City of Cape Town buys occupied Marikana land seven years after landmark ruling
Last week Eskom disconnected over 300 illegal connections in the settlement. Hours later people connected them again.
News
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) Basketball Without Borders Africa Camp to Return to South Africa for 20th Edition
The National Basketball Association (NBA) (www.NBA.com) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced that the 20th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa will be held at the American International School of Johannesburg from Saturday, Aug. 3 – Tuesday, Aug. 6, marking the 16th time that the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in South Africa. BWB Africa camps have also been held in Dakar, Senegal (2010 and 2019), Luanda, Angola (2016) and Cairo, Egypt (2022).
BWB Africa 2024 will bring together 30 boys and 30 girls from more than 20 African countries to learn directly from current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches and compete alongside their peers from across the continent. The campers and coaches, who will be announced prior to the camp, will also take part in life-skills, leadership development and NBA Cares programming.
“Bringing Basketball Without Borders back to South Africa for its milestone 20th edition reflects the incredible momentum we're seeing for basketball in the country,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. “We look forward to welcoming some of the most talented boys and girls from across the continent for four days of high-level basketball training, competition, and leadership development that will have a lasting impact on their on-court and personal journeys.”
“Basketball Without Borders continues to be a real lever for basketball on the continent,” said FIBA Africa Executive Director Alphonse Bilé. “As part of our ongoing collaboration with the NBA in Africa, which also includes the Basketball Africa League (BAL), BWB continues to elevate our sport and provide invaluable opportunities and experiences for African youth and coaches, both on-and-off the court. I would like to extend my thanks to NBA Africa and wish all the participants a rewarding and successful camp.”
BWB Africa 2024 will be supported by Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, which will outfit participants with Nike apparel and footwear, and Gatorade, which will keep players and coaches hydrated throughout the camp.
Forty-one former BWB campers were among the record 125 international players (https://apo-opa.co/3LfzKib) on opening-night rosters for the 2023-24 NBA season, including 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), who became the first former BWB camper to be named NBA MVP, and 2019 NBA champion Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012). In total, 13 former BWB Africa campers have been drafted into the NBA since the first BWB Africa camp in 2003, including Ulrich Chomche (Cameroon), who was selected 57th overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2024 NBA Draft last month. Sixty-three former BWB Africa campers have also been featured on BAL team rosters over the league's first four seasons.
BWB has reached more than 4,400 participants from 142 countries and territories since 2001, with 127 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA. The NBA and FIBA have staged 75 BWB camps in 50 cities across 33 countries on six continents.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contact:
Pawel Weszka
NBA Africa Communications
pweszka@nba.com
+27 10 007 2666
About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. NBA Africa conducts the league's business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. The league's efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more.
NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015. The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that concluded its fourth season in June 2024. Fans can follow @NBA_Africa and @theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Visitors rock out at Ballito Pro Music Concerts Presented by Corona
Crowds headed to Salt Rock Main Beach for two days of the best in South African music at the Ballito Pro Music Concerts Presented by Corona on 4 and 5 July. Night one of the free-to-attend concert started with the winner of the Battle of the DJs, organised by KwaDukuza Municipality, taking to the decks.Thisset …
100 days of no load shedding presents a moment for reflection
100 days of no load shedding presents a moment for reflection
Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says while it is commendable that the 100 day milestone of no load shedding has been achieved in the country; it is also a chance to reflect on the hard work that has gone into addressing the problem.
The Minister was speaking during a media briefing in Tshwane on Monday.
Government has, through the Energy Action Plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2022, together with Eskom, honed in on the issue of load shedding since it reached crisis levels that same year.
“We were able to register that milestone…of 100 consecutive days without load shedding. It’s not a moment of celebration. But it’s [a moment] for us to take stock of where we came from and the fact that interventions are working and they are beginning to illustrate that indeed it can be done.
“It’s done…principally by Eskom engineers with little assistance from outside. Yes, there’s that framework from NECOM [National Energy Crisis Committee] getting assistance from outside but fundamentally, it’s driven by Eskom employees,” he said.
Ramokgopa explained that Eskom has managed to reduce unplanned outages at power stations’ generating units significantly as compared to the same period last year – helping to keep the lights on.
“If you look at June last year, we were sitting at 17 000MW of the megawatts that we had lost as a result of the unreliability of these units. Today… that unplanned capacity loss factor is sitting at 12 000MW. So we were able to recoup 5000MW.
“That doesn’t tell the complete story because if you look at the comparative period…you’ll find that our planned capacity loss factor, the number of units that we have taken out to fix them, is still about 1000MW greater than what was the case before. So if you factor that in that number, we have recouped about 6000MW,” he said.
He once again batted away suggestions that the performance of Eskom is boosted by the burning of diesel at the Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs).
According to the Minister, as compared to the same period last year, Eskom has considerably reduced its use of the diesel guzzling turbines.
