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Shoprite launches online shopping and bulk delivery service for spaza shops and small businesses Shoprite has introduced an innovative digital solution for its Cash & Carry stores, marking the wholesale brand’s first venture into ecommerce. Bulk-buying customers can now browse and purchase a wide range of goods at highly competitive prices through a fully automated …
[Listen to this report as a Podcast] James Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, said: On Friday, 28 June, the SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) was alerted to a whale appearing to be in distress, entangled in what appeared to be fishing line, off-shore in Walker Bay area, Hermanus. The local whale charter …
President Ramaphosa, President Biden commit to deepening relations
President Cyril Ramaphosa and his US counterpart, President Joe Biden, have committed to advancing the relationship between the two countries.
According to the Presidency, the two leaders held a telephone discussion on Tuesday evening.
The Presidency revealed that Biden congratulated President Ramaphosa on both his re-election as President and “the successful formation of the Government of National Unity”.
“President Biden pledged that the United States will work closely with the 7th Administration in South Africa on key areas such as economic growth, job creation, social development and climate change, as well as South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 in 2025. President Biden confirmed that he will visit South Africa and participate in the G20 meetings.
“President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for this commitment and in turn extended an invitation to President Biden to undertake a State Visit to South Africa. Dates will be confirmed by the respective diplomatic teams,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 07/03/2024 - 09:28
In its latest natural gas policy brief, global trade association EnerGeo Alliance has positioned natural gas as the premier transition fuel for South Africa, citing its reduced carbon emissions, scalability and cost competitiveness. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org)– as the voice of the African energy sector – supports these data-driven findings and calls for greater foreign investment in Africa's natural gas prospects.
South Africa's power supply remains in urgent need of diversification away from aging coal- and diesel-powered plants. While the country is looking to renewables to diversify its power mix and alleviate load shedding, the brief identifies natural gas as the ideal transition fuel to achieving a low-carbon future and meeting the demands of South Africa's rapidly growing population and economy. According to the report, countries that use gas as a source for power generation have seen their electricity supply grow approximately three times faster in the past decade than those without gas. The Chamber has long advocated for the exploration and development of Africa's natural gas resources – of which the continent holds over 620 trillion cubic feet – and commends EnerGeo Alliance for championing its expanded role in the energy mix.
With member companies spanning more than 50 countries, EnerGeo Alliance brings together the global geoscience industry to discover, develop and deliver alternative energy and low-carbon energy solutions that meet growing energy demand. Natural gas emits 50-60% less carbon dioxide, rendering it a relatively clean energy source able to meet power demand reliably and at scale. Gas also serves as a critical feedstock for the production of fertilizers and petrochemicals, as well as a source of process heat in energy-intensive industries, creating the potential to decarbonize heavy industry. According to the World Economic Forum, a tripling of sub-Saharan Africa's power consumption using natural gas would only correspond to a one percent increase in global carbon emissions.
Natural gas also represents the most cost-effective pathway to energy security for South Africa and the continent at-large. It can provide both base load and backup power – whereas solar and wind power present intermittency problems – and is more cost-competitive as a base load supply than nuclear. According to the policy brief, large-scale discoveries like Brulpadda-Luiperd, the offshore Orange Basin and shale reserve prospects in the Karoo Basin suggest that South Africa could not only meet its power demand through domestic gas resources, but also stimulate broader economic development through regional gas exports.
EnerGeo Alliance highlights South Africa's promising reserves in Mossel Bay and the Orange River Basin, as well as shale gas in the Karoo Basin, for further upstream investment. Through advanced seismic survey, upstream geoscience and data generation activities play a key role in identifying potential gas reserves, de-risking exploration and reducing the environmental footprint associated with gas exploration and extraction. Major investment is also needed across South Africa's midstream and downstream sectors, including regional transmission pipelines, gas storage facilities and gas-to-liquids, regasification and LNG plants. While the construction of gas-fired power plants is already underway at Coega, Richards Bay and Saldanha Bay, new projects are needed to boost South Africa's gas availability and reliability.
