News 07:00
BULLETIN 20 November 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The Electricity minister says the government is planning to extend the life of Koeberg
# Government calls for a slash in the price of the anti-HIV jab
# And, one of Napoleon’s signature hats sells for over R38 million at an auction
# Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the government is moving quickly in policy issues and giving certainty to what will constitute South Africa’s energy mix, transmission intervention, and additional generation capacity. He gave an update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan yesterday. The minister said he was encouraged by the successful synchronisation of unit one at Koeberg nuclear power station in Cape Town. Ramokgopa says once unit one is considered stable, unit two will be taken offline to have its steam generators replaced:
# The National Health Department criticises drug company ViiV Healthcare for pricing their anti-HIV jab at three times what the department can afford. ViiV sells the two-monthly anti-HIV jab for a range between 540 and 570 rand per shot, claiming it eliminates the risk of contracting HIV through sex. Khadija Jamaloodien, the department’s chief director of procurement, urges for a cost-effective approach, advocating for the jab to be priced reasonably, comparable to the daily oral pill at 129-rand for a two-month supply.
# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the government concedes that there have been some failures with regard to service delivery and provision of clean drinking water to some communities. He led the ANC’s voter registration drive on day two of the voter registration weekend in the Greater Tshwane Region yesterday. Ramaphosa promised the Hammanskraal community that processes are underway to address the water challenges in the area. He added that the people of Hammanskraal will have clean water and better service delivery in the near future.
# The DA says Gauteng municipalities spent 3.3-billion-rand on hiring chemical toilets over the last five financial years, instead of providing residents with dignified housing with proper toilets. According to MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mzi Khumalo, Ekurhuleni spent the most money on chemical toilets followed by the City of Johannesburg and Mogale City. The DA’s, Dorianne Arendse, says this money could have been used to improve the living conditions of residents of informal settlements:
# Golf: Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard carded a 64 in a dramatic final round to win the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai by two strokes. The 22-year-old finished 21-under-par overall, two strokes ahead of Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Englishmen Matt Wallace and Tommy Fleetwood, who finished 19-under. Defending champion Spain’s Jon Rahm shared fifth after a final-round 66 and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy signed off his season in tied-22nd after a two-under 70. Hojgaard says winning this title is special:
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-28-cents and the euro at 19-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-300-dollars-29-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-982-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-14-cents a barrel.
# And finally, a black hat worn by Napoleon Bonaparte when he ruled the French empire in the 19th Century has been sold for 38.63-million-rand at auction in Paris. Osenat auction house says the hat is one of 20 remaining out of 120 the French military commander is believed to have owned in his lifetime. The person who bought the hat wanted to remain anonymous. This all comes as Ridley Scott’s Napoleon biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix is set to be released this month.
Stay tuned for more news………….