News 17:00

BULLETIN 14 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for a reduced dependence on imported medicines
# The High Court suspends the appointment of a NSFAS administrator
# And, an American missionary abducted in Niger is released after nine months in captivity

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says Africa must reduce its dependence on imported medicines and manufacture its own pharmaceuticals, vaccines, therapeutics and protective equipment. Delivering a public lecture on SADC Vision 2050, in Durban, Ramaphosa says the Covid-19 pandemic exposed the continent’s vulnerability when countries struggled to secure vaccines and Personal Protective Equipment. He says the Southern African Development Community’ s pooled procurement mechanism could create market certainty, attract investment and accelerate manufacturing:

# Advocate Drushantha Ramsamy of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has told the Madlanga Commission that suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola appeared to be targeted in investigations linked to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Ramsamy says there was no evidence linking Masemola to Matlala, yet investigators were instructed to search devices for links to his daughter. She says this raised concerns that rules were being broken to target Masemola, despite cooperating with investigators:

# The High Court in Pretoria has suspended the appointment of Hlengani Mathebula as administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, pending the finalisation of an application challenging his appointment. Seven former NSFAS board members brought the application, arguing Higher Education minister Buti Manamela’s decision to dissolve the board and appoint an administrator appeared to be motivated by an ulterior motive. Mathebula was appointed on 4 May, the same day the board was dissolved. Manamela was ordered to pay the costs of the two counsel.

# A US missionary held captive in Niger for nine months has been released and is in good health, according to his Christian organisation, SIM International. Kevin Rideout was abducted by three unidentified men outside his home in the capital of Niamey in October last year. New York Times, which first reported his release, says Rideout is in FBI custody and proof-of-life pictures indicates he is well. It remains unclear when or how he was freed, or which group held him. Rideout is expected to reunite with his family soon.

# Tennis: Alexandra Eala has sparked huge interest in the sport in her homeland of the Philipppines after shooting up the world ranking. The 21-year-old is currently in 20th place after a stellar season so far, including reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon and becoming the first Filipino player to clinch a WTA tour-level singles title at the DC Open in Washington last month. The Philippines reportedly has less than a thousand tennis courts, and most are built using a mix of crushed seashells, sand and clay.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-19-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-615-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-376-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….