insert_link Lifestyle Three South African universities have new approaches to assessing students: why this is a good thing By Danica Sims, University of Oxford South African higher education faces many complex challenges rooted in the legacy of apartheid. They include the fact that many students are unprepared for or excluded from higher education. Quality education is not available to all. It’s therefore difficult for many students to remain in higher education and eventually graduate. The data points to two persistent trends. The first is that, according […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 14
insert_link South Africa Gauteng police have arrested a suspect in connection with the Usindiso building fire in Marshalltown, Johannesburg Gauteng police have arrested a suspect in connection with the Usindiso building fire in Marshalltown, Johannesburg. A man, identified as Mr X, voluntarily testified in-camera at the Commission of Inquiry into the Usindiso building fire hearings yesterday that he started the fire that claimed the lives of 76 people last year. He told the inquiry that he started the fire on the ground floor of the building, after attempting to […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 7
insert_link South Africa ActionSA wants the Human Rights Commission to probe Wesbank for alleged racial discrimination ActionSA says it will be writing to the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate claims made by a former employee of Wesbank. The finance provider has been accused of using a specific system to charge higher interest rates to black clients. WesBank has refuted the allegations of discrimination against customers based on race as alleged. ActionSA’s spokesperson, Lerato Ngobeni, says the covert racism the finance provider represents cannot be […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 14
insert_link Environment Cape fishers worried about declining fish populations Mario Jacobs has been doing commercial fishing for decades. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks By Liezl Human via GroundUp Mario Jacobs is worried. He has had a commercial fishing license since 1998, and has an annual quota for catching sardines and anchovies. But sardine stocks have been in poor shape for years and 2023 was the worst year on record for anchovy stocks. Jacobs, who is from Hangberg in Hout Bay, says his […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 13
insert_link South Africa Infrastructure South Africa will host the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium 2024 in Cape Town Infrastructure South Africa will host the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium 2024 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town from 17 to 19 March, under the theme “Quality infrastructure for development, recovery and inclusive growth“. The event will unite key stakeholders from South Africa and across the continent to drive infrastructure development, focusing on accelerating economic recovery through strategic plans. The symposium will address regulatory reforms, explore funding models, […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 5
insert_link Business / Economics BUSINESS AND FINANCIALS UPDATE 24 JANUARY 2024 Orano Mining Namibia Contemplates Resuming Operations at Trekkopje Mine Amidst Uranium Price Surge: Orano Mining Namibia is currently exploring potential actions, including the potential resumption of operations at its Trekkopje Mine, driven by the recent upswing in uranium spot prices. The mine, located in the Erongo Region, was placed under care and maintenance in 2013, with the commencement of operations deferred indefinitely, contingent upon the eventual recovery of uranium prices. […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 4
insert_link South Africa SA Electricity Minister says the energy outlook is set for improvement with the return of Koeberg unit SA Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the energy outlook is set for improvement with the return of Koeberg unit one to the grid, ensuring a substantial boost of at least 27 additional megawatts. Unit one was successfully synchronised in November last year, following an extended outage, which signifies a positive step towards enhancing energy resilience. Briefing the media on the Energy Action Plan, Ramokgopa anticipates a notable reduction in load-shedding […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 5
insert_link South Africa Midvaal Municipality mayor offers assistance to students who need financial support for a tertiary qualification Midvaal Municipality mayor, Peter Teixeira, is offering assistance to students who need financial support for a tertiary qualification. This is through the Midvaal Mayoral Student Financial Aid. Teixeira says registrations are for public institutions and full-time students only and the deadline for submission of applications is the 16th of next month. todayJanuary 24, 2024 7
insert_link Business / Economics Tesla bypasses South Africa due to high import taxes Elon Musk has announced that Tesla will not sell electric cars in South Africa due to high import duties and taxes, due to a lack of incentives for local electric vehicle manufacturing. Importing a Tesla Cybertruck to South Africa can cost upwards of R1.3 million (incl. VAT). According to ‘My Broadband’, South Africa’s tax regime protects domestic car factories while failing to develop a policy to incentivise local EV manufacturing. todayJanuary 23, 2024 22
