Australian company to start seismic survey off West Coast in January
Environmental report acknowledges that seismic blasts, which are much louder than gunshots, can kill fish particularly those with swim bladders
2024
Health places medical interns, community service practitioners for 2024
Health places medical interns, community service practitioners for 2024
The Department of Health has concluded the process of placing medical interns and community service applicants on the Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) due to commence in January 2024.
The department said all successful applicants have been notified accordingly.
The department said it received 10 386 applications through an online application system, of which 10 228 were South African citizens, including permanent residents and 158were foreign nationals.
The department said 9 395 applicants have since been placed, including medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals at health facilities throughout the country.
“The majority of posts were allocated to rural and underserved areas, in line with the philosophy of promoting access to Universal Health Care. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to take up those positions where they are allocated to serve the people of South Africa.
“The department tried hard to accommodate the applicants’ choices of placement. However, everyone can't be placed according to their choice areas and provinces of preference.”
The allocation process, the department said, was conducted in line with the relevant employment laws and guidelines, which prescribe that priority should be given to qualifying South African citizens.
This is followed by permanent residents and lastly, foreign nationals who wish to pursue their career in South Africa.
In addition, the department urged all students who wish to further their health science studies outside the country to ensure the institutions they wish to enrol in offer academic programmes that are aligned to the curriculum eligible for registration with the relevant South African statutory bodies.
This, according to the department, is aimed at preventing avoidable registration challenges once they complete training. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 12/05/2023 - 15:09
257 views
CSA and Lootmogul Launch Tech Revolution in Cricket Experience
JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) is thrilled to announce a transformative partnership with LootMogul, a pioneering sports technology platform, marking...
Dr Thandi Mgwebi appointed in NRF’s top leadership structure
Dr Thandi Mgwebi appointed in NRF’s top leadership structure
The National Research Foundation (NRF) has announced the appointment of Dr Thandi Mgwebi into its top leadership structure with effect from 1 February 2024.
Mgwebi is re-joining the organisation to assume the role of Group Executive: Business Advancement.
Over the last six years, she served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for Research, Innovation, and Internationalisation at Nelson Mandela University and Tshwane University of Technology.
During her tenure at the NRF, she served in senior management roles, including Director of Human Capital Development.
Through these roles, she has gained extensive experience and is an internationally recognised leader in higher education.
“As a seasoned professional, Dr Mgwebi will contribute to the international agenda and diplomacy, and will help drive the NRF’s business strategy in support of the national science system.”
The NRF said the professional has championed partnerships with many international organisations in and outside Africa for the national science and innovation system.
In her previous role at the NRF, Mgwebi led partnerships with institutions such as Fulbright, the British Council, and the Newton Fund.
She completed postdoctoral research in Virology at the University of Cape Town and holds a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from the University of Cape Town, a Tertiary Educational Management degree from the University of Melbourne and a Management Development Programme certificate from the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
She received her undergraduate BSc degree from the University of Transkei (now Walter Sisulu University).
Recently, she obtained a certificate in Business Sustainability from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
NRF CEO, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, congratulated the newest member of his executive team.
“This appointment shows the NRF’s commitment to excellence, transformation, and inclusivity. Dr Mgwebi has a proven record in academia, management, and strategic leadership. The NRF is proud to welcome such a high calibre executive as it continues to make significant contributions to the National System of Innovation.”
The NRF is an independent statutory body established under the National Research Foundation Act.
Its mandate is to support and promote research through funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 12/05/2023 - 15:22
204 views
IEC welcomes Constitutional Court judgement
IEC welcomes Constitutional Court judgement
The Electoral Commission has welcomed Monday’s judgement by the Constitutional Court in relation to the challenges to the Electoral Amendment Act.
According to the Commission, the judgement provides the necessary certainty in relation to the preparations of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.
This as the court handed down judgement on whether the current split of seats in parliament should remain as is or be changed to make it possible for independent candidates a better chance of getting elected.
