News 07:00

BULLETIN 2 April 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Kiviet says public service workers will execute their duties irrespective of who governs
# Tshwane records more fatalities during the Easter period compared to last year
# And, ActionSA says urgent healthcare reform is required as the government pays out millions in claims

# Public Service and Administration minister Noxolo Kiviet says the larger public service will remain untouched should a completely new government be elected after the 29 May general elections. She was responding to a written parliamentary question from the DA. The party asked what steps Kiviet’s department had taken to prepare the public administration for a smooth transfer of political power to possibly new national and provincial coalition governments. The minister says the public administration will be protected from political interference and abuse.

# The DA says Argentina has become yet another country ahead of South Africa to fully embrace the 21st century and global connectivity to benefit its citizens. The country’s access to Space X’s Starlink internet connectivity was recently announced by South African-born Elon Musk on X. The DA says despite countries around the world lining up to gain access to Starlink, the ANC remains adamant on keeping South Africa in the stone age. The DA’s Natasha Mazzone says as opposed to truly accepting that the digital age is upon South Africa, the ANC just wants control:

# The Tshwane Emergency Services Department says fewer incidents were reported during the Easter period this year in the metro than last year, but more fatalities were recorded. Between the 29th of last month and yesterday, 13 fatalities were recorded in the metro compared to three in the same period last year. The department’s, Thabo Mabaso, says the causes of all accidents have not yet been determined and are being investigated by law enforcement authorities:

# ActionSA in the Western Cape has expressed concern about the staggering 23-billion-rand wasted away by Health Departments in settling medico-legal claims, particularly the over 534-million-rand in claims and legal costs originating from the province. ActionSA’s Angela Sobey says the fact that the province accounts for more than 270 medico-legal claims, highlights that in the absence of quality healthcare provided by well-resourced and professional medical professionals at highly efficient healthcare institutions, it is bleeding billions of rands to cover these claims:

# Syria’s Foreign ministry has condemned the deadly attack on the Iranian consulate in the capital Damascus. Six people including a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps were killed by an Israeli strike. The ministry says it strongly condemns this heinous terrorist attack that targeted the building and killed several innocent people in the process. Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks on Iranian-linked targets in Syria in the past few years, but very rarely acknowledged the strikes.

# Cricket: Rajasthan Royals recorded a third straight victory by defeating the Mumbai Indians by six wickets in the Indian Premier League at the Wankhede Stadium. Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal took three wickets each as Mumbai was restricted to 125 for nine in their 20 overs. In reply, Riyan Parag scored an unbeaten 54 as he guided Rajasthan Royals to victory. Today, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face the Lucknow Super Giants.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-93-cents and the euro at 20-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-159-dollar-15-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-248-dollar-28-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollar-69-cents -cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….