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 14
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 6
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 6
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 8
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 24
insert_link South Africa Western Cape MEC Urges Swift Recovery of Stolen Firearms from Mitchells Plain Police Station Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, has called for the immediate retrieval of 15 firearms and eight imitation weapons stolen from Mitchells Plain Police Station. The incident, discovered in November last year, involved a police officer, who has since been arrested and dismissed. He is due in court on 2 February. Allen calls for more charges if the stolen firearms were used in crimes. todayJanuary 23, 2024 18
insert_link South Africa ActionSA says the ANC must account for the continued deaths and fires in hijacked buildings in Joburg ActionSA in Johannesburg says it is of the view that the fatalities owing to fires within the Johannesburg CBD should be squarely blamed on the delinquent ANC-led government. On Sunday, a two-storey building was intentionally set alight, claiming the lives of two people, while last year’s Marshalltown fire left 77 people dead. In both incidents, the buildings were hijacked. ActionSA’s, Nobuhle Mthembu, says mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has used every trick […] todayJanuary 23, 2024 50
Environment South Africa’s Agulhas long-billed lark: adapting and surviving despite farming taking over their nesting grounds By Robert Leslie Thomson, University of Cape Town The Agulhas long-billed lark (Certhilauda brevirostris) is only found in South Africa. It builds nests on the ground mainly in Renosterveld fynbos, a type of vegetation filled with grasses and wild spring flowers that is critically endangered by agricultural expansion. The University of Cape Town’s FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology recently published the first study into the nesting practices of […] todayJanuary 23, 2024 11