News 11:00

BULLETIN 9 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Competition Commission’s rand manipulation case is dealt a massive blow
# The IFP is calling on the Health minister to urgently address the doctor unemployment crisis
# And, the US secretary of State is set to meet Israeli leaders today

# The Competition Commission’s rand-rigging case has been dealt a massive blow, as the Competition Appeals Court has dismissed the inclusion of 23 of the 28 commercial banks implicated in the probe. The commission had claimed that the banks and financial institutions were involved in a single overall conspiracy to manipulate the rand-dollar exchange rates between 2007 and 2013. The court found that the commission relied on vague evidence and insufficient facts to support its case. Only five commercial banks, namely Investec, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, BNP Paribas, and Credit Suisse, now face possible prosecution.

# The IFP says the doctor unemployment crisis is no ordinary crisis but a reality of the already deteriorating healthcare system in South Africa. This comes as the South African Medical Association Trade Union claims more than 800 qualified doctors are unemployed due to budget constraints in the Health Department. The IFP’s national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, says they are calling on Health minister Joe Phaahla to consider this crisis as a matter of urgency:

# The DA in Johannesburg says following the horrific turbulence within the council last year, residents are still yearning for decisive leadership in the city. Last year, Johannesburg endured three mayors, two speakers, and two disasters amongst other issues. The DA’s Neuren Pietersen says this year, the council needs to prioritise policies which propel service delivery, foster confidence and encourage investment:

# US secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Tel Aviv today to hold meetings with Israeli leaders, his fourth visit to the Middle East in three months. According to the Guardian, Blinken will try to convince the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to begin serious negotiations on post-war governance in Gaza, to do more to protect civilians in Gaza, and to allow more aid into the territory. Netanyahu has rejected the US’ preferred option of the creation of a unified Palestinian state comprising of the West Bank and Gaza.

# Rugby: England’s Jamie George says Owen Farrell’s service to English rugby has given him the right to leave Saracens on his own terms. French club Racing 92 is reportedly in talks to sign the England captain, but no agreement has been reached yet. Farrell’s contract with Saracens expires at the end of the 2023/24 Premiership campaign. George says if Farrell does leave Saracens it will be a big loss because of the player and character he is. If Farrell joins Racing 92, he will be ineligible for selection for the national team.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-60-cents and the euro at 20-rand-38-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 46-thousand-802-dollars-39-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-34-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….