News 11:00

BULLETIN 20 August 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Institute of Race Relations welcomes the rejection of the Presidential Health Compact
# Zolani Matthews finally accepts his dismissal from Prasa
# And rugby: The Springboks will start preparing for their All Blacks Tests on Thursday

# The Institute of Race Relations says the current resistance to the Presidential Health Compact could have been avoided, if attention had been given to the problems riddling the National Health Insurance Act. Business Unity South Africa and the SA Medical Association have already indicated they will not sign the compact because it endorses the NHI, which they oppose. The institute’s Makone Maja says the implementation of the NHI Act puts the health care that many citizens currently enjoy in jeopardy:

# The CEO of the Passenger Railway Agency of South Africa, Zolani Matthews, has accepted his dismissal and settlement from the railway operator. This comes after three failed attempts by Prasa to dismiss him, costing the state-owned entity an estimated 30-million-rand in legal fees and the pay of two group CEOs. Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda told News24 that Matthews has accepted the letter of termination of his contract. The railway operator will pay him out for the remaining 19 months of his contract.

# Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink says he will ask the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to reject Eskom’s bid for a 40-percent tariff increase. The power utility has requested a 36-percent tariff increase next year, in addition to the four-percent that it wants to levy on consumers through its Regulatory Clearing Account. Brink says electricity is becoming unaffordable for most citizens, and unreasonable tariff increases would put a financial burden on residents:

# US president Joe Biden has described vice president Kamala Harris as a person of integrity, saying if elected president she would put America first. He recounted his achievements, reiterated his support for a ceasefire in Gaza, and backed Harris for president in a speech on the opening night of the Democratic national convention in Chicago. Biden says Harris will be a president children can look up to and world leaders can respect:

# Rugby: The Springboks returned home following their victorious visit to Australia, and will reassemble in Johannesburg on Thursday to start preparing for the two Rugby Championship encounters with the All Blacks. The two old foes do battle at Ellis Park on the 31st and in Cape Town a week later. South Africa is currently on top of the log with 10 points after their two bonus point victories over the Wallabies, who haven’t scored any points yet. New Zealand is second on five points, and Argentina third with four.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-74-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-925-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-501-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….