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Innovation, quality and capability are hallmarks of a Pan-Africa trailblazer, and therefore no surprise that Macsteel, a leading manufacturer, merchandiser and distributor of steel and value-added steel products was first in line to take up the highly sought-after Pan-African Trailblazer sponsorship opportunity at the 2023 South African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) Steel Awards. Trailblazing …
Born on the Cape Flats, Simone Julies-Wicomb, a self-made entrepreneur who triumphed over adversity, is spearheading a transformation in the realm of business process outsourcing (BPO) through her innovative venture, Black Elegance. Established in 2019, this proudly South African firm is far from being just another call centre; it’s a compelling example of unwavering perseverance …
The Grade 5s visited Kwazamokuhle School for the Disabled last week Friday. The day was filled by being educated by an occupational, speech-language and physiotherapist about disabilities and assistive devices. The children got to feel what it is like to use a wheelchair, crutches, walking frames, canes for the blind, cut with one hand whilst …
Upstream petroleum industry development breakthrough could catapult SA economy
A breakthrough in the development of the upstream petroleum industry has the potential to propel the South African economy to greater heights.
This is according to Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Dr Nobuhle Nkabane who was speaking during the inaugural Energy Conference hosted by the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) in Johannesburg.
“As the department…we are of a firm view that a breakthrough in the development of the Upstream Petroleum Industry will catapult our economy to greater heights.
“Hence, we are particularly pleased with the recent approval by Parliament of the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development [UPRD] Bill which seeks to separate petroleum provisions from mineral provisions and address issues that are pertinent to the upstream petroleum sector,” she said.
According to the Deputy Minister, a report by the African Energy Chamber has predicted that gas demand is expected to increase and outstrip supply.
She said this will give South Africa an opportunity to tap into that market.
“In view of the [chamber’s] prediction, the approval of the UPRD Bill is indeed a major step towards the immediate development of South Africa’s Upstream Petroleum Industry which will enable our country to become a major player in the production and supply of oil and gas.
“In real terms, this tells us that there is no better time than now for our country to invest in the exploration and exploitation of the natural resources that it is well endowed with, including oil and gas,” Nkabane said.
The Deputy Minister told conference delegates that in light of South Africa's challenges, “we need all” sources of energy.
“Fact of the matter is that, for South Africa to effectively address the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality, it will require a more rapid and inclusive economic growth which will need all energy technologies to play a significant role. A developing nation like ours, does not have the luxury to choose between these energy technologies.
“We appreciate that any transition to a low carbon future will have an impact on the use of fossil fuels. However, in view of the fact that 82% of energy sources in the world are from fossil fuels, this conference must help us determine how best South Africa can manage its transition, given its endowment with these fossil fuels,” Nkabane said.
She emphasised that the National Development Plan 2030 enjoins government to implement a mix of energy sources to diversify South Africa’s energy mix to meet growing electricity demand.
“In order to realise this NDP goal…the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019, identified a diversified energy mix required to meet the country’s expected electricity demand growth.
“The mix, which is inclusive of Solar PV, Wind, Coal, Nuclear, Gas, Hydro, and Battery Storage, is necessary for the country to guarantee reliable energy supply to society, and ultimately eradicate energy poverty in our country.
“On the one hand, the mix presents us with an opportunity to diversify South Africa’s electricity mix by producing distributed generation and provide off-grid electricity, whereas on the other hand, it guarantees us baseload energy which is essential for industrialisation,” Nkabane said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 11/21/2023 - 14:26
Introduction: In the fast-paced world of commerce, the efficient transportation of refrigerated goods is a critical component in ensuring the integrity and quality of products from source to destination. Logistics companies, along with advanced warehouse and fulfilment solutions, play a pivotal role in the seamless movement of perishable items. In this blog, we’ll delve into …
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board met today and confirmed the terms of the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). After hearing representation from SLC, the ICC Board decided that Sri Lanka can continue to compete internationally both in bilateral cricket and ICC events after being suspended recently for breaching its obligations as a Member …
Vertiv trends forecast sees intense focus on AI enablement and energy management ntense, urgent demand for artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities – and the duelling pressure to reduce energy consumption, costs and greenhouse gas emissions – loom large over the data centre industry heading into 2024. The proliferation of AI (as Vertiv predicted two years ago) …
The concept behind Nelson Mandela’s ‘67 Minutes’ initiative, now termed the Acts of Kindness Campaign, is that anyone can contribute something in their own special way to change the world and improve the lives of those around them. And this is not limited to Mandela Day – it’s something that can become part of everyone’s …
Government to launch 16 Days of Activism campaign
The implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (NSP - GBVF) will be among the awareness activities to take centre stage during this year’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
The 16 Days of Activism Campaign is an international United Nations-endorsed initiative that takes place annually from 25 November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day).