“The Electoral Commission will immediately put in place the regulations necessary to give practical effect to revisions of the electoral system in the light of the judgement handed down today by the apex court,” the Electoral Commission said in a statement on Monday.
The Electoral Commission has always been of the view that the distribution of seats of the National Assembly between the compensatory tier and the regional tier was rational and satisfied the constitutional requirement for general proportionality.
“The important confirmation of the Constitutional Court is that the contestants in the regional tier of the elections are subject to the same number of votes per seat. Furthermore, that no votes of independents are to be transferred to political parties.
“Pertinently, the Electoral Commission will now finalise adjustments to the signature requirements portal, so that prospective independent candidates and unrepresented parties can start collecting and capturing. The signature portal, as well as the final regulations, will be launched soon.
“The Electoral Commission notes the three-way judgement on the One South Africa Movement twin challenges. This is indicative of the constitutional complexity related to the design of an electoral system,” the Commission said.
The elements of the findings in relation to the recalculation of formulae is a matter on which the soon to be established Electoral Reform Consultation Panel will have to be seized with going forward. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 12/05/2023 - 08:28
395 views
Africa remains one of the regions most targeted by cybercrime in 2023
As organisations continue to become more digitised, throughout 2023 Africa remains one of the world regions most targeted by cybercrime. At a recent press conference in Johannesburg, Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) shared some insights and statistics related to the regional threat landscape in the third quarter of 2023 and made forecasts on how the situation is going to develop in 2024.
Web threats
Web threats are Internet-based threats that expose people and computer systems to harm online. There was a 24% increase in the number of corporate users affected by web threats from Q2 to Q3 2023 in South Africa. However, comparing Q3 2022 to Q3 2023, there was an 8% decline in the number of corporate users affected by web threats.
Phishing
Phishing is a type of Internet fraud that seeks to acquire a user's credentials by deception. It includes theft of passwords, credit card numbers, bank account details and other confidential information.
Phishing attacks detected in Kenya in Q3 2023 increased by 32% compared to Q2 2023 and by 12% compared to Q3 2022. In Nigeria, there was a 12% increase in phishing attack detections in Q3 2023 compared to Q2; however, compared to Q3 2022, the number of phishing detects decreased by 8%.
Attacks on Industrial Control Systems
Africa is among the regions with the highest number of detected attacks on industrial control systems (ICS computers). ICS computers are used in energy and mining sectors, automotive manufacturing, building automation infrastructures and other spheres to perform a range of operational technology functions – from the workstations of engineers and operators to supervisory control and data acquisition servers.
In Q3 2023, according to Kaspersky ICS CERT¹, attacks were detected on 32% of ICS computers in Africa. In South Africa, attacks were detected on 22% of machines, in Kenya – on 28%, in Nigeria – on 25%. Globally, malicious objects were detected on 25% of ICS machines in Q3 2023.
Attacks on the Internet of Things
The number of attacks on Internet of Things (IoT) devices has been increasing exponentially over the last years globally. This is related both to the activity of criminal actors and to the increasing number of IoT devices that are in use by individual users, businesses, and production facilities. IoT devices include not only wearables and smart home appliances, but also smart city systems, self-driving cars, automated retail checkouts, and other smart devices for home and business use. These devices can collect and transfer data over a wireless network without human input. Cybercriminals use networks of infected smart devices to conduct DDoS attacks or as a proxy for other types of malicious actions.
In Q3 2023, South Africa accounts for 28% of attacks on IoT devices that were detected by Kaspersky in the African region. Kenya accounts for 12% of attacks on IoT devices, and Nigeria – for 6%. All these attacks were spotted on Kaspersky IoT honeypots – decoy devices used to attract the attention of cybercriminals and analyse their activities.
“In forecasting the development of the cyberthreat landscape for 2024, we anticipate a dynamic evolution of cyberthreats marked by an upsurge in state-sponsored cyber-attacks, and 'hacktivism' will become one of the norms of cyber-warfare,” comments Bethwel Opil, Enterprise Client Lead at Kaspersky in Africa. “The prevalence of accessible generative AI is set to fuel an expansion of spear-phishing tactics, while the creative exploitation of vulnerabilities in mobile and IoT devices will be on the rise. Businesses today should be proactive and counter these cyberthreats with advanced technologies such as threat feeds, security information and event management systems, endpoint detection and response solutions, and tools with digital forensics and incident response features.”
