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Head coach Gregor Townsend has today named a 39-player squad for the upcoming 2024 Guinness Six Nations, with four uncapped players among the selection. Props Alec Hepburn and Will Hurd, winger Arron Reed and back-three operator Harry Paterson have all earned a first call-up to Scotland duty, ahead of the championship opener against Wales in …
“My daughter was a year old when I last saw water coming out of our taps. She will be 14 next month,” says frustrated Bester resident
Adults spend at least a third of their lives at work. Whether it’s an 8-5 desk job, shift work, or running a business, a big chunk of time and energy goes into work. In a world dominated by technology and ever-increasing pressure, it’s easy to get carried away by workplace demands at the expense of …
Wales senior men’s head coach Waren Gatland has named a 34-player squad for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations campaign. Dafydd Jenkins will captain the squad for the championship and is in line to become the second youngest men’s player to lead Wales in a match. Five uncapped players are selected among the 19 forwards and …
Fractional share investing is a way to buy tiny portions of a company’s stock, instead of needing to buy whole shares. Imagine a slice of pizza: instead of buying the entire pizza (one whole share), you can just buy a slice (a fractional share). In South Africa companies like Easy Equities are masters of the …
DMRE to hold renewable energy bidders' conference
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is expected to hold three virtual bidders’ conferences in respect of the recently released bid windows under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
The three bid windows are REIPPPP Bid Window 7; Battery Energy Storage Capacity IPP Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP) Bid Window 2; and gas to power IPPPP Bid Window 1, and the call for the procurement of:
“In support of this significant milestone in the IPP Programme, and to engage with potential bidders and other energy sector stakeholders, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, and the Independent Power Producers' Office, will host three virtual Bidders’ Conferences on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 and Thursday, 18 January 2024.
“The conferences will allow all stakeholders to engage with members of the DMRE and IPP Office on queries or clarification questions in relation to the released RFPs,” the department said.
The virtual conferences will be held as follows:
The department said registered participants will have access to recordings of the proceedings and presentations.
The REIPPP is aimed at bringing additional megawatts onto the country’s electricity system through private sector investment. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 01/16/2024 - 10:10
Investing in the stock market has traditionally been associated with hefty sums and the ability to buy entire shares of your desired companies. However, platforms like Easy Equities are shaking things up by making ownership accessible to everyone through fractional share purchasing. Let’s delve into the exciting world of part stock investing and unpack the …
Fabricating six massive reactors that are over three stories high in Gauteng and then transporting these more than 2 500 kilometres to a mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – where all 3265 parts fitted perfectly, with not even one of the 26 900 bolts out of place – is a massive achievement. This …
Dear Editor The latest scandal rocking the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) must be the last nail in Higher Education Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande’s coffin. Barely a week since the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) released it report, as well as leaked recordings, allegedly tying the Minister, NSFAS board chair Ernest Khosa and the …
Five women – the most ever – have been included on the national match official panel for 2024, announced by SA Rugby on Tuesday. Aimee Barrett-Theron, the 2021 and ‘22 Outsurance Referee of the Year, leads the list of women on the national panel, where she is joined by Ashley Murray-Pretorius, Sinesipho Foloti, Giana Viljoen …
The captains of the 16 participating teams at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 were given a true South African welcome on Monday, as teams relished a vibrant and colourful Captains’ Day in Broederstroom, north of Johannesburg. The Lesedi Cultural Village hosted the influential youngsters, who were treated to a series of cultural performances …
Wales kick off the new year and their men’s 2024 ‘Guinness Six Nations with a sell-out for Scotland’s round-one visit to Cardiff. Warren Gatland’s squad play their first home clash, and opening game of the tournament in front of a full capacity, 74,000, Principality Stadium crowd. This marks Gatland’s second six nations competition since returning …
Dear Editor DASO calls on all South Africans to join forces with the DA to remove Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande. The time has come for the man with a pocket full of empty promises to be held accountable for collapsing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Just last week, the DA laid criminal …
Dear Editor With all public schools opening tomorrow, the DA wishes all the Grade 1s starting their school careers, as well as all the other learners and teachers, the very best for the school year. Reports of schools still waiting for deliveries of their learning and teaching support material (LTSM) is a big concern as …
This past weekend 231 young men from across the Western Cape, between the ages of 18–25 years-old commenced with their development and empowering journey at the Chrysalis Academy. I am excited for these young men and wish them well as this rewarding process starts. There is much to look forward to and to learn. I …
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) believes that it is of utmost importance to ensure that the SABC has strong legislation and policies that govern it to enable the entity to restore public trust and to guarantee editorial independence. It is an undeniable fact that the SABC has been plagued, for years, by financial instability …
Structural reforms remain key for SA economy
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to engaging in structural reforms that will foster an environment fertile to economic growth and competitiveness.
