News 18:00

BULLETIN 21 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The deputy minister of Defence urges a new funding model for the military infrastructure
# Julius Mkhwanazi and Witness K granted five-thousand-rand bail each
# And tennis, the Australian Open limits cheap tickets to prevent overcrowding

# Defence and Military Veterans deputy minister Bantu Holomisa has called for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to modernise the South African National Defence Force and address critical funding shortages. Speaking at the defence industry lekgotla in Pretoria, Holomisa said innovative partnerships could help upgrade military infrastructure, housing, equipment and technology without compromising national security. He also proposed developing a practical action plan to identify priority projects and attract investment:

# The suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi and his co-accused, known as Witness K, have each been granted five-thousand-rand bail by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. The pair face charges including theft, robbery, fraud and corruption linked to the alleged theft of sugilite stones worth nearly 15-million-rand during a purported police raid in Killarney in 2023. Mkhwanazi denies the allegations, claiming Witness K fabricated evidence against him following the breakdown of their relationship.

Meanwhile, the head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, Advocate Andrea Johnson, has denied claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that the unit was involved in Gauteng syndicate investigations. Testifying at the Madlanga Commission, Johnson said IDAC played no role in investigations involving businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe. She said the unit’s involvement with Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was limited to a Section 27 SAPS referral into alleged tender corruption involving Medicare 24:

# The South African National Taxi Council says delays in issuing operating licences are placing financial strain on taxi operators and disrupting public transport in Gauteng. The Gauteng Department of Transport is in the process of reviewing the licensing system aimed at addressing irregularities and corruption. Speaking to ENCA, Santaco’s Graham Fritz claims operators risk having vehicles impounded while waiting for licences:

#  Tennis: Cheap tickets will be limited at the Australian Open for the first time to prevent overcrowding. The organisers say the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne experienced long queues and crowding at this year’s event in January. Allocations of daily ground passes, sold for 560-rand, will be capped for the first week of the tournament as they expect a stronger demand than ever. Reuters reports a record crowd of 1,3-million attended this year’s tournament, where Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan were crowned singles champions.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-777-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-65-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….