News 12:00

BULLETIN 5 December 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Civil society welcomes a ruling protecting patients at Johannesburg clinics
# Cricket: The Proteas Women are energised for the T20 series against Ireland
# And the Rand breaks through the 17-rand level against the US dollar

# Civil society welcomed the High Court in Johannesburg’s ruling protecting patients at the city’s clinics. The court has ordered the state to ensure safe and unhindered access to public healthcare following a case brought by organisations, including Treatment Action Campaign and Doctors Without Borders. Since September, vigilante groups obstructed clinics, particularly in Yeoville and Rosettenville. Authorities are now required to remove unauthorised persons and deploy adequate security. The ruling affirms the constitutional right to healthcare for all and mandates immediate state action.

# Cape Town’s city council has approved a new rail business plan and its long-term Vision 2050. The city will work with the national government to take over the rail, making it the main public transport. The plan aims for 75-percent of trips by public transport, with new routes, upgraded stations, and affordable housing near rail hubs. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says Vision 2050 also focuses on safer streets, clean energy, water security, environmental protection, and growing the city’s economy.

# The Department of Home Affairs is extending office hours ahead of the festive season to help South Africans get essential documents. From Monday to 19 December and again from 5 to 16 January, offices will close at 6 pm instead of 4 pm for smart identity cards and passport applications and collections. Minister Leon Schreiber has urged citizens to take advantage of the extended hours to ensure travel documents are ready for the holidays:

# Cricket: The Proteas Women’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, says the team is ready and energised to face Ireland in the three-match T20 series, starting in Cape Town this afternoon. This is South Africa’s first assignment since losing to India in the final of the one-day World Cup last month. The series is part of preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales. Wolvaardt is expecting a tough series:

# And financial news: The rand strengthened to below the 17-rand resistance level against the dollar yesterday for the first time in over two years. The currency’s rally is driven by a combination of a weaker US dollar and positive local developments. Investor confidence was boosted by Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s commitment to a lower inflation target and an improving fiscal outlook. Don Consultancy Group’s chief economist, Chifipa Mhango, says the gains reflect domestic policy momentum as well as gentler global dollar pressures. Rand strength immediately lowers import costs and eases dollar-denominated debt.

The dollar now trades at 16-rand-92-cents and the euro at 19-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-71-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-224-dollars-72-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….