Tourists return to KZN south coast, but water problems persist
After a decade of water cuts, wealthier areas have insulated themselves, but poorer areas remain at the mercy of a failing system.
distribution
New CEO promises brighter future for state’s media development agency
But the MDDA’s last clean audit was in 2020/21 and the board chair, flagged by the Nugent Commission, is still in office
Smart Home Forecast: What’s in store for 2024?
Nowadays, the phrase ‘home is where the tech is' defines modern living, as South Africans increasingly (https://apo-opa.co/3TSowVR) adopt smart home innovations. These advancements are continuing to adapt and evolve in their capabilities which not only improve convenience and security but can also decrease energy consumption, contributing to cost savings.
This is according to Dr Andrew Dickson, Engineering Executive at CBI-electric: low voltage (www.CBI-LowVoltage.co.za/), who says that, in 2024, homes will become even more high-tech in terms of the efficiency, functionality, and personalised living experiences they provide. “We may still be a few years away from homes resembling those dreamed up by sci-fi movies, but we are already heading in the direction of smart technology becoming less of a luxury and more of a staple in modern homes.”
Below, he shares four trends that will help make South African homes smarter this year:
- Improved Internet Speed: In the early part of the year, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will hold another auction (https://apo-opa.co/43wkAO1) for radio frequencies including 5G. What the rollout of more 5G will mean for smart homes is lightning-fast internet speeds, instantaneous communication between devices, and the ability to connect even more gadgets within a smart home ecosystem for seamless integration and control. It will also allow for greater stability and reliability which will prove particularly useful when it comes to monitoring and controlling critical systems remotely in real time. Ultimately, the rollout of 5G is poised to elevate the capabilities of smart home technologies, making them even more intelligent and efficient.
In addition, WiFi-7 is set to roll out in the country this year which will improve internet connectivity to devices in the home, extend range and promises to deliver nearly five times the speed of Wi-Fi 6. This, however, is also reliant on the release of more spectrum and regulatory approvals.
- Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Leveraging its data analysis and processing capabilities, AI discerns user patterns, utilising these insights to anticipate and implement homeowners' future decisions and choices. By integrating AI into smart home devices, these products can learn and adapt to a user's habits and preferences, optimising efficiency, intuitiveness, and responsiveness. Consequently, homes become attuned to the unique needs and preferences of their inhabitants. A practical illustration of this is a smart lighting system employing AI to automatically adjust the lighting throughout the entire home in accordance with the time of day or the user's activities. AI will also assist homeowners who may not be tech-savvy by offering them the opportunity to implement advanced automation with their smart devices without the need for manual programming.
In the future, generative AI will make smart homes even smarter. Soon, these tools will not only help to identify appliances that require preventative maintenance but also set up appointments with service providers for their upkeep based on the homeowner's schedule and availability.
- Smarter security: Technological innovations are becoming increasingly incorporated into various smart home security systems. Take, for example, the evolution of smart locks, which are now activatable through various interfaces such as fingerprint recognition, PIN codes, voice recognition, and phone apps. Blockchain is also set to play a crucial role in fortifying smart home security systems, rendering them more resilient and resistant to potential hackers. Additionally, AI has the potential to analyse residents' behavioural patterns, promptly notifying homeowners and their security companies if there are deviations or unusual activities within the premises.
- Energy optimisation: Anticipating a 20,200MW (https://apo-opa.co/43CvWQp) energy shortfall in 2024, homeowners are turning to smart home technologies like those in the CBI Astute Range (https://apo-opa.co/43yQJEu) of products to monitor and manage energy consumption. These technologies collect and analyse vast amounts of data, helping users identify areas for improvement. Plus, automation can assist them in adjusting their usage, even when they're not at home.
Additionally, as more South Africans embrace rooftop solar (https://apo-opa.co/3IUS6DT), smart technology enables the effortless integration of renewable energy sources to combat the impacts of load shedding while also ensuring that the power produced is used effectively and efficiently.
“In 2024, smart homes will become sanctuaries of innovation, enriching the lives of South Africans and heralding a future where homes understand, adapt and even pre-empt the unique needs of their residents," concludes Dr Dickson.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CBI-electric: low voltage.
For more information, go to https://CBI-LowVoltage.co.za or follow CBI-electric: low voltage on Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3vvHgRW), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/43Cr9hY), LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4atY8Y6), X (https://apo-opa.co/4aw8czw), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/3VBbqxv) or YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3IWb2Ce).
About CBI-electric: low voltage:
- Established in 1949, CBI-electric: low voltage is a manufacturer and supplier of quality low voltage electrical distribution, protection, and control equipment. Previously known as Circuit Breaker Industries or CBI, the company specialises in the design, development, and manufacturing of circuit breakers, residential current devices, surge protection, wiring accessories, and metering products.
