News 17:00

BULLETIN 28 September 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Activists and Citizens Forum condemns the deadly township tavern shootings in Gauteng and Western Cape
# The DA says asset recovery alone is not enough in the Tembisa corruption case
# And, the RAF Fairford terror suspects are all British men from London

# The Activists and Citizens Forum says townships have become increasingly unsafe following the series of deadly tavern shootings in Gauteng and the Western Cape over the weekend. The forum’s Dennis Bloem calls for stronger police crime intelligence operations to prevent mass shootings and identify those responsible. He also urged the government to tighten border controls to curb the illegal movement of firearms:

# The DA welcomes the Special Investigating Unit’s recovery of 42-million-rand linked to the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal. However, the party argues recovering public money is not enough, calling for the entire corruption network to be investigated, with those found responsible facing disciplinary or criminal action. The DA’s Madeleine Hicklin has urged the Gauteng Health Department to strengthen procurement controls and recover any remaining funds lost through alleged corruption:

# Madlanga Commission evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson says WhatsApp messages show taxi bosses Oupa Sindane and Joe Sibanyoni allegedly demanding protection fees from construction companies. Chaskalson presented cellphone messages allegedly referencing forced payments and threats to disrupt operations. In one chat, Sindane expresses disappointment over not receiving his share of a deal involving a contact identified as Bab Ntuli. Sindane and Sibanyoni are co-accused in criminal extortion and money-laundering cases:

# British police say all five men arrested over a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford are British nationals in their twenties from London. The men were detained yesterday after three suspicious vehicles were reported travelling towards the Gloucestershire airbase, which is used by the United States military. They were initially arrested over alleged explosives offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. Counter-terrorism police say the investigation is still in its early stages. They are also examining whether there could be a link to Iran, but no motive has been established.

# Cricket: Anrich Nortjé and Gerald Coetzee could return to Test cricket after being included in the Proteas’ preliminary squad for the three Tests against Australia. Dolphins captain Marques Ackermann is up for his maiden Test call-up. Kagiso Rabada was also included while still recovering from an injury that kept him out of the one-day series against the visitors, but fellow fast bowlers Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman are still on the injury list. The first Test starts in Durban next Friday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-373-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-149-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….