News 07:00

BULLETIN 19 January 7 am

Good morning I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA, EFF, and ActionSA react to the 2023 matric pass rate
# A coordinator of the World Health Organisation warns Gaza hospitals are in rapid deterioration
# And cricket, Will Jacks powers the Pretoria Capitals to their first win of the current SA20 season

# The DA says it disputes the Department of Basic Education’s 2023 matric pass rate of 82.9-percent, as the real rate is only 55.3-percent. The party’s Baxolile Nodada, says the real matric pass rate is calculated by bringing into account the number of learners that dropped out and never made it to matric. He says while some learners pursue their matric through technical and vocational education and training after grade nine, a large number drop out completely:

Meanwhile, the EFF has welcomed the 2023 improved matric pass rate, saying this is a pivotal moment for countless learners across the country. The matric class of 2023 recorded the highest pass rate in South Africa’s history with 82.9-percent, an overall increase of 2.8-percent from 2022’s results. All provinces achieved pass rates exceeding 75-percent, with the Free State once again with the highest pass rate of 89-percent. The EFF says the matric class showed dedication and resilience in their academic pursuits despite challenges including load-shedding and overcrowded classrooms.

And ActionSA says it remains concerned that the country’s schooling system does not adequately prepare the youth. ActionSA’s national spokesperson, Lerato Ngobeni, says post-matric opportunities are scarce, nor is there sufficient funding for tertiary education:

# World Health Organisation coordinator, Sean Casey, has revealed alarming conditions in Gaza’s remaining hospitals, stating patients are waiting to die as a result of severe shortages of staff and supplies. Casey reports a rapid deterioration of the health system amid increasing humanitarian aid but dwindling access, especially in the north, with patients waiting in hospitals lacking fuel, power, and water. The south’s Nasser medical complex operates with only 30-percent of staff but double the usual bed capacity. More than 24-thousand Palestinians have already been killed. Casey calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza to address the catastrophe.

# Cricket: England’s Will Jacks delivered a superb all-round performance to lead the Pretoria Capitals to their first win of this year’s SA20 season, a 17-run victory against Durban’s Super Giants in Centurion. Jacks scored 101 off 42 balls, the third century of this year’s competition, that set up the Capitals’ 204 for nine. In reply, Jacks together with Hardus Viljoen and Wayne Parnell claimed two wickets each to restrict the Super Giants to 187 for seven. Pretoria Capitals’ Colin Ingram says it was great to get their first win:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-91-cents and the euro at 20-rand-59-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 41-thousand-164-dollars-65-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-23-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the late former president Nelson Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, will next month auction his identity document book and 69 other items, following a two-year legal battle against the South African Heritage Resources Agency. Makaziwe triumphed over the agency’s attempt to halt the sale, describing the items as heritage objects. New York-based company Guernsey’s auction house will present nearly 100 items, with proceeds intended for a memorial garden at Mandela’s gravesite in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape. The auction includes Mandela’s prison letters, a walking stick, Madiba shirts, and gifts.

Stay tuned for more news………….