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The latest internal audit of SA Rugby’s Strategic Transformation Development Plan 2030 (STDP 2030) paints a picture of a sport tracking firmly in the right direction, said Mr Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, on Monday. “Overall, I am very happy with our performance,” he said. “The Provincial Unions all showed massive …
Easy Equities says that this week is a tech week as Nvidia, one of the tech giants leading the AI revolution through its GPUs, is expected to announce its earnings. The company has consistently maintained the same dividend payment (annual dividend yield nearly 0.02% as of writing), and its shares have risen by over 190% …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has lodged a complaint against the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme with the Public Service Commission for urgent investigation. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the fatally-flawed NHI into law last week in a desperate election stunt, as the ANC marches towards defeat at the polling booth on …
Two more suspects arrested in connection with Ditebogo Phalane’s murder
The Hawks' Pretoria-based team, together with the Arcadia Crime Prevention Unit and Tshwane District Crime Intelligence, have arrested two more suspects in connection with the murder of Ditebogo Phalane Junior.
Ditebogo, aged five, was killed during the hijacking of his father’s car in Soshanguve, Tshwane.
The two suspects, aged 29 and 30, were arrested on Monday in Soshanguve and Atteridgeville, where two unlicensed firearms were recovered, with one firearm alleged to be the murder weapon used in the murder of Ditebogo.
The arrest brings to four the number of suspects arrested in connection with Ditebogo’s murder.
READ | Two suspects arrested in Soshanguve fatal child shooting
In a statement, the Hawks said the arrest followed information received by the team from Crime Intelligence on the whereabouts of the suspects linked to the murder of the little boy.
“Information received from Crime Intelligence was operationalised late yesterday [Sunday] leading the multi-disciplinary to Soshanguve and Atteridgeville respectively where two suspects were arrested, and two unlicensed firearms were recovered.
“One of the firearms is alleged to be the murder weapon used in the murder of Ditebogo Phalane but that will be confirmed once the firearms have been sent for testing. One of the suspects is believed to have been out on bail for alleged hijacking, attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed firearm,” Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Wendy Nkabi, said.
The suspects are expected to make their first appearance at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 05/21/2024 - 10:19
The vibrant streets of Tshwane will be a sea of red on Sunday, 25 August 2024, as runners from diverse backgrounds gather to participate in the 2nd annual Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K. The Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K marks the fourth event in the iconic Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, which consists …
At this month's SoCreative Summit 2024, the British Council (www.BritishCouncil.org) launched its hotly anticipated new eLearning platform, SoCreative; a series of free online courses designed to help aspiring African entrepreneurs grow sustainable creative businesses, supporting them in their journeys.
The fifth edition of the annual, highly-popular SoCreative Summit, hosted by British Council and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) in partnership with PACE, took place at the vibrant Victoria Yards venue in Johannesburg. Dubbed a ‘gift' to the creative industries given that there is no charge, the Summit was attended by cultural makers, artists, fashion designers and anyone deserving of the title ‘creative' – both in-person and virtually, serving as a platform to nurture innovation and promote the growth and vitality of Africa's creative economy.
The launch of the SoCreative eLearning platform coincides with the culmination of the SoCreative Summit annual series. Explains Farai Bayai Ncube, Regional Arts Director Sub-Saharan Africa: British Council: “This final summit's theme, ‘Emergence', embodies the complete dedication, creativity, and vision of our delegates and partners who have contributed to its success over the past five years.
“By this same token, the emergence of our SoCreative eLearning programme will serve in its legacy, and like the summit itself, is free to those who wish to gain knowledge.”
Ncube says that the SoCreative eLearning programme was developed by academic practitioners within Africa and the United Kingdom's creative economies, and aims to fill the creative knowledge business gaps that exist in the ecosystem. “The challenges facing creative entrepreneurs have been revealed in previous summits and multiple conversations with our programme stakeholders, and so we have developed the platform in an attempt to address these shortfalls through fostering an ecosystem in which young entrepreneurs can thrive.”
The SoCreative eLearning platform is aimed at early-stage entrepreneurs who want to turn their creative pursuits into sustainable, fulfilling business endeavours. The free, self-paced courses are designed to guide users through the entire process; from learning about Africa's creative industry to finding the right market for their ideas, distinguishing their businesses, finding investors, business management skills and more. The courses include: Launching your Creative Enterprise, Growing your Creative Enterprise, Social Impact through Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy Policy.