- Head quartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the company is a subsidiary of renowned JSE listed industrial group Reunert (https://www.Reunert.co.za/), with international operations across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and USA.
- CBI-electric: low voltage can be found in almost every home and has firmly become a market leader over the last 72 years while supplying products to authorities, utilities, manufacturers, commercial property developers, industrial, mining, telecommunications, and general power distribution applications.
- In 2021, the brand launched its smart IoT (internet-of-things) home automation range, called the Astute Range.
Mchunu tackles water shortage in King Cetshwayo District Municipality
Mchunu tackles water shortage in King Cetshwayo District Municipality
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has raised concern at the high deficit of water supply to communities in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality and the management of debt owed to the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board.
Mchunu raised his concerns at a meeting held with the leaders of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, including the Mfolozi and uMlalazi Local Municipalities, which fall under the district in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to the 2022 Stats SA community survey, the King Cetshwayo District Municipality is home to 1 021 344 citizens and is one of the municipalities within KwaZulu-Natal that is faced with water and sanitation challenges.
The district is a Water Services Authority (WSA) and Water Services Provider (WSP) within its area of jurisdiction, except for the City of uMhlathuze Municipality, which has its own WSA status.
Mchunu noted that despite the interventions by the department and the district, there is a shortfall of 63 megalitres per day.
To address this challenge, Mchunu said the department, together with the district, will have to build additional water resources infrastructure, including water treatment capacity and distribution infrastructure to augment the supply of water, which currently stands at more than 36 megalitres per day.
The Minister said water supply schemes must augment water supply in the district in order to deal with the long-standing water shortage in the district.
“This is a huge deficit, which is a challenge because it is more than the available water we have for the district at the moment. We need to close this deficit and ensure that there is enough access to water for the people,” Mchunu said.
The King Cetshwayo District Municipality performed poorly during the Blue Drop assessment, resulting in a significant decrease of the municipal Blue Drop score from 74.08% in 2014 to 41.06% in 2023.
Municipal debt
Mchunu raised his dissatisfaction at money owed by the district to the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board, which manages and operates bulk water infrastructure, including abstraction, water purification plants and command reservoirs.
The water board is also responsible for ensuring good quality water in line with SANS: 241, and to undertake maintenance related challenges, and manage and operate boreholes within district.
“The district municipality debts to our water boards are a worrying factor and interferes with the capacity of the municipality to offer the services to the people. We, as the Department of Water and Sanitation, will be assisting municipalities and the water boards to deal with the issue of debt,” Mchunu said, adding this issue can only be resolved through cooperation between the affected parties.
The Minister also called on the district not to compromise the services to the people, and to improve on its capacity and determination to ensure that members of the community have access to clean and fresh water.
He said there should be cooperation between the district municipality and the Department of Water and Sanitation to deliver the services to the people within the district.
King Cetshwayo District Municipality Executive Mayor, Thamsanqa Ntuli, said the municipality has attained a steady and notable improvement on access to water supply, with major attention on bulk water supply infrastructure.
“The implementation of water infrastructure projects within the district is critical and will assist in addressing challenges of water rationing, and to eradicate the use of water tankers in the communities that are without water,” Ntuli said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 03/25/2024 - 12:09
657 views
Small-scale fishers threaten to take government to court
Unhappiness over fisheries department’s boat allocations
Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Recommends Candidates for CGE Positions
The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities met yesterday (19 March) and today to deliberate and select candidates from those interviewed to fill six vacancies at the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).
Having conducted interviews and considering all the relevant documentation, including verifying candidate's qualifications (done by Parliament's Human Resources division) and candidates' security screening (done by the State Security Agency), the committee agreed on the suitable candidates it would recommend to the President for his consideration.
The committee agreed to recommend candidates for part- and full-time positions left vacant by CGE commissioners whose terms of office expire between the end of March and July 2024.
In fulfilling their constitutional mandate, the committee nominated and recommended the following candidates for appointment:
|
Ms Seeham Samaai |
Full time |
|
Ms Mulalo Grace Nemathaheni |
Full time |
|
Mr Mfundo Nomvungu |
Full time |
|
Ms Yanga Malotana |
Full time |
|
HRH Princess Royale Eurika Mogane |
Part time |
|
Mr Kamohelo Rodney Teele |
Full time |
|
Dr Marion Lynn Stevens |
Full time |
|
Dr Charnell Ruby Naidu |
Part time |
The recruitment process was guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the CGE Act. The process the committee followed was also in line with the Employment Equity Act and Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Committee chairperson Ms Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba said the recommended candidates are representative of race, gender and age groups, provincial distribution and disability.
