News 07:00

BULLETIN 19 September 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is willing to listen to workable proposals on the NHI
# The NPA says Deveney Nel’s alleged murderer won’t be tried as an adult
# And cricket: The Pakistan Women beat South Africa to level the T20 series

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is prepared to listen to workable proposals on the National Health Insurance. He met with the leadership of Business Unity South Africa on Tuesday to discuss the contentious NHI Act. The organisation believes the legislation, in its current form, is unimplementable and damaging to the country’s healthcare sector. Speaking at the Africa Aerospace, Defence Trade and Exhibition at the Air Force Base Waterkloof in Centurion yesterday, Ramaphosa says his goal is to achieve equitable and quality healthcare:

# South Africa’s National Treasury is seeking private sector investment in infrastructure to avoid mandating pension funds to finance development. Deputy Finance minister David Masondo proposed amending pension-fund legislation to encourage investment. Masondo has warned that a prescriptive policy might harm capital markets and reduce investor confidence, affecting pension returns and efficiency.

# The National Prosecuting Authority says the 17-year-old boy linked to the murder of 16-year-old girl Devaney Nel in Caledon won’t be tried as an adult. The grade ten pupil’s stabbed body was found locked inside a storeroom at the Overberg High School during a sports day event. Civil society organisation Cape Forum says the Child Justice Act needs to change, as the brutal murder is an act of an adult. NPA’s spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says they need to abide by the law:

# Thirteen people have been injured in Russia’s Tver region after a large Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire there. Unverified footage has emerged purportedly showing a massive blast in the town. A partial evacuation of the region was ordered after the strike in the early hours of yesterday morning. The regional governor later encouraged residents to return, saying that all infrastructure in the town was working normally again. AFP and Reuters news agencies have quoted Ukrainian sources as saying an ammunitions warehouse had been struck.

# Cricket: Pakistan Women beat South Africa by 13 runs in the second T20 at the Multan Cricket Stadium to level the three-match series one-all. Captain Fatima Sana and Nida Dar’s 60-run partnership helped the home side reach 181 for four in their 20 overs. In reply, Sune Luus notched up an unbeaten 53 off 29 balls but it was not enough for the visitors as they finished on 168 for four. The decider will be played on Friday at the same venue.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-56-cents and the euro at 19-rand-49-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-975-dollars-31-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-559-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The operator of the National Lottery, Ithuba, is urging the winner of the 107-million-rand PowerBall jackpot to come forward and claim their prize. The winning ticket, purchased via FNB’s banking platform for the draw held last Friday, has yet to be redeemed. The organisation’s CEO Charmaine Mabuza expressed enthusiasm about the life-changing win and advised the winner to check their banking notification and visit the office to claim their prize. The operator also offers financial advice and trauma counselling for major winnings. 

Stay tuned for more news………….