insert_link South Africa Six firefighters killed in South Africa Six firefighters died after being trapped by a runaway wildfire in eastern South Africa, authorities said this afternoon, taking to 14 the number of lives lost in just over a week of blazes in KwaZulu-Natal province. Three female firefighters were killed on Sunday when they became trapped in the fire believed to have been started by poachers around 40 kilometres (24 miles) from the city of Pietermaritzberg, authorities […] todayJuly 15, 2024 18
insert_link South Africa Don’t leave workers behind in green transition: SAfrica president This afternoon, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed the nation's commitment to transitioning towards renewable energy but insisted that communities and workers must not lose out. Africa's most industrialised economy is one of the world's largest greenhouse-gas emitters, relying on coal for 80 percent of electricity generation. The fossil fuel is a bedrock of the economy, employing more than 100,000 people. "We are in reality facing a climate […] todayJuly 15, 2024 10
insert_link Environment Extreme weather in South Africa is disrupting tourism – research tracks the impact on coastal areas By Kaitano Dube, Vaal University of Technology South Africa has experienced some extreme weather events in recent months. These have included floods and an uncommon tornado in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, floods in the Eastern Cape and mid-latitude cyclones in the Western Cape. Kaitano Dube, a human geographer who has researched tourism, extreme weather and resilience to climatic threats, says these severe storms are […] todayJuly 15, 2024 30
insert_link South Africa KZN MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi Promises Aid to Farmers Affected by Devastating Wildfires KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has assured farmers affected by the wildfires that they will get the necessary assistance. At least ten people died and areas including King Cetshwayo, Nkandla, Umlalazi, and Zululand Districts have been severely affected. The MEC’s spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila, says farmers are estimated to have lost over one-thousand-600 animals: todayJuly 15, 2024 15
insert_link South Africa City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre says approximately 158-thousand- people have been affected by flooding The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre says since the third of this month, approximately 158-thousand-and-97 people have been affected by flooding and 47-thousand-663 structures damaged. The city has been experiencing destructive weather conditions in the past two weeks. The centre’s spokesperson, Charlotte Powell, says officials are continuing with assessments in communities as calls are being logged: todayJuly 15, 2024 9
insert_link South Africa S.A Union Calls for Swift Arrests Following VBS Mutual Bank Looting Revelations In S.A, The General Industries Workers Union demands the timeous arrest of all those who knowingly and consciously participated in the shameful act of looting the VBS Mutual Bank and stealing from the poor. Giwusa’s spokesperson, Koketso Phasha, says the leaked affidavit by the bank’s former chairperson, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, implicates a lot of people who have not been held accountable. Phasha says the looting was done by people who had […] todayJuly 15, 2024 8
insert_link South Africa ActionSA Calls for Legislation to Reserve Economic Sectors for Local Entrepreneurs in S.A To South Africa, where ActionSA's member of Parliament, Lerato Ngobeni, says the party wants government to introduce legislation that will reserve specific sectors of the economy. Ngobeni says this will help empower local entrepreneurs and businesses, and boost local economies, ensuring that the wealth created circulates in communities. According to Ngobeni, it is high time that government deals with the proliferation of illegal foreign nationals dominating the spaza economy throughout […] todayJuly 15, 2024 7
insert_link South Africa Energy and Electricity Major Hurdles for South African Economy Says Minister Ramokgopa In South Africa, the minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says energy and electricity are the major albatrosses that undermine the South African economy. Ramokgopa was speaking during the first cabinet lekgotla of the government of national unity at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria. He says the poor and people living in townships are now finding it exceptionally hard to afford the increased electricity price and tariffs: todayJuly 15, 2024 5
insert_link South Africa In S.A, Rand Water’s Palmiet and Mapleton Maintenance to Conclude by 29 July In S.A, Rand Water’s comprehensive maintenance programme of their Palmiet and Mapleton systems, which supply water to the City of Tshwane, is set to resume and is expected to be completed on 29 July. The city’s spokesperson Selby Bokaba says the maintenance programme on the two systems started earlier this month, has been successful and did not lead to any water supply interruption: todayJuly 15, 2024 15
