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Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the announcement by National Treasury that it issued Transnet with a R47 billion guarantee facility, effective immediately. The DA unequivocally rejects this guarantee as it heightens taxpayer risk exposure to the ANC’s mismanagement of our logistics and transport sector – which has reached crisis level. The ANC has …
Dear Editor Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Ekurhuleni laid charges of assault against the EFF Councillors in the City of Ekurhuleni who attacked DA councillors at their benches in Germiston Council Chambers, yesterday. At the sitting of the Ordinary Council Meeting on 30 November 2023, the EFF stormed the DA benches …
It doesn’t happen too often that a rugby coach is satisfied with the amount of preparation done before a major tournament, but that’s not the case for Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel on matchday minus one of the Emirates Dubai Sevens 2023, the first of eight tournaments in the new HSBC SVNS. The second …
Your weekend load shedding schedule
Eskom has announced on social media platform X that Stage 2 and 3 load shedding will be implemented from 10am on Friday until Sunday.
Earlier this week, the power utility implemented Stage 6 load shedding due to insufficient generating capacity and weakened emergency reserves which caused strain on available generation capacity.
“Due to the sustained improvement of the generation capacity with unplanned outages at 13 542MW, load shedding will be reduced to Stage 2 from 10am today until 4pm. Thereafter, Stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 4pm until 5am on Sunday when load shedding will be suspended from 5am until 4pm.
“On Sunday, Stage 3 load shedding will resume from 4pm until 5am on Monday. Eskom will communicate the update on the week ahead on Sunday afternoon,” the power utility said.
On Thursday, Eskom had announced that generation capacity had come back on line to boost the power grid.
“[Some] 800MW were returned to service and approximately 3700MW of generating capacity is anticipated to return to service by Sunday evening. Eskom teams are working tirelessly to ensure that this additional generating units are returned to service as soon as possible.
“We appeal to the members of the public to use electricity sparingly and efficiently from 5pm to 9pm to reduce the high demand.
“We would also like to thank those who do heed the call of switching off geysers and pool pumps from 5pm to 9pm, as this lowers demand and helps in alleviating the pressure on the power system and contributes to lower stages of load shedding,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 12/01/2023 - 10:19
Journalist of the Year award shared by News24 and GroundUp
Dear Editor After 16 years of a crippling load-shedding crisis, the best solution that the ANC government could muster was to solicit and parade a donation of low voltage diesel generators from China. As if this wasn’t pathetic enough, the Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, had the temerity to gloat and perpetuate his discredited lie …
National Strategic Plan on GBVF must be prioritised - Cabinet
Cabinet has reaffirmed the need to prioritise the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) of dealing with the second pandemic of gender-based violence and femicide.
Briefing the media on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet further noted progress that has been made on interventions of the NSP that are driven through the following six pillars:
“Government will continue with consultations with various sectors to mobilise a whole of society approach to dealing with GBVF [gender-based violence and femicide], including localising the NSP using the District Development Model (DDM) approach for implementation at a ward level,” the Minister said.
In this regard, Cabinet applauded the successful co-hosting of the 3rd African Union (AU) Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence Against Women and Girls with the Republic of Comoros in Pretoria from 27 to 28 November 2023.
The Men’s Conference provided an opportunity to consolidate the bold efforts that the Heads of State and Government, and other sectors have taken towards ending violence against women and girls on the continent.
These efforts include accountability for the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration and the decisions made at the 2023 February Heads of State and Government Conference on negotiating an AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
MSC investment
Meanwhile, Cabinet has also welcomed the opening of the Nelson Mandela cruise terminal by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) in a public-private partnership (PPP) contract with Transnet.
MSC invested approximately R296.7 million in the construction of the new terminal, with an additional R30 million earmarked for expansion of the terminal.
Cabinet echoed the sentiments of President Ramaphosa when he said at the opening of the terminal last week: “The multi-user terminal has made Durban an even more desirable destination for cruise ships from all over the world”. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Fri, 12/01/2023 - 09:21
Johannesburg, 30 November 2023 – Receiving advice and guidance from a mentor can be life-changing on the journey to make it as an entrepreneur. Irish French economist, Richard Cantillon defined entrepreneurs as “risk-takers” in the late 17th century and the sentiment stands true today. Entrepreneurs require the courage to take risks to succeed. In a …
Philippine culture was on full display during the event organized by the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria to mark the 30 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and South Africa. As a fitting tribute to the countries' diplomatic milestone, Philippine dance troupe KALOOB Philippine Music and Dance Ministry performed on 26 November 2023 at the University of Pretoria's Aula Theatre.