The Minister was speaking during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland.
Godongwana is leading the South African delegation to the critical meeting.
Structural reforms in South Africa are targeted at – among other things – electricity, infrastructure, water and logistics, and are driven by Operation Vulindlela.
Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery. It aims to modernise and transform network industries, including electricity, water, transport and digital communications.
The objectives of the reforms are aimed at:
“There are a number of things we are doing to deal with structural reforms. One of the perennial problems we’ve had has been on the energy front. Massive structural reforms… are dealing with that question.
“A new challenge has been the logistics sector, where we are investing a lot in it. We have been trying to change the skills composition to the extent that we don’t have and we have provided an environment where we can import skills with ease.
“So there are lot of structural reforms that we have engaged in in order to make sure that we can grow the economy and be competitive,” Godongwana told the panel.
Historical commitment
During the pre-WEF media breakfast briefing held last week, Godongwana emphasised that structural reforms remain crucial.
“Structural reforms remain crucial to revive medium-term growth prospects amid a constrained policy space. We remain steadfast in carrying out structural reforms to support and accelerate economic recovery.
“As government, we remain resolved to deal with the energy and logistics challenges that are adversely impacting our economy,” he said.
In his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement delivered in November last year, Godongwana presented the reforms specifically targeted at Eskom and Transnet.
On Transnet, he said: “Rail underperformance is estimated to have cost up to 5% of GDP in 2022, with losses in the region of R50 billion in the minerals sector alone.
“Given the scale of the challenges, the National Logistics Crisis Committee was instituted to broaden reforms in the sector and prioritise reforms aimed at resolving the immediate crisis, while also addressing the structural aspects hampering the sector.”
On electricity, Godongwana said: “[We] recognise the potential loss of revenue due to private electricity generation, and the fact that traditional revenue models relied on by public entities like Eskom, face serious disruption.
“It is for these reasons that our electricity reforms are holistic, evidenced-based, and geared to find a balanced solution to our electricity supply challenges. They take into account not just a particular entity but the transformation of the sector as a whole.” – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 01/16/2024 - 12:18
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo urges members of the public to be vigilant and maintain personal hygiene as country records two laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera in Limpopo.
Both cases are imported from Zimbabwe.
The first case was confirmed in the Musina sub-district in Vhembe District. The 43-year-old male patient tested positive and has since been discharged from Musina hospital.
The second case is a 27-year-old man, also from Zimbabwe who presented at Hellen Franz hospital under Capricorn District Municipality, with history of abdominal cramps, watery diarrhoea and vomiting that started on 11 January 2024.
The patient travelled to Zimbabwe on 9 December 2023 and returned to South Africa on 10 January 2024. His health condition is stable and still in isolation at the hospital. His contacts were identified, and the local outbreak response team has been activated to conduct further investigations and provide health education to contacts.
The country remains on high alert of possible imported cholera cases from the neighbouring Zimbabwe which is currently battling the outbreak of the disease which has so far claimed over 200 lives.
The department in collaboration with the Border Management Authority, has intensified health screening at Beitbridge border post to mitigate against the imported cholera cases from Zimbabwe.
Deputy Minister Dhlomo thanks these suspected cholera patients for being honest with their travel history and full cooperation with health officials and appeals to all those with travel history to cholera outbreak areas to do the same in order save lives and prevent further transmission to other people.
“We say to all travellers along N1 from Musina and other parts of the country, please avoid using known or suspected contaminated surfaces especially in public places and wash hands thoroughly with soap before handling food or after using the bathroom to prevent possible infection”, said Deputy Minister Dlhomo.
All people who experience cholera-like symptoms (stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and dehydration and vomiting), with or without travel history to cholera endemic countries and areas, are also urged to present themselves to the nearest health facilities without delays. Never drink water from unsafe sources such as rivers, dams, streams, unless boiled or disinfected first.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Health.
