News 09:00

BULLETIN 15 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The FF Plus blames the ANC for delays in HIV/AIDS treatment
# Paul Mashatile visits Nampo Harvest Day today
# And rugby: Former Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks has died

# The Freedom Front Plus says the government has failed to take timely action and implement alternative plans to ensure that HIV/AIDS programmes and treatment do not collapse. Health activists, led by the founder of the Treatment Action Campaign, Zackie Achmat, disrupted a Parliamentary sitting of the portfolio committee on Health yesterday. The FF Plus’ Philip van Staden says according to the activists, the Department of Health did not sufficiently address the problems surrounding AIDS treatment, which arose due to the withdrawal of US funding:

# Deputy President Paul Mashatile will engage with the agricultural sector at the Nampo Harvest Day in the Free State today. The event, which attracts over 80-thousand visitors annually, is being held under the theme Global Agriculture, Local, highlighting the adaptation of global agricultural innovations to South African conditions. The Presidency says Mashatile’s attendance underscores the significance that government places on agriculture as the biggest contributor to job creation, food security, and economic growth in the country.

# The MK Party condemns the Tembisa Hospital fire in Ekurhuleni, calling it a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence in the 2.3-billion-rand corruption scandal, first exposed by whistleblower Babita Deokaran. The party says the fire targeted key records just as the Special Investigating Unit was closing in on a corrupt network within the health sector. MK Party’s Nhlamulo Ndhlela calls for the immediate suspension and prosecution of implicated officials:

# The Qatari government has dismissed controversy surrounding US president Donald Trump’s plan to accept its gift of a luxury jumbo jet, to be used as America’s Air Force One presidential plane. The US Constitution has a provision known as the Emoluments Clause, which restricts what gifts presidents can accept from foreign governments. Qatar Foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, told Sky News that this is a very clear exchange that’s happening between two governments:

# Rugby: Former Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks has passed away at the age of 37. He reportedly suffered a heart attack on Wednesday evening. Hendricks played 12 Tests for the Boks, scoring five tries, between 2014 and 2015. Domestically, he represented Boland, the Cheetahs, and the Bulls. His Test career was cut short after he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition in 2016. Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has paid tribute to Hendricks, saying he made his mark in the sport by inspiring many.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-24-cents and the euro at 20-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-856-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-147-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….