News 06:00
BULLETIN 5 January 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Parliament hopes to finalise key legislation before South Africa heads to the polls
# The Health Department meets with its provincial counterparts to resolve the issue of unplaced medical interns
# And tennis, Rafael Nadal will play an Aussie in the quarterfinals in Brisbane
# Parliament says it hopes to finalise some of the key legislation before South Africa heads to the polls. There are currently 23 bills before the National Council of Provinces, while various committees of the National Assembly are also processing 33 bills. These include the Electoral Amendment Act and the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill. Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo explains Parliament will strategise on how to get some of the bills passed on time:
# The Health Department plans to meet with provincial counterparts today in an effort to resolve the issue of unplaced medical interns. Last month, the department claimed to have successfully placed nine-thousand-395 out of 10-thousand-386 medical professionals, including doctors and nurses. However, reports of students being left without placements have emerged. The department’s Luvuyo Bayeni expresses hopes of resolving the matter by the end of the month through a series of engagements with provinces to confirm placements and to address any issues.
# The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa deems the escalating initiation deaths in the Eastern Cape a disaster, with 34 fatalities during last year’s summer season. This marks an increase from the 22 deaths recorded in 2022. Responding to the crisis, government plans to shift from a seasonal to a year-round approach to address the issue. CONTRALESA’s chairperson, Kgoshi Mokoena, expressed devastation, calling for extraordinary measures to curb the alarming trend. He proposes a pilot project to assess alternative initiation school methods.
# Oscar Pistorius is expected to be taken to the home of his uncle Arnold in Pretoria when he is released on parole today. The former Paralympic champion has served over half of his sentence for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in his home in 2013. Arnold Pistorius said earlier an “Oscar Room” was ready in their home, while his nephew was also offered a job. Correctional Services wouldn’t provide details of Pistorius’s release, just saying he would be treated like any other parolee until his sentence expires in 2029.
# Spanish airline Iberia has cancelled over 400 flights due to a four-day strike by its ground service workers that is set to begin today on the eve of Epiphany, a major holiday in the country. The flight cancellations, which also affect the airline’s low-cost carrier Iberia Express and its regional airline Air Nostrum, will impact more than 45-thousand passengers. Iberia says the strike would cause very significant disruption to thousands of travellers. Even if it was called off at the last minute, it would be impossible to reschedule the flights.
# Tennis: Rafael Nadal of Spain will play local player Jordan Thompson in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International in Australia today. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is looking sharp after just returning to the tour after an injury-enforced year out, beating Austria’s Dominic Thiem and another Australian, Jason Kubler, in straight sets in the previous rounds. Nadal uses the tournament to hone his skills for the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, that starts in Melbourne next Sunday. He is happy with his performance:
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-68-cents and the euro at 20-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 44-thousand-33-dollars-95-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-46-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-74-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….