Transcript

Hello, and welcome to ‘Just a Moment News.’ I’m Erika, and today is September 6th, 2024. Let’s dive into today’s news stories.

First up, former Polokwane mayor and current justice minister, Thembi Simelane, is under scrutiny related to a “loan” she received in 2016. This loan, amounting to five hundred and seventy-five thousand six hundred Rand, was provided by Ralliom Razwinane, a financial advisor currently on trial linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. The funds for this loan reportedly came from Razwinane’s company overdraft at Gundo Wealth Solutions, which was not registered as a credit provider. Investigations suggest that the money was part of illicit kickbacks from VBS, raising questions about the transaction’s legitimacy and potential conflicts of interest, especially since Simelane now heads the National Prosecuting Authority. Simelane has denied any wrongdoing, stating the funds were used to purchase a coffee shop in Sandton.

Moving on to sports, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has chosen to play against the All Blacks despite sustaining a nose fracture. This decision comes after medical advice suggested he could either undergo surgery immediately, missing three weeks, or postpone it until after the game. Kolisi’s participation is crucial as he aims to help his team secure another win in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. Coach Rassie Erasmus also commented on the controversy surrounding the tackle by Sam Cane that caused the injury, explaining the decision not to cite Cane and reflecting on their past interactions and Cane’s likely unintentional action.

In technology news, Disney has experienced a significant data breach, with over a terabyte of sensitive information leaked, including financial details about Disney+ and Genie+ revenues and personal data of Disney Cruise Line employees and passengers. The leak, which involved a vast array of internal communications and documents, has not reportedly affected Disney’s operational or financial performance significantly. Security experts believe the breach might be the work of a lone hacker in the U.S., despite claims by a group named Nullbulge.

Google is rolling out a new feature called “Ask Photos” in its Google Photos app, powered by its Gemini AI. This feature allows users to search their photo libraries using natural language queries, helping them find photos from specific trips or events and even suggesting content for social media sharing. Google has emphasized that personal data used in this feature is not utilized for advertising purposes, and privacy measures are in place to protect user information.

In South Africa, Bob Group’s smart locker service, Bob Box, is expanding its presence, particularly in townships around Johannesburg and Cape Town. These lockers provide a secure and affordable package delivery option, with plans to increase locations and introduce a locker-to-locker service. The service operates on a narrowband IoT network, crucial for maintaining functionality during load-shedding periods.

A quirky story from the military, senior enlisted members aboard the USS Manchester installed a covert Starlink terminal to access the internet, bypassing Navy restrictions. The network, humorously named “STINKY,” was operational for six months before being discovered, leading to disciplinary actions. This incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with circumventing official IT protocols.

Lastly, a heartwarming story from Cape Town, where ten-year-old Karli Fourie has set a record as the youngest person to swim from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand, raising over fifty thousand Rand for charity in the process. Karli completed the seven-kilometer swim twice, improving her time on the second attempt, driven by her passion for swimming and charitable work.

That’s all for today’s news on ‘Just a Moment News.’ I’m Erika, and we’ll be back with more stories next time. Thank you for tuning in.

Keywords - moment, daily, news