The report will be debated in the National Assembly before 28 March 2024. Upon the National Assembly's adoption of the names of the recommended candidates, a report will be sent to the President for his consideration.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Ecobank Group Strengthens Leadership Team with Strategic Top-level Appointments
Ecobank (www.Ecobank.com), the pan-African financial services group, announces the appointment of key senior executives to strengthen the Group's leadership team and to drive delivery of its new Growth, Transformation and Returns (GTR) strategy. Abena Osei-Poku joins as Regional Executive Anglophone West Africa and Managing Director Ecobank Ghana; Martin Miruka as Group Executive for Transformation, Enablement and Customer Experience; Anup Suri as Group Executive, Commercial and Consumer Banking; Michael Larbie as Group Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking; and Thierry Mbimi as Group Executive, Internal Audit & Management Services.
These top-level appointments are strategically important as Ecobank enters its next phase of growth and transformation, aiming to become the bank of choice and a leader in delivering responsive, innovative and affordable financial services' products and solutions for Africa. Ecobank Group has decided to combine the commercial and the consumer businesses, under the leadership of Anup Suri, underscoring its commitment to strengthening these two business units to drive growth. In addition, the establishment of the new role of Transformation, Enablement, and Customer Experience underscores the Group's determination to prioritizing the necessary leadership for the successful execution of its transformation.
Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Group, said: “These appointments are crucial to the execution of our recently announced five-year Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy. I am delighted that Abena Osei-Poku, Martin Miruka, Anup Suri, Michael Larbi, and Thierry Mbimi are joining our leadership team, each bringing proven, valuable, global and African financial services experience. I have no doubt that they will play pivotal roles in driving Ecobank's future growth and success.”
Abena Osei Poku joined Ecobank in January. She is an accomplished Pan-African business leader with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her expertise spans Corporate and Investment banking, Business banking and Risk Management across Africa. Her previous roles include Executive Director for Commercial Banking, responsible for Corporate & Business Banking at Barclays Bank Ghana; Co-Regional Head of Coverage, Corporate & Investment Banking at Absa Bank Group, overseeing East and West Africa; and CEO and Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana. Abena takes over from Daniel Sackey who is retiring from the Bank. We thank Daniel Sackey for his leadership, commitment, and effective service across the continent over the past 27 years at Ecobank.
Martin Miruka, who joined Ecobank in February, brings with him 25 years' experience as C-suite executive, business strategist, serial entrepreneur, and angel investor with strong credentials on pan-African transformation. His previous roles include Group Head of Business Transformation, Customer Experience, and Innovation at Equity Group Holdings, where he successfully led transformation by breaking the Group's strategic and operational silos, aligning technology investments with business strategy, and ultimately delivering a branded Customer Experience across multiple African countries. He was also the Founder/CEO of Atom TDF, Kenya's first indigenous brand strategy and innovation consultancy, and Kava Africa, a fintech/Insurtech based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Anup Suri assumed his new role in March. He brings a wealth of over 30 years of senior leadership experience across various industries and organisations in both developed and emerging markets across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the UK, North America and South America. He joins Ecobank Group from HSBC Group where he was Managing Director, Global Head of Retail Sales and Third-Party Distribution. Anup previously held other senior roles at Standard Chartered Group, Standard Chartered Bank and ABN Amro.
Michael Larbie, who assumed his role in March, brings over 25 years of global senior financial services and investment banking experience. He served as CEO of International & Broader Africa at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), prior to which he held the positions of CEO & Managing Director of RMB Nigeria and Regional Head of West Africa, as well as Head of Coverage & Investment Banking for Africa (excluding South Africa). His experience also includes senior investment banking roles at Merrill Lynch and senior project management roles at American International Group. Michael takes over from Eric Odhiambo, who will retire from Ecobank at the end of April. We thank Eric Odhiambo for his unwavering commitment, invaluable contribution, and dedicated service over the past six and a half years, first as Chief Risk Officer and then as Group Executive of Corporate and Investment Banking.
Thierry Mbimi, who also started in March, has 27 years of extensive industry and consulting experience, with the last 17 years in director-level roles. He brings with him a wealth of global experience in audit and risk management, complemented by a solid background in technology. Thierry was the CEO & Managing Partner for KPMG Central Africa (Audit, Tax, and Advisory), prior to which he held several roles in the organisation, including Partner and Head of West Africa Financial Risk Management, Lead Partner for the Financial Services Sector in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa and Global Services Lead Partner for the African Development Bank.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.