To protect organisations from cyberthreats, Kaspersky experts recommend:
- Organisations should conduct regular cyber skill checkups among employees and offer competent training. Kaspersky Security Awareness (https://apo-opa.co/3Ni4NeD) portfolio offers flexible ways to train staff, is easily customisable and scalable to meet the needs of any company size.
- Corporate users should be educated on potential privacy risks when working in virtual environments. Organisations should implement best practices in safeguarding personal and corporate data.
- Install updates for the firmware used on digital devices (including virtual headsets) as soon as they become available.
- Use Cyber Immune (https://apo-opa.co/4a9jx9I) solutions for IoT protection on corporate networks. Use a dedicated IoT gateway that ensures inbuilt security and reliability of data transferring.
- Use Kaspersky Threat Intelligence (https://apo-opa.co/4a9sf7B) to block network connections originating from malicious network addresses detected by security researchers.
- Establishing continuous vulnerability assessment and triage as a basement for effective vulnerability management process. Dedicated solutions like Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity (https://apo-opa.co/46ZA6lH) may become an efficient assistant and a source of unique actionable information, not fully available in public.
Reference:
¹Kaspersky Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.
About Kaspersky:
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help over 220,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za.
First buyers seize ownership at KZN South Coast’s exciting recent eco-estate development
Real estate on the KZN South Coast holds major potential for keen investors looking for a quality coastal property at unbeatable value for money. This is fast being realised as local and international buyers are investing in a number of catalytic property developments in the region. One such example is the R800m Serenity Hills eco-estate, …
Ayanda Masengemi brings his passion for community to the Serenity Hills team
When his family relocated from Pietermaritzburg to the KZN Mid-South Coast in the middle of his high school career, Ayanda Masengemi didn’t realise the profound impact this move would have on his future trajectory. True to his nature, Ayanda continued to work hard and excel, finishing as one of the top students in his class …
Class of 2023 urged to celebrate responsibly
Class of 2023 urged to celebrate responsibly
As the Class of 2023 nudges closer to finishing their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has urged learners to stay safe and act responsibly in their celebratory moments.
The Minister said this when she briefed the media on Sunday in Pretoria.
This week marks the final week of exams with only six NSC papers left to write.
“Now that the Class of 2023 is about to finish writing, we urge them to be safe. This may mark the end of the 12 years that you spent in the basic education sector; however, it is certainly not the end. Many of you are gathering in various places to celebrate the end of exams. As you do so, I urge you to act responsibly,” the Minister said.
Motshekga said the department noted with great concern that learners were hosting and attending “pens down” parties.
“What is clear is that as much as this time is cause for celebrating, hundreds of our youth are overindulging in alcohol, binge drinking, and even finding themselves in trouble with the law.
“You may have turned 18 years of age and therefore reached the legal age to consume alcohol but you must understand that adulthood comes with lifelong responsibilities,” she said.
The Minister said the Gauteng Liquor Board has highlighted the dangers of overindulgence in drinking alcohol. This is in addition to the call to retailers to refrain from selling alcohol to underage children.
She said the department hopes to see more of these efforts across the country.
“May we always remember the tragedy of Enyobeni Tavern in the Eastern Cape, and many other such events, where the lives of young people were cut short, in incidents that could have easily been avoided.
“We urge parents, to know where your children are, with whom they are, and what they are doing. We need them back in 2024, as they continue with their education journey,” she said.
Rewrites
There will be rewriting opportunities for candidates who experienced technical challenges during the writing of Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 1 in five provincial education departments and Information Technology Paper 1 in one provincial education department and those who could not complete due to load shedding.
This also includes Tourism Practical Assessment Task (PAT): 19 candidates in the Northern Cape and 32 candidates in the North West.
The Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 1 and Information Technology Paper 1 will be written in the morning of 6 December 2023.
Tourism Practical Assessment Task (PAT) Paper 1 will be written in the afternoon on 6 December 2023
Tourism Practical Assessment Task (PAT) Paper 2 will be written in the morning of 7 December 2023.
The Minister announced the matric results announcement will take place on 18 January and the provincial release will take place on 19 January.
The department, she said, is confident that the all-important marking process, capture of results, standardisation, resulting and release of results will proceed according to plan. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Mon, 12/04/2023 - 13:43
104 views
FORBES AFRICA’s 2023 Person of the Year
The President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), Prof. Benedict Oramah, today in Cairo received the FORBES AFRICA magazine 2023 Person of The Year award.
At a well-attended award ceremony, which also included the unveiling of the cover for FORBES AFRICA's December 2023/January 2024 edition featuring Prof. Oramah as Cover personality, Dr. Rakesh Wahi, FORBES AFRICA Founder and Publisher, and Roberta Naicker, the Managing Director, said that the award recognised the stellar accomplishments of leading Africans contributing to the development of the continent.
“With a career spanning three decades at Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah is a true pan-Africanist,” said Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA. “In our almost hour-long interview Prof. Oramah's stellar track record, coupled with his unbridled enthusiasm, passion, and contribution to the economic development of Africa shone through.”
“Amongst many initiatives under his visionary leadership, Afreximbank launched the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) which will be a historic project for cross-border payments in local African currencies. He is a resilient risk-taker and articulated so well what a new united Africa should, and would, look like,” added Ms Renuka Methil.
Nominations for FORBES AFRICA Person of The Year are submitted by members of the magazine's editorial and research teams, including journalists from its bureaus across Africa, and a winner is selected after an Africa-wide review of the prominent contributors to the continent. Prof. Oramah's name was shortlisted and unanimously adjudged the winner for 2023.
With the award, Prof. Oramah joins a prestigious list of high achievers who had previously received the award, including Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Dr. James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Group; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank; Aliko Dangote, CEO, Dangote Group; Mohammed Dewji, President, MeTL Group; and Thuli Madonsela, former Public Protector of South Africa.
On 18 November, President Oramah also received the Zik Prize in Professional Leadership at an event in Lagos, Nigeria. He is also the recipient of numerous other awards for his contributions to the development and promotion of trade in Africa, and for the many initiatives he has championed to drive intra-African trade.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.
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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA. At the end of 2022, Afreximbank's total assets and guarantees stood at over US$31 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$5.2 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$86 billion between 2016 and 2022. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”).
For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com
Hohm Energy Unveils “Light Up Your Holidays with Solar Man and Hohm Energy” December Campaign
In an exciting development for sustainable energy enthusiasts and homeowners alike, Hohm Energy, a leading provider of solar energy solutions in South Africa, has announced its new end-of-year holiday marketing campaign, “Light Up Your Holidays with Solar Man and Hohm Energy.” This innovative campaign not only promises to add a sparkle to the festive season …
Lighting the Way Against Gender-Based Violence: inDrive and Partners Illuminate Khayelitsha with Solar Lights
In a significant stride towards combating gender-based violence, the "Layita Khayelitsha" campaign is set to illuminate the streets of Cape Town's Khayelitsha township. This groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by inDrive (www.inDrive.com) in collaboration with the local NGO Light UP, focuses on installing solar street lights across the community. Timed to launch in alignment with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, the campaign marks a pivotal moment in the fight against one of the most pressing social issues of our time.
The project's commencement during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is more than symbolic; it represents a beacon of hope for the residents of Khayelitsha, an area burdened with high rates of gender-based violence. The installation of solar street lights is a concrete measure to enhance the safety and security of the community, shedding both literal and metaphorical light on a global challenge. This initiative underscores the commitment of inDrive and its partners to empower and protect vulnerable populations, casting a spotlight on the crucial need for such interventions worldwide.
