Author: The Bulrushes

South Africa is bracing for cold and dark nights after Eskom announced it was implementing load-shedding from Tuesday evening because of a shortage of generation capacity. Eskom said it regrets “to inform the public that due to severe generation capacity constraints Stage 2 load-shedding will be implemented from 17:00 this afternoon”. Loadshedding will continue until 05:00 on Monday. “This load-shedding has been caused by a shortage of generation capacity owing to delays in returning generators to service, as well as breakdowns of nine generators,” said the power utiity. Eskom said it will continue to monitor the system and implement any…

Just like any other youthful person of my generation, moving to any foreign country in search of the so-called ‘greener pastures’ is not always what it seems to be in pictures. With the fast-rising of social media, many would be quick to conclude life abroad is sweet and super. Simple advice is you really need to work hard to achieve your dream in that foreign land. Most people (me included) relocate completely ignorant of the possible dangers and costs associated with such a move. In this day and age, people need to be careful when travelling or relocating to another…

President Cyril Ramaphosa – who had to abandon his Workers’ Day address in Rustenburg – on Tuesday said the “workers have spoken. We must listen. And, together, we must act”. Writing in his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said: “This year, I was invited to address a Workers’ Day rally at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. “I was, however, unable to address the gathering because workers there had grievances that they expressed loudly and clearly.” Before he could address the gathering, security personnel whisked Ramaphosa away after workers in attendance became increasingly rowdy. “While the main grievance appeared to be about wage…

The Empire Partner Foundation (EPF) has challenged young software developers and tech entrepreneurs to find digital solutions to address South Africa’s energy challenges. State-owned power utility Eskom, which provides over 90% of South Africa’s electricity, has over the years implemented multiple bouts of load-shedding, much to the detriment of the fragile economy. Tech non-profit organisation, EPF, recently hosted an energy hackathon to seek solutions to end the perennial load-shedding problem. Challenges to finding solutions to the electricity shortage ranged from envisioning the power needs of the country to quantifying the benefits of renewable energy projects. The event was supported by…

The Presidency on Friday said it had received the fourth part of the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. “The Secretary of the Commission Prof Itumeleng Mosala handed over the report to Acting Director-General in the Presidency Mr. Thami Ngwenya at the Union Buildings in Pretoria,” said the Presidency. Part Four of the Report is comprised of four volumes focusing on six themes as follows: Volume 1: – The attempted capture of the National Treasury – EOH Holdings and the City of Johannesburg – Alexkor Volume 2: – The Free State Asbestos Project Debacle…

South Africa’s Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on Wednesday reassured local and international airlines that jet fuel supplies to O.R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg had been stabilised. On Tuesday, ACSA Chief Executive Officer Mpumi Mpofu said that the supply of jet fuel to airlines flying in and out of O.R Tambo International Airport was stable and continues to meet demand. Mpofu revealed that of the 67 rail tanks en-route to OR Tambo International Airlines, only 11 have arrived, with 56 remaining behind, owing to the flood damage to parts of the rail freight route. He rejected media reports of a…

While parts of the freight rail lines out of Durban remain unusable weeks after the KwaZulu-Natal floods, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has moved to allay fears of imminent jet fuel shortages at O.R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. As a result of the floods, about 140 sections of Transnet freight rail lines from Durban to Johannesburg were damaged and Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) estimates that it will only be able to repair the damaged rail infrastructure by 9 June 2022. Of the 67 rail tanks en-route to OR Tambo International Airlines, only 11 have arrived, with 56 remaining behind.…

The state of Gauteng hospitals has again come under the spotlight amid the surge in Covid-19 new cases. “Are Gauteng hospitals ready for a 5th wave of Covid cases?” was the question posed on Monday by Jack Bloom, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health. “Yesterday there were 1 727 new cases and 10 933 active Covid cases recorded in Gauteng, compared to 460 and 4 333 active cases a week before,” said Bloom. “This is an alarming jump. “At this stage, we do not know the severity of the Omicron sub-variant, which appears to be driving the…

American carrier Delta Air Lines’ application to fly a triangular route between Atlanta, Johannesburg, and Cape Town has finally been approved. Delta will operate three flights a week year-round using a 306-seat Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The flights are expected to start on 18 November this year. The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday said it welcomes the long-overdue approval of the Delta Air Lines Atlanta-Johannesburg-Cape Town triangular route. “The approval comes off the back of a long and determined campaign by the Western Cape Provincial Government and the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism,” said…

AVBOB the “Cashback Funeral Insurance” has moved to assist flood-hit KwaZulu-Natal, where at least 306 people have lost their lives, by donating millions of rand and offering free funerals. The unprecedented environmental catastrophe destroyed houses, washed away bridges, and left huge sinkholes that rendered the roads impassable. Responding to the tragedy, AVBOB Mutual Assurance Society said it has “set aside R7 million for immediate assistance” to communities in KwaZulu-Natal affected by the floods. The organisation said it believes that Ubuntu remains the cornerstone that ties together South Africans through the profound sense that “we are human only through the humanity…