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The Earthshot Prize Announces Earthshot Week and Awards in Cape Town this November

Location: News
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The Earthshot Prize will travel to Cape Town, South Africa this November for Earthshot Week 2024, featuring The Prize's annual Awards Ceremony. Across five days of landmark events, The Earthshot Prize will celebrate the groundbreaking work of fifteen global environmental solutions and convene leading innovators, Earthshot Alumni, partners, investors and philanthropists for inspiring conversations and action on catalysing solutions to protect and restore our planet.

The Earthshot Prize is an ambitious global environmental prize which aims to discover and help scale the world's most innovative climate and environmental solutions to protect and restore our planet. The Prize is centered around five ‘Earthshots'; simple but aspirational goals to ensure our communities, oceans and ecosystems can thrive together in harmony for generations to come.

This year, The Earthshot Prize will bring its annual celebration to South Africa for the first time, following events in London in 2021, Boston in 2022 and Singapore in 2023. Over the coming months, a rigorous selection process will unearth fifteen Finalists from around the world, of whom five will be awarded a £1 million (R23 800 000,00) prize to scale their solutions, during the ceremony in Cape Town.

Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize said: “This is the Earthshot Decade, a decade in which we must, by 2030, reduce CO2 emissions by over 40 percent, and protect 30 percent of nature, oceans, and freshwater. The nominations to The Earthshot Prize remind us that human ingenuity, grit and determination can turn the seemingly impossible into the new normal. We're delighted to be working with changemakers and partners across Africa to spotlight the incredible innovation emerging across the continent, to convene courageous conversations about scale and finance, and to partner with young creators and filmmakers to tell the story of changemakers across Africa.”

Nearly 400 nominees for this year's Prize are Africa-based, highlighting the trailblazing creativity and innovation across the continent with the potential to inspire optimism and provide pathways to transformative change around the world. One of The Prize's inspiring 2023 finalists was Cape Town's ABALOBI, a non-profit partnership between fishers and scientists aimed at protecting small-scale fishing communities while arming their customers with better information about the origin of their seafood.

Despite contributing the least to global warming and having the lowest emissions, Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the impacts of climate change. In 2022 alone, more than 110 million people across Africa were directly affected by weather, climate, and water-related hazards according to the World Meteorological Organization. Yet in the face of these challenges, nearly all African countries have committed to enhancing climate action through reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience.

Earthshot Week will begin with The Prize's annual Awards Ceremony, an evening of extraordinary storytelling and star-studded performances, celebrating the work of the fifteen Earthshot Prize finalists. The ceremony will be followed by Earthshot+, a day of thought-provoking conversations aimed at multiplying the impact of The Earthshot Prize Winners and Finalists.

During Earthshot Week, Cape Town will also play host to the annual Earthshot Fellowship Retreat which will kickstart the yearlong Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme. The programme is a key element of the wrap-around support that each cohort of fifteen Finalists receives in addition to the £1 million prize, providing mentorship, resources and technical support, helping to accelerate the growth of each groundbreaking solution. That support includes access to the Prize's robust network of the world's largest businesses, philanthropists, investors and environmental organizations committed to climate action.

The Prize has recently completed its annual nominations process, culminating in nearly 2500 entries submitted from 432 Official Nominators from around the world, doubling the nominations from any previous year. Nearly 400 of the 2024 nominations are headquartered in Africa, three times more than in any previous set of nominations. The fifteen new finalists chosen this year will be emblematic of a growing global movement of innovators, gamechangers and entrepreneurs creating transformative solutions that, if scaled, could accelerate a green, just transition to a net zero world.

The Prize's first three cohorts of 45 Finalists have already driven incredible impact to repair and regenerate our planet with more than 1.5 million people benefiting directly from their solutions. Over 7,000 hectares of land and almost 2.1 million hectares of ocean have been protected or restored, while over 35,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions have been reduced, avoided or sequestered. The Prize's 2023 Finalists, announced this past autumn, are well on their way to creating similar impact.

The Earthshot Prize is proud to partner with MultiChoice Group to bring Earthshot Week to Africa. As a member of The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance of Partners, the MultiChoice Group is part of a global network of non-profit and international organizations committed to the environment and sustainable development. It is one of the fastest-growing entertainment providers globally, delivering entertainment products and services to more than 22m households across 50 countries on the African continent. In partnership with MultiChoice, The Earthshot Prize will provide a platform to African Youth Creators to spotlight and celebrate African solutions and the people behind them.

Imtiaz Patel, MultiChoice Group Chairman, said: “As the leading entertainment company in Africa, we are immensely proud to be the African Broadcast partner for Earthshot Prize at such a monumental time. This marks the first time the prestigious prize comes to our continent.

MultiChoice is well positioned to not only amplify the urgent message of climate change but also to inspire and galvanize innovators, corporate partners, and governments to prioritize sustainable solutions. This partnership signifies our ongoing commitment to fostering a sustainable future for Africa, and we look forward to playing a pivotal role in advancing the goals of The Earthshot Prize.”

