News 13:00

BULLETIN 21 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Patriotic Alliance imposes a ban on media ahead of the local government elections
# Medical scheme cover is becoming further out of reach for working South Africans
# And: Nigeria confirms its first Ebola case in the capital, Abuja

# The Patriotic Alliance, led by minister Gayton McKenzie, has imposed a blanket ban on media interviews ahead of the November 4 local government elections. The South African National Editors’ Forum has condemned the move, calling for the boycott to be withdrawn. Critics say restricting media access undermines transparency and accountability during the election campaign. Speaking in Westbury, Johannesburg, McKenzie accuses news outlets of biased and negative reporting favouring political rivals:

# Kaelo Health Insurance says South Africa’s health insurance market is growing as rising medical scheme costs put private healthcare cover increasingly out of reach for working citizens. The country’s biggest medical schemes are increasing rates by seven to nine-percent for 2027, more than double the Council for Medical Schemes guideline. Kaelo’s Jordan Bortz says workers without cover often go untreated for everyday illnesses and chronic conditions, and lose working hours queuing for care:

# The Water Institute of Southern Africa is warning of increased water security risks as South Africa enters the summer rainfall season. The South African Weather Service forecasts below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across most of the country between this month and December. The institute’s CEO, Lester Goldman, says skilled professionals are needed to translate climate forecasts into effective water management decisions. He urges municipalities and water utilities to assess resources, identify vulnerable infrastructure and review contingency plans to prepare for possible shortages.

Moving abroad:

# Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case after a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja tested positive. The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling its deadliest and fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain. At least four-thousand-600 people have died, with over nine-thousand-500 cases recorded. Kenya confirmed its first case earlier this month and has since recorded nine infections. Nigeria’s Health minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, says the woman is in isolation:

# Rugby: Rhys Barratt, Aneurin Owen and Che Hope are the uncapped players in Wales’ squad for next month’s Nations Championship home matches. Coach Steve Tandy left out experienced loose forwards Taulupe Faletau and Tommy Reffell, as well as centre Macs Page. In their previous matches in the competition, Wales lost to South Africa and Argentina, and beat Fiji. They play Japan on 7 November, followed by Tests against New Zealand and Australia.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-41-cents and the euro at 18-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-402-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-122-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 111-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….