Adding a unique twist to the campaign, inDrive has partnered with popular Amapiano singer Khanyisa Jacen as well as producers Beats Slide and Sbuda Maleather. Streaming her song “Layita Khayelitsha” on platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music will directly contribute to the lighting project. For every 2000 streams of the track, one solar light will be installed, aiming for a total of 50 street lights.
Khanyisa Jaceni, whose name means 'to light up', is at the heart of this campaign. Her connection to the local culture and popularity in South African townships make her a powerful voice for this cause, ensuring the message of “Layita Khayelitsha” reaches and resonates with its target audience.
The goal is to install and maintain 50 advanced solar lights by February 2024, focusing on key areas in the township. This initiative will not only improve safety in public spaces but also create local employment opportunities for those who will be installing the lights and maintaining them for the coming years.
Since its launch in South Africa in 2019, inDrive has been actively involved in community development. With operations in nine cities, the company is dedicated to innovative solutions that address local challenges and promote safety.
“inDrive's mission to combat societal challenges in areas where it operates is exemplified by 'Layita Khayelitsha'. This crucial initiative demonstrates the power of collaborative efforts to create meaningful change in underprivileged communities, as well as the importance of empowering citizens as active participants for social change. It serves as a symbol of hope not only for Khayelitsha but also for other townships across South Africa, it offers a sustainable approach to improving community wellbeing and safety.” said Vincent Lilane, Business Development Representative for inDrive Southern Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of inDrive.
Press Contact:
Public Relations Manager - inDrive Africa
Lineo Thakhisi
Phone: +2781 3636 872
Email: lineo.thakhisi@indriver.com
About inDrive:
inDrive is a global mobility and urban services platform headquartered in Mountain View, California, USA. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 200 million times, and was the second most downloaded mobility app in 2022. In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of urban services, including intercity transportation, freight delivery, task assistance, courier delivery and employment search.
inDrive operates in over 45 countries. It supports local communities via its peer-to-peer pricing model and community empowerment programs, which help advance education, sports, arts and sciences, gender equality and other vital initiatives.
For more information visit www.inDrive.com
For more information about New Ventures visit https://Ventures.inDrive.com
South Africa men and Australia women claimed the first titles of HSBC SVNS 2024 with victory in Dubai
South Africa's Blitzboks overcame a spirited Argentina 12-7 to lift their fifth straight Emirates Dubai 7s trophy – equaling the record for successive titles at a single location. Although Argentina had to settle for silver it represented their best ever result in Dubai.
Interview of the Captain of South Africa is available for media to download and use for free, without authorization: https://apo-opa.co/49YdpRv
Watch the video B-roll: https://apo-opa.co/3GsZtBp
The women's final was another epic encounter between the top two teams in the world. In a replay of last years final, Australia overcame their arch rivals 26-19 to end New Zealand's winning run on 41 matches, which spanned since their loss in the Dubai final last year.
Teagan Levi touched down either side of halftime as Australia ended New Zealand's 41-match winning streak to claim their fourth consecutive title in Dubai, as the HSBC SVNS 2024 got off to an electric start.
Not to be overshadowed by her younger sister, Maddison Levi broke her own tournament try record, her 12th try of the weekend in the 13th minute was the decisive one.
The match kicked off at an astonishing speed – and did not let up. Bienne Tarita scored the opening try with just 23 seconds on the clock to set Australia on the road to the title in the 23rd final meeting between the two sides.
But the Black Ferns Sevens made it difficult for the champions. Jorja Miller touched down twice in the first five minutes en route to a hat-trick in a losing cause, before Maddison Levi settled the tournament in the closing minutes.
Australia's captain Charlotte Caslick had only praise for the younger Levi. “She's unbelievable. She's had an amazing pre-season so we're all just getting to see the hard work that she's done this year.”
And she explained the game plan for becoming the first team to beat New Zealand since last year's final in Dubai: “We wanted to hold the ball as much as possible because we know when they touch it they're dangerous. That was key for us – restarts and holding on to the ball.
