News 13:00

BULLETIN 12 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Health minister instructs the ombud to investigate the Helen Joseph Hospital after a video complaint
# Ramaphosa will address the United Nations’ General Assembly later this month
# And, rugby: Phillip Snyman is officially appointed as the Blitzboks’ head coach

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi has tasked the Health Ombud to investigate the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg after former broadcaster Tom London posted a video about poor patient treatment. He reported disrespectful staff, indifferent doctors, and patients being placed near a deceased patient. Motsoaledi labeled the treatment unacceptable. Meanwhile, Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed that 41 complaints about the hospital last year were mainly related to long waiting times and staff attitudes.

# National police commissioner Fannie Masemola says they won’t hesitate to act against members involved in extortion-related crimes. Earlier this week, eight people, including seven off-duty police offiials, were arrested in Durban for allegedly attempting to extort 100-thousand-rand from a businessman. Briefing the media today, Masemola says they are committed to dealing with the rotten elements within the Police Force:

# Minister of Communications and Digital Technology, Solly Malatsi, promised community radio stations to discuss a new regulatory framework with the Independent Communications Authority. This follows complaints from stations saying Icasa’s overly strong regulations led to scores of stations losing their broadcast licences, or failing to register for new licences. Several stations met with Malatsi where they told him the current framework and Icasa’s enforcement thereof boils down to an attack on freedom of speech, and is unconstitutional.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s delegation at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York from the 24th to the 30th of this month. The session, presided over by former Cameroonian prime minister Philemon Yang, will focus on unity in diversity. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says Ramaphosa will address the summit, focusing on multilateralism, economic diplomacy, and investment to tackle South Africa’s unemployment, poverty, and inequality:

# Rugby: SA Rugby has officially appointed former Springbok Sevens captain Phillip Snyman as head coach of the Blitzboks until the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. He took charge of the team on an interim basis for the last six months. Under his guidance, the Blitzboks won the bronze medal at the Games in Paris. SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer says the way Snyman turned around the fortunes of the Blitzboks in a short time speaks volumes about his abilities as a coach.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-97-cents and the euro at 19-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-45-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-197-dollars-1-cent. Gold sells at two-thousand-518-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….