Upon completing the programme, participants receive a certificate of achievement, which makes them eligible to apply for ongoing support through mentoring, coaching, incubation and acceleration creative economy programmes via the British Council's network within participating countries.
Says Skinder Hundal, Global Arts Director: British Council: “While this may be the final summit in this format, we will continue to create platforms that enable young people to lead innovation, to become visionaries and to shape their futures. The impact of this investment and collaboration will inspire future global leaders, making a positive impact in Africa and the world in the years to come.”
Register for the SoCreative courses here: https://apo-opa.co/3wITzuA
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of British Council.
Issued by:
MSL
Media queries:
Roxanne Manning
roxanne@rvmcommunications.co.za
+27 76 826 8333
About the British Council:
The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. In 2019-2020 we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 14.5 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. www.BritishCouncil.org
May is Whisky Month, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with the luxurious, complex flavours of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Renowned for its smooth, rich taste, Johnnie Walker Blue Label is perfect for crafting cocktails that elevate any occasion. Here are some exquisite cocktail recipes that highlight the elegance and sophistication of this …
Children in KZN are being placed in foster care instead of care centres
Get ready to experience the ultimate fusion of luxury and sporting prowess as Johnnie Walker Blue Label proudly unveils its inaugural appearance in the second installment of the esteemed Johnnie Walker Polo event, set to take place on 2 June 2024. As the icon of luxury in the world of Scotch whisky, Johnnie Walker Blue …
From 25 June to 8 July, the world’s best surfers will head to KwaDukuza for the 55th Ballito Pro Presented by O’Neill. Connecting local heritage with the surfing Challenger Series, the 2024 theme This is the Battlefield – Lena Inkundla Yempi will see surfers battle it out for the top title, while spectators enjoy non-stop …
The three South African teams in the running for playoff places in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship stuck to their guns and delivered the desired results in the penultimate round of pool matches, which witnessed a success rate of three out of four on the domestic front. The Vodacom Bulls were in hot form against …
The 4th annual Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day on 1 August 2024 welcomes even more support from around the world as the event continues to grow. Themed Celebrating MPAs – for People and for Nature, MPA Day invites people across the globe to recognise the importance of these ‘nature reserves of the sea’. Joining the …
Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health cover, today expressed its enthusiastic support for the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, highlighting its commitment to collaborating with the government to implement a balanced health coverage system. Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health, praised the landmark legislation as a critical step towards universal health coverage (UHC), …
Site to be used for 1,000 affordable housing units
“There is no democracy without books” says Wits professor who joins calls for an end to the City library’s four-year closure
In its 11th year, Khumbulani Pride renewed calls for justice for victims of hate crime
Condolences for the people of Iran following air disaster
President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the South African people and government, extended his condolences to the people of Iran following the death of President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi and well as that country’s Foreign Minister.
President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian as well as other personnel died when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in East Azerbaijan on their way back to Iran on Sunday.
President Ramaphosa said government joins that country “in this moment of mourning”.
“This is an extraordinary, unthinkable tragedy that has claimed a remarkable leader of a nation with whom South Africa enjoys strong bilateral relations and whom we were honoured to welcome to the BRICS fold in Johannesburg in 2023.
“Our hearts go out to the affected families and the administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
In a statement, the Presidency said: “On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the Supreme Leader of Iran, The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and the government and people of the Islamic Republic. President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the families of the late President and Foreign Minister as well as the relatives of the personnel and air crew who perished”. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 05/20/2024 - 09:19
KZN Government sends condolences to families of Ballito wall collapse
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has sent condolences to the families of four construction workers who died during the tragic Ballito wall collapse on Saturday.
Five construction workers were trapped when a wall collapsed at the Ballito construction site in Zen Drive, Durban, and claimed the lives of four workers.
One construction worker survived and is recovering in hospital.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, expressed her sadness at the incident, which she described as “yet another tragedy in the built environment and construction sector”, following the multi-storey building collapse in George, Western Cape, which to date has claimed the lives of 33 people.
