News 08:00

BULLETIN 17 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA welcomes the dismissal of the government’s appeal against load-shedding
# The South African Medical Association is going to challenge the NHI legally
# And a South African artist wins the Deutsche Börse photography prize

# ActionSA has welcomed the full bench of the Pretoria High Court denying the government’s application for leave to appeal against the load-shedding judgment. Last year, the North Gauteng High Court ruled that cutting power to important public facilities like schools, and hospitals was unconstitutional. The government was ordered to exempt these public facilities from load-shedding. ActionSA’s, Mpho Madisha, says it is inspiring to see that the judiciary remains on the side of the most vulnerable members of society:

# The South African Medical Association has confirmed that it will legally challenge the constitutionality of the National Health Insurance. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance Bill into law on Wednesday, setting in motion the government’s fiercely contested plan for universal health coverage. The association’s chairperson, doctor Mvuyisi Mzukwa, says NHI is not a viable solution to realise universal health coverage for the South African population.

# South African tobacco companies have secured an interim court order preventing SARS from installing CCTV cameras in their warehouses. The Gauteng High Court ruling, addressing concerns raised by the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association, blocked SARS from enforcing the directive aimed at curbing illicit trade. FITA argued that constant surveillance violates privacy and risks trade secrets exposure. The order remains in effect until the case’s merits are debated in court.

# Tennis: World number one Iga Swiatek will face world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the Italian Open final. The 22-year-old Pole defeated American Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-3, while the Belarusian overcame another American Danielle Collins, 7-5, 6-2. Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, Chile’s Nicolas Jarry knocked out world number seven Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece to reach the semifinals. American Tommy Paul beat Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. Sabalenka says she is looking forward to playing Swiatek:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-21-cents and the euro at 19-rand-78-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-523-dollars-32-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-371-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

# And finally, South African artist Lebohang Kganye has won the prestigious Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation prize. This is for her exhibition called Haufi nyana I’ve Come to Take You Home, and is on display at the Photographers’ Gallery in central London. Kganye combines oral history, family photo albums, and theatrical stages, to trace the personal history of the apartheid era. Judging panel chairperson, Claire Grafik, says her use of theatre to bring the audience into conversation with the artwork was something they loved.

Stay tuned for more news………….