Travellers urged to be vigilant following detection of cholera in Limpopo
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has urged citizens to be vigilant and maintain personal hygiene as the country has recorded two laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera in Limpopo.
According to the Department of Health, both cases are imported from Zimbabwe.
The first case was confirmed in the Musina sub-district in the Vhembe District after a 43-year-old male patient tested positive and has since been discharged from Musina Hospital.
“The second case is a 27-year-old man, also from Zimbabwe, who presented at Helene Franz Hospital under Capricorn District Municipality, with a history of abdominal cramps, watery diarrhoea and vomiting that started on 11 January 2024,” the department explained.
The department said this particular patient travelled to Zimbabwe on 9 December 2023 and returned to South Africa on 10 January 2024.
According to the statement, the patient’s health condition is stable and they are currently in isolation at the hospital.
“His contacts were identified, and the local outbreak response team has been activated to conduct further investigations and provide health education to contacts.”
The department said the country remains on high alert for possible imported cholera cases from Zimbabwe, which is currently battling the outbreak of the disease, which so far claimed over 200 lives.
The department, in collaboration with the Border Management Authority (BMA), has since intensified health screening at the Beitbridge border post to mitigate the imported cholera cases from Zimbabwe.
The Deputy Minister has since thanked suspected cholera patients for being honest with their travel history and fully cooperating with health officials.
He appealed to all those with a travel history to cholera outbreak areas to do the same to save lives and prevent further transmission to other people.
“We say to all travellers along N1 from Musina and other parts of the country, please avoid using known or suspected contaminated surfaces, especially in public places and wash hands thoroughly with soap before handling food or after using the bathroom to prevent possible infection,” said Dhlomo.
All people who experience cholera-like symptoms, with or without travel history to cholera endemic countries and areas, are also encouraged to present themselves to the nearest health facilities without delay.
The symptoms to look out for include stomach cramps, diarrhoea, dehydration and vomiting.
The department has advised people to never drink water from unsafe sources such as rivers, dams or streams unless boiled or disinfected first. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 01/16/2024 - 10:34
On Saturday, 13 January 2024 the Betway SA20 enjoyed a “Super Saturday ” with the batters taking centre stage in two highly entertaining matches. The first double-header of Season 2 provided run-fests at both the Wanderers and St George’s Park, with an aggregate of 803 runs scored across the four innings. MI Cape Town set the …
British American Tobacco (BAT), the tobacco giant, remains a controversial yet alluring option for income-seeking investors. Its high and consistent dividend yield beckons, but navigating the ethical considerations and regulatory headwinds requires careful thought. Here are some strategies to consider when investing in BAT: For Dividend Hunters: Direct Buy and Hold: The classic approach: directly …
Investec, the South African financial services giant, has carved a niche for itself as a consistent dividend payer and a potential avenue for capital appreciation. Whether you’re an income-hungry investor or a growth-oriented one, navigating the best ways to invest in INL stocks requires strategic insights. Here are some options to consider: For Dividend Seekers: …
Bidvest Group (BID), a South African industrial and distribution behemoth, has established itself as a dividend champion on the JSE. Its diverse portfolio and consistent payouts make it a tempting option for income-seeking investors. But how can you best invest in BID and unlock its full potential? Here are some strategies to consider: Direct Buy …
Two men remanded in custody for the murder of five people
Two suspects were remanded in custody after appearing before the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on Monday on five separate murder cases.
Initially, the accused - Obakeng Segwabe, 19, and Olebogeng Mafora, 21, were arrested for the murder of two people after human skeletal remains were found in plastic in the bushes near Mosweu village.
Subsequent to further investigations, they were also linked to three decomposed bodies that were discovered between December 2023 and January 2024. The deceased were part of a group boys that were at an initiation school.
Three additional charges of murder were added, said the police.
The accused are expected to reappear in court on Tuesday, 23 January 2024, for bail application.
Investigations, including the identification of the bodies through DNA are underway. The deceased’s names will only be confirmed after that process.
The team also arrested Koketso Mmutlane, 19, for defeating the ends of justice. The accused appeared in court on Monday.
According to information, he allegedly influenced Segwabe and Mafora to lie about the legality of the initiation school and its activities including the deaths. He is expected appear before the same court on Friday, 09 February 2024, after being released on warning. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 01/16/2024 - 10:12