News 09:00

BULLETIN 9 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says the South African Medical Association has yet again confirmed National Health Insurance is unaffordable
# The MK Party criticises the retrenchments at the South African Post Office
# And more rainfall and possible flooding is expected in George today

# The DA says the South African Medical Association must be commended for speaking truth to power on the National Health Insurance. The association recently told Health minister, Joe Phaahla, that the South African health system was not ready for NHI. The DA’s, Michele Clarke, says the association once again highlighted the fact that NHI fails to address various challenges such as the shortage of staff in the public health system:

# The uMkhonto we Sizwe party says the retrenchment of four-thousand-700 South African Post Office staff is not only cold-hearted but also recklessly timed. The job cuts are less than the six-thousand initially planned after consultation with unions at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration. The Post Office will be left with six-thousand-383 staff, down from eleven-thousand-and-83. The MK party says these retrenchments are indicative of a broader pattern of systemic disinvestment and dismantling of state-owned enterprises under the guise of the ANC government.

# The George Municipality in the Western Cape says disaster management services are on standby to attend to any emergencies. This as more heavy rainfall with possible flash flooding is expected in the municipality today. Courtnay and Hope Streets in the George Central Business District are currently flooded. The municipality’s spokesperson, Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, says motorists are warned to drive with caution:

# The British government, in collaboration with South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, will partially fund Africa’s largest battery energy storage project in the Northern Cape. The 153-megawatt project, valued at 5.7-billion-rand, will be developed by UK company Globeleq. It aims to store excess energy from renewable sources like solar and wind, aiding South Africa’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and enhance power supply stability. British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson highlights the UK’s commitment to supporting South Africa’s energy goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

# Cricket: Defending champions the Chennai Super Kings have returned to winning ways, beating the Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in their Indian Premier League clash at the Chepauk. Tushar Deshpande and Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each as Kolkata was restricted to 137 for nine in their 20 overs. In reply, an unbeaten 67-off-58 balls from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad guided CSK to their third victory in five games. Gaikwad says adapting to the conditions is important:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-62-cents and the euro at 20-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-330-dollars-23-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-344-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-57-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….