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Edinburgh Rugby is delighted to announce Scotland international stand-off Ross Thompson has signed a two-year contract extension with the club, committing his future to the capital side. The 25-year-old Edinburgh-born playmaker has made a significant impact in his debut season at the club, featuring in 20 matches, including 16 starts, since his summer move from …
Metal contamination is a major concern in various industries such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. Even small amounts of metal contaminants can cause significant damage to equipment, reduce product quality, and pose serious safety risks. To mitigate these issues, industries rely on metal detector conveyor systems to detect and remove metal particles from materials …
Nzimande, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology meet on Global Digital Compact
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, met with Mandeep Gill, the Undersecretary and Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Digital and Emerging Technologies, on Wednesday.
The meeting primarily focused on South Africa’s role in implementing the UN’s Global Digital Compact (GDC) and the opportunities this presents for developing the country’s digital economy.
The GDC forms part of the UN’s Pact for the Future, which was adopted during the Summit of the Future in 2024.
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) said this compact was a comprehensive framework for global digital cooperation and governance, particularly regarding artificial intelligence.
Its primary objective is to harness the potential of digital technology for the benefit of humanity while also addressing the challenges and risks associated with it.
During the meeting with Gill, Nzimande stressed the importance of digital and emerging technologies.
“As one of the African countries with the largest public science systems, South Africa recognises the importance of developing our capabilities in digital and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and their potential to help in the development of solutions for some of the challenges of our time such as inequality, climate change and environmental degradation, pandemics and transnational conflict,” the Minister said.
He believes the current geopolitical moment required a stronger and consistent commitment to international collaboration, the free exchange of scientific knowledge, and multilateralism.
“These, we believe present us with a better chance at a sustainable future for humanity. It is for this reason that meaningful partnerships and the development of our capabilities in the digital economy are some of the strategic pillars of our country’s Decadal Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation,” he stated.
Outlining the potential benefits for South Africa’s participation in the GDC, the Minister said South Africa’s participation in the GDC presents the country with several unique opportunities to address national priorities and position it as a leader in regional digital transformation.
“We believe our participation in the GDC can further enhance our capabilities in such areas as infrastructure development, digital skills enhancement, digital entrepreneurship and innovation support, digital inclusion, data governance and privacy and human rights protection,” Nzimande stressed.
Nzimande used the meeting to update Gill on the department’s artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, which include the Foundation Digital Capabilities Research (FDCR).
One of the initiatives within the FDCR platform that is AI-focused is the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR).
There is also the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChi), which currently includes Research Chairs in information and communication technology (ICT) development, with two specifically focused on AI.
All the DSTI’s AI and digital economy initiatives are designed to support the objectives of South Africa’s Digital Economy Masterplan, which is the responsibility of the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 04/10/2025 - 14:38
84 views
Nornickel (https://NorNickel.com) has unveiled its strategy for the development of palladium-based technologies at the PGMs Industry Day, an international conference held in South Africa. The company's experts shared insights into new technological developments that have the potential to redefine the use of platinum group metals (PGMs) extracted on the African continent, particularly in the fields of energy, electronics, and green technology.
The presentation attracted considerable interest from conference participants. Industry representatives noted the practical relevance of Nornickel's innovations for the market, as well as the significant potential of palladium in emerging high-tech applications.
Nornickel is the world's largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel, and one of the leading global suppliers of platinum, copper, cobalt, and other precious and base metals. The company's Palladium Centre focuses on the development and implementation of innovative palladium-based solutions aimed at enhancing industrial efficiency.
Palladium is the most extracted metal among the PGMs and benefits from a geographically diversified supply chain. Russia and South Africa, the two major producing regions, ensure stable global supply.
From a chemical perspective, PGMs complement each other in many applications. Nornickel's research shows that palladium alloys with other PGMs frequently outperform individual metals in terms of efficiency and durability.
Nornickel's approach to palladium innovation is closely aligned with key global megatrends: the energy transition, sustainable development, and digitalisation. Promising application areas include solar and hydrogen energy, biofuels, and next-generation electronics, where palladium can help reduce the cost of conductive components, hard drives, and OLED displays. In existing markets, the company is focused on improving performance and economics for end users.
Nornickel is actively building a global partnership network to co-develop and commercialise palladium-based solutions. The company is committed to long-term collaboration with scientists, manufacturers, and end users to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies and products.
"Our goal is to become a technological partner for producers of PGM-based products. We focus on identifying applications where palladium delivers a strong competitive edge, bringing together leading scientific teams to develop prototypes, conducting large-scale industrial trials, optimising the product, and transferring the technology to manufacturers. This approach allows us to create more efficient materials and open up new markets for palladium applications," said Dmitry Izotov, CEO of Nornickel's Palladium Centre.
