News 11:00

BULLETIN 12 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says it has not changed its stance on the National Health Insurance
# The Gauteng Education Department records a high number of online applications for grades 1 and 8
# And motorsport, F1 has confirmed the sprint race venues for next season

# The DA says it remains opposed to the National Health Insurance in its current form, arguing that it will destroy South Africa’s private healthcare system. The DA and the Freedom Front Plus, which are part of the government of national unity, have in the past threatened legal action to stop the implementation of the NHI. The DA’s Michéle Clarke says the NHI in its current form is unaffordable and needs to be urgently reviewed:

# Statistic South Africa says concerns raised by scientists on the country’s 2022 census are unfounded and misleading. The Medical Research Council released a report saying the census is flawed and cannot be relied on for allocating budgets. Scientists say the 2022 population estimate of 62-million was one-million people too high, and there were material discrepancies at municipal level. Stats SA says the accuracy of the numbers in the census has been validated by local and international statistics experts, under the supervision of the Statistics Council.

# The Gauteng Education Department says the online application process for the 2025 academic year for grades one and eight is open until the 12th of August. The department recorded over 229-thousand online admission applications already after opening the system yesterday. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says the high number of applications reflects the improvements made to the system, and the demand for the quality of education provided at provincial public schools:

# The latest study by the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency shows that 75-percent of Jews living in Europe feel they are being held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government. The study was compiled before the Hamas attacks in Israel in October last year, and Israel’s military response in Gaza. Eighty-percent of respondents feel that anti-Semitism has grown in their country, with 90-percent saying they have encountered anti-Semitism online. The EU says it has put in place measures against anti-Semitism, which have led to some progress.

# Motorsport: Formula One has announced that six Grand Prix sprint races will be staged next year, the same number as this year. China, Miami, Belgium, Austin, Brazil and Qatar have been selected as the events that will stage the alternative format. Sao Paulo in Brazil will keep up its run of hosting the sprint race every year since 2021, while Belgium returns for the first time since last year. F1 chairperson Stefano Domenicali says the sprint has been a great success, bringing the fans more action and racing on the track.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-97-cents and the euro at 19-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-173-dollars-20-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-400-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….