The 2024 Earthshot Prize Finalists will be unveiled in September. More details about The Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony and Earthshot Week in Cape Town will be released in due course.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.

Contact:
For The Earthshot Prize:
earthshotprize@fgsglobal.com

For MultiChoice Group:
Litlhare.moteetee@multichoice.co.za

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About The Earthshot Prize:
Founded by Prince William and incubated in the The Royal Foundation in 2020 for a year before becoming an independent platform/organization, The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental prize and platform designed to discover, accelerate and scale ground-breaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy's Moonshot, which united millions of people around the goal of reaching the moon, The Earthshot Prize aims to catalyse an Earthshot challenge to urgently encourage and scale innovative solutions that can help put the world firmly on a trajectory towards a stable climate, where communities, oceans and biodiversity thrive in harmony by 2030. The five challenges are: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix Our Climate.

The Prize aims to turn the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism by championing inspiring leadership and helping to scale incredible cutting-edge solutions. It will discover 50 winners over 10 years with the power to repair the planet. More than an award, The Earthshot Prize works in partnership with a Global Alliance of Partners to support the scaling of the solutions discovered and selected each year.

The Global Alliance Founding Partners are a group of leading global organizations and philanthropists, which act as strategic funding partners to the Prize, including Aga Khan Development Network, Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Breakthrough Energy Foundation, Coleman Family Ventures, DP World in partnership with Dubai EXPO 2020, Eleven Eleven Foundation, Holch Povlsen Foundation, Jack Ma Foundation, Law Family Charitable Foundation, Legado Para A Juventude, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Marc and Lynne Benioff, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Rob Walton Foundation, Sandy and Paul Edgerley, Standard Chartered Bank, Temasek Trust and Wyc Grousbeck and Emilia Fazzalari.

Global Alliance Partners are non-profit environment and sustainable development organizations that bring expertise, global reach and serve as nominating organizations each year. For full list see website: Global Alliance - Earthshot Prize.

Global Alliance Members are some of the world's largest and most influential companies and brands that will support The Earthshot Prize, implement ambitious changes within their businesses and accelerate the advancement of the solutions of Prize Finalists and Winners.

They are: Arup, Bloomberg L.P., Deloitte, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hitachi, Ingka Group (IKEA), Microsoft, The Multichoice Group, Natura &Co, Safaricom, Salesforce, Unilever, Vodacom Group and Walmart. For more information about The Earthshot Prize, visit: www.EarthShotPrize.org.

About MultiChoice Group:
MultiChoice Group (MCG), which listed in the Main Board of the JSE on 27 February 2019, is one of the fastest-growing video entertainment providers globally, delivering entertainment products and services more than 22m households across 50 countries on the African continent. Its track record of more than 30 years is reflective of a commitment to provide audiences with only the best local, sport and international content.

MCG's strong partnerships with distributors, installers and telecommunication companies, along with its well-established payment solutions, competitive pricing and choice of viewership packages continue to secure its place in the global market, while also providing solutions unique to the African market. Its direct-to-home (DTH), digital terrestrial television.

(DTT) and over-the-top (OTT) solutions enable the business to stay relevant and aligned to changing consumer habits while capturing new markets. Content is at the very core of the business. MCG aims to deliver quality content anywhere, anytime and on any device through a comprehensive video entertainment offering at different price points. As pioneers in African video entertainment, MCG plays an important role in making information and entertainment easily accessible to Africans.

MCG aims to secure content rights in a manner that is cost-effective and reflective of the diversity of its audiences. Its substantial portfolio includes award-winning local content (a key differentiator in its service offering), a leading sport offering (including production capabilities) and access to international content, which is all shared on the group's platforms: DStv, GOtv, Showmax, M-Net and SuperSport.

MCG has superior technology capability through the security solutions that Irdeto, its technology company, brings to the group. These solutions enable MultiChoice to protect its investment, create new offerings and combat cybercrime. With 50 years' expertise in software security, Irdeto's software security solutions and cyber services protect over 5bn devices and applications for some of the world's best brands.

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Read moreThe Earthshot Prize Announces Earthshot Week and Awards in Cape Town this November

State of the Nation Address in numbers

Location: News

State of the Nation Address in numbers

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday.

Below is the SONA in numbers: 

Social Assistance 

 

  • More than 26 million – South Africans who continue to receive social assistance every month provided by the democratic state.
  • Some 9 million – unemployed people receiving the Special Social Relief of Distress Grant every month.
  •  

Unemployment and Job Creation

 

  • Two million ­– people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
  • 15 to 24 – the ages of millions of young people who were not in employment, education or training, by 8 February 2024.
  • More than 1.7 million – work and livelihood opportunities created through the Expanded Public Works Programme.
  • More than 1 million – school assistants placed in 23 000 schools through the Presidential Employment Stimulus.
  • 23 000 – schools where more than one million school assistants have been placed through the Presidential Employment Stimulus.
  • From 8 million to over 16.7 million – the increase in the number of South Africans in employment since 1994 until 2024.
  • Over 4.3 million –  young people engaged on SAYouth.mobi, a zero-rated platform for unemployed young people to access opportunities for learning and earning.
  • 1.6 million – young people who have secured opportunities through the SAYouth.mobi, a zero-rated platform for unemployed young people to access opportunities for learning and earning.