The period was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to raise public awareness on gender-based violence (GBV) in line with resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999.
Other key commemorative days observed annually during this period include World AIDS Day on 1 December, and the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on 3 December.
This year marks the 25th anniversary since South Africa initiated the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign.
The 16 Days campaign focuses on raising awareness to the devastating impact that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has on women and children, and the social fabric of society.
Government will launch the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign on 25 November 2023 at the Nsikazi Stadium in Mbombela Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province.
This year’s campaign will be observed under the theme: “Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence and femicide: leaving no one behind”. The sub-theme for this year is: “Safe access for women to clean water: a basic human right”.
The theme speaks to the importance of ensuring an all-society and multi-faceted approach to fight GBVF. The sub-theme seeks to address barriers women face in safely accessing water and sanitation in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 11/21/2023 - 12:37
21 November 2023 King of the Whip 2023 – SA’s premier FMX Event – Returns to Montecasino King of the Whip has sold out for the second year in a row. It takes place on Saturday, 25 November, at Montecasino in Fourways. Doors open at 2pm, and proceedings are underway at 4pm. Julien Vanstippen …
Urgent interventions implemented to address port delays
Transnet says it is implementing a number of urgent interventions to address the backlogs at the Port of Durban and to ease the congestion at Richards Bay.
According to Transnet, the backlog at the port is being caused by factors including inclement weather conditions and equipment availability.
Transnet Board Chairperson, Andile Sangqu, said: “The problem of port congestion is a complex one and it is something that was due to happen at some point, as a result of many years of underinvestment in equipment and its maintenance.
“We are working on a number of measures to turn the situation around. We need to caution that this is going to take some time as the lead times for some of the equipment is anything from 12 to 18 months. The team is working around the clock to procure this important equipment, to ensure our port facilities are in line with global best practice”.
Transnet explained the urgent interventions that are currently in place to address “slow turnaround times affecting the docking and offloading of containers at the port”.
“At Pier 2, the plan is to ramp up the tempo from 2 500 – 4 000 containers a day over the next three months. Under normal conditions, the container handling tempo at Pier 2 is 3 300 containers a day. However, over the past four weeks, this has reduced to 2 500 due to inclement weather and equipment challenges. At Pier 1, the tempo will increase from 1 200 to 1 500 containers a day.
“Initiatives on the cards to ensure that the recovery plan to clear the backlog succeeds include the acquisition of 16 rubber tyred gantry cranes for Pier 1 by the second half of 2025 and acquisition of four ship-to-shore cranes for South Quay for Pier 2in FY2025/26. Work is also underway to refurbish and maintain critical port equipment to improve asset utilisation at Pier 1 and Pier 2 and this will be completed by August 2024,” Transnet said.
The company’s acting CEO Michelle Phillips said management at the port terminals are “working around the clock with industrial engineers from the task team to maximise berth performance”.
“With all these initiatives in place, we expect it will take a maximum of seven weeks to clear the backlog at Pier 1 and 15 weeks for Pier 2. This will make a significant difference to the flow of container traffic through the port.
“It is crucial that we stabilise our operations through these short-term interventions while we continue with the broad Recovery Plan to improve Transnet operations. The plan is exactly what is says it is: a plan to turnaround the business and ensure significant and sustainable improvements in all our operations, and in particular in rail and ports,” she said.
An emergency meeting with stakeholders to find solutions to road congestion at the Port of Richard’s Bay. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 11/21/2023 - 10:54
By Shaheen Khan – Senior Lecturer (Commerce and Management) at Regent Business School In this in-depth exploration of consumer psychology during the South African festive season, Shaheen Khan from Regent Business School unravels the intricacies of consumer behaviour, offering valuable insights into how businesses can effectively influence consumer choices and shape trends during this critical …
Alfred Nevhutanda sold the car just three months after he bought it for R6.3-million
In a showstopping moment, The Tangram Restaurant at Durbanville Hills Winery has been awarded South Africa’s Best Restaurant at the 2023 Restaurant Week. With over 25 000 diners dining at 140 participating restaurants nationwide, The Tangram restaurant came out tops with an overall average rating of 10 out 10 for service, cuisine and ambience. Competing …
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has made history by being the most attended ICC event ever, after 1,250,307 fans passed through the turnstiles to witness the biggest Cricket World Cup, culminating in Australia winning a remarkable sixth title. With six games to go the spectator figures had already surpassed the one million mark …
Dear Editor It has been more than 24 hours since the DA called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, to appraise the country on the steps that are being taken to resolve the Transnet port crisis and they have failed to come forward and show leadership in relation to …
Dear Editor The DA will submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to obtain the details of the contracts issued to landlords of informal settlements (shacks) regarded as “student accommodation” in Madalabara, Limpopo where National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funded students of the Letaba TVET College, reside. Despite the evidence of …
By Prof. Mark Nasila, Chief Data and Analytics Officer in FNB Chief Risk Office 21 November 2023: For jobs to be created, new industries need to be created and for that, you need people. A unique opportunity for job creation is emerging with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which is set to not only become …
Footballers urged to plan for future
With football being a relatively short career, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has encouraged athletes to learn the business of football and its supporting eco systems while still active in their playing careers so they can participate in the industry.
