News 08:00

BULLETIN 21 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The illegal miners in Stilfontein will not receive antiretrovirals underground
# The government plans to build more dams to ensure water security
# And rugby: Ox Nché is out and Wilco Louw returns for the Wales showdown

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi has expressed concern regarding the police wanting to send antiretroviral medication to the illegal miners trapped underground in the Stilfontein mine in the North West. Police received a request for the medication from the miners. Yesterday, the first phase of the retrieval operation to bring illegal miners to the surface started. Motsoaledi says chronic medication cannot be provided without a prescription:

# The deputy minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, has assured South Africans the country will not run out of water, citing plans to build more dams. Speaking at the investment summit for the Next Generation Water-efficient Sanitation Technologies in Johannesburg, he addressed concerns about water challenges. Mahlobo said ageing infrastructure and leaking pipes were identified as key contributors to these issues:

# Travellers were left stranded at the King Phalo Airport in East London on Wednesday after their flights were cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. Airports Company South Africa says some affected flights were redirected to King Shaka International Airport in Durban and Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha. It says these weather conditions also impacted other airports within its network, including OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. King Phalo Airport says weather reports for today indicate clear visibility, with no interruptions expected.

# Republicans on the House Ethics Committee have blocked the release of a report about sexual misconduct allegations against Matt Gaetz. He is president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. The committee investigated several allegations against Gaetz, including that he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, and accepted improper gifts. He has denied all allegations. Democratic Representative on the committee, Susan Wild, says a vote saw a split along party lines:

# Rugby: Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has decided to rest prop Ox Nché for the clash against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday. This will see Wilco Louw start at tighthead prop, while Thomas du Toit moves to loosehead. Meanwhile, four players omitted from the matchday squad, Kwagga Smith, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, and Makazole Mapimpi, returned to South Africa yesterday. Erasmus says they still have enough depth in the squad to cover all the positions in case of injuries before the match.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-10-cents and the euro at 19-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-430-dollars-2-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-652-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….