News 07:00

BULLETIN 9 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cyril Ramaphosa says progress is made in bringing those responsible for state capture to justice
# The president says government plans to incrementally implement the National Health Insurance
# And motorsport, the British Grand Prix signs a new ten-year deal with Formula One

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the real tragedy of state capture was that it diverted attention and resources away from what the government should have been doing, which is to grow the economy and create jobs. Delivering the State of the Nation address in Cape Town yesterday evening, he said the effects of state capture continue to be felt across society, from the shortage of freight locomotives to crumbling public services. Ramaphosa says great progress has been made in bringing those responsible for state capture to justice:

Regarding the National Health Insurance, Ramaphosa said it will provide free health care at the point of care for all South Africans, whether in public or private health facilities. The president is still considering the National Health Insurance Bill after it was sent to him to be signed into law after Parliament approved it. He added that the government is working to improve both the quality of healthcare and equality of access:

# Employment and Labour minister Thulas Nxesi has announced the appointment of the second National Minimum Wage Commission. The new commission will be chaired by Wits economist Imraan Valodia, who succeeds Adriaan van der Walt. The members of the commission will serve for five years. The functions include reviewing the national minimum wage and making recommendations for its adjustment. The commission is also responsible for investigating and reporting on the impact of the wage on the economy and collective bargaining.

# The United Independent Movement condemns the stabbing of one of its party agents during the special registration weekend in Mpumalanga – allegedly by a rival political party agent. The party’s vice president, Fatima Abdool, expressed deep concern and called for a peaceful democratic discourse, stating such acts of violence contradict the very essence of democracy that the nation has fought for. Abdool urges South Africans to participate in the upcoming elections to bring about a transformative change and address the troubling trend of political violence.

# The United Nations Human Rights Palestine has condemned reports that the Israeli Defence Forces are destroying all buildings within the Gaza Strip. In the latest incident, at least 14 people were killed, including five children, after Israel targeted several residential buildings in Rafah. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says destructions carried out to create a buffer zone for general security purposes is not consistent with the narrow military operations set out in international humanitarian law:

# Motorsport: The British Grand Prix at Silverstone will remain on the Formula One calendar until 2034. The new ten-year agreement will see the Northamptonshire circuit race into its ninth decade, having hosted the first-ever F1 Grand Prix in 1950. Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, holds a record eight British Grand Prix victories. F1 president, Stefano Domenicali, says Silverstone is an iconic venue that continues to attract fans from around the world for fantastic racing on track and an amazing fan experience off it.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-95-cents and the euro at 20-rand-42-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 45-thousand-675-dollars-66-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-34-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….