“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the four construction workers who tragically lost their lives when a wall collapsed at a construction site on Zen Drive in Ballito on Saturday. This devastating incident has cast a shadow of grief over our community, and we mourn alongside those who are suffering this unimaginable loss,” Dube-Ncube said.
READ | George building collapse: Rescue and recovery operation concluded
Dube-Ncube said while awaiting the results of the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident, the provincial government is committed to ensuring that the families affected receive the support and assistance they need.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the deceased during this incredibly difficult time. We also wish to extend our support to the one worker who survived this tragic event and is currently recovering from the ordeal.
“The bravery and dedication of the search and rescue teams, who worked tirelessly to rescue the workers, do not go unnoticed and are deeply appreciated,” Dube-Ncube said.
The Premier also emphasised the safety and well-being of the workers as a priority, adding that government will work diligently to prevent such tragedies in the future.
“In this time of sorrow, let us come together as a community to support those who have lost their loved ones and to honour the memory of those who perished. Their hard work and dedication will not be forgotten. May their respective souls rest in peace,” Dube-Ncube said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 05/20/2024 - 09:38
Babanango natural spring to benefit thousands of residents in KZN
Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, says the department is in a process of transforming water spewing from the natural spring in Babanango to a quality drinkable water that will benefit more than 250 000 households in Zululand and uMzinyathi District Municipalities.
The Minister said this is part of the department’s effort to diversify South Africa's water resource mix for water security.
Mchunu launched the Babanango/Inhlengile Spring Water Project during an inspection site visit to the project at Ulundi Local Municipality.
The Babanango Water Spring Project is part of the emergency upgrade of the Babanango/Inhlengile Communal Water Supply Scheme undertaken by uMngeni-uThukela Water as the implementing agent.
It is a cross-boundary water project supplying water to the District Municipalities of Zululand and uMzinyathi.
Due to the sporadic water supply from their taps' water supply shortage in the area, the community of Inhlengile, under Inkosi Mahlobo Ntobela discovered the water springs that could be developed and be used for communal water supply in Babanango.
This prompted their traditional leader, Inkosi Ntobela to request the department’s intervention on the discovered water springs.
The department conducted scientific tests on the spring water which revealed that the spring water contained elements that were not suitable for human consumption.
The department then appointed uMngeni-uThukela Water as the Implementing Agent to upgrade the spring water project initiated by the community.
A contractor was appointed by the water entity which has commenced with construction work to improve the quality of the spring water.
Mchunu said the Babanango/Inhlengile Water project is now at 70% complete and will produce about 0.5 megalitres of purified water from the spring to benefit the communities of the two districts.
He said part of the work includes the construction of a water treatment works and a packaging plant which will purify the spring water to be able to provide clean drinking water supply complies with SANS 241 [drinking water specification that states the minimum requirements for potable water to be considered safe for human consumption].
“From the water treatment works and the packing plant, purified water will then be transferred by a 6 kilometres pipeline to a 500-kilolitre water storage tank, which will supply freshwater to the communities,” Mchunu explained.
Mchunu said the project will bring a much-needed relief of water supply not only to the area of Inhlengile in Babanango, but also to the communities in both the Zululand and uMzinyathi District Municipalities.
The Minister also noted that the water resource project is more sustainable and more reliable than water supply by means of water tinkering, and from the boreholes.
“This is part of our core business of water resource management because water that is received from the natural spring in this area will be processed to the required standards. It is our duty as the Department of Water and Sanitation to develop and maintain such resources so that they benefit the people and the generations to come,” Mchunu said.
“As the department we are also advancing the Sustainable Development Goal 6 established by the United Nations General Assembly in ensuring that we provide clean water and sanitation for all,” Mchunu said.
The Minister said the communities of the two districts are expected to receive freshwater supply harvested from the natural springs by end of July this year. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 05/20/2024 - 10:52
Many South Africans with hepatitis go undiagnosed
Hard work at Eskom keeps the lights on
Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says the current improved electricity performance in South Africa is in large part thanks to the hard work of officials at Eskom.
The Minister was briefing the media at Megawatt Park on Monday on the latest developments in the implementation of the Energy Action Plan which was unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2022.
