completed by 24 November. Mulaudzi told the SABC there is no extension planned after the deadline. He urges residents to visit their municipalities for more information:

# Rugby: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will start in the number eight jersey for the Sharks in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match against Munster in Durban. Coach John Plumtree moved him from blindside flanker to eighthman in place of Phepsi Buthelezi, who drops to the bench, and James Venter and Vincent Tshituka will be the flankers. In the backline, Grant Williams replaces fellow Bok Jaden Hendrikse at number nine. Bok lock Eben Etzebeth will captain the team at Kings Park.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-69-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-530-dollars-6-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-740-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….