News 18:00

BULLETIN 24th October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Three suspected kidnappers are killed in a shootout in Parktown, Johannesburg
# Witness C tells Madlanga commission that business tycoon “Cat” Matlala name-dropped top cops connections to intimidate investigators
# And rugby: The Bulls appeal Bok forward Wessels’ huge ban for unproved foul play

# Three suspected kidnappers have been shot and killed during a confrontation with Gauteng police in Parktown in Johannesburg. Police say the men were linked to the June kidnapping of a Chinese national and had recently attempted to abduct another businessman. Authorities intercepted their vehicle as they were reportedly en route to commit a robbery, sparking the deadly shootout. Police have launched further investigations into the kidnapping syndicate believed to be operating in the province.

# Accused number one in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Muzi Sibiya, has denied any involvement or presence at Basotho Hostel on 26 October 2014. Sibiya insisted the evidence against him is inaccurate, rejecting claims in his confession statement. Sibiya said through an interpreter of the High Court in Pretoria that he was never with the other accused or involved in the planning of the murder of the former Bafana Bafana captain. He maintains he has no knowledge about the murder or its alleged orchestrators:

# Witness C has told the Madlanga commission that Tembisa Hospital tender tycoon, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, name-dropped senior police officials during a raid at his Centurion home in December last year. The Counter-intelligence Operations member says Matlala mentioned deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, organised crime head Richard Shibiri, and intelligence boss Feroz Khan in an apparent attempt to intimidate investigators:

# AfriForum says recent break-ins at the De Brug military base in the Free State, where explosives and ammunition were stolen, show South Africa’s military bases are poorly secured and vulnerable to crime. The organisation’s Jacques Broodryk calls on Defence and Military Veterans minister Angie Motshekga and the South African National Defence Force’s leadership to be fully transparent about the thefts and outline measures to prevent further incidents:

# Rugby: The Bulls are appealing their Springbok utitily forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels’ massive suspension of nine weeks despite the apparent lack of clear evidence. He was penalised after Connacht flanker Josh Murphy accused him of groping during last weekend’s United Rugby Championship match. The Bulls say no new video evidence was presented at the disciplinary hearing, and Wessels was apparently banned on the basis of the same footage from which the referees couldn’t find evidence of foul play. If the ban is upheld, his season will be over.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-23-cents and the euro at 20-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-68-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-126-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….