“The AEC supports the EnerGeo Alliance in positioning gas as critical to South Africa's energy independence and low-carbon future. The science confirms this, and the bottom line confirms this. More capital must flow to African upstream and integrated gas projects, and we must support the geoscience community so that natural gas exploration is no longer seen as a risk, but as a given,” says NJ Ayuk, AEC Executive Chairman.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Portuguese businessman kidnapped for ransom rescued in Soweto
A 49-year-old Portuguese businessman who was kidnapped for ransom last month, is the latest victim to be rescued by the police.
In the last six months, 12 businessmen and six students who had been kidnapped for ransom have been rescued by a multidisciplinary team led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) anti-kidnapping task team.
According to the SAPS, the Portuguese businessman was kidnapped from his business premises in Florida, Johannesburg, on 24 June 2024.
“On Monday evening, 1 July 2024, the team traced the victim to a home in Snake Park, Soweto, where he had been in captivity.
“On the same evening, members also arrested one of his captors in Turffontein, Johannesburg,” a statement from the Office of the National Commissioner of the SAPS read.
According to Eyewitness News (EWN), Portuguese South African butchery owners are being targeted in a spate of kidnappings in Gauteng.
The news organisation said that 20 Portuguese South African butchery owners and managers were kidnapped in the province since January last year, with one victim murdered.
EWN said ransom demands for the safe release of the victims range between R400 000 and R3.5 million, while in at least nine of these cases, ransom demands started from R10 million.
“The SAPS anti-kidnapping task team including other law enforcement agencies and private security have been working around the clock to find the businessman, safe and unharmed,” the police said.
The police believe that the 39-year-old suspect belongs to a syndicate that is responsible for at least four other kidnappings where businessmen were the target in the Johannesburg District.
“The team is currently tracing suspects who were working together with the man.
“In cases where the businessmen and students had been rescued, no ransom payment was made as a direct result of the expertise and capabilities of SAPS detectives, the crime intelligence unit and collaboration with private security.”
As per the police statement from January 2024 to date, 49 kidnappers who had demanded ransom payment from families of victims have been arrested in Gauteng, the North West and Free State.
In addition, 21 vehicles used in the commission of these crimes have been confiscated and eight firearms have also been seized.
“The SAPS is confident that working together with all stakeholders and community tip-offs, it will continue to take down more syndicates believed to be behind a spate of kidnappings for ransom across the country,” the SAPS added. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 07/03/2024 - 09:42
In the evolving landscape of global health, digital innovation emerges as a beacon of hope, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare access, quality, and affordability. A recent white paper by the World Economic Forum, produced in collaboration with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, EY, and Microsoft, sheds light on an exciting paradigm shift: the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in social innovation, especially within healthcare. AI uptake has the potential to improve immunisation programmes, supply chains, referrals, diagnoses, drug safety, and overall health system efficiency.
The report finds three primary impact areas where AI is making significant contributions:
Healthcare is by far the most prevalent impact domain that social innovators are addressing with AI. Corresponding to this, 1 in 4 Social innovators are deploying AI to advance Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being. This is apparent across all geographies as innovators seek to adopt AI to address multiple challenges within the area of healthcare.
Referenced in this report is BroadReach Group, a social impact organisation, that is using AI and machine learning to equip health care workers, leaders and institutions to better manage their scarce resources and drive better health outcomes for all. Vantage Health Technologies, a part of BroadReach Group is harnessing its work across continents in the following ways:
Dr. Ernest Darkoh, co-founder of BroadReach Group, says, “the fundamental issue in healthcare, whether you are in Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe, or the USA, is that demand outstrips supply in terms of health services, doctors, nurses, and medications. The healthcare sector is trying to deliver on an antiquated model of ‘sick care' without real-time intelligence on disease patterns, who is being affected the most, or the adequacy of healthcare resources. We need to change this paradigm to be more effective by leveraging data and digital solutions to ensure we are always spending the next hour and the next dollar in the in the most impactful way possible.”
Global Collaboration to Achieve Health Equity
The report also shows that Africa is emerging, with leaders like South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Egypt and Kenya have developed national AI strategies. In other countries like Cameroon, individual social innovators are using AI to address healthcare challenges, such as developing low-cost diagnostic tools for malaria. The continent is also seeing AI applications in economic empowerment and various ML capabilities.