“We love coming to Dubai, we love the fans here, playing in front of you guys. It's a great team and we're so proud of them. We worked really hard for this, so it's really special for us.”
New Zealand's passage to the final saw them beat Brazil 26-14 in the quarter-final before overcoming Canada 21-19 in a nail-biting finish the an exhilarating match.
Australia began the day with a convincing 32-5 quarter-final win over USA before running out 21-14 winners over France in a high quality semi-final.
Canada missed out on their first medal since winning silver in Sydney in 2020 as they were well beaten 26-5 by France who claimed the bronze medal and put in a strong performance throughout the weekend with the returning Anne-Cécile Ciofani contributing to building excitement ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris next July.
The men's final was a tense affair as South Africa narrowly overcame Argentina 12-7. Impi Visser had already crossed for the Blitzboks when Shilton van Wyk, player of the final in 2022, went over in the fifth minute to take the score to 12-0.
Argentina's Matias Osadczuk cut the deficit to five points early in the second half, after Ryan Oosthuizen was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.
Rosko Specman came within inches of a spectacular score, but lost the ball – and ploughed into a steward – in the corner, as South Africa held off the Argentinian fightback.
With the series heading to South Africa next week, their run to the title in Dubai could not have come at a better time. Fans will be hoping they can go back to back in Cape Town next weekend.
South Africa's acting head coach Philip Snyman hailed his squad's, "amazing performances throughout the weekend".
“We said we wanted to leave everything on the field,” he said. “It doesn't matter what happens with the result – we want to look each other in the eye and have smiles on our faces. Even with the yellow card tonight, they really played each other, they played for their jersey and they restored the pride in the Springbok Sevens jersey.”
South Africa started the day strongly with a 24-7 quarter-final defeat of Australia, before overcoming Fiji 14-7 in an intense semi-final.
Argentina overcame Samoa 21-14 in the quarter-final before narrowly beating New Zealand's All Blacks Sevens 21-19 in a pulsating semi-final.
New Zealand recovered from the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to take home the bronze medals with a 17-12 victory over Fiji.
The pool draw for the next round of HSBC SVNS in Cape Town on 9-10 December took place on the pitch in Dubai following the end of play and produced some exciting match-ups as fans can now look ahead and get excited to welcoming world class rugby sevens back to the Mother City.
Women's Pool A: Australia, Fiji, Japan, Spain. Pool B: New Zealand, Ireland, Brazil, Great Britain. Pool C: France, Canada, USA, South Africa.
Men's Pool A: South Africa, Ireland, USA, Great Britain. Pool B: Argentina, Fiji, France, Spain. Pool C: New Zealand, Samoa, Australia, Canada.
Fans are encouraged not to miss the two-day extravaganza with incredible food, fitness, non-stop music including live music acts from DJ Zinhle, Jack Parow, Sun El-Musician and more, alongside the world class rugby sevens action. Tickets are available from only R150 at Ticketmaster.co.za.
The HSBC SVNS 2024 is set to supercharge the sport's global appeal and is taking place across eight iconic destinations. The new look HSBC SVNS 2024 features seven regular season events – in Dubai, Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Singapore - before the Grand Final in Madrid.
The top eight placed teams based on cumulative series points after seven events will compete in the new ‘winner takes all' Grand Final, where the women's and men's champions will be crowned.
Madrid will also play host to the high stakes relegation play-off competition where teams ranked ninth to 12th will join the top four teams from the World Rugby Sevens Challenger, with the top four placed teams securing their place on HSBC SVNS 2025.
The reimagined competition model means fans can expect even more excitement, entertainment and nail-biting jeopardy. And with the clock counting down until rugby sevens kicks off the Olympic Games in Paris on 24 July 2024, the action will be hotter than ever on and off the pitch.
In line with World Rugby's commitment to grow the women's game, all HSBC SVNS events will see men's and women's teams sharing the platform equally to showcase their incredible strength, speed and skill on the biggest stages around the world.
