News 16:00

BULLETIN 8 July 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Health ombud finds no links between KwaZulu-Natal healthcare workers’ deaths and their working conditions
# The National Shelter Movement calls for ethical leadership at Social Development
# And soccer: The World Cup quarterfinals lineup is now set

# Health Ombud Taole Mokoena has found no evidence directly linking a series of deaths involving healthcare professionals in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals to workplace bullying or poor working conditions. Mokoena says the independent investigation examined six hospitals and uncovered serious systemic challenges, including staff shortages, frozen vacancies, excessive workloads, inadequate equipment, deteriorating infrastructure, and weak employee wellness programmes. He emphasised urgent intervention to protect healthcare workers and patient care:

Staying with medical matters:

The Board of Healthcare Funders will explore the development of a core service package to provide a practical starting point for defining the essential healthcare services that should be available to all South Africans within finite resources. Managing director Katlego Mothudi says South Africa already has a precedent for coordinated, free-at-point-of-service healthcare delivery, demonstrating that public and private resources can be aligned around a shared national priority when the will exists:

# The National Shelter Movement of South Africa welcomes the appointment of Dina Pule as minister of Social Development and is calling for ethical leadership, stable governance and predictable funding for shelters. Spokesperson Greer Schoeman says women and children fleeing violence cannot afford disruptions to essential services. Representing more than 100 shelters nationwide, she says stronger partnerships between government and civil society are essential to support survivors of gender-based violence:

# Migration expert Loren Landau says anti-illegal immigration protests could cost South Africa billions of rand by damaging investor confidence and the country’s international reputation. Landau told CapeTalk the impact extends beyond vandalism and disrupted businesses, affecting tourism, trade, and future investment. He warns ongoing violence linked to anti-illegal immigration could make international investors and partners reconsider doing business with South Africa.

# Soccer: Only eight teams remain in contention to win the World Cup, with the quarterfinals kicking off tomorrow. France’s quest to become only the second European nation to contest three consecutive finals will continue when they face Morocco in Boston tomorrow. 2010 champions Spain will take on Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday. England will face Norway, who reached the quarterfinals for the first time, in Miami on Saturday. Defending champions Argentina will wrap up the quarterfinals against Switzerland in Kansas on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-201-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-69-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….