Paul Bhuhi, Managing Director of Vantage shares, ‘'AI is becoming more accepted, with healthcare leaders seeing the promise of AI to drive real improvement in health access, quality, and affordability. Yet, the education gap between innovators and the policy makers inhibits AI adoption, In our experience Rwanda and Kenya are leading that push but more needs to be done.”
An important lesson that BroadReach Group is applying is that learning healthcare lessons in one country can have a profound global impact through collaboration. By sharing best practices, innovations, and research findings, countries can collectively address common health challenges more effectively. Collaborative efforts enable the adaptation of successful strategies to different contexts, promoting universal health improvements and accelerating progress towards global health goals like SDG 3. This exchange of knowledge fosters a more interconnected and resilient global healthcare community, where advancements in one region benefit all.
Dr. John Sargent, co-founder of BroadReach Group, says “an example of impact through collaboration is using our experience and learnings in Africa addressing health inequity and applying them to promote health equity in cancer care in the US. Our teams work across geographies and this collaboration has shown that we can more effectively and rapidly improve patient care because of this experience. Although every geography and market has its differences, many of the same core principles, critical lessons learned, and approaches apply, allowing us to rapidly adapt and implement solutions that have a real impact for populations in need while ensuring that the health system is using its resources in the most impactful way.”
Embracing the Ethical Adoption of AI
The next generation of ethical generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) provides new hope for more equitable healthcare, but advances in technology must never come at the cost of patient rights. AI systems should start with guardrails and ethics within their foundational design.
Chris LeGrand, CEO of BroadReach Group emphasises, “regulatory frameworks for ethical use of AI in healthcare are still early stage but are progressing. The new Digital Trade Protocol recently adopted by African heads of state under the Africa Continental Trade Area (AfCTA) is an example of international bodies defining the desired digital landscape with rules based on common principles, including protecting personal data while promoting trusted, safe, ethical use of emerging technologies. Regulation is slowly evolving to create trust and confidence in the protection of health data.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BroadReach Group.
BroadReach Group is a group of social impact businesses focused on harnessing innovation and technology to empower human action. Since 2003 BroadReach Group has worked in over 30 countries to support governments, international NGOs, public and private sector to improve health outcomes for their populations.
While the days will be dominated by sports and retail action at the 55th Ballito Pro Presented by O’Neill, music and dance lovers will be treated to some of the best local artists who are bringing the vibe to the sunset, after-dark, and concert sessions! These rocking parties form part of The Ballito Pro festival …
Imagine your brain is constantly reliving a traumatic event, unable to break free from the cycle of fear and anxiety. This is the reality for millions of people suffering from trauma. Trauma, whether from accidents, abuse, or combat experiences, leaves a lasting imprint on the brain, disrupting normal function and causing severe emotional and psychological …
Designers from across the Cape Flats showed their creations at Artscape
Wild Coast communities and environmental organisations have now approached the Constitutional Court
SevenC, a leading IT infrastructure and network service provider striving to identify and make available the best possible ICT strategies for its clients’ unique needs, explores strategies for making smart IT investments. Over the past few decades, advancements in IT have revolutionised company operations and reshaped the dynamics of competition in nearly every industry. “In …
Date: Saturday, 6 July 2024 Time: 2pm to 5pm Location: SOKO District, Rosebank Mall, 50 Bath Avenue, Rosebank JHB Celebrate three years of vibrant local shopping at SOKO District Rosebank with a spectacular Open Day! Join us for an afternoon packed with excitement and celebratory bubbly: Fashion Show: Kick off at 2.30pm with a runway …
Human rights organisation welcomes Women Ministry appointments
An organisation promoting the human rights and empowerment of women and girls has commended the appointment of new Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga and Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike to the portfolio.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Chikunga and Letsike’s appointments in an address to the nation on Sunday night. The Minister and Deputy Minister are members of the national executive of the seventh administration under the principles of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
A former Transport Minister, Chikunga takes over the reins from former Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who was appointed as the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities from 6 March 2023.
Letsike is the founding Executive Director of Access Chapter 2 (AC2), a non-profit organisation (NPO) and public benefit organisation (PBO).
AC2 was initiated to promote the human rights and empowerment of women and girls, and LGBTI+ people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) in all their diversities, facilitating participation of civil society organisations at a local, national, regional and international level by creating space and coordinating platforms for engagement on governance, policy and accountability processes.