HSBC SVNS events deliver the ultimate in immersive experiences, a unique festival of sport, entertainment, music, culture and cuisine alongside the world's best men's and women's athletes set against the spectacular backdrops of some of the most stunning locations around the globe.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Rugby.
NSFAS budget cuts could leave more than 87,000 students without funding in 2024
The financial aid scheme has already received over 200,000 applications since 21 November
Showdown looms between land occupiers and Eastern Cape municipality
Komani Protest Action interdicted from inciting “land grabbing” but vows to defy court order
Lesotho, Zimbabwe exemption permits extended
Lesotho, Zimbabwe exemption permits extended
Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has announced that he has issued directives to extend the validity of the exemption permits in respect of Lesotho and Zimbabwean nationals to 31 December 2024.
“I call upon all the affected Lesotho and Zimbabwean nationals to make use of the window of opportunity to apply for new exemption permits through VFS Global,” Motsoaledi said.
Addressing media in Pretoria on Friday, Motsoaledi said both Lesotho and Zimbabwean nationals will be entitled to apply for new exemption permits.
He said a holder of the exemption permit will be entitled to work, seek employment and conduct business in South Africa.
“A holder of the exemption permit, due to expire on 31 December 2023 or such extended period of validity, will be entitled to apply for a new exemption permit. A holder of the exemption permit will be entitled to sojourn in the Republic of South Africa during the validity of the exemption permit,” Motsoaledi said.
Motsoaledi explained that new exemption permits to be issued will expire on 29 November 2025 and that a holder of the exemption permit will not be entitled to apply for permanent residence in terms of sections 25, 26 and 27 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 or any other provisions in any other law, irrespective of the period of stay in South Africa.
“A holder of the exemption permit will be allowed freedom of movement between Lesotho and South Africa or any other country. A holder of the exemption permit cannot change his or her status in the Republic of South Africa, as contemplated in section 10 (6) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002, during the validity of the permit issued.
“When a holder of the exemption due to expire on 31 December 2023 or such extended period applies for a new exemption permit, he or she must disclose and/or register all the minor children born and staying in South Africa,” Motsoaledi said.
Zimbabwe permit
The Minister said affected Zimbabwean nationals will be entitled to apply for new exemption permits under the following terms and conditions:
“A holder of the exemption permit will be entitled to work, seek employment and conduct business in South Africa.
“A holder of the exemption permit due to expire on 31 December 2023 or June 2024 and such extended period of validity will be entitled to apply for a new exemption permit.
“A holder of the exemption permit will be entitled to sojourn in the Republic of South Africa during the validity of the exemption permit and that the exemption permits to be issued will expire on 29 November 2025.
“A holder of the exemption permit will not be entitled to apply for permanent residence in terms of sections 25, 26 and 27 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 or any other provisions in any other law, irrespective of the period of stay in the Republic of South Africa,” the Minister said.
Motsoaledi explained that a holder of the exemption permit cannot change his or her status in the Republic of South Africa, as contemplated in section 10 (6) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 during the validity of the permit issued.
“When a holder of the exemption due to expire on 31 December 2023 or 28 June 2024 or such extended period applies for a new exemption permit, he or she must disclose and/or register all the minor children born and staying in the Republic of South Africa.
Motsoaledi has granted exemptions to approximately 54 653 Lesotho nationals for a period of two years and approximately 178 000 Zimbabwean nationals.
Motsoaledi said a dedicated team will be set up to deal with the applications for new exemption permits.
“VFS Global has also been instructed to fast-track the application process for new exemption permits,” the Minister said.
The first Zimbabwean special dispensation started in 2009 and was called the Dispensation for Zimbabwe Permit. It provided for the documentation of qualifying Zimbabweans for a five-year period. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 12/01/2023 - 14:06
1635 views
New provincial number dish system unveiled in KZN
New provincial number plate system unveiled in KZN
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has unveiled a new number plate system for the province, marking an end to the traditional discrete numbering system to a more dynamic and continuous numbering system.
Dube-Ncube on Friday said the shift was deemed necessary to align the province with other regions and the national numbering system, while addressing the issue of towns running out of available numbers.
