Let’s wrap up some of the top stories happening in South Africa this week.
SOUTH AFRICA PASSES NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BILL – WHAT IT MEANS…
South Africa has passed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, marking a significant step toward achieving universal healthcare. This legislation aims to provide comprehensive healthcare for all citizens, addressing the previous limitations caused by financial barriers.
The NHI system will be funded through general taxation, eliminating the need for direct payments at the point of care. The bill aligns with the constitutional recognition of healthcare as a fundamental human right, ensuring that individuals are not deprived of this right based on their socio-economic status. The ultimate goal is to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and the NHI Bill aims to achieve this by creating a single public health fund with sufficient resources to meet the health needs of the entire population.
The NHI will benefit South Africans by covering individuals of all races, regardless of their financial status. It will also reduce the overall cost of the healthcare system, which is currently the most expensive in the world. People will no longer be charged fees when visiting healthcare facilities, as the NHI fund will cover their medical expenses.
EMERGENCY SERVICES ON HIGH ALERT FOLLOWING WESTERN CAPE FLOODS

Following a destructive storm that caused widespread damage in Cape Town, authorities have commenced mop-up operations while simultaneously issuing a warning about the continuation of icy and wet weather conditions.
The heavy rainfall resulted in impassable roads, disrupted train services, and crews grappling with mudslides and fallen trees.
Residents in impoverished areas faced the distressing consequences of flooded homes without alternative shelter. The SA Weather Service (Saws) emphasized that the Cape provinces should brace for persistent icy, wet, and windy conditions. Furthermore, they highlighted that Thursday’s arrival of a cold frontal system is merely the initial occurrence in a series of such systems projected to affect the region almost daily until well after the upcoming long weekend.
GAUTENG SEES AN INCREASE IN E-COMMERCE CRIMES LINKED TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND E-HAILING SERVICES
Gauteng police commissioner Elias Mawela has revealed that online scams continue to increase in the province.
Mawela released the latest provincial crime statistics to the portfolio committee on safety at the Gauteng provincial legislature this week.
He also added that Gauteng murders have gone up by 10.9% in the fourth quarter of the 2022–23 financial year, with vigilantism, arguments, and robbery being the top three leading causes.
Mawela says that with online scams, e-hailing drivers and commuters have become targets.
“The unsuspecting buyers or sellers are lured to a location where after they are hijacked/robbed by a group of suspects or in some incidents the victim will make use of the e-hailing transport whereby they will be robbed,” added Mawela.
MOZAMBIQUE TO BOOST ESKOM WITH 100 MEGAWATTS

The Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has announced that Mozambique has committed to assisting South Africa with its energy crisis.
Following a meeting with Ramokgopa’s Mozambican counterpart, Carlos Zacarias, in the next six months, South Africa will be provided with an additional 100 megawatts of capacity.
The cross-border power purchasing agreement between the two countries is one of the three emergency procurement programmes aimed at improving South Africa’s energy availability factor, which now stands at 60%.
South Africa has been undergoing constant load shedding since late last year, with stages 1 to 4 being implemented since last week.
CITY OF TSHWANE’S ESKOM DEBT ESCALATES TO JUST BELOW R1,9 BILLION
Power utility Eskom says the City of Tshwane has again defaulted on its payments.
This was after the March invoice was R179 million short, which was payable by April 19, 2023.
The city has also failed to pay its April invoice of R776 million.
The power utility says it has engaged the city on numerous occasions and has since urged it to make an immediate payment.
A CASE OF ATTEMPTED RAPE AND ASSAULT OPENED AGAINST ONE OF THE LAWYERS OF CONVICTED RAPIST AND MURDERER, THABO BESTER
Tshireledzo Ndou, one of Thabo Bester’s legal representatives, will be back in court on June 21, 2023, on a charge of attempted rape and assault.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that a case has been opened against Ndou, which is currently before the Sexual Offenses Court.
100 AREAS TO BE AFFECTED BY A 58-HOUR WATER OUTAGE IN JOBURG
Residents of Johannesburg will be facing a 58-hour water outage starting June 20.
Johannesburg Water says this water outage will occur because the city is facilitating repairs at the Eikenhof pump station.
R3 billion has been allocated to fix water infrastructure in Johannesburg.
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