News 06:00

BULLETIN 15 May 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa describes coalition governments as a danger zone
# BUSA warns the Health Insurance Bill will damage the healthcare sector and economy
# And talks over a ceasefire in Gaza have reached a stalemate

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC is cautious about forming a coalition government due to the risk of instability as seen at the local municipal level. Polls have predicted that the ANC might fall short of securing over 50-percent of the national vote in the 29 May general elections. This would compel the ruling party to forge a coalition to hold onto power. Addressing the Progressive Business Forum in Centurion yesterday, Ramaphosa described coalitions as a danger zone:

# Business Unity South Africa warns the National Health Insurance Bill, set to be signed into law by president Cyril Ramaphosa, will damage the healthcare sector and economy. The organisation says the bill is unworkable, unaffordable, and will also damage investor confidence. They support universal health coverage but believe this bill will hinder access to quality healthcare. BUSA CEO designate Khulekani Mathe, says they are considering legal options to ensure the legislation is beneficial for all citizens:

# It has emerged that the Engineering Council of South Africa was investigating the consulting engineer overseeing the construction of the George collapsed five-storey building. The partially built building caved in last week Monday leaving 33 workers dead while 19 are still unaccounted for. According to News24, the council’s investigating committee in February recommended that Atholl Mitchell be charged with various breaches of its code of conduct. Mitchell has not been found guilty. The council adds that its tribunal will hear the case soon.

# Minister of Police Bheki Cele says additional resources have been allocated to arrest the suspects involved in the murder of a five-year-old boy in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria. Ditebogo Junior Phalane was fatally shot and killed when a group of armed suspects hijacked his father’s bakkie as he arrived home last Friday evening. Cele, who visited the boy’s family yesterday, says they also rely on technology and other agencies to find the suspects.

# Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani says talks on a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal are almost at a stalemate. More than 35-thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip. The war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on the seventh of October, killing one-thousand-200 people and abducting 252, of whom 133 are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza. The prime minister says they will keep pushing for a deal:

# Cricket: Two experienced players were left out when the Netherlands’ squad was announced for next month’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States. The selectors replaced South African-born Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackerman with younger players Tim Pringle and Michael Levitt. Levitt impressed with a quick-fire century against Namibia in February. Wicketkeeper Scott Edwards remains in his role as regular captain. The Dutch will play the Proteas, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal in their group matches.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-598-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-356-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….