insert_link Business / Economics Shell Seeks Approval for Offshore Drilling off South Africa’s West Coast Reuters reports that Shell is seeking government authorization to drill up to five offshore wells off the west coast of South Africa, according to a draft scoping report from environmental consultancy SLR. Shell Offshore Upstream South Africa B.V. and its joint venture partners require environmental approval to operate in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep Block in the Orange Basin. todayJuly 9, 2024 20
insert_link South Africa ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed suspending two members from its Newcastle region In South Africa, ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed suspending two members from its Newcastle region, Mzwakhe Mbatha and Sizwe Mokoena, pending ongoing investigations and disciplinary procedures. According to the party's interim constitution, all members are bound by a code of conduct, with breaches referred to the ethics and disciplinary committee for investigation and hearings. ActionSA’s Zwakele Mncwango says they aim to promptly resolve the matter and hold accountable […] todayJuly 9, 2024 12
insert_link South Africa Eskom Implements Load Reduction in Multiple Provinces in SA to Combat Network Overloading To South Africa, where Eskom has begun load reduction in several provinces, including Limpopo, the Western and Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West, due to increased network overloading with the onset of winter. Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena emphasized that load reduction differs from load-shedding, as Eskom currently has sufficient generating capacity to meet national electricity demand. todayJuly 9, 2024 18
insert_link South Africa Southern Africa is seen as a leader in wildlife conservation, but its market-driven approach is deeply flawed Luxury nature tourism is an example of market-based conservation. Edwin Remsberg /VWPics/Universal Images Group By Stasja Koot, Wageningen University; Bram Büscher, Wageningen University, and Lerato Thakholi, Wageningen University Southern Africa’s wildlife economy is often hailed as a successful model. The idea behind this model is that biodiversity and wildlife are used as the basis of sustainable economic growth, through an increase in wildlife numbers and in […] todayJuly 9, 2024 21
insert_link Entertainment Why musicians die in poverty – South African study reveals battle to make ends meet By Gwen Ansell, University of Pretoria Benefits and appeals were recently launched to support the medical costs of veteran South African guitarist Madala Kunene. It’s not the first time such initiatives have been necessary, nor the first time that media and politicians have expressed astonishment that a renowned musician “died in poverty”. Musicians’ dire financial circumstances are sometimes wrongly blamed on irresponsible spending; a […] todayJuly 9, 2024 19
insert_link South Africa Road to Paris: African Olympic hopefuls shine in Durban ahead of the Paris Olympics By Stephen Granger, bird story agency Just a month before athletes head to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, some of the Africa's top marathoners gathered in the port city of Durban on July 7 to compete in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10k — and the results highlighted a depth of talent that suggests the Paris Olympics will be a specatacle of African running […] todayJuly 8, 2024 38
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s healthcare system: eight steps that would get it on the right track By Lilian Dudley, Stellenbosch University; Catherine Mathews, South African Medical Research Council; Flavia Senkubuge, University of Pretoria; Guinevere Lourens, Stellenbosch University; Leslie London, University of Cape Town, and Sharon Fonn, University of the Witwatersrand South Africa’s healthcare system suffers from widespread problems in its governance. A number of indicators point to this dysfunction. These include the large number of managers in acting positions, frequent […] todayJuly 8, 2024 39
insert_link South Africa Gautrain services could be disrupted today as Metalworkers will embark on a strike over wages In S.A, Gautrain services could be disrupted today as members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa will embark on a strike over wages. The union is demanding a 13-percent wage increase, a 60-percent contribution to medical aid costs by Bombela Operating Company, which operates the service, and a housing allowance of two-thousand-rand per employee per month. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says wage talks have deadlocked: todayJuly 8, 2024 26
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s DA is demanding minister of Energy immediately review the ministerial determination to procure new nuclear power South Africa's DA is demanding minister of Energy and Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, immediately review the ministerial determination to procure new nuclear power. This comes as the ministry is reportedly planning to secure funding approval soon for a two-thousand-500 megawatt nuclear power plant. The proposed power station would be bigger than the Koeberg plant, north of Cape Town. The DA’s, Kevin Mileham, says the minister needs to take the appropriate steps […] todayJuly 8, 2024 22