News 12:00

BULLETIN 4 May 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Board of Healthcare Funders asks the Constitutional Court to protect meaningful public participation in NHI lawmaking
# Iran vows to protect the Strait of Hormuz with its full strength
# And rugby: The Junior Boks’ coach credits growth and belief for their Under-20 Rugby Championship success

# The Board of Healthcare Funders says its National Health Insurance case before the Constitutional Court is not a challenge to the principle of universal health coverage. The court has set aside the hearing from tomorrow until Thursday. BHF’s Katlego Mothudi says the case is about whether or not Parliament complied with its constitutional duty to facilitate meaningful public participation, before passing legislation that will fundamentally reshape the country’s health system:

# Forum for South Africa has urged South Africans to register so they can be able to cast their votes in the upcoming local government elections. The elections will be held on Wednesday, the fourth of November. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says every missed vote is a gift to those who have failed this country, adding that complaining without voting is not activism, but surrender:

# The South African Weather Service expects cold, wet, and windy weather conditions in large parts of the country until Thursday. This is associated with a cut-off low-pressure system expected to make landfall over the western parts from tomorrow morning. Forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela expects the system to initially affect the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape, before spreading eastward across the central and eastern interior from tomorrow afternoon:

Moving abroad:

# Iran’s military has warned it will attack US forces if they enter the Strait of Hormuz. This comes after president Donald Trump announced the US military will guide stranded ships through the oil shipping chokepoint from today. Iranian commander Ali Abdollahi says any US efforts in the strait will be considered a violation of the ceasefire. He adds Tehran will protect the security of the strait with full strength, as safe passage through it must be coordinated with its military under all circumstances.

# Rugby: Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has credited his squad’s growth and collective belief for managing to clinch the Under-20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha. South Africa thrashed Australia 57-17 to seal the title with a game to spare. Foote says while physical dominance remains a hallmark of how they play, the group has developed a more complete and connected identity. He also credited captain Riley Norton and the leadership group for setting the tone throughout the week. The Junior Boks will face New Zealand in their final match on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-62-cents and the euro at 19-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-54-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-774-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-576-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 109-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….