News 11:00

BULLETIN 2 February 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The minister in the Presidency says the National Health Insurance Bill is likely to be signed into law before the elections
# The Institute for Race Relations says South Africa’s corruption and growth downgrades are a result of pro-poverty policies
# And, a gas explosion in Kenya leaves at least three people dead and more than 200 injured

# Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says president Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to sign off on the National Health Insurance Bill before this year’s general elections. Both houses of Parliament passed the controversial bill last year and it’s now on the president’s desk to be signed into law. The bill seeks to introduce universal public healthcare in South Africa. Ntshavheni says given the lessons learnt during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is a priority that the NHI Bill be signed so that the full implementation can be taken in the seventh administration.

# The Institute of Race Relations says South Africa’s deteriorating ranking in the Corruption Perception Index, and the International Monetary Fund’s downward revision of the country’s economic growth forecast, are alarming indicators of the current economic and policy trajectory. The country has dropped to 41 in the corruption index, while the IMF has halved the country’s growth forecast to just one-percent for this year. The IRR’s Hermann Pretorius says South Africa is mired in a policy death spiral that is anti-growth and propagates poverty:

# The Gauteng Health Department is calling for heightened policing in and around Coronationville in Johannesburg. This comes as persistent crime incidents continue to affect Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. Since December last year, two incidents have already occurred at the hospital, including a nurse getting hijacked at gunpoint. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says the persistent crime in the area affects patients who have to access healthcare services at the hospital:

# A gas explosion at an industrial building in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, has claimed the lives of at least three people and injured over 200 in the early hours of this morning. It is believed that a truck that was loaded with gas exploded, igniting a fire that spread quickly. Government spokesperson, Isaac Maigua Mwaura, says a command centre has been set up to help coordinate rescue operations, as the fire is believed to have spread through several apartment complexes. This led to fears the number of casualties could rise further.

# Rugby: Flyhalf Finn Russell will captain Scotland in tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Kyle Rowe will make his first start in the number 15 jersey in place of the injured Blair Kinghorn. Thirty-four-year-old lock Richie Gray will play in his eleventh championship, while South African-born Kyle Steyn will fill in on the wing. France and defending champion Ireland will kick off the competition in Marseilles tonight, while Italy will welcome England to Rome tomorrow afternoon.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-61-cents and the euro at 20-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 43-thousand-153-dollars-52-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-55-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….