News 14:00

BULLETIN 15 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA says the ANC’s disastrous policies and corruption are strangling the economy
# CAPRISA supports the constitutional challenge of the NHI bill 
# And cricket: Jimmy Anderson was convinced to hang up his boots 

# ActionSA says it is deeply concerned about the country’s unemployment crisis, which is getting worse. According to Statistics South Africa, the country’s unemployment rate rose to 32.9-percent in the first quarter of this year. ActionSA’s Pieter Scribante says the ANC’s disastrous policies, unending load-shedding, and corruption, have strangled the economy, preventing it from growing and creating new jobs:

# The AIDS research centre, CAPRISA, has backed the possible constitutional challenge of the National Health Insurance Bill. Director Salim Abdool Karim acknowledges the bill’s commitment to universal healthcare, but notes it will take years to overcome fundamental healthcare system challenges. He expresses concerns over poor management, high unemployment, and insufficient tax revenue. Karim emphasises while the NHI aims to provide equal access to healthcare services, corruption and South Africa’s weak economy poses significant obstacles to its success.

# The South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Gauteng has alerted residents and motorists in Mnandi, Centurion, about reports of a large kudu cow on the loose. The centre’s Leanne Hezlett has urged people to report sightings of the wild animal to authorities. Yesterday they darted a young male kudu that was on the loose, but unfortunately the animal died. Hezlett has also warned against attempting to capture the distressed and aggressive animal:

# Cricket: England’s all-time leading wicket-taker Jimmy Anderson’s decision to retire wasn’t entirely his own. The 41-year-old announced this week July’s first Test against the Windies at Lord’s would be his swansong. He represented England in 187 Tests, claiming 700 wickets. England’s managing director, Rob Key, revealed he, head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes had a 90-minute meeting with Anderson last month where they convinced him it was time to move on. Anderson recently said he was in the best shape of his life.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-648-dollars-76-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-369-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The documentary South Africa Celebrates 30 Years of Freedom made its world premiere at the opening ceremony of the 77th Cannes International Film Festival in France. Produced by Moments Entertainment and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, the documentary features legendary author, director and playwright, John Kani, and singer-songwriter and humanitarian, Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Filmmaker, Firdoze Bulbulia, told News24 the documentary presents never-before-seen footage that tells the story of building a new South Africa.

Stay tuned for more news………….