 

Crime and Corruption

 

  • More than 200 – accused persons being prosecuted by the National Prosecuting Authority.
  • R14 billion – value of freezing orders granted to the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit for state capture-related cases.
  • Around R8.6 billion – value of corrupt proceeds that have been returned to the State.
  • R4.8 billion – unpaid taxes collected by the South African Revenue Service.
  • R64 billion – value of civil litigation instituted by the Special Investigating Unit.
  • 5 000 – extra police officers deployed to Public Order Policing.
  • Over 285 000 – arrests made by the South African Police Service since May 2023 through Operation Shanela.
  • 20 000 – police officers recruited over the last two years.
  • 10 000 – police officers to be recruited in the year to come.
  • Over 100 000 – people stopped by the new Border Management Authority from entering South Africa illegally.

 

Energy

 

  • More than 2 500 – megawatts of solar and wind power connected to the grid.
  • More than 120 – new private energy projects in development.
  • More than 14 000 – kilometres of new transmission lines to be built over the coming years to accommodate renewable energy.
  • Around R170 billion to almost R240 billion – increases in the value of financing pledges for the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan in the past year.

 

Economy and Investment

 

  • More than 60 – ships waiting to berth at the Port of Durban in mid-November 2023.
  • 12 – ships waiting to berth at the Port of Durban at the end of January 2024.
  • R1.5 trillion – value of new investment commitments raised through five South Africa Investment Conferences.
  • R500 billion – value of new investment commitments raised through five South Africa Investment Conferences that have already flowed into the economy.
  • Approximately 39% – black ownership of mining by 2024, compared with 2% in 2004.

 

Road Infrastructure

 

  • Nearly 25 000 – kilometres of roads being managed by the South African National Roads Agency Limited.
  • More than 1 200 – projects to the value of R120 billion awarded by the South African National Roads Agency Limited in the past five years.
  • R120 billion – the value of more than 1 200 projects awarded by the South African National Roads Agency Limited in the past five years.

 

Land

 

  • 25% – farmland owned by black South Africans through redistribution.
  • 30% – target of farmland to be owned by black South Africans through redistribution by 2030.

 

Labour

 

  • Around 1 000 – black industrialists supported with funding and other forms of support in the last five years.
  • More than 90 000 – workers employed by black-owned firms which contribute many billions of rands to the South African economy.
  • About 200 000 – workers who obtained ownership of shares in the companies in which they work.
  • Over half a million – status of worker ownership in companies in the South African economy.
  • Over 6 million – workers whose wages were raised by the introduction of the National Minimum Wage.

 

Matric

 

  • 82.9% – latest matric pass rate; the highest ever.

 

Poverty Alleviation

 

  • 71.1% – South African population living in poverty in 1993.
  • 60.9% – the drop in the poverty rate by 2010.
  • 55.5% – the drop in the poverty rate by 2020.

 

Health

 

  • More than 100 000 ­– South Africans who lost their lives to COVID-19.
  • 54 years – life expectancy in 2003.
  • 65 years – life expectancy in 2023.
  • 95% – persons diagnosed with HIV who know their status.
  • 79% – persons who receive antiretroviral treatment out of the 95% diagnosed with HIV who know their status.
  • 93% – persons virally suppressed out of the 95% diagnosed with HIV who know their status.

 

Housing, Water and Telecommunications

 

  • Nearly nine out of every 10 – households living in a formal dwelling.
  • Only 6 out of 10 – people who had access to clean drinking water at the end of apartheid.
  • 9 out of 10 – South Africans with access to clean drinking water by 2024.
  • 79% – households with access to the internet in 2022.

 

Gender-Based Violence and Femicide

 

  • Around R21 billion – money dedicated over the medium term to implement the six pillars of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide, including the economic empowerment of women.

 

Janine
Fri, 02/09/2024 - 10:53

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Read moreState of the Nation Address in numbers

Investment in infrastructure gains momentum

Location: News

Investment in infrastructure gains momentum

President Cyril Ramaphosa says investment in infrastructure is gaining momentum, and new and innovative funding mechanisms will be used to increase the construction of infrastructure.

Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday evening, President Ramaphosa said to deal with severe inefficiencies in the freight logistics system, government is taking action to improve the country’s ports and rail network and restore them to world-class standards.

“We have set out a clear roadmap to stabilise the performance of Transnet and reform our logistics system. Working closely with business and labour, we have established dedicated teams to turn around five strategic corridors that transport goods for export purposes.

