News 09:00

BULLETIN 21 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Anti-Apartheid Movement for Palestine condemns the attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla boats
# The Free Market Foundation says legal resistance against NHI reflects a concern about state control
# And, the DA accuses Morero of turning Joburg into a gangster’s paradise

# The South African Chapter of the Anti-Apartheid Movement for Palestine has strongly condemned the illegal Israeli attacks on boats that form part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Six South Africans were detained on Monday by Israeli forces after the Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted in international waters while attempting to break the Gaza blockade and deliver aid. The movement’s Dudu Mahlangu-Masango says the South African government must spare no effort to secure the release of the abducted South Africans:

Meanwhile, the MK Party is calling on government to urgently intervene following the detention of the six South Africans. They were part of a group of around 100 activists who attempted to sail from Turkey to Gaza. The MK Party says the continued aggression by the Israeli forces against humanitarian initiatives exposes their growing disregard for international law, humanitarian principles and basic human dignity.

# The Free Market Foundation says it has repeatedly warned that National Health Insurance is unaffordable, unconstitutional, economically destructive, and incompatible with freedom of choice in healthcare. The Constitutional Court has declared Sections 36 to 40 of the NHI Act unconstitutional. These sections relate to a state programme designed to control where healthcare practitioners or practices could operate. The foundation says the growing legal resistance to NHI reflects increasing concern about expanding state control over healthcare, and the long-term consequences for patients, medical professionals, and the economy.

# The DA says Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero is failing to act against mayoral committee members facing serious criminal allegations, including criminal complaints and claims of intimidation and violence. The party argues the mayor’s silence creates the impression that members of his executive are above the law and politically protected. The DA’s Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku says the city’s leadership is being overshadowed by scandal instead of addressing water shortages, power outages and failing infrastructure:

# Soccer: Aston Villa ended their 30-year wait for a trophy as they defeated Freiburg 3-0 to win the Europa League in Istanbul. First-half goals by Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendia were followed by Morgan Rogers’ strike in the second half, helping Villa triumph 44 years on from their European Cup win in 1982. Villa manager Unai Emery, who has now won the Europa League five times, says this competition is special:

And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-48-cents and the euro at 19-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-13-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-933-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-536-dollars-91-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….