News 14:00

BULLETIN 11 June 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The driver of a school bus is among nine bodies identified in the Dikolini River floods
# The minister of Health reassures South Africans about a new Covid-19 variant
# And soccer: South Africa reaches the COSAFA Cup semi-finals after a goalless draw with Mauritius

# Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has confirmed that the driver of a school bus swept away by floods is among nine bodies recovered in the Dikolini River in Mthatha today. This brings the confirmed deaths from the tragedy to four. The bodies of a toddler and a cue marshall were also found. Five rescue teams remain on the ground as recovery efforts continue. Mabuyane describes the disaster as worse than imagined:

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi has assured South Africans that the current Covid-19 variant, circulating in several countries, is no cause for concern. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases is closely monitoring the Nimbus variant. Infections have been confirmed in several Asian countries, including Thailand, Indonesia and China. In addition, the UK recorded its first 13 cases of this variant last week. Motsoaledi has encouraged citizens to take precautionary measures, including washing hands regularly, covering coughs, and staying home when feeling unwell.

# The DA has warned that three-thousand-563 patients at Gauteng’s public hospitals are waiting for MRI scans. The machines are critical for diagnosing tumors and injuries. Charlotte Maxeke Hospital faces the longest backlog with two-thousand-347 patients waiting up to 12 months due to machine breakdowns. Only eight MRI machines serve over 12-million people, far below international standards. The DA’s Jack Bloom proposes partnerships with private hospitals to use excess capacity:

# Seventy southern white rhinos from South Africa’s Munywana Conservancy have been successfully relocated to Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. The move was part of a strategic ten-year plan to rewild rhinos to safe, suitable and well-managed protected areas of Africa. The rhinos represent around 15-percent of the world’s total population of white rhinos. The African Parks’ Rhino Rewild Initiative aims to disperse the animals to safe, well-managed protected areas across the continent, bolstering existing populations.

# Soccer: South Africa is through to the semi-finals of the COSAFA Cup after a goalless draw with Mauritius in Bloemfontein yesterday. The result sees coach Vela Khumalo’s side top Group A, following Zimbabwe’s 3-1 win over Mozambique. South Africa now awaits the Group D winners in the semis. Khumalo admitted his team missed key chances but remains hopeful. This marks South Africa’s first semi-final appearance in the tournament since 2023.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-76-cents and the euro at 20-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-260-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-333-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….