News 15:00

BULLETIN 20 June 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa warns many citizens still face inequality and poor service delivery despite constitutional promises
# The DA says the Health Department admits the vacancy rates are unmanageable
# And a one-of-a-kind AI artwork created by Lionel Messi is up for auction

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the promises of the Constitution have not been fully realised, as many South Africans continue to face poverty, inequality, and poor service delivery. Speaking at the Constitutional Court’s 30th anniversary in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, he said it is unacceptable that people must still go to court to claim their basic rights. Ramaphosa called on government to do more to meet its constitutional obligations and improve the lives of all citizens:

# The DA says Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that the vacancy rates for doctors, nurses, and radiographers were 9.4-, 14.2-, and 15.7-percent, respectively, in April. The party says furthermore, the Health Department admitted in a meeting with Parliament’s standing committee on Appropriations yesterday that the vacancy rates are unmanageable. The DA’s Michele Clarke says in March, the minister confirmed 27-thousand-523 vacancies across all nine provinces, of which two-thousand-147 were doctors and 16-thousand-870 were nurses:

# Nine of the Western Cape’s twelve fishing harbours have received upgraded, high-visibility signage as part of a revitalisation effort led by Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister Dion George. The initiative, part of the “Fishing for Freedom” tour, aims to restore dignity and boost local economies by enhancing harbour identity and functionality. Harbours like Kalk Bay, Hout Bay, and Saldanha Bay now feature the new signage, with installations for the remaining harbours, such as Hermanus and Gansbaai, expected to follow soon.

# Rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth says he is fully fit and eager to play. The 33-year-old missed three months of the United Rugby Championship due to a concussion sustained in December, and then strained his hamstring during a Springbok alignment camp in March. A training injury also ruled him out of the Sharks’ URC semifinal against the Bulls. Etzebeth says, despite the injuries, his motivation is being able to put on the Bok jersey one more time:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-6-cents and the euro at 20-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-37-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-877-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-352-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

# And finally: One of the world’s best soccer players, Lionel Messi, has collaborated with Turkish artist Refik Anadol to create an artificial intelligence-driven artwork titled A Goal in Life. It’s a one-of-a-kind digital artwork of the Argentinian’s most meaningful goals of his 20-year career, including the iconic 2009 Champions League final header. The artwork is being auctioned by Christie’s in New York with online bidding closing this weekend. Proceeds from the sale will benefit multiple nonprofits, including Inter Miami CF Foundation’s global partnership with UNICEF.

Stay tuned for more news………….