insert_link Environment Why are floods in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal so devastating? Urban planning expert explains By Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu, University of KwaZulu-Natal The devastation caused by the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa demonstrates again that the country is not moving fast enough to adopt appropriate urban planning. It should be integrating risk assessment and management in the design and development of cities. This is becoming more urgent as the frequency of floods increases. Most South African cities were built a long time ago, before […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 12
insert_link South Africa SA’s Social Development minister Lindiwe Zulu says education has the power to break the cycle of poverty SA's Social Development minister Lindiwe Zulu says education has the power to break the cycle of poverty and transform lives. By accessing education opportunities at institutions of higher learning, many social grant beneficiaries have succeeded in creating a better future for themselves and their families, thus breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty and inequality. The department’s spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant says the benefits of social grants extend beyond individual beneficiaries to […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 9
insert_link Lifestyle South Africa’s ageing population comes with new challenges. How best to adapt to them By Lauren Johnston, University of Sydney Young people – under the age of 15 – currently make up 29% of South Africa’s population. But this will soon change: the aged portion of the population is forecast to rise from 2030, bringing many challenges. Lauren Johnston, an economics and political economy expert, recently published a paper on the subject. We asked her to put the developments into perspective. What is […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 14
insert_link South Africa South African President has called for continued multilateralism and the reform of the United Nations South African's President has called for continued multilateralism and the reform of the United Nations. Cyril Ramaphosa was speaking during the 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Kampala, Uganda. International governance, human rights and the Israel-Hamas war were the main topics of discussion at the meeting. The president says the global dispute and regional strife need to be resolved through negotiations. todayJanuary 22, 2024 19
insert_link South Africa Eskom has suspended load-shedding again Eskom has suspended load-shedding again. The power utility says an improvement in generating capacity has allowed it to ease the weekend outages. Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena thanks South Africans who heed the call to use electricity sparingly and efficiently, including switching off geysers and pool pumps. This lowers demand, helps alleviate the pressure on the system and contributes to lower stages of load-shedding. todayJanuary 22, 2024 2
insert_link South Africa DA Urges Extension of Public Comments Deadline for Integrated Resource Plan 2023 The DA in South Africa says the office of Mineral Resources and Energy minister, Gwede Mantashe, has acknowledged receipt of a request it submitted. The DA calls for an extension of the public comments deadline for the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023, from the current cutoff date of 23 February to 30 April. Spokesperson Kevin Mileham says stakeholders are concerned that the current deadline does not afford them enough time […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 4
insert_link South Africa Workers take newly merged Heineken-Distell to the CCMA About 50 workers, mostly forklift drivers, are taking Heineken Beverages to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks By Liezl Human via GroundUp About 50 workers at Heineken Beverages, which recently merged with one of South Africa’s largest alcohol producers, Distell, have lodged a dispute with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to get the company to employ them on a permanent basis. The workers, mostly […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 3
insert_link South Africa Tshwane’s first deputy mayor says it’s a priority to ensure basic services are consistently delivered Newly elected City of Tshwane’s first deputy mayor ActionSA’s, Nasiphi Moya, says work to ensure the metro and its residents get access to the services they desperately need is necessary. She was elected during a special council meeting yesterday, getting support from parties in the governing DA-led coalition, which has a combined majority of 109 seats in the 214-seat council. Moya says accelerated infrastructure development and maintenance must become the […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 5
insert_link South Africa SA’s AfriForum is concerned about the early school leaving rate SA's AfriForum says it is concerned about the group of learners who never even participate in matric examinations. According to statistics of the Department of Basic Education’s report, one-million-208-thousand-and-973 learners found themselves in grade one of so-called ordinary schools in 2011. In contrast, 715-thousand full-time and 182-thousand part-time learners wrote the matric exams last year, of whom 15-thousand-186 were in independent schools. AfriForum’s Nicolene Müller says it is extremely worrying […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 4
