News 14:00

BULLETIN 26 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Health ministry criticises the media for misinterpreation over the National Health Act ruling
# Freedom Under Law challenges Hlophe’s appointment to the Judicial Service Commission
# And, Olympic Games: French security forces hunt people behind last night’s rail sabotage

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi will appeal a ruling by the High Court in Pretoria that declared Sections 36 to 40 of the National Health Act unconstitutional. He criticised misleading media reports suggesting the judgment impacts the National Health Insurance. The ministry intends to challenge the court’s focus on economic property rights over healthcare rights. Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale clarified that the court ruling does not affect the NHI: 

# Freedom Under Law is challenging the National Assembly’s appointment of John Hlophe to the Judicial Service Commission in the Western Cape High Court. It argues the decision is improper, unreasonable, and irrational. Concerns were raised about Hlophe, removed from judicial office for gross misconduct, serving on the JSC, which selects judges. Executive official Judith February says the litigation aims to protect judicial independence and the impartiality of the JSC:

# The EFF says the appointment of Mandisa Maya as Chief Justice will get rid of the political interference that has characterised the office since the appointment of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. She will take over from Zondo on the first of September, making her the first woman to fill the position. The EFF says Zondo has blatantly defined himself as a politician and will leave the highest office of the judiciary having brought it into disrepute. It adds that it will support Maya as she is a beacon of justice.

# Olympic Games: French security forces are hunting people behind tonight’s arson attacks that hobbled the country’s high-speed rail network hours before the opening ceremony. Prime minister Gabriel Attal says French intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilised to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts. He calls the attacks prepared and coordinated acts of sabotage against the rail operator’s installations with huge and serious consequences for the rail network.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal returned to training at Roland Garros today after an injury scare had put his participation in the tennis competition in doubt. The 14-time French Open champion practised with Carlos Alcaraz, with whom he is scheduled to compete for Spain in the first round of the men’s doubles tomorrow. The 38-year-old Nadal wore a bandage on his right leg after suffering a thigh injury on Wednesday and skipped training yesterday. His coach, Carlos Moya, says Nadal was fighting to be fit in time.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-26-cents and the euro at 19-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-48-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-277-dollars-6-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-373-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-98-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….