The event was attended by over 700 guests from the government, diplomatic corps, organized business, academic community and other sectors of South African society, as well as members of the Filipino community.
In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador Noralyn Jubaira Baja highlighted the similarities between Filipino and South African cultures despite the two countries' geographical distance. She said that the Philippines, just like South Africa, is a country which is proud of and fully embraces its multicultural heritage. Filipinos also share common values with their African kin such as faith and spirituality, family centeredness, sense of community, as well as fostering harmonious interpersonal relationships.
The Ambassador likewise mentioned the significant developments in the bilateral ties between the Philippines and South Africa, most notably the successful convening of the countries' 5th Bilateral Consultative Forum held on 23 February 2023 in Pretoria, which allowed Filipino and South African policymakers to discuss issues of mutual interest.
As guest of honor, Chief Director for Central, South and Southeast Asia Sindiswa Mququ of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation agreed with the Ambassador that both countries have rich and diverse cultural heritage that reflects their unique identity and history. Commending the Embassy for its continuous efforts to promote the cultural relations between the two countries, she emphatically stated that it is through cultural exchange and dialogue that both sides can learn from each other, appreciate their similarities and differences, and foster mutual understanding and respect.
Marking their debut in South Africa, KALOOB provided the South African public with a glimpse of the cultural diversity of the Philippines by performing selected traditional dances and music of the Cordillera region, the indigenous communities in Mindanao, and the Muslim groups in southern Philippines. The group also performed Hispanic dances which were introduced to the country during the Spanish occupation and subsequently indigenized by the Filipino people. KALOOB capped their great performance with Philippine folk dances which are deeply rooted in pre-colonial and Spanish colonial periods but have survived and evolved through time.
The dance troupe captivated the guests with its repertoire of Filipino dances, which included Chalijok (harvest-time dance of the Kalinga people), Sabay (courtship dance of the Subanen people), Kapamalong-Malong (dance showing the various ways to wear and use the malong, a tubular cloth worn by the Maranao people), Singkil (the Maranao people's retelling of the Darangen epic), Jota Moncadeña (a distinctly Hispanized dance in Tarlac province using bamboo hand clickers called kalaste) and the very popular Tinikling. Live music from traditional Philippine percussion and stringed instruments, as well as the colorful and vibrant traditional costumes further enriched KPMDM's performance.
KALOOB received a standing ovation from an enthusiastic audience. As a symbol of the enduring friendship between the Philippines and South Africa, some South African youth who watched the performance presented flowers to the performers.
Founded by Mr. Eduardo Lapiz, KALOOB initially promoted Filipino indigenous culture for use in contemporary Christian evangelization and worship. The group has since branched out to arranging performances for a general audience with the objective of spreading profound appreciation for Philippine heritage. With its continuing extensive cultural research, documentation, preservation and promotion of Philippine indigenous music, dance and rituals, the group has been recognized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines as one of the major dance groups in the country.
KALOOB's performance in South Africa was made possible through the generous support of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs' Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy.The commemorative event is part of the Embassy's vigorous efforts to harness the transformative power of cultural diplomacy in bridging cultural gaps and facilitating greater people-to-people understanding between the Philippines and South Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines.