“We are not burning diesel to levels that are unacceptable for us to be able to maintain this kind of performance. If you were to look at the amount of diesel that we spent [during] the same period last year compared to now, we have saved R6.2 billion.
“From the 1st of April 2024 to the 30th of June 2024, compared the 1st of April 2023 to the 30th of June 2023, the difference is that this year, we have burnt R6 billion less of diesel. There’s nothing about diesel that is anchoring the kind of performance we are seeing now.
“It all has to do with the performance of these coal fired power stations and the work that the team has done to ensure that we are able to address this situation,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 11:39
71 views
Spectacle as a Visual Effect
This concept was written about in depth by Jae Hyung Ryu in his work “Effects and Reality: a Cultural History of Visual Effects”. I have been interested in this idea for a while and was glad to find his work on the topic. This is my view on the topic, inspired by his work. I …
Energy assessments provide powerful insights which ‘fuel’ change
When a production or manufacturing facility is built, everything is new and operating optimally. Over time, equipment deteriorates – or modifications are made with the best intentions, but not always with energy efficiency in mind. It is therefore good practice to do regular energy assessments to ensure for example that steam traps are working correctly, …
Spectacular Win No. 2 For EP
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Congratulations to Grade 11 student, Sophie Drummond from Treverton College
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Arms cache, drugs discovered in Goodwood apartment
Arms cache, drugs discovered in Goodwood apartment
A suspect who was arrested at the weekend during a routine stop and search procedure by members of the police’s Flying Squad will make his first court appearance in Athlone in the Western Cape on Monday.
The suspect was discovered with an arms cache and a substantial quantity of drugs and arrested in Goodwood.
According to a statement by the South African Police Service (SAPS), vigilant Flying Squad members were drawn to a suspicious silver Ford double cab bakkie, which prompted them to stop and search the vehicle and the occupant.
The search resulted in the discovery of an unlicensed 9mm firearm, drugs and a substantial amount of cash.
The 28-year-old driver was arrested and interrogated which led the SAPS to an apartment in the Bergzicht complex, situated in Goodwood.
There a further 19 firearms of various calibers were found, including an AK47 assault rifle, a shotgun and other automatic and semi-automatic firearms, as well as an assortment of drugs valued at R3 million.
“We have reason to believe that the apartment, which is leased in the suspect’s name, was never used as a residence, but rather a storing facility for the firearms and the drugs,” the South African Police Service said in a statement.
“As our investigation unfolds, the possibility that more suspects can be apprehended is not excluded. The arrest of the suspect and subsequent seizure are deemed a step in the right direction to tackle gangsterism in the Province,” the police said.
The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile commended the members who effected the arrest and said detectives assigned to the case will dig deeper to uncover more as “this could be the tip of the iceberg” in their investigation. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 09:55
196 views
Treverton pupils excel at dancing
There have been two dance exam sessions for the Treverton pupils of Joanne Warren Dance Studio so far this year. The first one was in March and the second one was at the beginning of June. Various AIDT Modern and Tap exams were entered and some excellent results were achieved. Special mention is made of …
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Congratulations to Christopher Nel on being selected to play for the Country District’s U18 hockey team. We wish you every success! Education truly is an adventure. For further information please visit www.treverton.co.za CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. Author: Treverton Treverton College from Angelfish PR & Events on behalf of Treverton College.
Proteas Men’s Squad Announced For Test Series Against West Indies
[Listen to Shukri Cnrad on the team and Mathew Breetzke] Proteas Cricket red-ball head coach Shukri Conrad has today named a 16-player squad for the two match Test series against West Indies, which starts on 07 August in Trinidad and Tobago. Dafabet Warriors batter Matthew Breetzke has received his maiden Test call-up after impressing in …
President Ramaphosa receives congratulatory call from President of Egypt
President Ramaphosa receives congratulatory call from President of Egypt
President Cyril Ramaphosa received a call on Sunday evening from his Egypt counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who expressed his sincere congratulations on his new term of office.
Last month, President Ramaphosa was re-elected to serve for a second term at the first sitting of the National Assembly after the highly contested elections in May where he won 283 votes, against Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema who received 44.
“President El-Sisi shared with President Ramaphosa his expectation that South Africa and Egypt will continue to cooperate on issues of common interest,” a statement from the Presidency said.
According to the President’s Office, the country’s First Citizen expressed his appreciation for President El-Sisi’s good wishes and agreed on the importance of continued partnership between the two countries on matters of bilateral, continental and multilateral interest.
“Of particular significance to the two leaders is the need to work together on the Palestinian issue and the crisis in the Gaza strip.
“The Presidents committed themselves to deepening the fraternal ties between Egypt and South Africa as part of advancing continental solidarity,” the statement read.
