News 09:00

BULLETIN 12 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government welcomes a decline in South Africa’s poverty levels
# The Health Department says SA is making progress in achieving universal health coverage
# And, a judge rules cameras will be allowed in the courtroom during the trial of Charlie Kirk’s murder accused

# Government has welcomed the latest Poverty Trends in South Africa report released by Statistics South Africa, which shows a significant decline in poverty levels over the past 17-years. According to the report, the proportion of South Africans living below the lower-bound poverty line set at one-thousand-300-rand per person per month in 2023 prices, has fallen to 37.9-percent in 2023. Government deputy spokesperson, William Baloyi, says while they acknowledge that this progress is encouraging, it is not enough:

# The Health Department says South Africa has made great strides towards achieving universal health coverage through the introduction of the National Health Insurance. Today is Universal Health Coverage Day, shining a spotlight on the devastating human impact of unaffordable health costs. The department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says they will join the world in observing this day in Pretoria, as healthcare is a right, not a luxury or a burden:

# The GOOD Party says the Western Cape’s 2025/2026 adjustment budget is nothing short of an insult to the people of the province. The budget provides 1.739-billion-rand in additional funding, combining national transfers of 1.070-billion-rand and provincial funding of 669-million-rand. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says the provincial government’s big headline achievement, the so-called six major investments that came from the very performative Western Cape Investment Summit, were supposedly part of a 400-billion-rand pipeline:

# A Utah judge has ruled that cameras will be allowed in the courtroom during the trial of Tyler Robinson, who stands accused of the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. His lawyers wanted cameras to be banned out of concern that news coverage could prejudice a fair trial. Twenty-two-year-old Robinson made his first in-person court appearance on Thursday. Kirk was shot dead while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in September. Robinson faces charges including aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.

# Soccer: UDM has complained to the Human Rights Commission against Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, alleging he made racist and sexist remarks about defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and his agent. The Belgian voiced his displeasure with Mbokazi’s move from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire, and his late arrival for a training camp after missing his flight. Broos said he would hold a meeting with Mbokazi, and the player would go into the discussion “black” and leave “white”. UDM says Broos must be held to account for his utterances.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-86-cents and the euro at 19-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-197-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-268-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….