It’s Friday, 26 June, and this is News Bite with Marcelle Gordon.
Nearly three million travellers crossed South Africa’s borders in May, with Stats SA reporting 2.8 million travellers, up 1.5% from last year. Road travel still dominates, while Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho remain the biggest source markets.
A different border story is playing out in SA prisons. Parliament says over 27,000 foreign nationals are in South African prisons, including more than 14,000 awaiting trial detainees and over 13,000 sentenced offenders. The committee wants faster reforms and bilateral agreements to repatriate eligible inmates.
Peet Viljoen is back in court, facing around 400 charges of fraud, corruption, forgery and theft linked to the alleged illegal sale of municipal property in 2010. Viljoen and five co-accused allegedly fabricated paperwork to transfer valuable properties, while the state says R15-million went to the syndicate instead of the City of Joburg or Joburg Property Company. The matter returns on 8 July.
The NPA has frozen disgraced Judge Portia Phahlane’s R6-million property in Hartbeespoort. Prosecutors allege she accepted R2-million in bribes to rule in IPHC leader Michael Sandlana’s favour in a church succession battle.
Informal traders say the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill could threaten livelihoods if Parliament does not properly consult people selling loose cigarettes. NITASA chairperson Kefilwe Kitso says those most affected must be heard.
Suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola’s case has been postponed to 28 August. The state wants to amend charges against Masemola and 13 co-accused in the R228-million Medicare24 tender matter, a day after Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala pleaded guilty and agreed to turn state witness.
In other news we’re keeping an eye on, Venezuela has declared a state of emergency after powerful twin earthquakes left hundreds dead and many more missing. Three International Criminal Court judges are also suing US President Donald Trump and members of his executive over personal sanctions.
SPORT
Bafana Bafana have returned to their Mexico base in Pachuca before travelling to Los Angeles for Sunday night’s round-of-32 clash with Canada. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has pledged R5-million for every Bafana World Cup win. The Proteas Women also need a convincing victory over Bangladesh after beating the Netherlands by 88 runs. https://www.enca.com/sport/bafana-return-pachuca-ahead-canada-clash
And finally, between border numbers, prison pressure, court drama and Gayton opening the national team bonus wallet, today’s News Bite is giving passports, paperwork and prize money.
That’s your News Bite for 26 June.
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Chapters List
(00:00) Opening Headlines
(00:30) SA Border Travel Numbers
(01:20) Foreign Nationals In Prisons
(02:10) Peet Viljoen Court Case
(03:25) Portia Phahlane Property Frozen
(04:20) Tobacco Bill And Informal Traders
(05:20) Fannie Masemola Case Postponed
(06:25) Venezuela Twin Earthquakes
(07:10) ICC Judges Sue Trump
(08:10) Bafana Return To Pachuca
(08:55) Gayton McKenzie R5-Million Pledge
(09:45) Proteas Women Semi-Final Hopes
(10:25) News Bite Wrap