“The number of ships waiting to berth at the Port of Durban – which has experienced severe congestion in recent months – has reduced from more than 60 ships in mid-November to just 12 ships at the end of January,” Ramaphosa said.

The President also noted that Transnet has appointed an international terminal operator to help expand and improve its largest terminal at the Port of Durban, and government is overhauling the freight rail system by allowing private rail operators to access the rail network.

“With the current conflict in the Middle East affecting shipping traffic through the Suez Canal, South Africa is well positioned to offer bunkering services for ships that will be rerouted via our shores.

Broadband and investment

“We completed the auction of broadband spectrum after more than a decade of delays, resulting in new investment, lower data costs and improved network reach and quality. These reforms have a profound impact in a society in which access to the internet has risen dramatically over the last decade,” the President told a joint sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces.

He also noted that less than half of all households had internet access in 2011, compared to 79% of households in 2022.

“Just this week, we published new regulations to reform our visa system, which will make it easier to attract the skills that our economy needs and create a dynamic ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship.

“We raised R1.5 trillion in new investment commitments through five South Africa Investment Conferences, of which over R500 billion has already flowed into the economy.”

Bulk water projects

The President further announced that several bulk water projects are under construction across the country to improve water supply to millions of residents in villages, towns, and cities.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation aims to enhance water resource management by initiating infrastructure projects to secure water supply and diversifying water sources to reduce dependence on surface water.”

The President highlighted some of the water infrastructure projects, which are in progress or completed, and these include the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Umzimvubu, Hazelmere Dam, uMkhomazi Water Project, Clanwilliam Dam, Tzaneen Dam, Loskop, Mandlakazi, pipeline from Jozini Dam, Giyani and the pipeline from Nandoni Dam.  

Included among these are also Pilanesberg Water, Vaal Gamagara and the pipeline from the Vaal River to Hothazel.

“In the Eastern Cape, the Msikaba and Mtentu bridges are beginning to rise over the landscape and will be among the highest in Africa once complete. The steel used for part of the project is fabricated in Mpumalanga, and the iron ore comes from the Northern Cape,” he said.

He also noted that in the past five years, the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), which manages nearly 25 000 km of roads, has awarded more than 1 200 projects to the value of R120 billion.

“In November last year, Cabinet approved a framework for high-speed rail, focusing initially on the Johannesburg to Durban corridor,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

GabiK
Thu, 02/08/2024 - 21:06

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Tintswalo represents every of us – Minister

Location: News

Tintswalo represents all of us - Minister

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the Tintswalo story referred to by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday evening is an inspiration for many South Africans.

“The Tintswalo story is a representation of all us,” Minister Ntshavheni said.

This as the President in the SONA painted a picture of a child born in 1994, named “Tintswalo. He said Tintswalo grew up in a society that was worlds apart from the South Africa of her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

“The story of the first 30 years of our democracy can be best told through the life of a child called Tintswalo born at the dawn of freedom in 1994. She grew up in a society governed by a constitution rooted in equality, the rule of law, and affirmation of the inherent dignity of every citizen,” said the President as he narrated her story.

He described her upbringing as being in a household provided with basic water and electricity, in a house where her parents were likely to have lived without electricity before 1994.

Speaking to SAnews, Ntshavheni said Tintswalo is a representation of all those who are called the “Black Diamonds” of their families.

“Tintswalo is a representation of progress we have made as a country that a child from Makwarela can be a Minister, that a child from Tshifudi can be a lawyer, that a child from Dzingidzingi can be a nurse, that a child from an ordinary family can become a doctor,” said the Minister.

The address delivered by the President was the last one for the sixth administration which saw the President being inaugurated on 25 May 2019.

In his address on Thursday, the President reflected on the progress made by the country as it marches to celebrate 30 years of freedom this year.

The SONA marks the official start of the Parliamentary programme. It will be followed by a debate in the National Assembly and the President’s reply to the debate. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

Edwin
Thu, 02/08/2024 - 22:38

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Tintswalo, a child of democracy

Location: News

Tintswalo, a child of democracy

As the country marks 30 years of democracy, President Cyril Ramaphosa has used his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to outline how government has impacted the lives of ordinary people over the past three decades.

Painting a picture of a child born in 1994, the President told a story of Tintswalo who grew up in a society that was worlds apart from the South Africa of her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

“The story of the first 30 years of our democracy can be best told through the life of a child called Tintswalo born at the dawn of freedom in 1994. She grew up in a society governed by a constitution rooted in equality, the rule of law, and affirmation of the inherent dignity of every citizen.

“Tintswalo, and many others born at the same time as her, were beneficiaries of the first policies of the democratic state to provide free health care for pregnant women and children under the age of six. Tintswalo’s formative years were spent in a house provided by the state, one of millions of houses built to shelter the poor,” President Ramaphosa said on Thursday.