Media Contact:
Christiane Mbimbe Bossom
Group Communications
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated
Email: groupcorporatecomms@ecobank.com
Tel: +228 22 21 03 03
Web: www.Ecobank.com
About Ecobank Group (or ‘Ecobank Transnational Incorporated' or ‘ETI'):
Ecobank Group is the leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise. Present in 35 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as France, the UK, UAE and China, its unique pan-African platform provides a single gateway for payments, cash management, trade and investment. The Group employs over 15,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels, including digital, to over 32 million customers. For further information, please visit www.Ecobank.com.
Comprehensive intervention to address Johannesburg water challenges
Comprehensive intervention to address Johannesburg water challenges
The City of Johannesburg has presented a comprehensive intervention plan to address ongoing water supply challenges in the city.
Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, together with his Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, met with Johannesburg City officials, led by Executive Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, to receive an update on the city’s plans to deal with the current water challenges and future water supply sustainability plans for the metro.
The meeting held this week was a follow-up to a meeting held on 5 March 2024, where the department presented a comprehensive assessment report on the state of water provision in the city amid regular water supply interruptions experienced by residents.
At the meeting held on 5 March, the city was requested to come back with an action plan to address all the issues raised in the report, including how it will deal with the infrastructure challenges and non-revenue water, which is contributing to the water supply challenges.
During this week’s meeting, the city presented a wide-ranging plan on immediate, medium- and long-term measures to ensure a sustainable water supply. These include infrastructure projects to refurbish, upgrade and construct new storage reservoirs and pump stations, as well as associated infrastructure to augment storage capacity.
The plan also includes addressing non-revenue water through the implementation of water conservation and demand management technical interventions to reduce demand.
The city also presented technical interventions, which include repairing leaking reservoirs and tower infrastructure; replacing water pipes, domestic and large consumer meters; retrofitting and removal of wasteful devices, and enforcement of by-laws, including removal of illegal connections and customer bypass connections.
Gwamanda said these projects are at various stages of implementation, while others still require funding.
The meeting also heard that the city infrastructure backlog is estimated at around R27 billion but agreed that focus should be on what can be done with the current and upcoming budget in July.
Gwamanda commended the support from Water and Sanitation Ministry, saying that the city is looking at various options to mitigate water supply interruptions.
“We have set aside about R100 million for the electricity supply entity, City Power, to put alternative power supply infrastructure to key infrastructure that contributes to the water supply network,” Gwamanda said.
Mchunu acknowledged the efforts of the city’s water entity, Johannesburg Water, to deal with infrastructure backlogs, and various interventions implemented to deal with the current recurring water outages.
Mchunu urged the city to work on its turnaround time in responding to pipe bursts and leaks in their distribution network, as this contributes to the high physical water losses.
“It is clear that the city requires serious interventions and funding to deal with its water infrastructure renewal programme, and the department will work with Joburg Water in packaging some of their key infrastructure projects that require blended finance, including from the private sector.
“We have agreed, collectively, that over and above the technical interventions to address non-revenue water, there is a serious need for a compressive public awareness campaign to conscientise residents on the importance of water conservation and water use efficiency as part of the Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy,” Mchunu said.
The metro’s non-revenue water currently sits at 46.1%, while the consumption rate is at 280 litres per capita per day. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 03/20/2024 - 10:27
172 views
Daybreak Farms announces C-Suite team supporting growth plans of the company’s operations.
Johannesburg , 18 March 2024 : Daybreak Farms’ corporate image had been marred by negative media in the past few years, recently it has started to convey the fixtures and work done to reposition it, strongly signalling to the market its governance renewal journey and the operational overhaul. Daybreak Farms underwent a restructuring process in …
Mineral Resources and Energy committee chair welcomes passing of ERA Bill
Mineral Resources and Energy committee chair welcomes passing of ERA Bill
The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, Sahlulele Luzipo, has welcomed the passing of the Electricity Regulations and Amendment (ERA) Bill by the National Assembly (NA).
In a statement, Luzipo said the Bill is a product of the collective wisdom of everyone who participated in the process, including the public hearings held in all nine provinces and those who made written submissions.
The provincial public hearings were held from 26 September 2023 to 29 January 2024 and the majority of those who participated supported the Bill.
The Bill seeks to amend the Electricity Regulation Act of 2006 and once enacted into law, it will enable the transformation of the country’s electricity sector to ensure electricity sustainability, supply and affordability.
READ | National Assembly passes Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill
“It proposes an end to the monopoly-driven market and allows competition through key legislative reforms. This move is underscored in the Department of Public Enterprises’ 2019 Roadmap for Eskom in a Reformed Electricity Supply Industry.
“The Bill, however, does not propose the privatisation of Eskom, which the majority of participants in the public hearings said they opposed,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the Bill proposes the establishment, within five years, of a State-owned Transmission System Operator (TSO) that is legally distinct from Eskom; the expansion and alignment of the powers of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to regulate the competitive market and the empowerment of NERSA to set and approve tariffs and prices, as well as regulate the participation of independent power producers (IPPs), among other things.
In the interim, it authorises a ring-fenced subsidiary of Eskom Holdings, in the form of the National Transmission Company of South Africa, or NTCSA, to fulfil the functions of the TSO.
The TSO is an enabler of a competitive market. Therefore, the functions of the TSO are grid ownership and operation, system operation, market operation, and the creation of a Central Purchasing Agency that will take care of the legacy and vesting contracts.
“I am happy that the NA has passed the Bill that is responding to the people’s concerns about the need for setting parameters on the competitive behaviour of IPPs [independent power producers], as this will ensure that the sector delivers sustainable electricity at competitive prices,” Luzipo said.
According to Luzipo, this is important not only for competition but also because it addresses global commitments around climate change issues with regards to the country’s transition within the context of the Just Energy Transition framework. This is because the participation of multiple players will result in diverse electricity generation technologies, such as renewable energy.
“It is anticipated that, in the long-term, the Bill will drive down the cost of electricity generation, which will be passed on to consumers in the form of lower electricity bills.
“Further, new investment in the industry will bring new technologies and multi-year capital programmes that will enable new local industries and local businesses to empower youth and create new-age skills and digital capabilities because individuals who generate electricity for their use will be allowed to sell surplus to the government,” Luzipo said.
The ERA Bill criminalises the unlawful destruction and damage of electricity infrastructure, inclusive of transmission, distribution or generation equipment and infrastructure.
This provision ensures that cable theft and unlawful electricity damage, amongst other things, are decisively addressed.
The Bill states that if a person is convicted of these offences, a fine not exceeding R1 million will be imposed.
If a person is found guilty of unlawful trading of the electricity infrastructure as listed above, a fine not exceeding R5 million will be charged, or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or both such a fine and imprisonment.
Luzipo said that the committee intends for the Bill to not only address the immediate electricity challenges and load shedding but also to enable long-term electricity supply for businesses and the broader society.
He thanked all political parties that supported the Bill in the NA and for putting the interest of the country and its citizens ahead of their political interests in the forthcoming elections.
Luzipo further thanked members of the committee and the staff for their dedication. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Sun, 03/17/2024 - 12:14
81 views
World Kidney Day: Urology Hospital to offer free kidney health screening
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a gradual and irremediable loss of kidney function (kidney failure), affects up to one in eight South Africans, more than 850 million people worldwide, and resulted in over 3.1 million deaths (2019). Fundamentally, untreated kidney failure can be life threatening. Presently, kidney disease ranks as the 8th leading cause of death, …
Navigating Media Legality: Insights into South Africa’s Regulatory Landscape
What is Intellectual property? Intellectual property (IP) is a legal concept that protects the creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, and names. It grants creators exclusive rights to their creations, similar to physical property rights. IP law encompasses various categories, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, each …
Mbombela warned to fix water crisis as taps in several villages run dry
“The last time we saw a drop of water coming out of the tap was about 15 years ago,” says villager
The Essential Guide to Industrial Magnets in Material Handling
In the world of industrial material handling, efficiency and safety are paramount. This is where the power of magnets comes into play, changing the way heavy materials are managed. From the intricate operations on conveyor belts to the robust lifting in warehouses, industrial magnets are indispensable. Let’s delve into the various types of magnets that …
47 Players From 10 Countries to Compete in Inaugural Basketball Africa League Kalahari Conference Group Phase Tipping Off Saturday, March 9 in South Africa
Top NBA Academy Africa Prospects Khaman Maluach and Ulrich Chomche Join BAL (www.BAL.NBA.com) Teams As Part of 2024 BAL Elevate Program; Fans Can Watch All Games Live on the NBA App (https://apo-opa.co/4a0Kzz0), NBA.com, BAL.NBA.com and the BAL's YouTube (www.youtube.com/@theBAL) Channel; Games Will Reach Fans in 214 Countries and Territories in 17 Languages; Tickets on Sale Now at BAL.NBA.com and Ticketmaster.co.za for the Games in Pretoria; Fans Can Save Up to 35% On Group Packages
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today announced the 47 players from 10 countries (https://apo-opa.co/3TnVMnL) across Africa, Europe and the U.S. who will compete in the inaugural Kalahari Conference group phase from Saturday, March 9 – Sunday, March 17 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, as well as the league's global broadcast distribution for the 2024 BAL season*.
The fourth BAL season will feature the top 12 club teams (https://apo-opa.co/3TnVMnL) from 12 African countries playing a record 48 games in Pretoria; Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; and Kigali, Rwanda, marking the first BAL games in South Africa and the first time the league will play games in four different countries.
The four teams competing in the Kalahari Conference group phase – home team and three-time BAL participant Cape Town Tigers (South Africa), first-time BAL participant Dynamo Basketball Club (Burundi), first-time BAL participant FUS Rabat Basketball (Morocco) and 2022 BAL runner-up Petro de Luanda (Angola) – collectively feature four players with NBA and NBA G League experience, 11 former NCAA Division I players, four NBA Academy Africa prospects, four former Basketball Without Borders (BWB) campers, five players who have participated in the FIBA Basketball World Cup and 13 players with FIBA AfroBasket experience.
Top NBA Academy Africa prospects Khaman Maluach, a native of South Sudan who will play for the City Oilers (Uganda), and Ulrich Chomche, a native of Cameroon who will play for APR (Rwanda), are among the 12 NBA Academy Africa prospects who will compete in the 2024 BAL season as part of the third edition of the BAL Elevate program (https://apo-opa.co/42IkW3v). Maluach and Chomche previously participated in the 2022 and 2023 BAL seasons.
The 2024 BAL season will reach fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages through free-to-air and paid TV broadcast partnerships with the African Union of Broadcasting, American Forces Network (AFN), Canal+, NBA TV, Tencent Video, TSN, TV5 Monde, Visionary TV and Voice of America (VOA), and livestreaming on the NBA App (https://apo-opa.co/4a0Kzz0), NBA.com, BAL.NBA.com and the BAL's YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/43gfoxt) channel.
In the season opener, FUS Rabat Basketball will face Petro de Luanda at 4:00 p.m. CAT. In the second game, the Cape Town Tigers will take on Dynamo Basketball Club at 7:00 p.m. CAT. Tickets for the Kalahari Conference group phase in Pretoria are on sale now at BAL.NBA.com and Ticketmaster.co.za. Single game tickets for the Kalahari Conference group phase start at 75 ZAR. Fans can save up to 35% off single game ticket prices for group packages by emailing BalTickets@thebal.com. Fans who purchase tickets will also have free access to BAL Fan Zones at the arena in each market.
The 12 teams have been divided into three conferences of four teams each. Each conference will play a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice. New this season, the home team in each market will play on every gameday, including on the weekends. The Nile Conference group phase will take place from Friday, April 19 – Saturday, April 27 at Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex in Cairo. The Sahara Conference group phase will take place from Saturday, May 4 – Sunday, May 12 at the Dakar Arena in Dakar. The top two teams from each conference and the top two third-place teams from across the three conferences will travel to BK Arena in Kigali for four seeding games followed by an eight-game, single-elimination Playoffs and Finals from Friday, May 24 – Saturday, June 1.
Linked here (https://apo-opa.co/4bYS1MO) please find select Kalahari Conference group phase player and coach storylines, and here (https://apo-opa.co/4c62yps) please find complete details about the 2024 BAL season's global broadcast distribution. Rosters for the Nile Conference and Sahara Conference group phases will be announced at a later date.
*Rosters are subject to change and will be updated in real-time on the team roster pages on www.BAL.NBA.com
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Download here:
View Kalahari Conference Group Phase Rosters (https://apo-opa.co/3TnVMnL)
Basketball Africa League Season 4 Hype Video (https://apo-opa.co/3T9WdRj)
Contact:
Edwin Eselem
Basketball Africa League
+221 78 615 42 87
EEselem@theBAL.com
About the BAL:
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its fourth season in March 2024. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside North America. Fans can follow the BAL (@theBAL) on Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3IryMxW), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/48G8a76), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/49zyG3f), X, and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/43gfoxt) and register their interest in receiving more information at www.BAL.NBA.com.
Google and Facebook are killing local news
The Limpopo Mirror is published in Louis Trichardt, a town in the north of South Africa’s Limpopo province. This week the Competition Commission is probing how online news is affected by AI chatbots, search and advertising technology. The outcome of the hearings is important for the future of news reporting in South Africa. In this …
Deregulation: Easing of regulation is driving African innovation across the continent’s energy sector
A deregulated power sector is an enormous opportunity for key markets in Africa, as individual countries start to contribute to an efficient, sustainable and competitive renewable energy ecosystem, says Paul van Zijl, Group CEO at Starsight Energy (https://StarsightEnergy.com). Here he shares some insight into the potential benefits of deregulation and how these changes can create a ripple effect across the African continent – becoming the blueprints that many African countries will use to overcome their own energy challenges.
The deregulation of the energy sector has massive potential for the continent, but it must be approached in the right way to have a long-term and sustainable impact. Deregulation is already happening in various African countries at differing paces, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, as more and more Independent Power Producers (IPPs) collaborate with local regulators and stakeholders to assess and determine the best way to optimise natural resources and harness their limitless potential.
While the application of deregulation in each country is different, the principal benefits remain the same. Each country stands to gain from a revitalised power sector that offers more opportunities to IPPs, attracts more local and international investment into the local energy landscape, and makes electricity and renewable energy more accessible to consumers at competitive prices.
In Nigeria, for example, we are seeing the first exciting steps of deregulation as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) moves towards transforming the sector. A new federal law, the Electricity Act (2023) (https://apo-opa.co/3Ir5QpI), has been enacted which enables different states to pass their own laws and establish state electricity markets. Once a state establishes its electricity market, the federal government will cease regulation of electricity distribution within that state. This first step is a collaborative effort that will go a long way in creating a sustainable, privatised and deregulated market in Nigeria.
In Kenya, the eagerly anticipated Open Access (wheeling) regulations have also recently been gazetted. The regulator fast-tracked Open Access to the grid, enabling IPPs to supply electricity directly to large customers through the national network, under regulation guidelines from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Further impetus will also derive from the recent announcement that the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) (https://EAPPool.org) is targeting to go live with a competitive power trading market by the end of December 2024 – taking the region from bilateral trade to trading amongst all countries. This will allow the EAPP's 13 member countries to sell excess electricity in cross-border transmission projects. Considering that countries in the EAPP are already trading over 3 400 GWh annually, this move is set to transform the region's interconnectivity even more. Kenya has already reaped the rewards of bilateral trading, including an energy exchange engagement with Uganda and the importation of 200 MW of renewable energy from Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, deregulation has seen the introduction of innovations such as self-generation, electricity wheeling (https://apo-opa.co/3IuyKFm), and energy trading from IPPs. The rising popularity of utility-scale solar farms is a direct result of deregulation, which in turn has been accelerated by local funders deploying funds to grow IPPs. The funders invest in the construction of solar farms, allowing them to meet their mandate to fund the low-carbon transition. At the same time, the IPPs can leverage this financial backing to bring Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) on board to support the project until completion. These initiatives demonstrate the power of collaboration between the private and public sectors.
The positive impact of deregulation on South Africa's power infrastructure runs even deeper than boosting generation capacity. In some cases, IPPs also provide a main transmission substation (MTS) to the national utility provider, Eskom, as part of their project to bolster connectivity to the transmission network. In other instances, IPPs are installing utility-scale battery storage alongside their farms to store the solar energy that is produced. These installations help the IPPs mitigate their risk to ensure their projects aren't hampered by the complexities associated with the local grid. Such widespread deregulation is not necessarily to be expected across the continent, but learnings can be taken from South Africa to apply on a country-by-country basis.
Our South African operation, trading as SolarAfrica (https://SolarAfrica.com), is working closely with Eskom to bring projects like these to life in the country, while Starsight Energy (https://StarsightEnergy.com). and Starsight Premier Energy Group (https://SPEGea.com) are working with regulators, stakeholders and various industry players in Nigeria and Kenya to see how we can shape each region's changing energy landscape.
The impact of deregulation has been – and will continue to be – transformative. We look forward to working with the industry and regulators to accelerate the process in our key markets as we ultimately believe a well-considered deregulated market will be to the benefit of the end consumer and allow economies to grow and thrive with the private and public sectors working hand in hand.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Starsight Energy.
Free State focuses on job creation
Free State focuses on job creation
Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana says the province is hard at work to lessen the burden of unemployment.
In his State of the Province Address on Friday, Dukwana said unemployment fell from 38.5% in the third quarter of 2023 to 37% in the fourth quarter.
“Our Expanded Public Works Programme and the Presidential Employment Stimulus is a demonstration of our efforts to ignite economic growth,” he said.
Dukwana said since 2019, the province has created 282 907 work opportunities against a five-year target of 260 000 work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
“The Presidential Employment Stimulus enabled us to benefit from the creation of 87 357 job opportunities, supporting 24 733 livelihoods and retaining 1 680 jobs in the period between April to December 2023.
“These statistics include the 6 964 Education Assistants and 8 285 General School Assistants in the Department of Education. At the core of this education programme is the placement of unemployed youth in schools.
“This further illustrates how we give practical effect to our commitment to address youth unemployment. We must strengthen the coordination and maximise our participation in this programme,” Dukwana said.
He said a strong agricultural sector is key for food security, job creation, poverty alleviation and rural development.
“Work is underway to position the Free State as the champion of the agricultural green revolution in the country. A total of 4 543 producers were trained, and 249 students graduated from the Glen Agricultural College.
“We facilitated 19 023 export certificates, 29 419 hectares of land was rehabilitated and 987 hectares was cultivated using conservation practices. This will preserve the environment and increase production of organic products.
“Work is underway to avail provincial and municipal land for youth, women, people with disabilities and military veterans for farming purposes. We will increase investment to support the commercialisation of black farmers, investment in agro-logistics infrastructure and open new markets,” he said.
Dukwana said the province is hard at work to position the Free State as the country’s central energy logistics, distribution and beneficiation hub.
“The province has immense opportunities in natural gas, solar, coal, ethanol, wind, uranium, hydropower and hydrogen to power the future of our country,” he said.
30 Years of democracy
Dukwana said with 2024 marking 30 years of freedom and democracy, there is much to take note of.
“It is a year that builds a bridge between our tragic past, encouraging present and a brighter future... With the birth of democracy, the stage was set to carve a path anchored firmly on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights,” Dukwana said.
The Premier said central to the democratic transformation process is improving the living conditions of South Africans and fostering shared economic growth.
“Driven by the relentless desire for a better life for all, we have over the past 30 years, invested time, resources and commitment in fighting the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
“The courage of our people continues to be rewarded. Their hopes and dreams continue to be the spark that impels us to even greater heights. Signs are everywhere that the Free State is a province on the move, confident in our actions and optimistic in our future trajectory.
“We are making the most of our potential, harnessing our development efforts and leaving no one behind in a Social Compact with our people,” Dukwana said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 03/04/2024 - 13:28
1190 views
Institutions submit registration data to NSFAS
Institutions submit registration data to NSFAS
Twenty-nine institutions that have submitted registration data for catch up payment for the 2024 academic year allowances, will be paid by Friday, says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The acting Chairperson of the NSFAS, Professor Lourens Van Staden, said following delays in the 2024 academic year, mainly due to registration, the NSFAS board took a decision to request institutions in the interim to operate as a channel to pay the February and March allowances.
“Communication was therefore sent to all universities notifying them of this decision. We also sent another communication to indicate the 2024 academic year allowances type distribution channel.
“Financial aid managers were asked to confirm the universities allowances payment commitment dates. For Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, we will be paying through the direct payment channel,” Van Staden said on Monday.
To support institutions and students, Van Staden said the scheme made two upfront payments to all institutions, including the first upfront payment, which was disbursed on 31 January with the second upfront payment disbursed on 29 February 2024.
“These upfront payments were made to institutions for them to use the funds to distribute students’ allowances. The majority of institutions committed to paying students from the last week of February 2024,” Van Staden said at a media briefing held in Pretoria.
The first upfront payment was administered to cover the book allowance which was calculated at half of the 2023 academic year cost.
The payment included funds to cover one month of accommodation costs. For medical students, provision was made for two months’ worth of allowances, to assist select institutions that registered medical students whose academic year starts in January.
The second upfront payment includes book allowances, which is calculated for the second half of the 2024 academic year based on the 2023 payments made; accommodation allowances to cover the accommodation allowances for the second month (March) of the 2024 academic year; transport allowances, which is calculated to cover February 2024 allowance.
The NSFAS advanced an upfront payment to both universities and TVET colleges.
For universities, Van Staden said the NSFAS disbursed R2.8 billion in January 2024.
The chairperson noted that this disbursement does not include the calculation of the tranche payments, which “NSFAS will disburse at the beginning of April 2024.”
“This upfront payment covers one month of student accommodation and the book allowance. The book allowance is calculated at half of the total cost, whilst the accommodation is calculated as one month of the accommodation cost.
“For TVET colleges, a total of R580150 950.00 was paid to colleges as tuition upfront in January 2024. An additional R1 billion is earmarked for three months’ worth of allowances to be paid based on registration from the January-March period,” he explained.
He emphasised that all the upfront payments are meant to enable institutions to register all NSFAS-approved students for the 2024 academic year.
“We all know that in February, the university sector commences with its registration. This means that by the time the first payment is made (usually at the beginning of February), the majority of the students have already registered and are already attending classes.
“This is the reason why the board ensured that the upfront payments are inclusive of the registration period commencing in January for medical students in the university sector.”
He further explained that NSFAS requested institutions to pay allowances for both February and March due to challenges experienced at the beginning of the 2024 academic year, which led to delays in receiving registration data from institutions.
He said institutions were also requested to allow direct payment service providers to conduct the process of onboarding students, whilst they continue with payments.
“The direct payments of allowance for the 2024 academic year will commence in April 2024 and institutions will administer the payment of allowances for only two months (February and March) because the third allowance will be made on the direct payment platform. No exceptions or deviations will be allowed.”
Van Staden has encouraged all other institutions to submit registration data, to enable NSFAS to make a catch-up payment. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 03/04/2024 - 15:12
254 views
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