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The Rip Curl Cup is an Open Speciality Surfing Event during the Port Alfred Easter Festival. It is presented by The Royal St Andrews Hotel and is supported by Sea Harvest. The Rosehill SUPERSPAR has made a significant contribution to this event by sponsoring the Rosehill SUPERSPAR Expression Session during the Rip Curl Cup. This …
Minor Hotels, an international hotel owner, operator and investor with more than 540 hotels in 56 countries in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe and the Americas, announces the signing of a new Anantara resort to be developed in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Located on the northern coast of Zanzibar Island, the group …
Sea Point walk raises R45,000 for Mdzananda Animal Clinic
Port Alfred – With only two weeks to go before the PORT ALFRED EASTER FESTIVALkicks off, there is much excitement in the air. The entries are open for the Rip Curl GromSearch and the Rip Curl Cup, the Bands At The Beach Music Fest is good to go, and the Good Time Fair On The …
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is calling on all Western Cape based schools to sign up for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K’s fun ‘School’s Challenge’ that will form part of the 9th annual event on Sunday 12 May 2024. “The Schools Challenge brings a thrilling team dynamic to the Absa RUN …
The subtropical climate and breathtaking scenery make the KZN South Coast a must-visit destination this Easter. From the Blue Flag beaches to the lush hinterland, this action-packed destination is an outdoor adventurer’s dream! “There is a growing trend of travel-based experiences that can either be relaxing or adrenaline-inducing – but all fun!” says Deborah Ludick, …
Runners and walkers will get another chance to enjoy the stunning Sapphire Coast with the first-ever Galleria Mall Challenge – organised by Amanzimtoti Athletics Club and supported by Sapphire Coast Tourism – taking place in Amanzimtoti on Sunday, 7 April. This is a great opportunity to spend a weekend enjoying the beautiful beaches and tourist …
The Thukela River, meaning ‘that which startles’ is the second largest river in South Africa. Treverton College, celebrating its 60th year in 2024, adequately chose a great adventure to mark this significant year. The Thukela Source-to-Sea expedition aims to paddle the length of the Thukela River, 550 km of rapids and white water. A team …
The country’s first-of-its-kind open water swim, organised exclusively by charities for charities, is returning to Durban’s shores this winter! The Oceans 8 Charity Swim, fast becoming an iconic local event, will take place at Durban Undersea Club on 15 and 16 June 2024 in a 1 Mile, 4 Mile, and 8 Mile format. Spaces are …
MSC's R350m investment poised to boost KZN economy
The Mediterranean Shipping Company SA’s (MSC) R350 million investment in KwaZulu-Natal will go a long way in boosting the provincial economy and creating jobs for the local community.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, said this at the unveiling of MSC's new cold storage facility at Cator Manor in Chesterville, Durban.
Officially opened on Thursday night, the facility has the capacity to accommodate 10 000 pallets and is poised to meet the growing demands of the cold logistics market and ensure the preservation of temperature-sensitive goods, guaranteeing their quality during transit.
Delivering the keynote address, Dube-Ncube expressed her appreciation to MSC for choosing KZN as their investment destination of choice, noting the state-of-the-art facility represents an investment in the development and construction of a cutting-edge cold storage facility.
“The investment by MSC is not only a vote of confidence in our economy but it shows that if we work together as government and the private sector, there is so much we can achieve.
“The fact that MSC has invested R350 million in the construction and development of this cold storage facility, is a clear demonstration that you share our positive outlook for the future growth of KwaZulu-Natal,” Dube-Ncube said.
MSC South Africa Chairperson, Captain Salvatore Sarno, said the establishment of the cold storage facility underscores MSC's commitment to enhancing supply chain reliability for perishable goods, and playing a pivotal role in facilitating the international trade of temperature-sensitive products worldwide.
Sarno said South African exporters are set to benefit from a comprehensive logistics solution enabling their perishable products to reach global markets seamlessly via sea transport.
"We are proud to unveil this state-of-the-art cold storage facility, which not only reinforces our dedication to supporting the South African economy but also underscores our commitment to job creation and economic growth.
"This investment exemplifies our ongoing efforts to provide value-added services to our customers while contributing to the development of the local economy," Sarno said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 03/08/2024 - 12:07
SANDF deployment not done without planning
By Siphiwe Dlamini
The deployment of a contingent of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of the SADC Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) and the subsequent tragic deaths of Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono have provided plenty of grist to the opinion mill.
It should. We are a democracy and this is a people’s defence force – and its role and its use should be debated.
There are major and justifiable concerns about budget implications. The lack of sufficient air cover for the mission and that this deployment might be fatally overstretching the SANDF’s capacity has been raised by some as a concern.
None of these are new concerns; successive chiefs of the SANDF have raised these precise issues in the past, along with their chiefs of service.
But these concerns ignore the reality that this deployment was not done in haste, nor without the requisite planning. There have been numerous discussions at the highest echelons of government about the need to support the SANDF in all its needs, including funding. There is a real commitment to do this.
We should also not forget three critical points in the current discourse, well intentioned or otherwise, about the SANDF.
The first is that the mission in the DRC is not solely a South African tasking but a request from the greater Southern African Development Community to ensure the stability of the region as the United Nations began its well-publicised drawdown of Monusco, its 20 year-long mission to stabilise the DRC, in December last year.
Secondly, there are other countries that will be also contributing to this mission, some of whom will be able to directly address the issue of air cover through the capabilities of their own air forces.
Thirdly, the SANDF has been part of Monusco since its inception, commanding the mission and regularly providing commanders for the smaller three-battalion strong multinational Force Intervention Brigade, the only UN force mandated to use force offensively.
The biggest issue of all though is peacekeeping. SA is a continental leader and has never shied away from the often onerous responsibility to lead these processes, participating from the front, if necessary, putting its money and its troops where its mouth is.
This is not an easy decision and it is not without risks, all of which weigh very heavily upon our commander-in-chief, President Cyril Ramaphosa; the political head; Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise; and chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, before deploying these national assets.
These soldiers are not conscripts, they are volunteers, but all of us know the risks that they will face in the field – and the sacrifices they may well be asked to make – to keep this peace.
It is easy for the keyboard warriors to argue that our horizons should be limited to our land, sea and air borders, but the reality is that the beating of a butterfly’s wings in Kivu or Goma could very well create an unstoppable tsunami in Johannesburg or Cape Town.
It’s too late to deal with an insurgency not just on your doorstep but within your borders. This is part of the rationale for the SANDF’s participation in the SADC Mission in Mozambique (Samim) to keep the insurgency in Cabo Delgado at bay.
That is the apex threat – of war and terror in our cities and countryside, but there are other threats, too, of even more refugees seeking a better life in SA, potential economic and criminal risks which put further strain on our law enforcement agencies, the home affairs department, the department of social security and, indeed, our fiscus.
It is said that a stitch in time saves nine. It doesn’t help to just create nonporous borders, where the SANDF is already performing a yeoman and unheralded service as part of the ongoing Operation Corona.
We have to try to resolve issues and create the conditions that are crucial to allowing a sustainable and enduring state of peace on the continent that could otherwise threaten the way of life we aspire to, even though they are not our direct neighbours.
It is this philosophy that has guided the SANDF ever since the days of our first commander-in-chief Nelson Mandela, when he worked tirelessly to bring peace to the Great Lakes Region.
*Siphiwe Dlamini is Head of Communications at the Department of Defence.
**This article first appeared in The Citizen on 1 March 2024.
Janine
Tue, 03/05/2024 - 09:54
Port Alfred – The prizes have been announced for the two RIP CURL Tournaments, the Rip Curl GromSearch and the Rip Curl Cup, both presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel. Both events will take place at East Beach in Port Alfred over the Easter Weekend during the Port Alfred Easter Festival. There will be a …
Automated External Defibrillators and simple airway devices can be used by bystanders to help victims of cardiac arrest and drowning
Port Alfred – With just 30 days before the inaugural Port Alfred Easter Festival, Port Alfred is gearing up for a pivotal long weekend. The Port Alfred Easter Festival will take place over the Easter Weekend, March 29th – April 1st, and will showcase the vibrant sports and culture of the coastal town of Port …
At the 9th annual Cyber Security Weekend – META conference held recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) presented an industrial cybersecurity review for the countries in the region and outlined the key cybersecurity challenges for industrial enterprises in the year ahead.
According to Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) statistics, in the second half of 2023, 32.6% of ICS computers globally had been attacked with malware. In the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region the figure is 36.5% for Turkiye, 36.8% for Africa (27.5% in South Africa, 34.55% in Kenya, 28.8% in Nigeria, 33.17% in Ghana), and 33.5% for the Middle East region. There is a slight decrease in this figure in the region compared to 2022 which can be the result of industrial organisations paying more attention to cybersecurity.
African countries are undergoing rapid digitalisation and integration into the world's economy, while at the same time facing a significant cybersecurity under-investment problem. In the second half of 2023, 7.55% of Operational Technology computers in Africa were exposed to threats via USBs (that is 20 times more than the figure of Western Europe); 7.2% faced threat by worms (that is 28 times more than in Australia & New Zealand); and 9.1% of OT computers were exposed to spyware (that is 7.7 times more than the figure for North America).
Kaspersky Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS CERT) predictions for 2024 highlight the persistence of ransomware threats, rise of cosmopolitical hacktivism, an outlook on the state of “offensive cybersecurity”, and transformative shifts in logistics and transport threats.
Looking back at 2023 (https://apo-opa.co/3OXrfus), Kaspersky predicted the industrial cybersecurity landscape continuing to evolve, with several key trends emerging. The pursuit of efficiency in IIoT and SmartXXX systems fueled an expanded attack surface, while the surge in energy carrier prices led to heightened hardware costs, prompting a strategic shift towards cloud services. The growing government involvement in industrial processes also introduced fresh risks, including concerns about data leaks due to underqualified employees and insufficient practices for responsible disclosure.
This retrospective analysis lays the groundwork for understanding the cybersecurity landscape faced by industrial enterprises in 2024, such as:
Ransomware is projected to persist as the primary concern for industrial enterprises in 2024. Large organisations, unique product suppliers, and major logistics companies face increased risks, with potential severe economic and social consequences. Cybercriminals are expected to target entities capable of substantial ransom payments, causing disruptions in production and delivery
Geopolitically motivated hacktivism is forecasted to intensify, presenting more destructive consequences. In addition to country-specific protest movements, the rise of cosmopolitical hacktivism is expected, driven by socio-cultural and macro-economic agendas such as eco-hacktivism. This diversification of motives may contribute to a more complex and challenging threat landscape.
The use of “offensive cybersecurity” for gathering cyberthreat intelligence is anticipated to have controversial consequences. While it may improve corporate security by providing early signs of potential compromises, the thin line between the grey zone and the shadows may be breached. Profit-driven cyber activities, armed with commercial and open-source tools, could operate more discreetly, making detection and investigation challenging.
The rapid automation and digitisation of logistics and transport are introducing new challenges, intertwining cyber and traditional crimes. This includes theft of vehicles and goods, maritime piracy, and smuggling. Non-targeted cyberattacks may lead to physical consequences, especially in river, sea, truck, and special-purpose vehicles.
“The industrial sector's cybersecurity is continuously going through significant changes, with both new types of attacks and more sophisticated versions of old ones. Ransomware attacks are still a big problem, and hackers are getting better at targeting large, profitable companies with more advanced methods. Hacktivists who are motivated by social issues are also becoming more active, adding another layer of complexity to the threats. The transportation and logistics industry is especially vulnerable to these changes because its systems are becoming more and more digital. This combination of cyber and traditional crime is a serious threat to global supply chains. To protect themselves, organisations need to prioritise cybersecurity and keep improving their defenses,” commented Evgeny Goncharov, head of Kaspersky ICS CERT.
Read the full list of ICS predictions for 2024 at ICS CERT website (https://apo-opa.co/3OYsGZB).
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.
“Building better kids, one punch at a time.” The Masibambisana Amateur Boxing Tournament is part of the Port Alfred Easter Festival It is presented By The Masibambisana Boxing Academy in conjunction with the Sunshine Life Centre The Masibambisana Amateur Boxing Tournament Is Proudly sponsored by Royal St Andrews Hotel Date: 31 March 2024 Time: 11 …
Court says judgment should be delivered within three weeks
Relocation options unsatisfactory for many of the occupiers
In the few months that the three-legged leopard tortoise has lived at Crocworld Conservation Centre, it has already befriended a fellow ‘tripod’ tortoise who is also being rehabilitated at the Scottburgh centre. To make the latest Crocworld resident really feel part of the family, the team at Crocworld is calling on the public to suggest …
16 February 2024: Ryan Schoon © Louis Wulff The Rip Curl GromSearch Kommetjie kicked off at Long Beach this morning with some excellent waves underneath an early morning drizzle. By mid-morning, the sun was out, and the action was non-stop. Some top performances from Ryan Schoon, Cooper Smith, Levi Epenetos and Matt Canning in the …
Most of Cape Town’s sewage treatment works are failing, including the city’s largest one which releases effluent straight into the sea
Festive Season crime operations yield results
Police Minister Bheki Cele says police went into the festive season well equipped to take on the task of tackling crime.
“For the third quarter (of this financial year), which includes the festive season, police officers were adequately resourced to deal decisively with criminals in all forms and shapes.
“We came into this festive period well prepared. We unleashed our Safer Festive Season operational plan on the 13th of October 2023, where we deployed various policing interventions,” Cele said.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria to release the quarterly crime stats, Cele on Friday said top police leadership gave strict instructions and a clear directive to officers on the ground to squeeze out all criminals from every corner of this country.
“It is clear that our efforts to prevent, combat and arrest criminals are proving to be effective,” Cele said.
The Minister said it is also quite clear with the number of arrests made that Operation Shanela is making its mark and putting a dent on serious, violent and organised crime.
Since its inception on 8 May 2023, Operation Shanela has seen more than 442 000 suspects getting arrested.
Cele said during this quarter, four major drug busts were registered. Three were at the Durban Harbour, where cocaine to the value of R300 million was seized in separate incidents.
“The most recent drug bust during this period was for cocaine to the value of R151 million on the 4th of December 2023. The fourth drug bust was at the Gqerberha Sea Port, where cocaine worth R65 million was seized,” Cele said.
Cele said in this period, R800 million worth of drugs were destroyed in Gauteng.
“These were drugs collected during policing operations across the country. Fifteen clandestine drug laboratories were shut down, with 21 suspects arrested for drug related charges, including manufacturing and dealing in drugs.
“Indeed, our intelligence structures are hard at work in preventing and putting a stop to the drug trade in the country and beyond.
“This is also a clear demonstration that all stakeholders involved in border security management are working together to tighten the control measures of cargo entering and departing our country,” the Minister said.
Cele said for the past two consecutive terms, police have noted a reduction in the number of murders reported.
“It is disturbing and concerning that the number of people murdered during this period increased by 2.1%, leading to 155 more people murdered compared to the same period.
“The provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State must be singled out and commended for being able to register a reduction in the number of people murdered during this period. The majority of the top 30 stations where murder was most reported include the Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng and Eastern Cape,” Cele said.
With regards to cash-in-transit (CIT) heists, Cele said the specialised teams put in place in each province are yielding results in ensuring that there is a reduction in the number of CITs taking place.
“During this period, 46 CIT armed robberies took place, which is 11 counts lower than the previous crime reporting period. In the past year, more than 75 wanted CIT suspects have been arrested during takedown operations.
“High calibre firearms, including rifles and AK47s, as well as high performance vehicles that were used in the commission of these crimes, were seized,” Cele said.
On construction mafia crimes, Cele said SAPS continues to deal decisively with this crime category.
He said construction mafias continue to pose a threat to business and the economy of the country.
“From April to date, more than 61 suspects linked to these extortions were arrested. Since 2019, 27 accused were convicted for a collective 43 years direct imprisonment,” Cele said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/16/2024 - 14:27
The current property investment trends for retirees show a shift towards coastal living in small towns, with sustainability, natural surroundings, and conservation areas in high demand. The exquisite KZN South Coast, with its nature reserves, highest number of Blue Flag beaches, and world-class dive sites is fast meeting this demand through the establishment of eco-focused …
SANRAL notifies motorists about blasting along the N2
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has advised road users that the N2 will be intermittently closed between Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) and the Fish River Pass due to blasting operations taking place this month.
Blasting operations started on Monday and will end on 26 February 2024.
Motorists are notified of the following dates:
“The road will be closed on these days from 3pm, for a maximum period of three hours, up to 6pm to allow sufficient time for cleaning of the existing N2 and making it safe for the travelling public,” SANRAL said.
“Motorists travelling westwards between East London or Qonce (formerly King William’s Town) and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) may consider using the following alternative route:
Motorists travelling eastwards between Gqeberha and Qonce or East London may consider using the following alternative route:
“Motorists are requested to plan their trips accordingly, consider alternative routes and use caution when making use of the roads,” SANRAL’s Southern Region Manager Mbulelo Peterson said. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 02/14/2024 - 09:44