News 08:00

BULLETIN 4 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship leaves three people dead
# Parliament is concerned about the failures at the National Health Laboratory Services
# And tennis: Sinner wins the Madrid Open, securing a 5th straight Masters title

# Three people, including a couple from the Netherlands, have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was travelling between Argentina and Cape Verde. A British man, who became ill on the ship, was taken to a private health facility in Johannesburg. The World Health Organisation says one hantavirus case has been confirmed in a laboratory, with five more suspected cases under investigation. Hantavirus is spread by contact with the urine or faeces of infected rodents, such as rats and mice.

# National Coloured Congress leader, Fadiel Adams, says he believes he is being targeted for speaking out against KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and members of the Political Killings Task Team. This follows Saturday’s raid at his former residence in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town. Mkhwanazi testified before the Madlanga Commission, where he accused Adams of improperly handling confidential Crime Intelligence information. Adams says he is innocent and does not know why there is a warrant of arrest against him:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Health says it is troubling that the National Health Laboratory Services does not adhere to the World Health Organisation laboratory framework. It says this raises serious questions about the quality, reliability, and governance of diagnostic services in the public health system. The committee has expressed grave concern about the prolonged turnaround times for laboratory results, particularly in pathology services. It adds that it is also concerned about ongoing operational failures, including weaknesses in procurement, infrastructure, and information systems. 

# Prominent figures within the MK Party are reportedly backing former DA mayor of Midvaal, Bongani Baloyi, to be the party’s mayoral candidate in Johannesburg. He was elected to the Midvaal mayoral seat in 2013. According to the Sunday Times, sources within the MK Party believe Baloyi’s experience and success as mayor make him the best candidate to clinch the metro for the party. Baloyi could go up against the DA’s Helen Zille and ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba, while the ANC and EFF have not announced their candidates yet.

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner won the Madrid Open title, becoming the first man to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles. The Italian defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev, 6-1, 6-2. He has now won 28 consecutive matches at this level, a streak that includes titles in Paris last year and Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo this year. If the 24-year-old wins the Italian Open this week, he would complete the career Golden Masters. Sinner says there is a lot of work behind his success:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-59-cents and the euro at 19-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-53-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-259-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-609-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….