News 07:00

BULLETIN 15 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African Medical Association is concerned that doctors may simply pack up and leave the country
# Poultry producers say the investigation into anti-competitive practices should have happened a long time ago
# And, rugby:  Manu Tuilagi has been included in the England squad for the Six Nations against Scotland

# The South African Medical Association has voiced concern that doctors were still paid salaries equivalent to those of 2015. Chairperson Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa has warned the Health Department that it will lose good doctors because they are underpaid. He said South African doctors were highly trained and sought after by other countries. Mzukwa was speaking ahead of the association’s three-day conference that starts in Sandton, Johannesburg today. The conference will focus on healthcare issues such as unemployed doctors, decriminalising healthcare, and the National Health Insurance Bill.

# An economist believes Transnet’s operational breakdown, exacerbated by mismanagement and Covid-19, persists, hindering South Africa’s export potential. Waldo Krugell highlights port backlogs and congestion, diverting cargo to alternative ports and costing invaluable commerce opportunities. Despite slight improvements, Cape Town’s port remains congested, impacting fruit exports. Durban, handling 60-percent of containers, saw trade declines, leading the International Monetary Fund to revise growth forecasts downward. Krugell stresses the government’s reluctance to address management issues.

# The Council on Higher Education has restated its call for employers to verify the qualifications of their employees periodically. The council’s CEO, Whitfield Green, has highlighted an increase in cases involving fake certificates, fraudulent activities, and misrepresentation of qualifications. He emphasises these fake certificates are issued by scammers or fraudsters who are not Quality Assurance Council Umalusi employees. Green also warns the public against purchasing fake certificates:

# The African Poultry Producers has expressed support for the Competition Commission’s investigation into the poultry industry. The commission launched the probe to address allegations of anti-competitive practices. The inquiry wants to promote a more inclusive and dynamic sector, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and historically disadvantaged groups. CEO Kobedi Pilane believes the investigation is long overdue:

# Ukrainian armed forces claim a big Russian amphibious ship, the Caesar Kunikov, has been sunk off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukraine’s intelligence directorate released a video of what it said were Magura V5 sea drones striking the ship. Ukraine has repeatedly hit Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Crimea. Satellite images last year showed much of the fleet had left the peninsula for the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. There was no confirmation from Russia’s navy that the ship had been sunk and the Kremlin has refused to comment on the incident.

# Rugby: Centre Manu Tuilagi has been included in England’s initial 36-man squad preparing to face Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on 24 February. The 32-year-old Tuilagi has recovered from a groin injury and is expected to compete with Fraser Dingwall for the inside centre position. Dingwall made his Test debut in the opening win over Italy before retaining his place and scoring his first England try in the victory over Wales. England have won both of their opening Six Nations matches for the first time in five years.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-6-cents and the euro at 20-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 52-thousand-246-dollars-69-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-993-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….