News 07:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 17 November 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The deputy Finance minister says expanding the basket of zero-rated foods is not on the cards
# The Centre for Risk Analysis opposes the National Health Insurance proposal
# And, Gift of the Givers calls for the immediate expulsion of the Israeli ambassador in South Africa

# Deputy minister of Finance David Masondo says a further expansion of value-added tax-free or zero-rated products is currently not on the cards. He participated in a DA-motivated Parliamentary debate on desperately needed relief measures yesterday. Masondo says expanding the basket of zero-rated foods will result in lower tax revenue and less funds for more targeted relief for the poor. He emphasised that although zero-rating some items is well intended and necessary, a social transfer system of assisting the poor through targeted expenditure interventions is much more desirable and better.

# The Centre for Risk Analysis says the government’s proposed National Health Insurance poses a substantial risk to the viability of private medical aid schemes. The organisation believes the plan to abolish medical tax credits and redirect the funds to support the NHI is a threat to the sustainability of private healthcare. The centre’s Chris Hattingh warns that such a move signals a discouragement of private sector investment, innovation, and competition in South Africa:

Play sound: ENG HattinghOnHealthCare

# The Hawks have made a third arrest in connection with the murder of former politician and activist Loyiso Nkohla. He was gunned down at the Philippi train station in Cape Town in April, after attending a community meeting. Hawks spokesperson, Siyabulela Vukubi, says a 39-year-old suspect was arrested in Peddie in the Eastern Cape yesterday and will appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court today:

Play sound: ENG VukubiOnThirdArrest

# A delegation from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has expressed their satisfaction with the quality of health services rendered by the City of Ekurhuleni at its clinics. The team conducted a site visit to Thembisa Main Clinic. The city says the delegation was impressed to learn that the 97-percent of HIV-positive patients remain on ARVs at the Thembisa Main Clinic. One of the delegation members Jason Bowman says this achievement makes it so easy to motivate for more funding for the ARV programme for the city.

# South African humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers advocates for the immediate expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotserkovsky, and the severance of diplomatic ties with the country. This follows the killing of the organisation’s Gaza office head, Ahmed Abbasi, shot alongside his brother after morning prayers. The organisation alleges Abbasi was deliberately targeted by Israeli forces. Founder Imtiaz Sooliman demands Israel to pay war reparation in the rebuilding of Gaza and compensate every single family they have decimated:

Play sound: ENG SoolimanOnExpulsion

# Motorsport: Three-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen says the weekend’s Grand Prix in Las Vegas is 99-percent show and only one percent a sporting event. The race will take place through the streets of the American gambling city, including a part of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. Several singers such as Kylie Minogue and Journey performed during Wednesday’s opening ceremony, while Verstappen and other drivers aren’t happy about some of the demands being put on their time in Vegas.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-38-cents and the euro at 19-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 36-thousand-528-dollars-9-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-984-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….