Author: The Bulrushes
Eskom on Friday commented for the first time on the much-criticised 18.6% tariff hike granted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), saying it appreciates the “tough decision”. In a statement, released on “Friday the 13th”, the struggling power utility said the tariff hikes were expected to bring financial sustainability. Eskom said it “appreciates the tough decision made by NERSA for the FY2024 and FY2025 revenue determinations and recognises the pressures this determination will place on consumers”. The struggling power utility, which is implementing Stage 6 load-shedding, said it will apply the tariff adjustments to its customers from…
South Africans will have to pay more for electricity after the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on Thursday approved an 18.65% tariff hike for Eskom. The regulator granted Eskom the hike amid debilitating Stage 6 load-shedding imposed by the struggling power utility. Eskom had initially applied for a 32% tariff hike. NERSA said it considered various issues before it made the final decision on Eskom’s revenue application for the 2023/24 financial year. The regulator granted Eskom an 18.65% hike and 12.47% for the 2024/25 financial year. Nersa, Chairperson Thembani Bukula said changes to electricity prices were expected to…
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s court action to quash ex-president Jacob Zuma’s summons will be heard today, Thursday (12 January 2023), in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, in Johannesburg. Zuma’s disputed summons ordered Ramaphosa to appear in person on 19 January 2023 to face charges that he was an “accessory after the fact”. The matter is in relation to private prosecution charges Zuma is pursuing against prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan. Zuma alleges that Ramaphosa failed to act following an incident where the National Prosecuting Authority allegedly unlawfully leaked his medical records to the media.…
Struggling Eskom on Thursday ramped-up load-shedding to Stage 4. In a power alert, Eskom said: “Stage 4 load-shedding will be implemented from 16:00 this afternoon until 05:00 tomorrow morning, thereafter Stage 3 load-shedding will be implemented until Sunday morning”. The power utility added: “Thursday, 05 January 2023: Due to the delays in returning seven generating units to service, Stage 4 load-shedding will be implemented from 16:00 this afternoon until 05:00 tomorrow morning. “Thereafter Stage 3 load-shedding will be implemented until 16:00 on Friday. This pattern will be repeated until Sunday morning.” Eskom said the further delays in returning to service…
The South Africa National Department of Health announced on Sunday that it was closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation in China and other parts of the world. On Sunday, the department said, “there is no need for the public to panic”. The assurance came in the wake of more countries imposing travel restrictions on people coming from China. “We urge people to vaccinate and get booster shots to enhance their immunity against variants and sub-variants of the pandemic,” said Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the National Health Department. Mohale said the department will issue an alert if South Africa needs to take…
Travel restrictions are back again in the wake of the dreaded coronavirus virus resurgence in China. The U.S. on Wednesday became the latest country to impose new entry requirements that include a negative Covid-19 test for travellers from China. The U.S. move comes as China announces that – after almost three years of restrictions – it will let its citizens travel more easily from 8 January, next year. Late Wednesday, the U.S. joined Italy and other countries who are imposing strict requirements on people coming from China amid raising global concerns over possible mutations and a resurgence of the virus. Amid heavy international criticism…
The use of the Metaverse is expected to balloon in 2023 as tech firms seek to unlock new opportunities within this new interconnected and immersive digital world. Experts believe Metaverse will be revolutionary and fully transform the way we work, shop, socialise, and play. Metaverse refers to technologies that underpin a virtual reality-based internet such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality. Mark Zuckerberg, founder, and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook) describes his vision of the Metaverse as a place to “connect, work, play, learn, and shop”. Zuckerberg says he anticipates Meta will contribute significantly to building…
The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) on Wednesday moved to clarify that the “nolle prosequi certificates” issued to former president Jacob Zuma in his private prosecution do not apply to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Zuma’s lawyers have used nolle prosequi certificates for another matter to secure summons against Ramaphosa, whom they accuse of not acting on a complaint made by the former president. RELATED: State Attorney Says President Ramaphosa Must Ignore Zuma Summons – The Bulrushes The NPA on Wednesday said it “takes note of the media reports relating to the summons issued in respect of President Ramaphosa”. The NPA said it issued two nolle prosequi certificates in…
Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) boss Teboho Maruping went undercover to check on how things were going at the Soshanguve office only to be asked by a female security guard to pay a bribe if he wanted his application processed speedily. UIF Commissioner Maruping on Thursday made the shocking revelation that “a private security guard requested a R400 bribe from him to expedite a benefit claim at the Soshanguve Labour Centre”. Maruping said he has since reported the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS). The incident occurred earlier this week on Tuesday, (6 December 2022), when Maruping visited the…
The average tenure of a Chief Security Information Officer lasts between one and two years, far less than the six years a Chief Financial Officer or eight years a Chief Executive Officer typically spends at a company. This drastic difference is even more staggering when we add new data from the Ponemon Institute, which claims that around 65 percent of security professionals think about quitting due to burnout. The world of cybersecurity and its associated stresses have grown significantly since then, and headlines are again warning that digital security is among the most stressful and demanding roles in today’s organisations. “Cybersecurity officers…