News 15:00

BULLETIN 26 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa praises the work done through the renewable energy programme
# The ANC is steadfast in its support for the National Health Insurance
# And, tennis: The US Open singles champions will take home 64-million-rand each

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the work done through government’s renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme. He deemed it as successful, having attracted over 209-billion-rand in investment and added much-needed capacity to the electricity grid. During his keynote address at the Municipal Just Energy Transition Conference, Ramaphosa highlighted that generation projects have resulted in a pipeline of over 130 confirmed projects:

Meanwhile, the International Finance Corporation is ready to support South Africa in expanding its electricity grid through private sector participation. According to IFC Africa vice president Sérgio Pimenta, the World Bank Group agency has been advising the government on models for independent transmission projects to address grid backlogs. South Africa needs to invest in grid expansion, and the IFC plans to provide direct funding and mobilise private investment. Pimenta stresses the importance of a collaborative approach between public and private sectors to achieve these goals.

# The ANC says it reaffirms its unwavering support for the National Health Insurance Act as it was a resolution of the party’s 55th conference to achieving universal health coverage for all South Africans. The ANC’s Aaron Motsoaledi says the party believes the NHI is a transformative step towards rectifying the inequalities in South Africa’s healthcare system, and the party is determined to see its successful implementation:

# Malawi has started Mpox screenings at entry points, including airports, to prevent an outbreak. Two suspected cases, a 31-year-old man in hospital and a 17-year-old boy receiving home care, are awaiting test results. Health Ministry spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe says they have launched awareness campaigns and set up a mobile diagnostic unit in Lilongwe to strengthen response efforts. He says the country is planning for a worst-case scenario:

# Tennis: The US Open, which starts in New York today, has the highest individual prize money of all four Grand Slam tournaments this year. The singles winners will take home over 64-million-rand each out of the total prize money of 1.3-billion-rand. The two runners-up will be comforted with cheques of 32-million-rand each. The two defending champions are world number two, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, gunning for his 25th Grand Slam title, and local woman Coco Gauff, who is seeded third this year.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 19-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-40-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-909-dollars-73-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-524-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….