Jacaranda FM Newswatch @ 13H00

0:00The economic recovery in the country remains tensious, worth a modest growth rates of 0.4% recorded in the last quarter of 2025. According to the latest data from Statistics South Africa, out of ten industries, five experienced growth at the same time several critical sectors face declines, particularly manufacturing, electricity, mining and construction. Yes, that says, what Hong Womokobi liberaleta. Manufacturing was the largest negative contributor shrinking by 0.6%. The most significant downward pressure came from the automotive division, wood, paper and publishing and food and beverages.

1:00Other industries that declined in the fourth quarter included electricity, gas and water, construction, mining and transport storage and communication. Energy regulator Nurser approved SCOM's retail tariffs and structural adjustment application for the 2026 and 2027 financial year. SCOM's direct customers will face on average an increase of 8.76% from the 1st of April. While municipalities buying electricity from SCOM will see a 9.1% increase from the 1st of July. More than 50 officials working at South Africa's ports of entry have been dismissive for corruption. Board of Management Authority Commissioner Michael Matcia Panto says they were fired for facilitating the illegal movement of people into the country. He says the dismissals form part of efforts to clamp down on corruption. What we have been doing is we've been working with a number of stakeholders in the entire ecosystem, law enforcement authorities but also the officials just within our environment.

2:04Ted was an anonymous number that we call Operation Intervise where people are able to report. You know, individuals that are within our system that are doing corrupt activity. In other big news today, police have arrested the husband of former South African police servant sergeant Rachel Kutumela as part of a widening investigation into a multi-million ran insurance murder syndicate in Lamporpo. This after police arrested two of Kutumela's brothers Anna Sangourma earlier today. Authorities say the group allegedly took out life and funeral policies, unvulnerable people and then murdered them to claim pouts. The scheme is believed to have claimed about 10 lives and generated more than 10 million ran. National police spokesperson Aklena Marces says the elitist arrest brings the total number of suspects in the case to 11. This latest suspect that we are arresting is the husband. We do believe he had a hand to play and he also benefited from what is happening. So today we are executing seven warrants of a race.

3:10Linked to this 10 million ran insurance hate out murder scheme. Kutumela is currently in custody along with three co-accus. In his broad Indonesian rescuers have called off the search for victims of a landslide. The country's largest open land full sites after pulling seven bodies out from under the debris. Rescuers recover three bodies on Sunday and four more years today. The collapse happened after hours of heavy rain in the area. And finally an auction house that focuses on movie and television props is offering a screen matched rhinoceros from Ace Ventura when nature calls famously known as the Batburth Rider. According to prop store auction, the prop was utilized for exterior scenes in the 1995 comedy where Jim carries character Ace Ventura employs the mechanical rhino to observe a suspect. That's a wrap of your big stories of lunchtime. One user too.