Since its launch, the Centre has built a portfolio of 25 products. By 2030, the portfolio is expected to exceed 100 projects, generating an additional annual demand of 40–50 tonnes of palladium.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nornickel’s Palladium Centre.
GOOD Statement by Kaden Arguile,GOOD National Youth Chairperson 10 April 2025 Tomorrow, GOOD will proudly join Women for Change at the Union Buildings in Tshwane to hand over a petition calling for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to be declared a National State of Disaster. This petition, initiated by Women for Change, has amassed nearly 150,000 signatures, […]
The post DECLARE A DISASTER: END GBV NOW appeared first on For Good.
10 April 2025 – South African Under-20 men’s national team coach, Raymond Mdaka, has named the squad that will represent the country at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) this month. The biennial African international youth football tournament will be held in Egypt from 27 April – 18 May 2025 and Senegal are […]
The post Coach Mdaka names squad to represent SA at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations first appeared on SAFA.net.
Increase in United Airlines flights from US to SA lauded
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has welcomed the announcement by United Airlines that it will be increasing its flights to South Africa.
“On behalf of the entire tourism sector, we welcome the recent announcement by United Airlines that it will be increasing its flights to South Africa,” De Lille said.
United Airlines recently announced that it will be expanding its African network by introducing a new long-haul service from Washington Dulles Airport to Cape Town International Airport.
This route was launched in November 2022, operating three times a week and has been hugely successful.
United Airlines’ second African route, linking Newark with Johannesburg, has operated daily since June 2021 and this route will also be expanded by the airline.
In 2024, arrivals from the United States of America stood at over 430 000, up by more than 21 000 or 5.2% compared to 2023. A further testament to the impact of direct flights on arrivals is that in 2023, arrivals from the USA stood at over 409 000, an increase of more than 111 000 or 37.4% compared to 2022, when direct flights between South Africa and the USA were introduced.
“We welcome this development and announcement by United Airlines to increase the number of flights between South Africa and the USA as the route has been in high demand and has made travel significantly more seamless between the two countries.
“Airlift is a crucial factor for the tourism sector as direct flights make travel between destinations more desirable and is proven to increase tourism arrivals between countries.”
She said they were excited about this development and looked forward to the positive impact it will have on arrivals to South Africa.
“The USA is one of South Africa’s top source markets and we will continue efforts to grow arrivals even more from the USA to South Africa,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Thu, 04/10/2025 - 14:19
90 views
Edinburgh Rugby is delighted to announce 23-year-old stand-off Cammy Scott has signed a two-year contract extension, committing his future to the capital club. Edinburgh-born Scott, a product of the club’s academy, has made significant strides this season, featuring across several ‘A’ team and senior fixtures. So far this season, Scott has gained valuable minutes off …
Collaborative efforts key to tackling global challenges, KZN Premier
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, has reaffirmed the province’s commitment to driving inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic growth.
Delivering his keynote address at the opening of G20 2nd Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting, Ntuli emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle persistent global challenges, such as gender inequality in the workplace and widening labour income disparities.
Held from 8 to 11 April 2025, the meeting is focused on advancing gender equality in the workforce and addressing the growing gap in the labour income share, aligning with South Africa's G20 Presidency theme of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability."
“This platform offers us a chance to collectively reflect and develop progressive labour market policies that respond to the realities faced by women, youth, and vulnerable workers across both developed and developing economies,” Ntuli said.
The Premier stressed that meaningful transformation requires international solidarity and shared responsibility, highlighting that collaborative policymaking is essential for a fairer global labour market.
He also highlighted that KwaZulu-Natal is actively pursuing economic policies that centre people and planet, in line with global calls for just and inclusive transitions.
He outlined provincial initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment, improve women’s participation in economic activity, and ensuring sustainable, inclusive growth.
“As a province, we are committed to building a future of dignity, fairness, and equal opportunity. The EWG’s focus on gender equity and income justice could not be more relevant or urgent,” he said.
The EWG meeting brings together senior officials and technical experts from G20 member states to shape policy approaches, ahead of the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled to take place later this year.
The key issues under discussion include, enhancing social protection systems, reducing gender and wage gaps, and ensuring equal access to decent work for all.
The G20, which includes 19 of the world’s largest economies along with the African Union and the European Union, represents approximately:
• 85% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
• Over 75% of international trade,
• And two-thirds of the world’s population.
