News 18:00

BULLETIN 14 November 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A report accuses top South African real estate firms of facilitating money laundering for African leaders
# Police provide indemnity forms to community volunteers in the Stilfontein mine rescue in North West
# And cricket: Lungi Ngidi is out of action for the rest of 2024 with a groin injury

# A report by Open Secrets has implicated leading estate agencies and law firms in the aiding of African kleptocrats in laundering money through luxury property acquisitions in South Africa. The report highlights transactions involving associates of prominent families such as the Nyusis of Mozambique, the Kabilas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Nguemas of Equatorial Guinea. They allegedly used corruption proceeds to buy high-end properties in Cape Town and Johannesburg. They assert compliance with legal and ethical standards. The agencies are Pam Golding, RE/MAX, and Greeff.

# Police have given indemnity forms to community volunteers helping with the Stilfontein mine rescue in North West. The police warned against sending officials into the abandoned mine due to dangers, including toxic gases and the risk of armed miners. In a media briefing, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed an investigation is underway following the recovery of the decomposed body of an illegal miner:

# Gauteng’s Infrastructure Development Department has reportedly spent 21-million-rand on salaries for eight suspended officials. The workers were allegedly put on paid leave for over two-and-a-half years. According to a response in the Gauteng legislature, five officials were suspended for procurement irregularities, two for theft of hospital equipment, and the chief financial official for insubordination. The DA is demanding that these cases be finalised and plans to table a motion urging swift resolutions.

# The Lebombo border post in Mpumalanga has reopened for cargo transit after protests in Mozambique forced a temporary closure. Mozambican authorities are regulating truck numbers, while cross-border facilitators urge drivers on the N4 Maputo Corridor to proceed cautiously. Border Management Authority commissioner Michael Masiapato says safety concerns remain despite the reopening:

# Cricket: Proteas pace bowler Lungi Ngidi will be out of action for the rest of the year after suffering a groin injury. This means he will miss the home Test series against Sri Lanka as well as Pakistan’s visit for an all-format tour. Twenty-eight-year-old Ngidi will undergo a rehabilitation programme and should be fit again by January. Meanwhile, Test captain Temba Bavuma will undergo a fitness test on Monday to determine his availability for the two Tests against Sri Lanka, starting in Durban on the 27th.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-25-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-778-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-556-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….