News 12:00

BULLETIN 28 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The FF Plus requests the Gauteng Health MEC to urgently settle a dispute with Telkom
# Tax Justice SA welcomes SARS issuing Sasfin Bank with a multi-billion-rand damages claim
# And Rugby: Steve Borthwick hopes to have Marcus Smith back for the rest of the Six Nations 

# The Freedom Front Plus in Gauteng is calling on Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to urgently settle the dispute with Telkom. The telecommunications provider disconnected phone lines, affecting 83 clinics and 32 hospitals, due to outstanding payments by the provincial Health Department. The department has activated alternative numbers for the health facilities. The FF Plus’, Amanda de Lange, says an amicable solution must be found so the phone lines can be restored:

# Tax Justice South Africa applauds the South African Revenue Service for issuing Sasfin Bank with a summons for more than 4.87-billion-rand in damages. The damages claim relates to the expatriation of money going back to 2014, in which a criminal syndicate colluded with former employees of the bank, to allegedly launder money and bypass foreign exchange laws. Tax Justice SA founder, Yusuf Abramjee, says those involved in this mass-scale looting must be held accountable:

# The Council on Higher Education has criticised the excessive salaries for South African university executives, with many vice-chancellors reportedly earning over four-million-rand per year in 2019. The University of Johannesburg’s vice-chancellor topped the list at seven-million-rand. Concerns arose over lack of transparency in bonus decisions. Universities like Limpopo and Pretoria could not account for vice chancellor salaries. Weak governance and accounting practices are blamed, risking institutional autonomy. The council urges better regulation.

# Rugby: England coach Steve Borthwick is keeping his fingers crossed that Marcus Smith will be fit on time to play in the Six Nations clash with Ireland. The young flyhalf sustained a calf injury that kept him out of all three his country’s matches so far, with England scraping through against Italy, beating Wales by two points and losing to Scotland. The competition resumes next weekend with Italy hosting Scotland in Rome, England welcoming Ireland to Twickenham, and Wales playing France in Cardiff.

# And finally: Freddie Mercury’s mansion in the west of London is in the market for almost 727-million-rand. The lead singer of Queen bought the house in a quiet enclave in Kensington in 1980, describing it as his country house in central London. It has features such as a double-height dining room, mirrored dressing room, bar, library and Japanese-style garden with water features. Sky News reports the house was built in the Neo-Georgian style in 1907. Mercury’s best friend, Mary Austin, lived there since he left it to her when he died in 1991.

Stay tuned for more news………….