For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Bridget Lepere.

Making headlines: Solidarity takes government to court over NHI, South Africa seeks help from China to safeguard supply of solar panels and, a record 110-million people worldwide displaced

Solidarity takes government to court over NHI

Solidarity CE Dr Dirk Hermann has said his union is getting ready for what it calls a major court case against the government’s plans for National Health Insurance which were approved in Parliament on Tuesday.

The objective of the NHI Bill is to provide universal access to quality health care for all South Africans, but Hermann says government has already failed with the public healthcare system, and it now wants to fail on an even bigger scale.

He says government has a history of failure when it comes to State enterprises, and there is no reason to believe the proposed NHI will not be to the serious detriment of South Africans.

South Africa seeks help from China to safeguard supply of solar panels

South Africa’s electricity minister intends asking the Chinese government to help ensure that solar-power installers secure reliable access to panels as demand for alternative sources of energy grows.

Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will travel to China this week to meet six of the nation’s biggest solar equipment manufacturers to help make it easier to imports panels amid ongoing blackouts.

South African businesses and households are increasingly opting to reduce their reliance on the grid as Eskom’s old and poorly maintained coal-fired plants can’t meet demand.

Ramokgopa said there are only two solar panel manufacturers in South Africa, but they’ve committed all their output to major projects being implemented by mining companies, while all others are being imported from China.

A record 110-million people worldwide displaced

The number of people displaced around the world has reached a record 110-million, with the wars in Ukraine and Sudan forcing millions from their homes, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has said.

According to the UNHCR’s annual report released on Wednesday, 19-million people were forced to flee last year – the biggest annual jump on record – lifting the total to 108.4-million by the end of last year.

United Nations refugee chief Filippo Grandi says the number has since risen to 110-million, mostly owing to Sudan’s eight-week-old conflict.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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