— South Africa’s 2015 winter wheat crop fell 18 percent from the previous year to 1.44-million tonnes because of drought, the government’s Crop Estimates Committee said in its final assessment of the harvest.
SA imports about half of the wheat it consumes, but industry group Grain SA has estimated it will need to import 2-million tonnes, about 60 percent of its needs in this marketing year, which ends on September 30. (Business Day)
— Anti-crime unit, the Hawks, has filed a heap of charges against forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan since he was arrested last month for allegedly trying to leave the country using his Irish passport.
City Press has reliably learnt from senior Hawks members that there are at least 12 cases that are currently being investigated against the Irishman over and above the four charges of intimidation, forgery, extortion and contravening the Migration Act. (City Press)
— Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan could soon be arrested after the Hawks reportedly handed a docket over to the National Prosecuting Authority for his involvement in the SA Revenue Service’s (SARS) “rogue unit”.
The top police investigating unit wanted Gordhan and eight others to be prosecuted for espionage for the unit allegedly spying on taxpayers during his time as SARS commissioner. (Sunday Times) Enditem
Source: Xinhua
