News 08:00

BULLETIN 18 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa requests BUSA to present NHI proposals
# Retrenchments at Seriti Resources could affect over one-thousand-200  jobs
# And rugby: A 26-man Stormers squad will face the Pumas

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has requested Business Unity of South Africa to put forward specific proposals on the remaining issues of concern related to the National Health Insurance Act, as a basis for further engagement. The president met with the leadership of BUSA yesterday. The organisation believes that the NHI is unaffordable, unimplementable, and unconstitutional. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the government remains committed to engaging with all stakeholders in good faith on the process of healthcare reform:

# Coal miner Seriti Resources has initiated a retrenchment process that may impact one-thousand-240 jobs at its Middelburg Mine Services and Klipspruit operations in Mpumalanga. Seriti, one of Eskom’s largest suppliers, cited unsustainable operations as the reason for the move. CEO Mike Teke said the company aims to restructure for future sustainability. Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers expressed outrage, accusing Seriti of prioritising profits over workers.

# The World Bank has recommended that the Western Cape Education Department set ambitious new targets for maths and reading. Almost 62-percent of children in grade 4 in the province were functionally illiterate in 2021. The World Bank’s Education Sector Analysis report undertaken at the request of the provincial government, stated that the Western Cape has higher learning levels than any other province. Education MEC, David Maynier, says the objective of having this analysis is to improve the learning outcomes of children:

# Embattled music mogul Sean Diddy Combs has been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and interstate transportation for prostitution. He was arrested in New York on Monday, months after federal authorities raided his luxurious homes in Los Angeles and Miami. Combs was denied bail after pleading not guilty. US attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, says the indictment alleges that Combs used his vast business empire to threaten, violently assault, and coerce women to fulfil his sexual desires:

# Rugby: To conclude its pre-season preparations, a 26-man Stormers squad will face the Pumas in a training match at the Nelspruit Rugby Club in Mbombela today. The team features new signing Dave Ewers and returning lock JD Schickerling, as well as former Blitzboks star Sako Makata, who has joined from the Griquas. The Stormers will begin their United Rugby Championship campaign with a three-week tour, which will see them travel to Europe to face the Ospreys, Zebre Parma, and Edinburgh.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-58-cents and the euro at 19-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-551-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-574-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-31-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….