The meeting is taking place at the Arch Convention Centre, in Umhlanga, north of Durban. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 04/10/2025 - 13:20
67 views
Edinburgh Rugby is pleased to confirm Scotland international stand-off Ben Healy has signed a one-year contract extension. Healy, 25, joined Edinburgh Rugby from Munster ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and made an immediate impact, starting in all 23 fixtures during his debut season, amassing 218 points. He has featured in 14 games this season and …
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith has made three changes to his starting XV for tomorrow night’s Investec Champions Cup Quarter Final against Leinster, as his side look to reach the last four of Europe’s elite competition for the first time. All three of the alterations come in the pack, as the Warriors look to …
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) today unveiled additional detail underpinning its five-year, ‘One Wales’ strategy, and confirmed planned changes to its structure and ways of working which will significantly contribute to its success. In order to run the historic sporting governing body in a manner befitting of a £100m-a-year business, the WRU has launched a …
The Electoral Reform Consultation Panel tabled its three preliminary recommendations today on how South Africa’s present 100% Proportional Representation electoral system for national and provincial elections should be reformed and may impact the 2029 election.
The post ELECTORAL REFORM CONSULTATION PANEL MAKES PUBLIC PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS, THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION ASKS FOR MORE SINGLE MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES (SMCs) appeared first on FW de Klerk Foundation.
Social Development gazettes social grant increases
The Department of Social Development has published in the government gazette the new social grants amounts effective from this month.
The new amounts, as per the gazette, are:
The increases are implemented from 1 April. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 04/10/2025 - 13:26
63 views
Six appear in court for alleged Eskom theft
Eskom has commended police for a recent operation that led to the arrest of six suspects found in possession of Eskom property valued at R1.5 million.
The six appeared in court on Monday.
Eskom Group Executive for Distribution Monde Bala urged communities to protect electrical infrastructure from vandalism and to report any criminal activity.
“We urge communities to play a role in safeguarding the infrastructure that delivers electricity to their homes and businesses. Reliable electricity is essential for daily life—preserving food, cooking, heating, lighting, and enabling children to study after dark. Protecting this infrastructure is a shared responsibility.
“Vandalism results in unplanned power outages, often leaving homes and businesses without electricity for extended periods. The restoration process can be prolonged, particularly when essential infrastructure such as transformers or high-voltage breaker components is damaged, as these items can take weeks to replace,” he said.
In a statement, the power utility said it has noted a rise in theft which includes the removal of pylon steel structures, illegal sand mining around pylons and siphoning of oil from transformers.
“Tampering with electrical infrastructure poses serious and potentially fatal risks. When transformers are drained of oil or connected to illegal installations, they can overheat and explode, leading to widespread power outages and, in some cases, loss of life.
“The theft of steel components from pylons compromises the structural stability of power towers, increasing the risk of collapse—particularly after heavy rainfall. This endangers both people and animals, as high-voltage lines carry thousands of volts and can be deadly upon contact.”
The power utility added that it had identified a rising trend where individuals throw metal chains and wires onto power lines, causing flashovers that trip power lines and disrupt supply.
“Such reckless actions not only contribute to power failures but also put lives at risk. Tragically, there have been cases where individuals suffered severe injuries or lost their lives due to contact with electrified objects hanging from power lines,” Eskom said.
Vandalism has cost the power utility some R221 million over the past financial year – an improvement from some R271 million the financial year before.
“Despite this improvement, the issue demands ongoing vigilance and proactive community involvement.
“Although Eskom has seen a reduction in these crimes due to increased collaboration with law enforcement agencies and improved security measures, the problem persists and remains unacceptable,” the power utility said.
To report vandalism or suspected criminal behaviour, call 0800 11 27 22, send an SMS to 31090 or contact local municipalities. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 04/10/2025 - 08:56
236 views
In the Round 14 Vodacom URC Connacht v Munster game (Saturday, March 29) the referee Craig Evans showed the Player (Alex Nankivell, No. 12) a Red Card in the 25th minute of the game under Law 9.20a – A Player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Police to account to Parliament for the continued failures in securing our communities, our prisons – and now also our courts. We will be requesting that these Ministers appear before the Justice Committee and the Select Committee on Security …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance has tabled probing Parliamentary questions to investigate the presence of SANDF soldiers at a peaceful protest against Gender Based Violence. Those responsible must be held accountable for undermining the public’s right to protest peacefully and tarnishing the SANDF’s reputation. DA expresses its deep concern over the South African National Defence …
There is a cold snap in the air in Krakow – and with eight becoming the chosen four at the end of the final World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger tournament this weekend – also some desperation for some of the teams who converged on the Polish city since Monday. For the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad …
Henry Thomas’ rugby career has brought him a wide variety of experiences. He’s represented two different countries at international level and played in three different leagues. Now, at the age of 33, the Scarlets prop is set for something new as he prepares for his first taste of the Judgement Day double header at the …
If selling your property is on your 2025 to-do list, now is the time to start planning for success. With buyers actively searching for well-priced homes, sellers who take the right approach can achieve great results. But where do you start? David Jacobs, Regional Sales Manager for the Rawson Property Group, shares expert advice on …
Systematic failures responsible George building collapse
An independent forensic investigation into the building collapse in George, in the Western Cape, has revealed systemic failures at multiple levels.
