News 17:00

BULLETIN 9 February 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Thoko Didiza supports continued talks to secure the appearance of ad hoc committee witnesses
# The Mozambican Consulate is to cooperate with the court in the “DJ Warras” case
# And rugby: Ireland drops to the lowest position in world rankings in almost four years

# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza has welcomed progress made by a parliamentary ad hoc committee in securing the appearance of witnesses without issuing summonses. Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan has agreed to appear before the committee from tomorrow, while discussions continue with businessman Brown Mogotsi. Parliament spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, says issuing a summons is a serious legal step and should only be used as a last resort:

# The Mozambican Consul General in Johannesburg, Guilherme Tamele, says it is cooperating with authorities in the “DJ Warras” Warrick Stock murder case following the arrest of Mozambican national Armindo Pacula. Pacula appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court where he abandoned bail and may enter a plea deal. Stock was assassinated outside the hijacked Zambezi building in Johannesburg CBD in December 2025. Tamele told SABC News the consulate is gathering relevant information:

# Gauteng’s Roads and Transport MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, says since 2025, over one-thousand-500 operators have applied for scholar transport licences. More than 500 have been approved, and over one-thousand still in the finalisation process. She hosted a provincial scholar transport stakeholder meeting at Johannesburg City Hall on Sunday, which focused on learner safety and compliance for transport operators. Diale-Tlabela says operators who cannot meet the minimum legal requirements to safely transport learners have no business operating in this space.

# British prime minister Keir Starmer’s director of communications, Tim Allan, has resigned, a day after Starmer’s top aide, Morgan McSweeney, quit over his role in backing Peter Mandelson over his known links to Jeffrey Epstein. The loss of two senior aides in quick succession comes as Starmer tries to manage the crisis in his government resulting from his appointment of Mandelson as American ambassador. Allan served as adviser to former prime minister Tony Blair from 1992 to 1998 and was appointed at Downing Street in September last year.

# Rugby: Ireland had dropped to fifth place in the world rankings – its lowest position in almost four years – after Saturday’s humiliating 36-14 loss to defending champions France in the first weekend of this year’s Six Nations. Les Blues climbed to fourth, behind England, with South Africa and New Zealand still in the top two positions. Italy replaced Scotland in ninth position after beating the Scots 18-15 in Roma on Saturday. Argentina remains in sixth, followed by Australia and Fiji. Wales stays in the 11th position after losing to England.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-97-cents and the euro at 18-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-126-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-16-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….