News 07:00

BULLETIN 23 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA criticises the signing of the Presidential Health Compact
# Parliament’s Appropriations committee is concerned about health legal claims
# And a Michelin-star restaurant turns prices back 30 years

# The DA has criticised the signing of the second Presidential Health Compact, highlighting vast opposition to the National Health Insurance Act. DA’s Michele Clarke has commended groups like Business Unity South Africa and the South African Health Professionals Collaboration for refusing to sign. She argues that the Health Compact undermines genuine collaboration and is merely a coercive tactic:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Appropriations has expressed serious concerns about the escalating number of medical-legal claims against the Department of Health. The committee is particularly disturbed by the cumulative payout of 77-billion-rand in compensations, with the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo leading with the most claims. These claims have led to substantial compensation payouts for forensic investigations, legal fees, and court settlements. Committee chairperson, Mmusi Maimane, says this financial burden is a significant drain on public funds and also highlights systemic issues within the healthcare system.

# The Freedom Front Plus in Gauteng says the possible tariff hike of 40-percent envisioned by Eskom should motivate the Ekurhuleni municipality to become less dependent on the power utility urgently. Eskom has requested a 36-percent tariff increase next year, in addition to the four-percent it wants to levy on consumers through its Regulatory Clearing Account. The FF Plus says should the hike be implemented, it will by far be one of the hardest financial blows that residents and businesses will have to absorb in an already struggling economy.

# The South African Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Coalition urges Glencore to halt coal exports to Israel, accusing the mining company of supporting Israel’s military actions. They argue the company is contributing to genocide and illegal occupation in Palestine. The coalition’s Roshan Dadoo calls on the government to impose a total coal embargo to comply with international law and prevent complicity in human rights violations: 

# Motorsport: Reigning Formula One world champion, Max Verstappen, says he is not overly confident about his prospects of winning his home race, the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend. The Red Bull driver leads the Drivers’ Championship by 78 points over McLaren’s Lando Norris. Since its return to the calendar in 2021, Verstappen has won every Dutch Grand Prix. The 26-year-old, who will make his 200th Grand Prix start at Zandvoort on Sunday, says it has already been an incredible ride:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-98-cents and the euro at 20-rand-2-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-775-dollars-79-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-490-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

# And finally: One of London’s most lauded Michelin star restaurants will be turning the clock back on its prices by 30 years. Between 9 and 27 September the cooking specialists at St John, in Smithfield, will charge diners what they would have paid for the same dishes when the eatery first opened its doors in 1994. A portion of Welsh rarebit will be available at 3-pounds-50, around 83-rand, while roast bone marrow and parsley salad will set you back 4-pounds-20, around 99-rand. St John is one of London’s foremost proponents of nose-to-tail cooking.

Stay tuned for more news………….