On Thursday 23 November 2023, South Africa’s increasingly global fashion industry turned out in well-heeled force at a dazzling gala event that succeeded in being even more glamorous thanks to its mindful host, Twyg, an independent media non-profit organisation working at the intersection of fashion and sustainability. Celebrating designers who use sustainable practices, this was …
The domestic Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchises will be determined to make the most of their home ground advantage once again this weekend and make up some ground on the log when they take the field in round seven of the thrilling inter-hemisphere showpiece. All four South African teams will be in action on home …
Paysho, the groundbreaking online escrow service, is transforming the landscape of online transactions by providing a secure platform for both buyers and sellers. In an era where online fraud and scams are rampant, Paysho emerges as much-needed protection for buyers and sellers, safeguarding all funds until all parties involved in a transaction are completely satisfied …
JOHANNESBURG – November 30, 2023 – A number of key South African organisations are potentially incurring significant losses due to ‘ghosts’ – that is, ghost employees, who exist on paper within business or government departments, but not in real life. This issue is criminal rather than paranormal in nature, whereby ghost employees are one of …
SIU investigating millions more lost to corruption, maladministration
Introduction to Lithium-Ion Technology in Solar Applications In South Africa, the adoption of renewable energy has been significantly bolstered by the advancement of lithium-ion solar batteries . These batteries, known for their high energy density and longevity, are transforming how solar energy is stored and utilized. Understanding Different Types of Lithium Batteries Lithium-Ion Batteries: …
As South Africa’s e-commerce sector continues its robust growth, the post-Black Friday period offered a critical litmus test for logistics companies. DPD, a leader in the express courier industry, faced this challenge head-on, navigating a 22% increase in parcel volumes compared to the previous year. This surge in demand, a direct result of the consumer …
Premier calls for swift arrest in rape of female security officers
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has called on law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate and swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators involved in the attack and rape of female security officers at the Transport Department offices in Durban.
According to reports, about eight armed criminals entered the Department of Transport offices at Merebank in eThekwini by scaling the wall and took hostage all six security guards on duty, bound them with their own shoelaces and assaulted them at gunpoint.
In another room, three female officers were raped at gunpoint in full view of their colleagues. The criminals also stole equipment belonging to the Department of Transport which is used for road maintenance.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has strongly condemned the sexual attack of the three female security officers.
“We would like to offer our support to the victims of this senseless and barbaric act of criminality and violation of women’s dignity. The latest sexual attacks and rape of these three women is an embarrassment and an indication that some men do not belong in our society and should be stripped of all the freedoms set aside for normal people,” Dube-Ncube said.
She said it was unfortunate that the attack comes at a time when the province should be observing the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
“This incident comes as the country is thick in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) having launched the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign only on Saturday.
“We are deeply saddened that these barbaric and animalistic attacks on women still persist. The men who commit these crimes against their sisters and mothers, in all honesty are less than human, and should be condemned to long-term imprisonment without the option of a parole,” Dube-Ncube said.
The Premier described the incident as a heinous act that has shaken the province to its core.
“We also urge communities to come together in solidarity and support for gender-based violence survivors, fostering an environment where survivors feel safe to report such crimes and seek the help they need,” the Premier said.
The provincial government has assigned psycho-social support to the victims and affected staff, as well as the necessary protection to support the victims.
The Premier commended the Department of Transport for speedily visiting the site and attending to the staff traumatised by the incident. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 11/30/2023 - 14:46
Introduction As the holiday season approaches, the search for the perfect Christmas gift becomes a delightful yet sometimes daunting task. While there are countless options to choose from, one timeless and universally loved gift idea stands out: chocolates. Whether you’re looking for a small token of appreciation or a grand gesture of affection, chocolates have …
A graceful retreat near the roaring Victoria Falls, The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara has revealed its refined new Livingstone Junior Suites. The classically furnished suites, accentuated with local designs, benefit from sweeping views of the Zambezi River and are abundant in modern comforts. Spanning 52 square metres, each of the four Livingstone Junior Suites …
Load shedding expected to ease into the weekend - Ramokogopa
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says he expects the intensity of load shedding to decrease going into the weekend.
The Minister was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the handover of the first consignment of energy equipment donated by the People’s Republic of China.
“We have been able to return the units much earlier; Kusile [power station] Unit 2 – in the midst of Stage 6 [load shedding] has come back to give us an additional 800MW. So once we stabilise the emergency reserves, I’m more than confident that going into the weekend, you’ll start seeing that the intensity of load shedding is going to go down,” he said.
Turning to the equipment donated by the Chinese government, the Minister said the equipment will help to “preserve life” as they will serve health facilities and schools, among others.
The consignment includes at least 450 gasoline generators which are expected to be distributed to public facilities such as clinics, schools and courts to use as backup energy sources.