Addressing the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) General Assembly in Cape Town on Tuesday, the Minister expressed concerns about what happens to footballers when they retire from playing.
“Some players may face challenges during the transition from a playing career to a post-playing career, and there is an increasing recognition of the importance of supporting athletes in this transition phase.
“This is where the role of FIFPRO becomes important. Your members need to be empowered; therefore, capacity building should be high in your list of priorities. It should not be by coincidence rather it must be a deliberate and guided process.
“We have seen examples of some top clubs around the world bringing in former players to their coaching and management structures. This is how we have seen former players emerge as top coaches. Yet, many players retire and have nowhere to turn to,” the Minister said.
He emphasised the importance of finding ways for former players, especially those outside the capital centres of football in Europe and Asia, to make a living and to contribute to the sport when their playing careers are over.
“Many former players transition into coaching or management roles within the world of football. They may become youth coaches, assistant coaches, or even head coaches at various levels. Some also take on administrative roles within football clubs or organizations.
“Several retired football players find success in the media industry. They become analysts or commentators for television and radio broadcasts, providing insights and commentary on games and events.
“Some also contribute to print or online publications as sports writers, bloggers, or content creators, sharing their perspectives and experiences in written form. A few players venture into entrepreneurship, starting their own businesses or investing in various ventures,” the Minister said.
Racism in football continues to be a challenge
The Minister called on FIFPRO to think about how it can contribute to uprooting racism in football following a report noting that racism is the most reported form of discrimination reported.
“Players, coaches, officials, and fans continue to be abused because of the colour of their skin. Despite interventions by football authorities, this abuse is continuing, meaning more should be done.
Kick It Out, the organisation dedicated to stamping out discrimination in football, states that in the 2022 – 2023 season, it received 1 007 reports of discriminatory behaviour in football from grassroots level, professional level, and across social media.
“This is a 65 percent increase in incidents reported to the organisation in the 2021 – 2022 season. Kick It Out found that racism is the most reported form of discrimination reported, accounting for nearly half (49 percent) of all cases reported.
“Kick It Out also observed increasing reports of online abuse. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) reports that during the 2022 Men’s World Cup, almost 20 000 abusive social media posts were aimed at players, coaches, and officials. Kick It Out has also observed increasing reports of sexist behaviour or misogyny. If anything, Sport should contribute towards Social Cohesion instead of being a source of division,” the Minister said.
Kick It Out was established to fight racism in football in 1993. Then in 1997, it expanded its mandate to tackle all forms of discrimination. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 11/21/2023 - 11:32
Stay ahead of the game using PPI to maximise savings this Black Friday Even though there is a continuous narrative that South African consumers are facing a tough economic environment, and that discretionary spending is under pressure, annual Black Friday sales are steadily increasing. First National Bank’s (FNB) statistics show that its cardholders spent nearly …
Some of the world’s wealthiest individuals founded their empires on property investment. Craig Mott, Business Development Manager for the Rawson Property Group, shares the top 4 techniques used to build these high-performance portfolios that deliver mogul-worthy returns. Don’t overlook an opportunity “The best property investors keep a constant finger on the pulse of the property …
The Walt Disney Company marked its 100th anniversary on October 16th, 2023, and throughout the year, has been celebrating the fans and storytellers who have sparked the joy and magic that is Disney over the last 100 years. This December, families will be able to continue the celebrations as the Disney100 Outdoor Cinema Experience lands …
The criminal case against Sasol for allegedly discharging water contaminated with chemicals including vanadium into a tributary of the Vaal River was postponed on Monday 20 November to 5 July 2024. The postponement was agreed between the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Sasol, at the NPA’s request to allow it time to prepare the very …
Embracing the Power of Pink: Rosebank Mall’s Pink Run raises R50,000 for CANSA In a heartwarming display of unity and compassion, Rosebank Mall’s 5KM Pink Run, held in partnership with the CANSA Organisation, left a trail of inspiration and hope as it unfolded on a beautiful morning in the heart of Rosebank. Muhammad Varachia, General …
