News 18:00

BULLETIN 13 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Ponzi ‘kingpin’ Louis Liebenberg has no mental illness
# Stats SA says June mining figures reveal weaker production but stronger sales
# And, the star “V” of the South Korean boyband BTS reveals hearing loss

# Ponzi scheme accused Louis Liebenberg appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court today, where a psychiatric report found he has no mental illness and is fit to stand trial. He was referred for psychiatric observation after questions about his mental state. The report clears the way for his criminal case to proceed. He faces about 125 charges, including racketeering and money laundering, but denies wrongdoing. He and his eight co-accused, including his wife, Dezi, allegedly convinced thousands of people to hand over more than 4-billion-rand for investments in the diamond industry.

# Stats SA says mining production fell by four-percent in June compared with the same month last year. The drop was mainly caused by lower production of platinum group metals, coal and iron ore. Mining output also declined by 2.7-percent between April and June. Stats SA’s Juan-Pierre Terblanche says month-on-month mineral sales also rose by 27.2-percent, showing stronger prices and sales despite the decline in mining production:

# Gregory Loftus, the father of slain KwaZulu-Natal taxi and towing owner Bevan Loftus, has told the Madlanga Commission that several cases against his son were fabricated. Loftus said Bevan faced matters including traffic offences and an attempted murder allegation. He claims the attempted murder case was never placed on the court roll due to insufficient evidence, yet was recorded at the Criminal Record Centre as a conviction:

# BTS member ‘V’, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, has revealed he has been receiving treatment for hearing loss in his right ear for about two-and-a-half years. BTS is a South Korean boy band made up of seven members, and is one of the world’s biggest K-pop sensations. V says his hearing worsened while he was serving in South Korea’s military. He told fans he is now taking medication and visiting hospital regularly. His disclosure comes as BTS continues its highly-anticipated first world tour since all seven members completed mandatory military service.

# Rugby: Curwin Bosch will wear the number ten jersey in his first match for the Bulls when they take on the All Blacks at Loftus on Saturday. He just returned from Brive in France. Bosch’s half-back partner will be Springbok Embrose Papier, with veteran Willie le Roux at fullback. Hanro Liebenberg, who recently relocated from Leicester Tigers in England, will be the number seven flank, with Marcell Coetzee the captain. The Bulls, then known as Northern Transvaal, beat the All Blacks in their previous match in 1976.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-14-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-652-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-375-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….