News 07:00

BULLETIN 16 May 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA accuses Ramaphosa of signing the death certificate for the country’s health system
# Biden and Trump agree to two televised presidential debates
# And Athletics: Caster Semenya hopes the court will rule in her favour

# The DA condemns president Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the National Health Insurance Act, accusing the ANC of neglecting the failing healthcare system. They argue the act is an electioneering tool, lacking the necessary investment and infrastructure for effective healthcare. Criticisms include concerns over corruption, funding, flawed parliamentary process, and constitutional violations. The DA’s Siviwe Gwarube has vowed to challenge the scheme through all legal avenues to protect the rights of all citizens:

Build One South Africa is meanwhile considering legal action to challenge the implementation of the NHI. They argue that the NHI is unaffordable and will not fix the country’s healthcare system. The party proposes alternative solutions, such as auditing hospitals, funding scholarships for healthcare students, and improving healthcare infrastructure. BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane criticised the ANC for prioritising legal battles over healthcare:

# The Special Investigating Unit has welcomed the arrests by the Hawks of four people linked to the alleged defrauding of the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme in the Eastern Cape. The four allegedly unlawfully and falsely claimed benefits that were not due to them. One of the suspects received 216-thousand-905-rand in payments. The Unemployment Insurance Fund made nine payments amounting to approximately 139-million-rand to companies linked to the other three suspects. The SIU says they are all currently out on bail.

# US president Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump have agreed to participate in in two televised presidential debates ahead of the elections in November. The first debate will be hosted by CNN on the 27th of June, and the second by ABC on the tenth of September. At least 73-million Americans watched the first 2020 debate between the two. Biden says he is ready to debate the former president, while Trump described Biden as the worst debater he has ever faced, as he can’t put two sentences together.

# Athletics: Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya says she hopes the European Court of Human Rights will rule in her favour. Yesterday, the court heard the 32-year-old’s case challenging the requirement to lower her testosterone levels to compete. She was born with differences in sexual development, and cannot compete in female track events without taking testosterone-reducing drugs. Semenya says for her it is about advocating for what is right:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-29-cents and the euro at 19-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-108-dollars-4-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-388-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Qatar Airways announced an investment in an unnamed airline in Southern Africa, saying it wants to expand its footprint on the continent. CEO Badr al-Meer told the Qatar Economic Forum they were in the final stage of an equity investment in the company. He says only two or three airlines are being considered. State-owned Qatar Airways already services over 170 international destinations, including 31 in Africa, with Al-Meer saying the southern part of the continent is the last piece of the equation.

Stay tuned for more news………….