News 09:00

BULLETIN 29 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu welcomes the Special Investigation Unit probing Transnet
# The Health Department will publish its first NHI regulations soon
# And tennis: Djokovic and Gauff are through to the third round of the US Open

# The Department of Health says preparatory work for the National Health Insurance is now funded with a budget allocation earmarked for its NHI unit. The department is expected to release its first set of draft regulations for the NHI Act for public comment within the next month. The department’s Nicholas Crisp says they are working with the nine provincial health departments to test new contracting arrangements for primary healthcare. He adds that it is vital to embrace the opportunity to address the gross inequity that exists in the country’s health service.

# Cosatu has welcomed the proclamation issued by president Cyril Ramaphosa authorising the Special Investigating Unit to probe allegations of serious maladministration at Transnet. The investigation will focus on leases that were potentially facilitated through unlawful or improper conduct by Transnet employees, officials, agents, or any other involved parties. Cosatu’s, Zanele Sabela, says they do not doubt that the probe will uncover maladministration that has contributed to Transnet’s failures:

# The GOOD Party in Drakenstein has submitted a formal request to the speaker of the council, Koos Le Roux, for an investigation into mayor Stephen Korabie. The request stems from the probe sanctioned by the mayor’s office into allegations of gross misconduct, including racism and sexual harassment, by the city manager, Johan Leibbrandt. GOOD’s, Keagen Gertse, says the mayor did not have the power to investigate this matter:

# British prime minister Keir Starmer and German chancellor Olaf Scholz have discussed a new treaty that will address a wide range of issues including defence, trade, energy, and illegal migration. Germany is the UK’s second-largest trading partner. Starmer says the new UK-Germany treaty is a once-in-a-generation chance to deliver for working people. He adds that his government wants a reset with the European Union:

# Tennis: Defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia is into the third round of the US Open after his countryman Laslo Djere retired early in the third set. Djokovic was leading, 6-4, 6-4, 2-0, when Djere retired injured. American Taylor Fritz dispatched Italian Matteo Berrettini in straight sets while Norwegian Casper Ruud saw off France’s Gael Monfils. In the women’s draw, defending champion Coco Gauff of the US beat Germany’s Tatjana Maria, 6-4, 6-0, while Wimbledon champion Czech’s Barbora Krejcikova fell to qualifier Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 6-4, 7-5.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-79-cents and the euro at 19-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-100-dollars-23-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-516-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….