He described her upbringing as being in a household provided with basic water and electricity, in a house where her parents were likely to have lived without electricity before 1994.

“Tintswalo was enrolled in a school in which her parents did not have to pay school fees, and each school day she received a nutritious meal as part of a programme that today supports nine million learners from poor families.

“The democratic state provided a child support grant to meet her basic needs. This grant, together with other forms of social assistance, continues to be a lifeline for more than 26 million South Africans every month.

“With this support, Tintswalo – democracy’s child – was able to complete high school. Through the assistance of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, Tintswalo attended one of our Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and obtained a qualification,” the President said.

When Tintswalo entered the world of work, she was able to progress and thrive with the support of the state’s employment equity and black economic empowerment policies.

“With the income she earned, she was able to save, to start a family, to move into a better house, and to live a better life. This is the story of millions of people who have been born since the dawn of our democracy,” President Ramaphosa said.

Lifting millions out of poverty

Delivering the last SONA for the sixth administration at the Cape Town City Hall, the President said government’s policies and programmes have lifted millions out of dire poverty.

“Today, fewer South Africans go hungry and fewer live in poverty. In 1993, South Africa faced a significant poverty challenge, with 71.1 percent of its population living in poverty. However, under the democratic government, there has been a consistent decline in these numbers.

“By 2010, the poverty rate had dropped to 60.9 percent, and it continued to decrease, reaching 55.5 percent in 2020, as reported by the World Bank. This progress has been made possible by extensive support to those in society who need it most,” the President said.

Five years ago, government introduced a further measure to tackle poverty by introducing the National Minimum Wage as envisaged in the Freedom Charter.

“The decision by key role players, being business and labour and communities, to introduce the minimum wage immediately raised the wages of over 6 million workers,” the President said.

He said today, nearly nine out of every ten households live in a formal dwelling.

“One of the most visible, impactful and meaningful achievements in the first three decades of freedom has been in providing homes to the people. Today, nearly nine out of every ten households live in a formal dwelling.

“Where there were once shacks and mud houses, there are now homes of brick and mortar. These are homes with water to drink and to wash with, homes with electricity for lighting and cooking.

“At the end of apartheid, only 6 out of 10 people had access to clean drinking water. Today, that figure has increased to nearly 9 out of 10 South Africans,” the President said.

South Africans living longer than ever before

“Life expectancy has increased from 54 years in 2003 to 65 years in 2023. Maternal and infant deaths have declined dramatically. We have built more hospitals and clinics, especially in poor areas, providing better quality care to more South Africans.

“Today, 95% of persons diagnosed with HIV know their status, 79% of those receive antiretroviral treatment, and 93% of those are virally suppressed. New HIV infections among young people have declined significantly,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

nosihle
Thu, 02/08/2024 - 20:55

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Understanding the Stealthy Nature of Roof Leaks: A Guide by TT Waterproofing

Location: MyPR

As a seasoned business owner in the roofing and waterproofing industry, I’ve encountered countless scenarios where roof leaks prove to be elusive adversaries. Let me share my insights on this common challenge and guide you through the process of identifying and addressing these issues. The Sneaky Nature of Roof Leaks Roof leaks are like stealthy …

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JMEF Established

Location: News

Department of Mineral Resources and Energy: Republic of South Africa
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The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) officially establishing the Junior Mining Exploration Fund (JMEF).

The establishment of this fund forms part of South Africa's mineral exploration strategy. The main objective of the fund is to enable eligible South African junior mining enterprises to access funding so they can conduct prospecting work; increase access to mine ore bodies; and promote economic inclusion to support equitable economic growth.

The main qualifying criteria requires applicants to comply with the South African mining regulatory requirements, including but not limited to the provisions of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA), the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the National Water Act.

“We can't over-state the significance of this industry to our economy. Mining is not only the backbone of our economy but is the largest employing sector in this country. Our exposure has informed us of the many challenges facing emerging black-owned mining companies that are looking for a foothold into this sector. Exploration costs can be onerous on small mining firms and therefore, it is our hope that the fund will help alleviate the challenges facing Junior mining companies,” said IDC Chief Operations Officer, Joanne Bate.

The fund will be administered and managed by the IDC while the DMRE, supported by the Council for Geoscience, will determine the minerals whose exploration can be funded through this initiative.

The DMRE and the IDC are still finalising modalities as to when the first application window calling for qualifying companies to submit applications for consideration will be made.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Mineral Resources and Energy: Republic of South Africa.

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Going Green? Explore These Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Products

Location: MyPR

These tips come from BA Systems – a building automation and management installer whose mantra is simple; “If you can measure it, you can manage it!” BA Systems have extensive experience in specifying and installing Building Management equipment that allows the owner to monitor, measure and manage their consumption of scarce and increasingly expensive resources …

Read moreGoing Green? Explore These Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Products

Western Cape on electricity outage progress report

Location: News

Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, South Africa
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Premier Alan Winde, Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning as well as senior members of the Western Cape Government were this morning updated by Eskom on the electricity outage in the Central Karoo and parts of the Overberg.

