News 17:00

BULLETIN 23 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……

In this bulletin:

# Police involvement is suspected in the disappearance of the alleged Stilfontein illegal mining kingpin
# Tennis: Emma Navarro urges a rule change after a controversial call went against her
# And a giant iceberg is on a crash course with a remote British island

# North West police are probing some of their own members for allegedly helping the escape of a suspected kingpin in illegal mining in Stilfontein. James Tshoaeli, known as Tiger, disappeared after his arrest earlier this month. He was apprehended as he and other illegal mineworkers surfaced from a shaft after an extended standoff with police. Acting provincial commissioner Patrick Asaneng says Tshoaeli was transported by police, but never booked into a station or admitted to a hospital. He says they will not tolerate corrupt members.

In the Eastern Cape, bail was granted to a police officer linked to a robbery at East London Crime Intelligence offices. Captain Ntombekhaya Patricia August faces charges of theft and obstructing justice in relation to the alleged theft of over one-million-rand from the offices. According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s Luxolo Tyali, the accused is due for a second appearance in March:

# Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya has confirmed ongoing investigations into minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s tenure as Ba-Phalaborwa municipal manager in Limpopo. Ntshavheni faces allegations of corruption tied to a 2008/2009 2.5-million-rand accounting contract. He says that the Hawks previously probed the case in 2021 and will present findings to the National Prosecuting Authority once investigations conclude:

# Tennis: Eighth-seeded Emma Navarro urged a rule change after she was at the receiving end of a controversial call in her Australian Open quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek. Umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore ruled the American’s appeal was too late after a video review showed the ball bounced twice before the Polish player returned it and was awarded the point. Swiatek went on to win 6-1, 6-2 to reach the semifinals. Navarro says players should be allowed to appeal after a point even if they play on in such a case.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-58-cents and the euro at 19-rand-33-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-87-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-431-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-739-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-41-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The world’s largest iceberg is on a collision course with a remote British island, potentially putting penguins and seals in danger. The iceberg known as A23a is one of the world’s oldest and spinning northwards from Antarctica towards South Georgia, a rugged British territory and wildlife haven, where it could ground and smash into pieces. It is currently 280 kilometres away. Icebergs are notoriously unpredictable. South Georgia is home to precious colonies of King and Emperor penguins and millions of elephant and fur seals.

Stay tuned for more news………….