Month: July 2023

Eskom has implemented Stage 4 load shedding immediately following increased demand and lowered generation capacity.

The higher stage will be implemented until 5am on Tuesday morning.

This will be followed by Stage 2 until 2pm with Stage 4 implemented thereafter.

The pattern will then continue until further notice.

“Over the past 24 hours a generating unit each at Duvha, Hendrina, Kendal, Kriel, Matimba and Medupi power stations were all returned to service.

“In the same period, a generating unit each at Arnot and Tutuka power stations were taken out of service due to breakdowns. The delay in returning to service two generating units at Tutuka Power Station is contributing to current capacity constraints. Eskom teams are working around the clock to return the generating units to service,” Eskom said in a statement.

Breakdowns have contributed to at least 14 252MW being offline with a further 4118MW out due to planned maintenance.

Eskom called on South Africans to use electricity sparingly particularly during peak hours.

“We appeal to members of the public to reduce demand and we would like to thank those South Africans who do heed the call to use electricity sparingly and efficiently, including switching off geysers and pool pumps from 5pm to 9pm, as this lowers demand and helps in alleviating the pressure on the power system and contributes to lower stages of load shedding,” Eskom said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Members of media who have applied for accreditation to cover the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo in Limpopo Province are advised to collect accreditation as follows:

Venue: Marota Primary School, Ga-Motodi in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province

Day One: Tuesday, 11 July 2023 from 09h00 – 17h00

Day Two: Wednesday, 12 July 2023 from 09h00 – 17h00

Day Three: Thursday, 13 July 2023 from 09h00 – 17h00

Day Four: Friday, 14 July 2023 from 08h00 – 10h00

The Imbizo is scheduled to take place on Friday, 14 July 2023 at Motodi Sports Complex, Ga-Motodi village in Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality under Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province.

Members of the media are advised to bring along their Press cards/ ID books or Passports when collecting accreditation. Also, note that individuals have to personally collect their own accreditation.

Media site visit: Members of the media who wish to be part of the site visit at Motodi Sports Complex are advised that it will take place on Thursday, 13 July 2023 from 14h00.

Enquiries for accreditation should be directed to Takalani Mukwevho on 082 227 9308

General media enquiries: Mr William Baloyi on 083 390 7147

Source: Government of South Africa

Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope pleaded with the leadership in the region to support the Daures Green Hydrogen project and ensure the community benefit from the opportunities offered.

The governor in his State of the Region Address here on Monday, expressed confidence that the project will bring great relief to the region in terms of employment and housing with over 2 000 residents envisaged to benefit from the hydrogen village.

The Daures Green Hydrogen Village is expected to provide employment for 200 local citizens, while the local communities have been provided with shareholding in the project through the conservancy and the traditional authority.

“The Daures Green Hydrogen Village is also looking to create a database of eligible small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the Daures Constituency to participate in its construction and other related items at the village. I implore all SMEs from the constituency who wish to participate to take up this opportunity in this massive project, as there are a number of potential spin-offs for the local communities,” Itope noted.

The Daures Green Hydrogen Village, which is an ammonia production facility in the Erongo Region, will be the first of its kind in Namibia.

The project will showcase the sustainable production of green hydrogen and ammonia from renewable sources, demonstrate green hydrogen applications and pilot a green hydrogen economy with export potential for hydrogen derivatives while creating research opportunities for local and international students.

Notably, the project aims to produce Namibia’s first green hydrogen and ammonia in 2023 during its pilot phase as well as Namibia’s first carbon-free agriculture.

Meanwhile, Itope also highlighted the region’s great progress towards securing reliable and cost-effective water supply for the Omatjete area in the Daures Constituency, with the recent commissioning of the Ozondati pipeline, at a cost of N.dollars 17 million through the Erongo Regional Council.

“Another significant achievement was the commissioning of three water purification plants in the Spitzkoppe area, through funding from the Environmental Investment Fund, which will help these communities with clean drinking water, after suffering for years with salty and alkaline water.”

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

An unknown male person in his mid-thirties was found dead in a pool of blood by a passer-by who alerted the police on Friday.

In a crime report issued on Sunday, the police said that the deceased’s body was found in Ombungu Street at Okuryangava at around 05h20 and that the deceased was stabbed or slashed on the lower back knee of the right leg.

The deceased’s next of kin have not yet been informed, no arrests have been made and investigations are still ongoing.

In a similar case on Friday at Okahao, an 82-year-old man was allegedly cut with a panga by a 46-year-old mentally ill person. The incident happened around 14h00 and the victim died on the spot.

The police said it is alleged the suspect attacked the victim when he found the victim sitting on a chair outside his mahangu field, cutting some droppers using a panga.

The suspect allegedly used the same panga which belonged to the victim and cut him twice on the head, the police said.

Investigations continue.

In another incident, an adult body was found lifeless next to the B1 road around 17h40 in Katutura on Saturday.

The police said the victim was attacked by unknown suspects and left behind and succumbed to injuries sustained.

The victim has not yet been identified and the body was taken to the mortuary for further handling.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni on Friday officially handed over 33 houses constructed by the Okahandja Shack Dwellers Federation.

Uutoni in a statement said he wished to call on all members of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia to continue to play their part not only in taking part in the construction of their houses but also to honour their loan repayments to the federation.

He said these payments will enable the federation to be sustainable, to help other needy members, and urged them to continue actively participating in their activities such as regular saving and working together.

“It is evident in our community that housing is a key national development priority and an important vehicle for addressing poverty and inequality, as well as bringing out social harmony, economic advancement and political stability,” Uutoni said.

Uutoni singled out the generous and continued support of Standard Bank, whose financial assistance to the federation has made the construction of these houses possible.

“This shared interest and power of unity and a common purpose are better summed up in our Harambee Prosperity Plan and the African proverb that says, ‘a load is lighter when two people carry it’,” said Uutoni.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency