News 11:00

BULLETIN 13 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Barbara Creecy will kick off the Easter road safety campaign in Gqeberha
# COSATU will continue to support minister Aaron Motsoaledi towards implementing the NHI
# And Motorsport: Oscar Piastri is in poll position at the Bahrain Grand Prix

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy,and deputy minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa will be leading a collaborative effort comprising multiple road safety stakeholders in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape today. This forms part of the Easter weekend operations to ensure that road fatalities are contained for the duration of the weekend and beyond. The provincial Department of Transport’s spokesperson, Unathi Binqose says over 120 suspected drunk drivers were arrested since Friday in the province, in the build up to today’s Easter Road Safety activation:

# Cosatu says it will continue to support Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi and the health ministry as they stride towards implementing the National Health Insurance to ensure universal, equitable healthcare for South Africans. Motsoaledi announced an advertisement for one-thousand-200 jobs for doctors, 200 nurses and 250 other healthcare professionals at a cost of 1.780-billion-rand. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Zanele Sabela says this is a progressive move to the cries of professionals in this crucial public service sector:

# Forum for South Africa is calling on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa and the government of national unity to close unregistered spaza shops immediately or face litigation in their personal capacity for dereliction of duty. An eight-year-old boy from Mapetla, Soweto, was hospitalised after consuming snacks he bought from a spaza shop. The Forum leader, Tebogo Mashilompane says now that there is a new case, Hlabisa is reacting to the issue instead of combating it:

# City Power has strongly condemned the cowardly and barbaric acts of violence carried out by criminal elements who have made it their mission to terrorise workers and sabotage critical infrastructure in Johannesburg. On Thursday, a City Power contractor was ambushed by six armed suspects while trenching near Kwa MaiMai, under the bridge close to the Karzerne Substation. City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena says earlier in the week, security personnel and law enforcement officers came under heavy fire from armed criminals:

# And Motorsport: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri grabbed pole position during Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix this afternoon. Piastri got the better of his Mercedes rival George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in a thrilling conclusion – with teammate Lando Norris only reaching sixth. Carlos Sainz delivered his strongest qualifying session of the season so far to take eighth, with Lewis Hamilton in ninth in the sister Ferrari. Max Verstappen for Red Bull struggled with the brakes of his car during the qualifying rounds, taking 7th place.

Stay tuned for more news………….