News 14:00

BULLETIN 27 June 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The former Free State premier’s corruption-accused ex-PA opposes her extradition from the US
# Scaling up point-of-care diagnostics is crucial to implement the NHI scheme
# And, road running: The former comrades winner Ann Ashworth is relieved of her duties as the race manager

# Former Free State premier Ace Magashule’s corruption-accused ex-PA Moroadi Cholota’s attorney, Piet Tibane told News24 that Cholota is appealing to US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to stop her extradition to face trial. According to documents submitted in support of extradition by the National Prosecuting Authority, Cholota had been studying in the US because of a 1.2-million-rand Free State government bursary she did not qualify for. Tibane says Cholota is in the US to study, not to be detained.

# The University of Pretoria says South Africa’s NHI is instrumental in advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for people of all ages. A diagnostic expert at the university, professor Tivani Mashamba-Thompson says it ensures individuals receiving medical services without facing financial adversity. Point-of-care testing does away with the need to send a sample to a laboratory and is a fundamental in improving the accessibility of healthcare services to those most in need.

# The City of Cape Town asks residents to report election posters that they notice in their neighbourhoods or while driving around Cape Town. The city’s spokesperson, Luthando Tyhalibongo says the city has been removing posters all over Cape Town in the past week, but the focus has been on the main routes and scenic drives:

# Road Running: Former 2018 Comrades winner, Ann Ashworth, has been relieved of her duties as Race and Operations manager, just seven months into the job. Ashworth announced on social media that the board cited her lack of leadership and race management skills. She refuted the claims, stating she had offered to resign three times and it was not accepted. Appointed in November 2023, Ashworth replaced Rowyn James. During her tenure, she secured a sponsor to boost prize money and bonuses for elite athletes.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-34-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-140-dollars-34-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-313-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-80-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Shania Twain is hoping to arrive for her Glastonbury performance in style by riding a horse to the Pyramid Stage. The country music icon will be following in the footsteps of Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, and Johnny Cash as she takes to the stage for the prestigious legends slot on Sunday. The Canadian singer told BBC Breakfast she would love to go on stage on the back of a horse. Twain also often appears on social media with her own horses.  Glastonbury Festival is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world.

Stay tuned for more news………….