Author: The Bulrushes

Eskom has announced that owing to breakdowns and persistent shortages of generation capacity Stage 4 load-shedding will continue until Sunday morning. “Breakdowns of a generating unit each at Kriel, Majuba and Tutuka power stations over the past 24 hours have necessitated the continuation of load-shedding at Stage 4 until Sunday at 05:00,” Eskom said Friday. “Thereafter load shedding will be implemented at Stage 3 until 05:00 on Monday.” Eskom said while some generation units are anticipated to return to service next week, it was necessary to extend the load-shedding to replenish the emergency generation reserves. The power utility said emergency…

Three suspects aged between 36 and 42 from Mbombela Municipality Traffic Department and White River Traffic Department have been arrested in connection with fraud, theft, and money laundering amounting to R60 million. Their arrests on Wednesday follow an investigation into alleged corruption at the department carried out by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which began in December 2018. Allegations are that traffic department officials were taking bribes to unlawfully extend expired vehicle licence discs without enforcing related fines. Suspicions are that the cashiers colluded with the truck fleet owners, who owed large amounts of money for expired licence and fines…

Namibia and Botswana are on track to lift passport requirements at their border and use IDs with enhanced digitisation, a move said to be in line with the much-mooted SADC integration. Once the agreement is in place IDs from both countries will enable citizens to use them to cross the border. Speaking during the inaugural Botswana-Namibia bi-national commission, Namibian president Hage Geingob on Friday, said: “Our two countries not only share a common border, but also a common people and heritage. A symbiotic and interdependent relationship exists along our common borders.” Geingob added: “Therefore, I call on our senior officials…

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Sunday said it arrested seven Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers for murder and defeating the ends of justice, on 10 September 2022. “Five constables and two inspectors will make their first appearance at the Tsakane Magistrate Court tomorrow, 12 September 2022,” said a statement released by IPID spokesperson, Lizzy Suping. “It is alleged that the officers went into a shack in Langaville, Extension 6, on the 8th of September 2022, where they found 4 African males. “Two were sleeping and the other two watching TV. As the officers entered the shack, two…

Eskom has implemented Stage 4 load-shedding from 10 am Saturday until Monday morning. “Regretfully, due to additional breakdowns overnight, Eskom was unable to replenish the emergency generation reserves, which has worsened the current generation capacity constraints,” said Eskom. “Stage 4 loadshedding will therefore be implemented from 10:00 this morning until 05:00 on Monday morning. “This is to replenish the emergency reserves in order to contain loadshedding to lower stages next week.” The struggling power utility said a generation unit at Kendal was forced offline for emergency repairs while a unit each at Majuba, Lethabo and Camden power stations, as well…

Astron Energy, which operates the second largest petroleum retail network in South Africa with over 850 service stations, has unveiled its new-look service stations. The rebrand from Caltex to Astron Energy is the most significant change in the South African liquid fuels industry in three decades. It is also a key milestone in Astron Energy’s ambition of becoming the next biggest fuel brand in South Africa. The first Astron Energy sites to feature the new brand include: Chuenespoort along the R37 in Limpopo KwaMakhuta in Amanzimtoti, KZN Nandi in eThekweni, KZN MACS in Brooklyn, Cape Town The entire network of…

Sixty-three-year-old Danie Reyneke, a former Warrant Officer with elite crime busters – the Hawks, has been slapped with a 15-year prison sentence for stealing guns and being caught with explosives. The Durban Regional Court on Wednesday (7 September 2022) sent Reyneke to prison for theft of firearms, illegal possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of explosives and unlicensed firearms, as well as negligent loss of firearms. Reyneke, a former member of the Hawks based in KwaZulu-Natal, was convicted of the offences committed between 1997 and 2014. Following investigations by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation into the theft of guns, the accused…

The Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF) on Wednesday announced that it has paid the power utility R30 million related to the erroneous pension pay-out to former CEO Brian Molefe. EPPF said it, “confirms that it has repaid the R30 million that was unlawfully paid to it by Eskom in relation to Mr. Brian Molefe’s pension matter”. This is in line with the Pretoria High Court judgment of 4 July 2022. The court ordered both the EPPF and Molefe to repay the irregular pension payout to Eskom. However, Molefe has sought leave to appeal the decision and has not yet…

South African security personnel are being accused of travelling to Malawi to kidnap Prophet Shepherd Bushiri. The Leader of Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Jesus Nation Church and his wife, Mary, skipped bail in South Africa, where they were awaiting trial for money laundering and fraud. The pair are the subject of an extradition process to bring them back to South Africa that is being heard in a court in Malawi. Bushiri, also known as “‘Major 1”, insists he is innocent and only left South Africa because his life was in danger. Soon after arriving in Malawi, Bushiri said he had…

Meta announced the launch of “Creators of Tomorrow” on Tuesday. Creators of Tomorrow is a new campaign that celebrates emerging talents from around the world, who are inspiring a new movement of creative content online. The campaign spotlights creators in Sub- Saharan Africa from East Africa, Southern Africa, and Francophone Africa. Pamela Mtanga, is the only South African who is part of Creators of Tomorrow. The 26-year-old public relations graduate is one of SA’s hottest beauty and fashion influencers. Pamela was named top personality and influencer at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards hosted by Pat on Brands. Pamela is also…