Author: Agency
South Africa is determined to be “ultra aggressive” in onboarding renewable energy sources. This is according to Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. The Minister was speaking on Monday during the Ministerial Renewable Energy Seminar held in Midrand, under the theme: “Advancing Renewable Energy: A Comprehensive Review of the IPP Procurement Process”. Ramokgopa told the gathering that it is in the “collective interest” to accelerate the renewable energy programme. “We must be ultra aggressive in the onboarding of renewables. It must be on steroids. But we can only achieve that if we resolve the issues that you are going…
In the week marking 100 days in office for the Government of National Unity (GNU), Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, has announced a new five-year strategic vision to turn Home Affairs into a digital-first department during the 2024-2029 term of office. This new approach, dubbed Home Affairs @ home, envisions an ambitious new future, where no one has to visit a Home Affairs office in-person again to access routine services. The vision directs that over the next five years, all of the department’s services must become fully automated, digitised and offered online at the fingertips of clients from the…
A policy statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa has today resulted in the formation of a new state-owned petroleum company, the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC). The SANPC has been formed following the merger of the Central Energy Fund (CEF) subsidiaries, iGas, PetroSA and the Strategic Fuel Fund. The SANPC is poised to become a leading player in the country’s energy sector ensuring energy security, driving new technologies, developing and enabling essential infrastructure, fostering strategic partnerships and propelling social and economic development. It is also expected to oversee strategic planning, coordination and governance of the country’s petroleum resources, contributing to…
A new PET (polyethylene terephthalate) processing facility, which can accommodate more plastic waste and is the first-of-its-kind technology for Africa, will come on stream in 2025. This was announced on the sidelines of the International Solid Waste Association’s (ISWA) annual conference where South Africa’s efforts to build a circular economy for post-consumer packaging was thrust into the spotlight. The ISWA’s annual conference saw the country’s most experienced producer responsibility organisation, Petco, and recycling partner, Extrupet, giving a site tour of the new PET processing facility. The facility, which houses the new R300 million project, will bring PET bottle-to-bottle recycling capability…
A court challenge by the former chairman of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) Alfred Nevhutanda has delayed the forfeiture of millions of rands in assets by the state. Nevhutanda is challenging the legality of the proclamation giving the Special Investigating Unit the powers to investigate the affairs of the NLC. Included in the assets, currently being preserved as “proceeds of crime”, are a R27-million Pretoria mansion allegedly owned by Nevhatunda, bought with Lottery funds. In total the Asset Forfeiture Unit has preserved assets worth more than R344-million, including other properties, luxury vehicles and two Ocean Basket franchises owned by people implicated in…
Vehicle owners are increasingly abandoning the long queues at vehicle licensing centres and opting to renew their vehicle licences online to save time. An analysis of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) online platform, online.natis, shows that more than 2.5 million vehicle owners have opted for the convenience of the online platform since its launch in 2022. “Monthly average online renewals on the natis platform have increased from 44 802 in August 2022 to 222 606 last month with an average daily renewal of 7 181. “To access the service which offers motorists the convenience of renewing the vehicle licence…
South Africa is expected to receive some R628 million in European Union (EU) grant funding in support of its green hydrogen agenda. This was announced during a media briefing with the Minister of Energy and Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson. “The [first] European Grant is close to R100 million. It will be [used] in the implementation of the strategy for Transnet. The other European Union Grant of almost half a billion Rand will go to the development and construction of infrastructure in the South African green…
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the relations between South Africa and China have entered a new “era of opportunity”. The President was addressing the nation through his weekly newsletter following an official State Visit to the People’s Republic of China last week. “During the state visit, China and South Africa agreed to upgrade our relationship to an All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in a New Era. This signifies the strengthening of the political, economic and social ties between the two countries. “The strengthening of ties with major trading partners like China continues to yield benefits for the South African economy and people.…
By Nosihle Shelembe Beijing, China – President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed to the business sector in China to invest in South Africa and make use of the great opportunities that exist for growth and development. “South Africa presents a great opportunity for companies in Shenzhen to deepen their global value chains,” the President said on Tuesday. The President made the remarks during the Shenzhen Business Roundtable at the occasion of the State Visit to China. “With the capabilities that your companies have, we encourage you to play a more active role in our economy for mutual benefit,” he said. Impressed by…
Municipalities are at the centre of government’s efforts to move towards clean energy and fulfil the country’s commitment to global climate change. This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was addressing the opening ceremony of the Municipal Just Energy Transition (JET) Conference held in Johannesburg on Monday. The President highlighted that South Africa’s 257 metropolitan, district and local municipalities “own and operate approximately half of South Africa’s electricity distribution grid and facilitate universal access to electricity”. “One hundred and sixty five municipalities are electricity service providers. Through the Integrated National Electrification Programme grant, municipalities are responsible for addressing the…