insert_link South Africa The GOOD Party in SA is encouraged by the matric pass rate but calls for an overhaul of education The GOOD Party in SA says the improved matric pass rate is encouraging, as is the fact that all provinces showed an increase. The matric class of 2023 achieved a pass rate of 82.9-percent, up by 2.8-percentage points from 80.1-percent in 2022. The GOOD Party’s secretary-general, Brett Herron, says the greatest threat to human and economic progress, is an education system that fails to prepare young people for the future […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 11
insert_link Entertainment Soul Brothers: the story of a band that revolutionised South African music By Gwen Ansell, University of Pretoria Biographies of important South African musicians often fall into two categories: they either emerge from PhD or other university-based research, or are the fruit of dedicated digging by a fan or family member. The first kind benefit from institutional resources and support; the second from community knowledge of personal details that may be documented nowhere else. Because of that very scarcity of a […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 14
insert_link South Africa Former Johannesburg mayor, Mpho Phalatse, has called for introspection The former Johannesburg mayor, Mpho Phalatse, has called for introspection on the reasons behind the DA losing leaders. This comes in response to the resignation of a DA member of the Gauteng legislature, Khume Ramulifho, after 25 years of service. Phalatse expressed regret at his departure, telling eNCA he was a great leader for the DA. todayJanuary 19, 2024 3
insert_link South Africa Stage 3 load-shedding implemented by Eskom despite the return of generation capacity Eskom says stage 3 load-shedding was in effect from yesterday afternoon until 5 AM this morning, despite the return of three-thousand-200 megawatts of generating capacity. It attributes the decision to necessary planned maintenance, and setbacks. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena urges the public to use electricity efficiently to alleviate system pressure. todayJanuary 19, 2024 7
insert_link South Africa DA Member of Parliament Ghaleb Cachalia has resigned DA Member of Parliament Ghaleb Cachalia has resigned, citing disagreement over the party’s position on the Gaza conflict. The party accepts the resignation effective immediately but rejects Cachalia’s justifications, emphasising its commitment to peace and a two-state solution. They criticise him for disrespecting party processes and violating caucus decisions. The DA’s Solly Malatsi dismissed attacks on coalition partners, civil society, and internal systems, rebuffing attempts to scapegoat DA leader John […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 4
insert_link South Africa Al Jama-ah in South Africa Claims Victory as U.S. and Israel Backtrack on Accusations Against Hamas Al Jama-ah in South Africa has claimed victory for South Africa as the United States and Israel backtracked on certain accusations against Hamas. The party says it notes growing international support for South Africa’s move to take Israel to the International Court of Justice in The Hague for alleged genocide of Palestinians. Party leader Ganief Hendricks urges the continuation of the solidarity campaign in support of Palestine. He says in […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 4
insert_link Science & Technology South African researchers are tracing the vibrational language of elephants – using fossils By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Researchers in South Africa have unearthed groundbreaking evidence that sheds light on the ancient communication methods of elephants. A research team led by Charles Helm of the African Centre for Coastal Palaescience at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa published the report on ScienceDirect, a scientific research journal, in September 2023. The team discovered 35 fossilized elephant track sites, some of which are the […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 30
insert_link South Africa Cape Winelands Fire Services Contain Franschhoek Blaze with No Injuries or Property Damage The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s Fire Services in the Western Cape says the fire that started yesterday afternoon in the Robertsvlei road area in Franschhoek has been fully contained. The fire was burning in an aged plantation in the area above the Robertsvlei road. The municipality’s spokesperson, Jo-Anne Otto, says no injuries or damage to property was reported. todayJanuary 18, 2024 10
insert_link South Africa SA Government introduces reserve bidders in the latest renewable energy procurement round SA's Independent Power Producers Office will introduce reserve bids for window seven of the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme. The reserve bids will be leveraged as a backup to avoid further delays in adding capacity to the grid. The IPP Office head of legal, Lena Mangondo, says the seventh bidding round consists of three-thousand-200 megawatts of onshore wind and one-thousand-800 megawatts of solar photovoltaic. She adds that the submission deadline […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 5