The Western Cape Government is monitoring the situation closely and is prioritising safe drinking water, food security and access to critical health care for affected residents. “Thank you to everyone from across government and all our partners for the work you are doing to assist our residents. I am also very grateful to the teams that are keeping our health facilities like our hospitals running and our schools open in the affected areas,” noted Premier Winde.

Premier Winde was tragically informed earlier this morning that an 18-year-old person died, and another adult is in hospital. While the cause of death still needs to be confirmed it is suspected that they may have been overcome by fumes form a generator being run inside a house to power a spaza shop in Leeu Gamka. “My deepest condolences to the family and loved ones. My thoughts are with you. I understand how difficult the situation is for people who have been without power for over four days now. This is why we are meeting with Eskom regularly to ensure that all the repair work is prioritised and supported because we know how critical electricity is for our residents. While I understand how difficult the situation is, I want to appeal to residents to please use any alternative power sources, such as generators, according to the safety guidelines.”

According to Eskom management, essential construction material was delivered on site in the Karoo, and the first of three large construction teams are already active on the site to prepare for the erection of temporary structures needed for the eventual reconnection of the Touwsriver-Laingsburg 132KvH line, which as been down since Saturday, 3 February.

Eskom also reported that the fault on the Hawston Farmer 1 Line has to a large degree been restored. A mini substation still needs to be replaced today, and power should be restored in the entire region by the end of today.

Minister Bredell said that after visiting affected communities in Prince Albert and Laingsburg yesterday, he cannot emphasise enough the urgency needed to restore power to these communities. “As a provincial government, our focus remains the safety and well-being of our residents. We are constantly monitoring the status of essential services. We will continue to offer all possible support to Eskom in repairing the line as fast as possible.”

Minster Bredell confirmed the delivery of several generators to communities to support essential services such as drinking water and sewage management.  “100 kVA generator for Water Treatment in Laingsburg was installed.  A 45 kVA generator for water provision in Matjiesfontein is being installing today. A 100 kVA and a 40kVA generator for water provision in Prince Albert will be delivered today.”

The following large generators will be dispatched for installation in central business areas:

  • Laingsburg will receive a 315kVA and a 350kVA on Thursday, 8 February.
  • Prince Albert will receive a 315kVA and a 650kVA on Thursday 8 February.
  • Ladismith will receive a 315kVA on Friday 9 February.

According to the Provincial Department of Health, the use of generators, open fires, as well gas appliances in poorly ventilated areas brings with it the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as posing as a fire risk. Carbon monoxide is often difficult to detect, due to it having no odour or colour. Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide leads to it replacing the oxygen in the blood stream. This will lead to progressive onset of symptoms such as headache, weakness, shortness of breath and loss of consciousness. Should carbon monoxide poisoning be suspected, it is important to urgently get the victim out of the poorly ventilated environment. Fresh air is required, and medical assistance should be immediately sought.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, South Africa.

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Port Alfred Easter Festival presented by Sunshine Coast Tourism – Quick Facts

Location: Entertainment, MyPR

The inaugural Port Alfred Easter Festival is approaching quickly, and we wanted everyone to know what is happening in Port Alfred over the Easter weekend. 29 March – 1 April. What:  The Port Alfred Easter Festival is Justin Bekker’s brainchild. He is the chairperson of the Sunshine Coast Tourism Board’s Tourism Events Subcommittee. It is …

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Task team to review municipalities’ water service delivery mechanisms

Location: News

Task team to review municipalities’ water service delivery mechanisms

A national coordinated task team has been set up to review service delivery mechanisms for water and sanitation services by the Departments of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).

This was one of the resolutions adopted during a recent water summit hosted by DWS with the 144 municipalities that are water services authorities (WSAs).

The task team which was established to initiate and coordinate Municipal Systems Act Section 78 processes in certain municipalities, aims to address the decline of water and sanitation services, as outlined in the recent Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports released by the Department of Water and Sanitation. 

The drop reports indicated a general decline in performance.

Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, said the task team will focus on the 105 municipalities that are in the critical and poor performing categories in terms of the Blue and Green Drop reports. 

Mavasa said the DWS, including CoGTA, Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency, Department of Human Settlements, and National Treasury, are providing extensive support to assist water services authorities with the provision of water and sanitation services.

“This includes providing water and sanitation infrastructure grants worth more than R20 billion per annum; providing technical and engineering support and assistance; capacity building and training, and financial management advice and support. 

“However, despite all this support, the drop reports indicate that municipal water services have declined sharply. This indicates that there are limitations to which support from the national government can solve the problems, and that more fundamental reforms are required,” Mavasa said. 

Routine maintenance and operations must be funded by revenue from the sale of water by municipalities to customers, and municipal councils must take the required decisions to prioritise budgets for this. 

