News 11:00

BULLETIN 21 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC stands firm on the National Health Insurance implementation
# The Communications minister targets two-million households for digital connection
# And tennis,  Nadal makes his first final in two years at Bastad

# The ANC will not compromise on implementing the National Health Insurance, despite calls for a review from parties like the DA. According to the ANC, the NHI aims to provide free healthcare for all South Africans. Addressing the media following president Cyril Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament address, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the NHI will ensure equal healthcare access:

# Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, aims to connect over two-million households to the digital world. With 1.8-billion-rand allocated to phases one and two of the SA Connect programme, Malatsi plans to establish five-thousand-900 Wi-Fi hotspots, covering over one-million households this year. The minister also highlighted major obstacles that bar this implementation:

# Human Settlement deputy minister Tandi Mahambehlala has emphasised the importance of human resource development in TVET and skills training for economic growth. Speaking in Parliament, Mahambehlala noted the success in issuing over one-million title deeds and developing over 300-thousand social housing units. She highlighted significant investments in infrastructure and job creation, including eight-million opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme:

# The appearance of the highly infectious polio virus in Gaza is putting thousands of Palestinians at risk of contracting a disease that can cause paralysis. Gaza’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation have carried out tests and found samples of the virus in sewage water. The organisation says no one has yet been treated in Gaza for paralysis or other symptoms of polio, but residents must now “contend with the threat” posed by the disease. Various United Nations agencies are working with local health authorities to determine how far the virus has spread.

# And, tennis:  Rafael Nadal reached his first final since winning the 2022 French Open, defeating Croatian qualifier Duje Ajdukovic in a three-set tussle in Bastad, Sweden, yesterday. The Spaniard rebounded from dropping the opening set to prevail 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Nadal will play Portuguese seventh seed Nuno Borges in today’s final as he goes in search of the 93rd singles title of his career. He is using the event in Bastad as a tune-up for the Paris Olympics, where the tennis will be played on the clay at Roland Garros.

Stay tuned for more news………….