Access Chapter 2 commended the appointment of the two principals, noting that Letsike’s appointment as a Deputy Minister is a testament to her expertise, passion, and commitment to public service.
“We have no doubt that they will bring the same level of dedication and innovation to their new role, and we are excited to see the positive impact they will have on policy making and decision-making at the highest levels of government.
“We are confident that [Letsike] will continue to be a strong voice for diversity, equality, and justice in her new role, and we wish her all the best as she embarks on this exciting new chapter in her career,” AC2 spokesperson, Clement Mampane, said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has also welcomed Chikunga and Letsike’s appointment, noting its mandate to lead on socio-economic transformation and the implementation of the empowerment and participation of women, youth and people with disabilities through mainstreaming, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation.
“Guided by the principles of partnership and collaboration, the incoming administration, will continue to advance, progressive laws to address the legacy of apartheid by confronting gender Inequalities perpetuated by the lack of meaningful economic participation and representation across several socio-economic domains,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 07/02/2024 - 10:38
Parking just got a whole lot easier! admyt, the trailblazer in ticketless parking, is thrilled to announce its launch at Galleria Mall, one of KwaZulu-Natal’s premier shopping destinations. After making parking hassle-free at iconic locations nationwide, admyt is set to make shopping in Durban a breeze. Shoppers at Galleria Mall, can forget about searching for …
Kabelo Mulaudzi established himself as the next big name in South African road running by winning the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2023. The 26-year-old, who also recorded his first sub-28-minute 10km time during that race, says he is eagerly looking forward to competing again at the iconic event this Sunday, 7 July. …
KZN Premier lays down the law on GBV
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has urged men to play their part to keep women safe and protected.
Ntuli on Monday officiated the launch of Men’s Health Month in Durban, which included a law enforcement parade by the police. The parade started at King Dinuzulu Park, and concluded at the Durban City Hall.
The parade aimed to promote positive male behaviour and address the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Ntuli emphasised the important role played by religion and culture in curbing GBV.
“It is very shameful that the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide has reached worrisome proportions in our country. Even in war, since time immemorial, hurting women and children has always been seriously frowned upon.
“Men who attack women have always been regarded as cowards. Even in rites of passage, conceptually, boys are taught to respect women… If this is no longer happening, those rites of passage violate tradition,” Ntuli said.
According to statistics released last year, in KwaZulu-Natal, Inanda is leading in terms of GBV related crimes, with 641 cases recorded in the period of April 2022 to March 2023.
The cases include rape, sexual assault, assault with a purpose to inflict grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, common assault, and murder.
According to the same report, the top 30 police stations in the province recorded 10 442 cases of GBV-related crimes.
Ntuli believes that ignorance, myths, fallacies and falsehoods also lead to high levels of GBV.
“It is a major fallacy that men are made for leadership. Those men who believe this myth are likely to unnecessarily feel emasculated by the mere occupation of leadership positions by women…. We need to teach our male children that women are not their… toys or their punching bags, but are their equal partners.”
Ntuli urged men to ensure that they do not abuse any leadership role that they are given.
“We must [also] teach our children that washing dishes and clothes; cleaning the house, and cooking are not gender roles but life skills. While such an approach is essential for our male children’s own development and readiness for the future, it also ensures that as they grow and meet women, they do not attempt to relegate them to their servants,” the Premier said.
Role of law enforcement
Ntuli impressed upon law enforcement to take seriously the responsibility placed on them when it comes to the responsibility of protecting vulnerable groups.
“When a woman is a victim of domestic violence, she relies on the paramedics in specific cases and the police, who are expected to make arrests and to process and effect protection orders. When these women walk, or, sometimes sadly, crawl into police stations, they expect justice and healing.
“They do not expect negotiations to be brokered by police officers. They do not expect judgment when wearing revealing clothes and they do not expect lethargy and indifference,” Ntuli said.
To show how serious he is about the safety and security of the people in the province, when he was sworn into the task of being KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Ntuli announced that the Community Safety and Liaison function would move to the Office of the Premier. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 07/02/2024 - 10:49
Cape Town – 2 July 2024 – Two global keynote speakers are promising leaders a new blueprint for leadership — beginning in the Mother City. Reconstructing Leadership is a personal leadership development intensive that kicks off with an exclusive breakfast at Cape Town’s iconic Silo Hotel on Thursday, 11 July. Global keynote speakers Ian Hatton …
CAPE TOWN: Cricket South Africa (CSA) and KFC take immense pride in the annual KFC Mini-Cricket Seminar, which takes place this...
