News 08:00

BULLETIN 6 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Business Leadership South Africa is calling for a clear commitment in the State of the Nation address, for the implementation of reform
# Nehawu asks for the prompt signing of the National Health Insurance Bill
# And soccer, Bafana is ready for their first Afcon semifinal in 24 years

# Business Leadership South Africa is urging president Cyril Ramaphosa to show a clear commitment to the hard work of reform implementation during his State of the Nation Address on Thursday. CEO Busisiwe Mavuso says the president needs to focus on the electricity crisis that remains a significant constraint, and the logistics system, which has rapidly become a disaster for the economy. She says in an election year, there is always political pressure for populism, and the National Health Insurance scheme is one example of populism over practicality, as it is never going to work.

# Health union Nehawu has urged president Cyril Ramaphosa to promptly sign the National Health Insurance Bill into law, following its passage by the National Council of Provinces. The union emphasises the extensive debate and public participation processes, stressing the urgency of fulfilling the mandate endorsed by South Africans. Spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi says further delays would undermine promises made in the president’s January 8th statement and deprive millions of equitable healthcare access:

# Traditional prime minister to the Zulu nation, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, says traditional leaders want to play a more significant and hands-on role in the governance of the Ingonyama Trust. The Trust is responsible for 2.8-million hectares of land in the former homeland of KwaZulu-Natal, with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the sole trustee. This represents about 30-percent of the province’s land. Buthelezi says the king will do everything in his power to protect, preserve, and develop the land for the benefit of the Zulu nation:

# The office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex says Prince Harry has spoken to his father King Charles and will be travelling to the UK to see him in the next few days. This comes after Buckingham Palace revealed yesterday that the King has been diagnosed with cancer. The Palace says King Charles called both Harry and the Prince of Wales as well as his siblings to share news of his health. Relations between the King and Harry have been strained for some time, made worse by the release of his book Spare.

# Soccer: The Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast is reaching the penultimate round tomorrow, and South Africa is preparing to play for a place in the final for the first time in 24 years when they take on Nigeria. The hosts and DR Congo will contest the other match.  Bafana Bafana have impressed with their fighting spirit, with captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams stopping four penalties in their shoot-out victory over Cape Verde in the quarterfinal. Coach Hugo Broos believes they can go all the way:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-3-cents and the euro at 20-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-815-dollars-78-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-24-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….