She emphasised that the Water Services Act states that the WSA can approve any legal entity to function as a water services provider (WSP) in the municipality, and “almost all WSAs in South Africa are currently both WSA and WSP”.

“The Water Services Act requires the WSA and WSP functions to be managed and accounted for separately by municipalities, but this is generally not happening. The Act states that the key role of the WSA is to ensure that the WSP provides services which meet minimum norms and standards – and this is also generally not happening, as borne out by the results of the Drop assessments,” Wisane said.

Other key decisions taken at the summit include that all WSAs must develop action plans to address their drop results and submit them to DWS by the end of February 2024; training institutions should prioritise the training of uncertified process controllers to enable them to become certified; and that all WSAs must issue advisory notices without fail when their drinking water fails to meet microbiological water standards. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 02/06/2024 - 11:57

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Navigating Vehicle Maintenance: Choosing the Accurate Service for Your Car

Location: MyPR

Introduction: Keeping your vehicle in peak condition requires careful consideration of its maintenance needs. At service centres like ours, you’ll typically encounter two primary service options: the Minor Service and the Major Service. Each of these services is designed to address specific components crucial for ensuring your vehicle’s optimal performance. Service Options at a Glance: When opting …

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Mchunu commits to resolve eThekwini water supply challenges

Location: News

Mchunu commits to resolve eThekwini water supply challenges

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has undertaken to resolve the water supply challenges in the City of eThekwini by 15 February 2024.

Mchunu made the commitment during a meeting held with the residents of Verulam, Tongaat and Phoenix on Sunday, following a number of protests by the communities over constant water supply challenges.

Mchunu, accompanied by uMngeni-uThukela Water Board Chairperson, Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo, and eThekwini Speaker, Thabani Nyawose, met with stakeholders, including Verulam Water Crisis Committee representatives, where the residents urged the department to intervene and resolve the constant water supply challenges. 

The residents also urged the eThekwini Municipality to implement a proper billing system, and urgently address water leak repairs.

Addressing residents, Mchunu emphasised that water is a basic human need and a Constitutional right.

“Some institutions, including schools and hospitals like Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, have been without water. This is an occurrence that should not be allowed, and one that should be addressed with great urgency,” Mchunu said. 

Mchunu also condemned the incident happened at a recent community protest, where some residents sustained injuries and some got arrested.

“eThekwini is a Water Services Authority and is responsible to ensure that water reaches citizens. We apologise for the occurrences, and as the national Department of Water and Sanitation, we cannot absolve ourselves, as doing so would be a dereliction of duty. Instead, we are engaging and working together with officials from the city,” Mchunu said.

The Minister highlighted uMkhomazi Water Project as one of the projects that will see an increase in water supply and ensure water security in the Umngeni Water Supply System. The system supplies eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, iLembe, Ugu, Harry Gwala District Municipalities and Msunduzi Local Municipality.

The Minister said overtime, raw water in Umngeni and other sources has reduced and measures need to be implemented to counter this. 

“We have been in intense discussions with eThekwini and as of 31 January this year, a resolution was passed by the Council, which will enable the uMkhomazi Dam Project to proceed, thereby guaranteeing water supply and sustainable raw water supply,” the Minister said.

He said he will be meeting with the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) and uMngeni-uThukela Water on 8 February 2024 to discuss a way forward on the project.

“The Head of Water in the city, Mr Msweli and uMngeni-uThukela Water Acting Chief Operating Officer will be on the ground, hard at work. Our Director-General, Dr Sean Phillips, will convene meetings every two weeks to monitor progress and I am inviting the Verulam Water Crisis Committee to form part of these meetings. 

“The given date for all these challenges to be resolved is the 15th of February. No efforts will be spared in resolving these water supply challenges. Work will be carried out - day and night if we must - in order to meet this deadline and provide people with water,” Mchunu said. 

He assured residents that the department will come back after 15 February 2024 to account for the undertaking made. – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK
Mon, 02/05/2024 - 11:27

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Mining The Future – Minrom

Location: MyPR

Blessed by abundant natural resources, Africa’s mining sector has historically been a driving force behind the continent’s economic growth. However, the industry now faces a myriad of challenges. As we approach the 2024 Mining Indaba, the world’s largest African mining investment event, it is crucial to reflect on the trajectory of the industry and its …

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De Berg Nature Reserve Declared as South Africa’s 30th Ramsar site

Location: News

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The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, has welcomed the declaration of De Berg Nature Reserve as South Africa's 30th Ramsar site under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

“The conservation and restoration of wetlands is crucial to achieving many of our national and global sustainable development goals. Estuaries, marshes and vleis, rivers and lakes, and the biodiversity that they preserve, matter for our health, food supply, tourism, and jobs. Wetlands are vital for humans, ecosystems and our climate, providing essential ecosystem services such as water regulation, including flood control and water purification,” said Minister Creecy.

