News 11:00

BULLETIN 14 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa is set to answer questions in the National Council of Provinces today
# The UN says lifesaving relief supplies are now flowing at scale into Gaza
# And soccer: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is ready for the must-win match against Rwanda 

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to answer questions in the National Council of Provinces this afternoon, focusing on service delivery and industrial revival, amongst other critical issues. The Presidency says he will address the issue of criminality and corruption, and also outline government’s plans to revive the rail sector that will contribute to job creation and economic growth. It adds Ramaphosa will also elaborate on the status of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

# Solidarity has rejected government’s intention to use tax credits from medical aid members to fund the National Health Insurance. The Department of Health is in talks with the National Treasury over changes to the medical aid tax credit regime in a bid to raise an additional 34-billion-rand for the NHI. The department’s other noted funding mechanisms are redirecting budgets and additional taxes. Solidarity’s Theuns du Buisson says these measures would deprive medical aid members of money that rightfully belongs to them:

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has placed the head of the provincial Department of Health and Wellness, Lesiba Malotana, on suspension with immediate effect. Last year, the DA called for the removal of Malotana following a Special Investigating Unit probe related to two contracts, in which he allegedly shared more than ten-million-rand in bribes with two other officials. The provincial government’s spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, says Darion Barclay has been appointed as the acting head of the department:

Moving abroad:

# The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says lifesaving relief supplies are now flowing at scale into Gaza. This follows the implementation of the first phase of the peace plan, which saw the release of the last 20 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza yesterday. One-thousand-718 Palestinian detainees held in Israel were returned to Gaza. The office says it has secured Israeli approval for 190-thousand tonnes of food, shelter items, medicine and other supplies to enter the Gaza Strip, which is 20-thousand tonnes more than previously agreed.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says his players are mentally ready for their must-win final World Cup Group C qualifier against Rwanda in Mpumalanga tonight. South Africa played to a goalless draw against Zimbabwe last Friday, and now needs to beat Rwanda and hope that Nigeria defeats Benin to qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup. Broos says he is confident in his players that they will win the game:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-45-cents and the euro at 20-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-17-cents and Bitcoin trades at 112-thousand-51-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-106-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….