President Ramaphosa and President El-Sisi also agreed on the expansion of trade, mutual investment and other areas of economic cooperation between the two states, according to the Presidency. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 10:38
129 views
Gauteng social development department wants to buy a building but doesn’t know what for
Up to R70-million budgeted for building in central Pretoria
President: 100 days of no load shedding no reason to relax
President: 100 days of no load shedding no reason to relax
Even though South Africa recently reached the longest period without load shedding since 2020, there is no reason to relax, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Our electricity system remains vulnerable and we cannot yet rule out a possibility of further load shedding.
“Rather, this milestone provides encouragement for us to do more and to work faster to ensure a secure supply of electricity now and into the future,” President Ramaphosa said in his weekly newsletter on Monday.
On Friday last week, South Africa marked 100 days since the country experienced load shedding.
This, according to the nation’s First Citizen, was a sign that the Energy Action Plan (EAP), which was launched in July 2022, was bringing some of the outcomes of collaboration between government, business, and other social partners.
He welcomed Eskom’s Generation Operational Recovery Plan, which stepped up the maintenance schedule, with a marked improvement in the performance of the power stations that produce the bulk of South Africa’s electricity.
The President also commended the State-owned power utility for successfully commissioning Unit 5 at the Kusile Power Station, adding 800MW to the grid last week.
This means Eskom has returned three units at Kusile to service ahead of schedule.
“The improvement in the reliability of power supply has been a relief for households, who have been able to go about their daily lives without the inconvenience of load shedding. It has also been a great relief for businesses.”
The President cited the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) index which found that consumer confidence rose in the second quarter of this year because of the suspension of load shedding.
This improvement is also a boost to the national economy, which is reliant on the availability and reliability of electricity supply for growth.
“There is cause for optimism that business and investor confidence will improve. Earlier this month, steelmaker ArcelorMittal announced that it would not go ahead with plans to close its operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging, citing improvements in the country’s electricity and logistics situations as among the factors behind its decision.”
The South African Reserve Bank stated in its April Monetary Policy Review that “as electricity supply gradually improves, underpinned by the ongoing private investment in renewable energy generation and increased maintenance by Eskom,” South Africa’s near and medium-term growth outlook is set to improve.
“We are committed to continue and complete the far-reaching structural reforms we started during the sixth administration to resolve the immediate electricity supply challenges and lay the groundwork for energy security into the future.”
These reforms, he wrote, include the removal of the licensing threshold for new power generation projects, tax incentives for rooftop solar, opening more bid windows for renewable energy projects, and improving Eskom’s operational viability.
He mentioned that the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTSA), which will own and operate the nation’s national electricity transmission system, started trading last week, marking the latest milestone in the structural reform process.
“This forms part of the reforms we have been driving to establish an electricity market that will enable competition, secure supply and revolutionise the energy sector.”
As the Government of National Unity (GNU) begins its work, he vowed that leaders will sustain this momentum.
“For us to continue to implement the EAP and support the hard-working management and staff of Eskom, who are day by day helping to bring us out of this crisis, we must all pull in the same direction.”
In addition, by focusing on the broader picture and scaling up what has already been achieved, he is of the view that the country was in a far better position to achieve the task they have set themselves to end load shedding and achieve an energy-secure future.
“We have reached 100 days without load shedding by working together. This should encourage us to redouble our efforts and to strengthen the collaboration between all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 10:07
35 views
More Automotive Finance Options
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Draft regulations to help regulate the registering of traditional health practitioners
Draft regulations to help regulate the registering of traditional health practitioners
The publication of the draft regulations to help regulate the registering of traditional health practitioners (THPs) has been welcomed.
“Since our appointment by former Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla on 13 April 2023, our priority task was to see the implementation of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act 2007(Act No. 22 of 2007) realised,” the Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa (ITHPCSA) said in a statement.
The draft regulations published on 21 June 2024 in a Government Gazette outlines the processes which traditional health practitioners should follow in registering with the Council.
They provide the details of who qualifies to register with the Council, categories covered by the Act, registration forms, and the fees to be paid by THPs when registering with the interim council.
“It is our goal and commitment that at the proclamation of this draft regulations, all systems for registration of THPs will begin, ushering a new dawn for the recognition and professionalisation of the traditional health practice.”
The review of the draft Traditional Medicine Regulation 2015 was among the tasks the council addressed, which was submitted to the Minister for publication for public comment.
“We invite all interested persons and stakeholders within and outside the sector to submit any substantiated comments or representations on the proposed draft regulations. We also intend to provide contact consultations in all provinces to stakeholders within the sector to provide clarity where there are confusions.”
This consultation will, according to the Council, be scheduled within the months stipulated in the Gazette to offer people an opportunity to submit their comments.
The ITHPCSA was established to regulate THPs the same way other health practitioners are regulated by Councils such as the Nursing Council of South Africa (NCSA), the Pharmacy Council of South Africa (PCSA) and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
“The interim Council is looking forward to constructive discussions with stakeholders and inputs from the public at large.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 07/07/2024 - 11:23
539 views