“Through the Working for Wetlands Programme, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has invested over R1.4 billion in the rehabilitation of 1,873 wetlands and created 43,662 jobs. The Working for Wetlands Programme, which commenced in the year 2000, is being implemented in all 9 provinces of South Africa by a dedicated team of experts working closely with communities,” added Minister Creecy.

De Berg Nature Reserve is located along the headwaters of the Dwars River in the highest part of Mpumalanga approximately, 20 kilometres north of the town of Dullstroom, and lies adjacent to the Verloren Valei Ramsar Site. At an elevation of just over 2300 meters above sea level, the Ramsar site contains the highest altitude wetlands in Mpumalanga, consisting of numerous valley bottom, seep wetlands and mountain streams and represents some of the most pristine and habitat diverse watercourses in the South African grassland biome.

The Ramsar site, which is a biodiversity hotspot, not only supports numerous pristine headwater wetlands but also supports numerous threatened, critically endangered, and vulnerable species of plants and animals. The site falls within the Lydenburg and Sekhukhune centres of plant endemism and has a total of 878 indigenous plant species, which includes 30 plant species that are threatened and near threatened and includes a new species of Bulbine, (B decastroi) which can be found in the valleys of the Reserve.

This site also has 18 species of frogs, 71 reptile species, 432 bird species and a 120 mammal species, including Vandam's girdled lizard (Smaug vandami), various crane species such as blue crane and grey-crowned crane and mountain reedbuck. Many of these species are also rare and vulnerable species and include flocks of up to 30 of the vulnerable Southern Bald Ibis which roosts on the cliffs above Ibis Falls, one of 10 iconic waterfalls which can be found at the site.

Although wetlands cover less than 3% of South Africa's land area, they offer diverse benefits that enrich human well-being. Wetlands are increasingly regarded in South Africa as socio-ecological systems as opposed to only ecological systems.  Many of our wetlands are in urban areas and are often the last remaining open areas for recreational use by the public.

“The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) – an entity of DFFE - is also actively contributing to wetland conservation through its comprehensive approach to mapping and understanding this critical ecological infrastructure, emphasizing that informed action today can make a significant difference for the future of wetlands, human well-being and biodiversity. Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) are crucial to South Africa's water security, and various SANBI projects provide insight into land use and protection levels in these strategically important national assets,” said Minister Creecy.

“Through the development of partnerships to monitor, protect and rehabilitate wetlands, by ensuring our wetlands are kept free of litter and invasive alien plant species and by ensuring that we follow best practices to ensure that wetlands are sustainably used for their services we show our appreciation for and acknowledge the value of wetlands and ensure that they remain in place to provide future generations with the same services,” added Minister Creecy.

The designation of De Berg Nature Reserve as South Africa's 30th Ramsar Site under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance coincides with World Wetlands Day (2 February) which is commemorated under the theme “wetlands and human wellbeing”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

Read moreDe Berg Nature Reserve Declared as South Africa’s 30th Ramsar site

Mchunu to engage stakeholders on Mfolozi river catchment resource development

Location: News

Mchunu to engage stakeholders on Mfolozi river catchment resource development

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, will next week meet with various stakeholders in the water sector to hear their inputs on the water resource development projects in the Mfolozi catchment area in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Apart from Pongola and Mkuze Rivers in KwaZulu-Natal, the Mfolozi River Catchment is one of the rivers that supplies water to uMkhanyakude and Zululand District Municipalities. 

The department said 75% of allocated water from Mfolozi River is used for domestic use, afforestation, and irrigation. 

However, the department said the growing population in the two districts has resulted in increased water demands for household consumption and from other sectors like forestry and agriculture.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation, together with its sector partners, has developed a water resource reconciliation strategy for Mfolozi catchment, which consists of surface water resource development projects, including the raising of Klipfontien Dam, construction of Usuthu Dam and the development of a dam in lower Mfolozi,” the department said.

Mchunu and Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, together with Umkhanyakude District Municipality Mayor, Siphile Mdaka, will on Tuesday meet with different stakeholders, including Mtubatuba traditional leaders, to get their inputs on the development and implementation of the water resource reconciliation strategy for Mfolozi catchment. 

The meeting will be held at KwaMshaya in Mtubatuba.

Update on Phoenix and Tongaat water supply challenges 
 
Meanwhile, Mchunu will over the weekend hold a meeting with residents from Verulam, Phoenix and Tongaat to provide updates on measures aimed at resolving water supply challenges within the three areas.

The meeting follows water supply challenges in areas under eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, particularly Verulam, Phoenix and Tongaat, north of Durban.

In a detailed joint statement issued on 26 January 2024, the Department of Water and Sanitation, including the City of eThekwini, and uMngeni-uThukela Water, outlined current and future measures to be implemented to address the continuous water supply challenges, which continue to plague the city, exacerbated by adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rains.

During the meeting to be held on Sunday, Mchunu, together with eThekwini Executive Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, will address the residents, and provide a progress report on measures to restore water supply. – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK
Fri, 02/02/2024 - 13:12

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