The country has experienced at least 54 days of no load shedding.
“What we are seeing now is an exceptionally improved energy situation...is as a result of [a] constellation of efforts on the part of Eskom. It’s [also] an all-of-government effort to ensure that we resolve the challenges that are facing the country…the resolution of an energy deficit.
“We are not yet out of the woods but we can see the trend line. We know that we are going to have momentary setbacks. It is the nature of this, but we must be fixed on...returning units on time. And where there are periods of failure, you mustn’t be despondent,” he said.
Ramokgopa moved to dispel the reports claiming that Eskom is burning diesel at a high rate to keep the lights on.
“The [Open Cycle Gas Turbines] are part of the fleet. They are designed…that during afternoon peak, when you have elevated demand, if you are struggling to meet that demand then you engage the OCGTs.
“If you look at the period that they were on load on average was previously about 17% and then now, we are just shy of 6%. So it’s a considerable drop on the usage. From the 1st of April 2024 to the 16th of May, Eskom spent R1.24 billion in engaging the OCGTs. The same period last year…we had burnt R5.2 billion worth of diesel. Essentially, we have seen a drop of 78%,” he said.
Ramokgopa said solar energy remains part of the strategy to combat load shedding and Eskom’s performance is not necessarily as a result of the performance of the renewable energy projects.
“If you go to the Energy Action Plan and you look at Outcome 4, it says…we have to introduce incentives to make it possible for us to aggressively roll out rooftop solar solutions by both industry and households. We have been able to double the amount of rooftop solar solution megawatts that can be drawn from that intervention from about 2100MW to 4400MW,” he said.
Turning to Eskom employees, the Minister encouraged them to continue working hard to ensure that the challenge of keeping the lights on is resolved.
“As consummate professionals, you have done very well to get us to where we are. We are still looking for additional improved performance on your side. On behalf of Cabinet, we want to say thank you very much,” Ramokgopa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 05/20/2024 - 10:57
Pandor mourns Iran's Foreign Minister after helicopter crash
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has offered her condolences to the government and people of Iran following the passing of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash alongside Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and several other officials while travelling in the East Azerbaijan province.
Their bodies were recovered in a mountainous region on Monday.
“The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has expressed her deepest sympathy and condolences to the government and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran following the shocking and sad news of the passing of her counterpart, Dr Hossein Amir-Abdollahian,” a statement by the department said.
The Minister also conveyed her sympathies to the colleagues and family of Amir-Abdollahian and wished them comfort and solace.
According to the department, last year in Pretoria, Pandor co-hosted the 15th Session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation with the late Amir-Abdollahian.
On that occasion, the late Foreign Minister also paid a courtesy call to President Ramaphosa.
“The Ministers also met several times on the margins of multilateral forums, including during the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meetings in 2023. Minister Pandor remembers the late Dr Amir-Abdollahian as a brilliant and astute counterpart whose presence will be deeply missed,” the department added.
Amir-Abdollahian became Foreign Minister under President Raisi with his election in 2021.
Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa has also offered condolences to the Supreme Leader of Iran, The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and the government and people of Iran.
President Ramaphosa said his thoughts are with the families of the late President and Foreign Minister as well as the relatives of the personnel and aircrew who perished.
President Ramaphosa, who as Deputy President paid a working visit to Iran in November 2015, said: “This is an extraordinary, unthinkable tragedy that has claimed a remarkable leader of a nation with whom South Africa enjoys strong bilateral relations and with whom we were honoured to welcome to the BRICS fold in Johannesburg in 2023.
“Our hearts go out to the affected families and the administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We join Iran in this moment of mourning.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 05/20/2024 - 14:14
Introduction Choosing the right furniture for a child’s room is more than just a matter of style; it’s about fostering a safe, functional, and inspiring environment where children can rest, play, and grow. From transitioning from a crib to a toddler bed to maximising space with clever furniture choices like bunk beds, each piece plays …
A body and 2 dogs recovered, sadly deceased: The body of a man, believed to be that of Pierre Lotter, 23, from Kathu, Northern Cape, was located and recovered on Sunday, 19 May, near to Melkbosstrand. Formal identification remains in the process in cooperation with family, the SA Police Services and Government Health Forensic Pathology …