The report cites widespread non-compliance with regulatory standards and mismanagement by both the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and project personnel as key causes of the incident.
The findings, presented by Human Settlements Minister, Thembi Simelane during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, revealed a series of procedural and structural failures, including irregular project enrolment, inspection lapses, poor material quality, and violations of occupational health and safety (OHS) protocols.
The NHBRC initiated the investigation after the Neo Victoria project collapsed on 6 May 2024, killing 34 people and injuring many others. Several survivors are still recovering.
Homebuilder certification and grading process
The investigation uncovered serious irregularities in the registration process of the construction company. The firm misrepresented its capabilities and failed to disclose that it intended to construct a multi-storey building.
“This omission breached NHBRC’s policies, which require transparency regarding a home builder's intended project scope in technical capacity. By bypassing this rigorous process, a company in question compromised its registration and certification of the project,” Simelane said.
Enrolment certification irregularities
The enrolment process demonstrated significant non-compliance with the NHBRC's enrolment procedures, resulting in critical regulatory breaches and unauthorised approvals.
“The enrolment forms were processed on 11 July 2023 even though the construction start date was scheduled for 19 June 2023. Again, the official did not verify that a homebuilder was registered to construct despite the building plans showing that this was indeed a multistorey enrolment.
“Thus, a contractor was allowed to proceed with the construction of a multi-storey building without the proper enrolment. Even more disturbing was the unlawful use of other official’s credentials to enrol the first phase of the project. This demonstrated the breakdown in the NHBRC’s internal control system,” the Minister highlighted.
Deficient inspection model
The NHBRC inspections failed to meet internal protocols, and these included one inspection, which was conducted eight days after enrolment, exceeding the five-day window period, in line with the NHBRC’s inspection protocol.
“More worrying was that the inspection reports included units which were yet to be constructed.” the Minister noted.
Occupational health and safety adherence
The report revealed multiple OHS breaches, including unresolved safety concerns, the resignation of a safety consultant, and the complete absence of OHS enforcement protocols in NHBRC’s procedures.
Inspectors were not empowered to enforce safety compliance, leaving serious safety violations unaddressed. The investigation also revealed that several personnel performing critical tasks lacked qualifications in engineering or quantity surveying.
Significant shortcomings were found in the evaluation of the appointed technical manager, whose credentials were not adequately reassessed.
According to the report, this played a major role in the technical missteps observed during the construction.
The geotechnical report provided did not include crucial information, such as trial pit locations, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) test results, and geological maps. This information is essential for foundation design and site preparation.
Additionally, George Municipality approved the building plans after construction had already begun.
Recommendations
To prevent future incidents, the report issued comprehensive recommendations for reform within the NHBRC and the broader construction oversight framework.
These include clearly specifying the type of buildings a homebuilder is certified to construct on NHBRC registration certificates; establishing a peer review team to independently assess high-risk projects such as multi-storey buildings; conducting a comprehensive competency skills audit of inspectors and develops a thorough due diligence process to evaluate all information submitted during the registration phase.
“The report went further to recommend that technical managers be full-time onsite during critical stages of construction, that inspection be conducted within five days and that NHBRC staff must not be allowed to use another staff member’s login credentials.
“The outcome of the investigation has also made recommendations that implicated officials be held accountable for their actions.
“The charges that will be levelled against them include dereliction of duty, misconduct, negligence, dishonesty, and misrepresentation in official inspection reports. We will continue to monitor that this is done by following due process,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 04/10/2025 - 11:29
52 views
Building on its successes since launching in 2024, Standard Bank’s support programme for emerging entrepreneurs, is coming to Mpumalanga on Wednesday, 16 April 2025 at Emnotweni Casino, Nelspruit. In 2024 the bank launched support programmes for emerging entrepreneurs in Soweto (Gauteng), Umlazi (Kwa-Zulu Natal) and Khayelitsha (Western Cape) and achieved huge success. Hundreds of entrepreneurs …
Stellantis has announced the expansion of its multifranchise dealer network with the addition of the FIAT and Jeep® brands to the existing CMH East Rand dealership in Boksburg in Gauteng. This expansion continues to strengthen Stellantis’ commitment to making these iconic brands more accessible to customers, offering a seamless and convenient experience. CMH East Rand …