News 17:00

BULLETIN 27 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Sakeliga challenges the National Health Insurance Act in court
# The Jannie Mouton Foundation offers seven-billion-rand to buy out Curro shareholders
# And rugby: The Boks arrive in Auckland in high spirits

# Sakeliga has filed an application in the High Court in Pretoria to overturn the National Health Insurance Act, arguing it effectively nationalises healthcare and bans private medical schemes. Sakeliga joins hospitals, medical schemes, and professionals in opposing the act. The organisation warns the plan would require a 30-percent income tax hike, risk a fiscal crisis, and drive skilled medical practitioners overseas. The organisation calls for its repeal to protect South Africa’s healthcare system, economic stability, and business freedom.

# A trust set up by renowned businessman Jannie Mouton has offered seven-billion-rand to buy out Curro shareholders and turn South Africa’s largest independent school operator into a non-profit. The deal, paid partly in cash and Capitec shares, comes at a 60-percent premium. Curro management supports the bid, citing the move will allow the company to reinvest profits to build more schools, provide bursaries, and improve access to education. Shares jumped more than 50-percent on news of the offer.

# The Public Servants Association is calling on Trade, Industry and Competition minister, Parks Tau, to urgently appoint a new chairperson for the National Lotteries Commission’s board. This follows the resignation of Barney Pityana last week, who still had two-years of his five-year term remaining. PSA’s Claude Naicker says Pityana’s three-year stint has not stabilised the NLC, which is still marred by allegations of corruption:

# The Freedom Front Plus says Tshwane’s mayoral committee member for Environment and Agriculture, Obakeng Ramabodu, must be held personally liable for the legal costs incurred over the controversial cleaning charge case. Earlier this month, the High Court in Pretoria ruled in favour of AfriForum, declaring the metro’s 194-rand monthly levy unlawful. On Monday, the same court dismissed the metro’s application for leave to appeal. FF Plus’ Grandi Theunissen says Ramabodu should not try to hide behind the metro:

# Rugby: The Springboks arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, close to midnight local time in high spirits and excited about the challenge of facing their arch-rivals, the All Blacks, in back-to-back Rugby Championship Tests in the next three weeks. The Boks made the long journey from South Africa to Auckland via Sydney, Australia, and will have a gym session and recovery day tomorrow before taking the field for their first training session on Friday. The Boks face the All Blacks at Eden Park next Saturday, and in Wellington a week later.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-75-cents and the euro at 20-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-49-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-379-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-85-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….