“The Chinese were very enthusiastic and demonstrated levels of solidarity and comradery…that we have enjoyed over a period of time to say that as you resolve the bigger question of ending load shedding, you need some alternative supply or some solution to ensure that there is uninterrupted supply,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eskom has announced that it will lower the intensity of load shedding.
“Due to improved generation recovery and emergency reserves, Stage 3 load shedding was implemented at 10am today [Thursday] until 4pm.
“Thereafter, Stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 4pm until 8pm, followed by Stage 5 load shedding from 8pm until 5am on Friday,” the power utility said on X. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 11/30/2023 - 14:53
The weather outside is delightful, which means it’s time to start making those holiday plans! For holidaymakers and residents on the Mid-KZN South Coast, Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh has it covered with an epic festive season programme running from 13 December 2023 to 17 January 2024. “This is one of our favourite times of …
The Commission had required finality by mid-September to avoid materially prejudicing its preparations for 2024 elections
DURBAN – The impact of load-shedding on the individual has been immense, but the cost to big business has seen a massive shift to off-the-grid energy solutions. Recent reports indicate that the elevated levels of load-shedding in 2023 have cost the economy R1.6 trillion in lost economic activity. The launch of global solar supplier UNIPASSION …
Preferred bidders for Battery Storage IPP bid window one announced
The announcement of the four preferred bidders under the first bid window of the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Procurement (BESIPPP) Programme marks a “significant development” in South Africa’s pursuit for energy security.
This is according to Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s written remarks at the announcement of the bidders on Thursday.
The preferred bidders were selected following an independent evaluation of the bid submissions process held between August and October this year.
“This first grid-scale energy storage programme in South Africa marks yet another important step towards the development of adequate electricity generation capacity to meet the country’s demand as set out in the Integrated Resource Plan (2019).
“The site-specific BESIPPPP Programme Bid Window 1 is designed to facilitate the procurement of up to 513 megawatts (MW) from facilities that will provide Capacity, Energy and Ancillary Services to Eskom at 5 specified sites, therefore only one Preferred Bidder is appointed per site,” Mantashe said.
The four preferred bidders, chosen from a cohort of at least 17, are:
Mantashe said based on the department’s benchmarking exercise, a fifth bidder is expected to be appointed.
“The appointed preferred bidders have all made economic development commitments, notwithstanding the fact that such commitments were not mandatory for this BESIPPPP BW1 round. The preferred bidders have committed to creating a total of 992 job opportunities for South African citizens (measured in job years), during construction and operations.
“These projects will further spend over R3.2 billion on local content and over R4.4 billion on preferential procurement from BBBEE, black enterprises, QSEs and ESEs and on enterprise development initiatives over the life-time of the projects,” he said.
The Minister announced that project agreements have been signed with an additional bidder under the Risk Mitigation IPP Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP).
The 75MW project is expected to be located in De Aar, Northern Cape and offers a hybrid Solar PV and Battery Storage technology solution.
“The project anticipates reaching commercial close by mid-December 2023, and will start the 24-month construction phase in early 2024. The new generation capacity should therefore be online from early 2026.
“With the signing of this additional project, the total number of projects that have signed agreements under the RMIPPPP have now increased to 6 out of the eleven appointed Preferred bidders, which will add a total of 428MW of dispatchable capacity to the national grid,” he said.
Other IPP programmes
The Minister said that following the opening of several bid windows, at least 1384MW of new generating capacity – all at different stages of the process – have been secured.
“At least nine projects under Bid Window 5 of the Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) have now reached commercial close and are in construction. Three more projects are expected to reach commercial close in due course. In total, these projects will add a further 1 234 MW to the national grid from 2025 onwards.
“Moving to Bid Window 6, the 6 preferred bidders that were appointed in December 2022 are finalising all conditions precedent to reaching legal and commercial close. As previously communicated, the unavailability of grid capacity is a major constraint faced by all projects, resulting in delayed project closures.
“[The] department is in the process of finalising governance approvals for the release of the requests for the procurement of additional generation capacity under Bid Window 7 of the REIPPPP, Gas-to-Power, and Battery Storage.
“Further announcements in this regard will follow in the next two weeks,” the Minister added. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 11/30/2023 - 15:13