Emphasising the importance of this paradigm shift, the Premier said the new numbering system will come with improved security features, which will assist in the fight against crime.
To ensure a seamless transition, the implementation was planned in two phases, with the first phase starting on Friday, focusing on the registration of new vehicles, change of ownership, and re-registration of stolen-recovered vehicles.
This initial step lays the groundwork for the subsequent phases of the comprehensive rollout.
The second phase, which is set to commence on 1 March 2024, will encourage the voluntary migration of all vehicle owners from the existing system to the new one.
Vehicle owners have been given a 24-month window to complete this migration, after which all motor vehicles will automatically be issued with a new format licence number upon licensing.
Accompanied by Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC, Sipho Hlomuka and eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, Dube-Ncube conducted a thorough test of the readiness of the Electronic National Administration Traffic Information System (ENaTis). – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 12/01/2023 - 11:39
105 views
Don’t miss any of the holiday action at Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh
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 …
Electoral Commission joins alarm calls: Concourt ruling on election case is urgent
The Commission had required finality by mid-September to avoid materially prejudicing its preparations for 2024 elections
Preferred bidders for Battery Storage IPP bid window one announced
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:
- Oasis Aggeneis
- Mogobe BESS
- Oasis Mookodi
- Oasis Nieuwehoop
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
419 views
12 Reasons Why the KZN South Coast is a Top Beach Destination in South Africa
Summer is on the doorstep and the holidays are beckoning! Now is the time to start planning that year-end, family holiday and where better to relax and cool off than the KZN South Coast? “Our tourism establishments are geared up and ready to welcome our many holiday visitors to the KZN South Coast this festive …
11th Annual Mistra Lecture To Unpack Potential And Pitfalls Of AI
South Africa, 29 November 2023 – The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA), in partnership with the University of Johannesburg, is set to host the 11th annual Mapungubwe Lecture on Wednesday, 06 December 2023. The annual lecture is the institute’s flagship event and has been happening annually since 2012. A highlight on the academic and …
10 Reasons Why You Need to Enter the Cape Town Cycle Tour
On the second Sunday in March each year, thousands of cyclists hit the roads of Africa’s most beautiful city for the biggest social occasion in Lycra. The Cycle Tour will be held for the 46th time in 2024. It now boasts two events; the classic 109km route around the peninsula, and the 42km route that …
Mchunu to assess Sekhukhune water infrastructure projects
Mchunu to assess Sekhukhune water infrastructure projects
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu will on Friday visit the Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo to assess progress on water infrastructure projects in the district.
During the visit, Mchunu and Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, together with Sekhukhune District Municipality Mayor, Minah Bahula, will meet with the Lebalelo Water Users Association (LWUA) to assess progress on the Olifants Management Model (OMM) programme.
The R27 billion OMM programme is an infrastructure development project launched in October last year at Ga-Malekana in Burgersfort.
The programme is undertaken by the Department of Water and Sanitation, in partnership with LWUA, to address water supply challenges in communities in Limpopo.
“The programme is meant to fast-track potable and bulk raw water infrastructure development to ensure that communities, including mining and agriculture sectors, and other companies in Sekhukhune District, Polokwane and Mogalakwena Local Municipalities, have sustainable water provision by 2030,” the department said.
During the visit, Mchunu will also give feedback on the investigation he commissioned around the R143 million drought relief project set aside in 2020 to address water supply challenges at Moutse in Elias Motsolaledi Local Municipality by Lepelle Northern Water, as the implementing agent.
The Minister will also engage with members of the community at an event scheduled to take place at Philadelphia Sports Grounds, Dennilton.
Water reticulation for Mopani District villages
Meanwhile, the department said it is working with Mopani District Municipality in Limpopo to increase the level of services from communal taps to yard connections for the reticulation of water in 55 villages within the district.
“The 24 villages will be fully reticulated by January 2024, while Phase 2 of the 31 villages (out of 55 villages) will start in the 2024-2025 financial year,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 11/30/2023 - 10:59
104 views