News 11:00

BULLETIN 7 November 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Motsoaledi warns against the pervasive threat of turning healthcare into a moneymaking issue 
# The EFF demands that the Constitutional Court release the ruling on Phala Phala
# And cricket: Laura Wolvaardt tops the ODI batting world ranking after her World Cup heroics

# Health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has called for renewed commitment to universal health coverage that is rooted in solidarity, equality and sustainability. He addressed the G20 Health ministers meeting in Polokwane, Limpopo, which is aiming to align global political leadership around equity, accountability, and resilient health systems. Motsoaledi warned against a pervasive threat of putting profit before healthcare, adding this threat must be tackled through cooperation:

# The EFF says it will march to the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg later this month to demand the release of the judgment on the review of Parliament’s decision to reject the independent panel report on Phala Phala. The panel found there was prima facie evidence of criminal activity in relation to the theft at president Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo. The EFF says the apex court’s failure to provide the ruling gives credence to suspicions that the judiciary is captured.

# A total of 435 academics from universities across the country are calling on Higher Education minister, Buti Manamela, not to appoint an independent assessor at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape. The university’s council has rejected the minister’s plan, warning the assessor would duplicate existing investigations and risk unnecessary reputational harm to the institution. In a letter to the minister, the academics say what is needed is a national administration that is willing to confront the profound difficulties at all universities.

Moving abroad:

# The United Nations Security Council has voted to remove Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior minister Anas Khattab from the ISIS and al-Qaeda sanctions list. The US-drafted resolution passed with 14 votes in favour and one abstention by China. Sharaa led the anti-regime forces that ousted Bashar al-Assad, and was declared president for a transitional period in late January. US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, described the resolution as a strong political signal that recognises that Syria is in a new era:

# Cricket: Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt’s heroics in the World Cup in India propelled her to the top of the one-day batter’s rankings. She scored centuries in the semifinal against England as well as the final against the hostesses, which South Africa lost by 52 runs. Wolvaardt’s 571 runs in the tournament is the most in a single edition. She overtook India’s Smriti Mandhana in the number one position, with Australia’s Ash Gardner in third position. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is fourth and Australian Beth Mooney fifth.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-36-cents and the euro at 20-rand-2-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-950-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-8-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….