insert_link South Africa South Africa needs to manage migrants better. That requires cleaning up the Department of Home Affairs By Alan Hirsch, University of Cape Town Legal grievances against the South African Department of Home Affairs, including contempt of court cases, are depressingly common. Too frequently the minister has to apologise to a court, or to ask for more time, on behalf of the department. Most of the court cases involve the operations of the department regarding visas and permits for foreign visitors, immigrants and prospective refugees. […] todayFebruary 5, 2024 15
insert_link South Africa South Africans are opting to go off-grid: how they’re being helped, and hindered, in their efforts By Germarié Viljoen, North-West University and Felix Dube, University of Pretoria Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned power utility, struggles to generate and supply a stable flow of electricity to meet demand. In 2023, there were times when households and businesses had no power for up to 11 hours a day. Eskom has warned that load shedding will be worse in 2024. The result is that many South Africans […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 15
insert_link South Africa Illegal dumping swamps Nelson Mandela Bay Residents burn rubbish outside the Motherwell NU8 clinic. Photos: Joseph Chirume By Joseph Chirume via GroundUp An ever-increasing number of illegal dump sites that are not getting cleared by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is making life unpleasant for people living in the townships of Gqeberha. It may also be impacting their health. GroundUp visited Motherwell, Kamvelihle, Wells Estate, and Kuyga, and found garbage blowing about the streets and a […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 19
insert_link Business / Economics IJG Ghost Biz – 1 February Gary talks to The Ghost about Lewis Stores; Truworths; Checkers; Transaction Capital and WeBuyCars; and Microsoft. https://iono.fm/e/1401452 todayFebruary 2, 2024 25
insert_link Business / Economics André de Ruyter: More Truth to Power Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter who had to leave South Africa for his own safety, speaks to BizNews' Chris Steyn from the United States about how the corruption at ESKOM continues “by and large unabated”. https://youtu.be/_u_x171wHr0 todayFebruary 1, 2024 11
insert_link Business / Economics Cape Town to mint 6,100 new millionaires in projected wealth boom By Seth Onyango, via bird story agency Cape Town is forecast to become the fourth fastest-growing wealth hub per capita among the BRICS states, according to new insights from Henley & Partners (H&P). The picturesque city is forecast to add 6,100 millionaires over the next ten years, over and above the current 7,400, representing an 85% jump. "It is currently benefiting from the ongoing ‘semigration’ of large numbers […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 23
insert_link Entertainment Wetlands are superheroes: expert sets out how they protect people and places By Jacqueline L Raw, Nelson Mandela University In the past, wetlands were often seen as undesirable landscapes – waterlogged areas that were difficult to navigate, impossible to build on or farm, and a source of pests such as mosquitoes. But the view on wetlands has shifted as we have learnt how important these ecosystems are for essential “services”. They purify water and provide habitats for plants and animals. […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 22
insert_link Business / Economics Bridging the climate finance gap through collaboration and innovation Government, labour, business, and civil society must collaborate and innovate if South Africa is to raise the R535 billion required to meet its NDC target by 2030. In light of estimates that South Africa will require, on average, R334 billion and R535 billion annually to achieve its net zero goal by 2050 and NDCs by 2030, respectively, it is clear that something radical needs to change and quickly if we […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 20
insert_link South Africa Garbage piling up in Cape Town townships as extortion gangs drive out City contractors Samora Machel residents say they have been using this part of Oliver Tambo Drive as a dumping site because their rubbish bins has not been collected for months. Photos: Sandiso Phaliso By Sandiso Phaliso via GroundUp On almost every corner in Samora Machel, Philippi East and Browns Farm in Cape Town, rubbish is piling up. There is so much rubbish that some streets, such as Hart Lane and Oliver Tambo […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 29