Choose your electricity monthly average cost: R416.66 or R13 629.63 over 20 years The average Middle Income home consumes 1000 kWh of electricity per month A 9% average increase in electricity cost per year could see Middle Income homes paying R8 144.94 per month for electricity 20 years from now The average lifespan of a …
SIU collaborates to continue fight against corruption through data analytics
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has strengthened its hand to fight corruption through data analytics.
This as the unit has joined forces – through memoranda of understanding – with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) Anti-Corruption Coalition (ACC), the Transparency, Integrity, and Accountability Programme (TIP) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
SIU head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, explained how the partnerships pave the way for the unit to sharpen its tools against corruption.
“Through these partnerships, the SIU will embark on statistical research efforts, proactive strengths and risk exposures, sector-based data analysis, awareness and advisory initiatives, capacity building, and integrating data analytics and predictive analysis into the institutions’ risk management systems,” he said.
He added that the unit must take the lead in fighting the scourge of corruption by making it increasingly difficult for criminals to have their way.
“To achieve this, the SIU must direct strategic decision-making processes and drive prevention activities through data analysis. This will provide the SIU with a competitive market advantage and long-term sustainability,” Mothibi said.
The unit stated that the memoranda of understandings signed with the institutions are part of the SIU’s drive to halt corruption through a “whole of society approach”.
“These MoUs are also part of the SIU’s implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, in particular, the whole-of-society approach, which is an integrated approach to the fight against corruption and calls on all sectors to participate in the fight against corruption and encourages collaboration between government, the private sector and civil society as one of the fundamentals of the strategy.
“Through these collaboration agreements, the SIU seeks to ensure that its anti-corruption tools are advanced and enable the SIU to move towards the prevention of corruption. The SIU plans to publish sector data intelligence and use a prevention, advisory, and awareness capacity to advise stakeholders on systemic measures to proactively identify and prevent maladministration, fraud, and corruption,” the unit concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 07/02/2024 - 10:55
Corporate Mental Health Week 1 – 5 July 2024: According to the latest Gallup report, 36% of the South African workforce experience excessive daily stress and more than 71% are either disengaged or actively disengaged at work – some of the alarming signs of burnout. This is not surprising considering that according to the Mental …
A private company is charging the City R250,000 a month for 12 toilets and 12 showers at homeless shelters and hardly any of them are working
As the fight against plastic intensifies, alternatives have come into the market in the form of cute cotton tote bags adorned with environmentally friendly puns, becoming a trend and an aesthetic for social media. Yet the impact of these so-called plastic alternatives is debatable. Dr Lize Barclay, Senior Lecturer in Futures Studies and Systems Thinking, …
PRASA board reviewing Labour Court ruling on former CEO
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) board is reviewing the judgment handed down by the Labour Court on the termination of the contract of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews.
“We are currently reviewing the judgment in detail, in consultation with the legal department, and we will communicate any further actions in due course,” PRASA said on Tuesday.
The PRASA board terminated Matthews’s contract in December 2021 after an investigation by seasoned senior counsel that established whether Matthews deliberately and intentionally failed to disclose material information to PRASA in respect of his dual citizenship.
According to media reports, months later, retired judge Robert Nugent ruled that PRASA should reinstate Matthews with back pay during arbitration proceedings.
PRASA applied to the Labour Court to review Nugent's ruling. On Monday the Labour Court reportedly ruled that Matthews’s contract was still valid.
“In promoting good governance, the PRASA Board is committed to ensuring that our actions align with legal obligations and the company’s best interests. The Board Of Control (BOC) remains dedicated to ensuring that PRASA builds on its successful rail rebuilding turnaround.
“PRASA is focused on fulfilling its primary mandate of providing rail commuter services and long-haul passenger rail and bus services in the public interest. The BOC continues to discharge its fiduciary duties whilst upholding a high standard of fairness and integrity,” the agency said. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 07/02/2024 - 14:51