News 18:00

BULLETIN 22 September 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fannie Masemola reveals threats to Armand Swart’s investigating team led to the reduction of officers
# Over 300 suspects are arrested during Operation Shanela in Tshwane
# And Netball: Baby Proteas dominate Trinidad and Tobago to claim their second win at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup

# National police commissioner Fannie Masemola says threats to officers investigating the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart forced the reduction of the investigation team from five to two members. The Q-Tech Engineering engineer was killed last year amid a Transnet tender fraud investigation. Masemola told the Madlanga commission in Pretoria that the case, linked to organised crime and mistaken identity, posed serious risks for investigators, prompting the redeployment of political killings task team members:

# Operation Shanela in Rietgat and Soshanguve in Tshwane over the weekend resulted in the arrest of 354 suspects for various criminal offences. These included murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery and gender-based violence-related crimes. Police spokesperson, Johan van Dyk, says 48 undocumented foreign nationals were also detained and handed over to immigration authorities:

# Young entrepreneurs have urged G20 leaders to accelerate climate action. Over 600 delegates from all G20 countries recently participated in the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit in Gauteng. The summit emphasised tangible outcomes, including the launch of accelerator programmes, policy recommendations, investment opportunities, and a youth economic charter. The Global Young Entrepreneurs Alliance says entrepreneurship can drive a green economic transition, sustainable agriculture, and climate-smart innovation. The summit resolutions call for governments to prioritise environmental sustainability alongside trade and digital growth.

# Russia denied that its aircraft were violating NATO airspace and warned that countries making such accusations risked “escalating tensions”. Three Russian fighter jets entered NATO member Estonia’s airspace on Friday, remaining there for 12 minutes before being escorted out by NATO aircraft. The MiG-31 jets, which were overflying the Gulf of Finland, had their transponders switched off and did not engage with Estonian air traffic control. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Estonia’s version of events, saying the Russian military operates “strictly within the confines of international law, including those pertaining to flights”.

# Netball: The Baby Proteas secured their second victory at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, Spain, in Pool D, defeating Trinidad and Tobago 105-15 this morning. South Africa only conceded three goals in the opening quarter and led 57-0 at halftime. They opened the tournament with a 102-27 win over Barbados on Saturday. Captain Phophi Nematangari says a win against Malawi tomorrow could secure their spot in the last eight of the competition.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-34-cents and the euro at 20-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-40-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-12-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-718-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….