Month: February 2024

Eskom has reduced load shedding to Stages 3 and 4 until further notice.

This after the state power utility implemented Stage 5 and 6 load shedding over the past weekend.

‘Eskom has returned to service five generating units which will allow the emergency reserves to be adequately replenished by Tuesday morning. This will enable the reduction of load shedding to Stage 3 from 5am on Tuesday until 4pm. Stage 4 load shedding will then be implemented from 4pm on Tuesday until 5am on Wednesday.

‘This alternating pattern of Stage 3 load shedding from 5am to 4pm and Stage 4 load shedding from 4pm to 5am will be repeated daily until further notice. Eskom will closely monitor the power system and communicate any changes to load shedding should it be required,’ the power utility said.

By Monday afternoon, breakdowns had rendered some 14 579MW of generating capacity offline with a further 7316MW unavailable due to planned maintenance.

‘Eskom power station general managers and their teams continue to work diligently t
o ensure that additional generating units are brought back to service. A total of 2 150MW of generating capacity is planned to be returned to service by Wednesday.

‘We would like to appeal to members of the public to use electricity sparingly and efficiently, including switching off geysers and pool pumps from 5pm to 9pm. This lowers demand and helps in alleviating the pressure on the power system, contributing to lower stages of load shedding.’

Meanwhile, the power utility says it has made ‘significant strides’ in restoring electricity supply to most parts of the Eastern Cape village of Tsomo and its surrounding areas.

The area was hit with storms and extreme weather last week which affected electricity supply.

‘Only [a] few affected customers remain without power in the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality and are expected to be restored this week.

‘We thank the affected customers for their patience. Eskom technicians and contractors are doing all they can to normalise the situation. Customers without elec
tricity are urged to treat all electricity appliances as live during this period,’ Eskom said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Correctional Services is conducting a widespread search operation to locate and apprehend Clatta Gumbo, an offender who escaped on Monday.

Department spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said Gumbo – who is serving a life sentence for rape, kidnapping and assault – escaped from the grounds of Mamelodi Regional Hospital.

‘He was escorted to the hospital for a consultation with a dietician when he attacked the guarding official, disarmed him and escaped from the hospital premises.

‘Immediate action has been taken to initiate a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape,’ Nxumalo said.

Members of the public are asked to report any sightings of the escaped convict.

‘Correctional Services is appealing to anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the escapee to contact the nearest correctional facility or police station. Crucially, we encourage members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.

‘Public s
afety is our utmost priority and every effort is being made to effect the rearrest of Gumbo,’ Nxumalo said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Over 1 000 suspects have been nabbed in the North West under Operation Shanela, which was conducted between Thursday and Sunday.

The suspects were arrested for rape, murder, assault grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property, burglary residential and business premises, theft of motor vehicle and theft out of/from motor vehicle, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Of the 1 009 arrested suspects, 248 were wanted for contact crimes including murder, attempted murder, rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault common, house robbery and business robbery.

Also, 20 undocumented persons were taken in for processing.

The arrests were made through the execution of several actions, which included stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, inspection of licensed liquor premises, second-hand goods dealers, tracing of wanted suspects.

The operation also resulted in the confiscation of 170 cell phones, seven unlicensed firearms, drugs such as crack cocaine, crystal m
eth, nyaope, seven rounds of ammunition, liquor and dangerous weapons.

The provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the police officers, who worked with other law enforcement agencies, including the Traffic Department and Home Affairs, for the successes recorded in the operations.

Source: South African Government News Agency

As government joins the global community in celebrating World Radio Day, it has also recognised the invaluable contributions of broadcasters, journalists, and producers who work tirelessly in radio to bring quality programming each day.

‘Together, let us continue to support and nurture this timeless medium as we strive to build a more inclusive, informed, and enlightened society for all South Africans. Happy World Radio Day,’ the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said.

World Radio Day is being celebrated on Tuesday under the theme, “Radio: A Century Informing, Entertaining, and Educating’.

This year’s theme underscores the rich history and diverse contribution of radio to society.

‘Radio remains a reliable source of information and a catalyst for positive change. It has also been a constant companion to millions of South Africans, providing them with essential news, entertainment, and valuable educational content. Importantly, the affordability and accessibility of radio makes it an e
ssential medium, particularly in remote and disadvantaged communities,” GCIS Acting Director-General, Nomonde Mnukwa, said.

For over a century, radio has played a pivotal role in informing, entertaining, and educating societies and it has been a critical tool for communication, connecting people across vast distances and diverse cultures.

‘Its ability to transcend barriers of language and geography makes it a powerful instrument for promoting inclusivity and fostering unity among the country’s diverse communities.

‘In South Africa, radio has historically been a cornerstone of democracy, serving as a platform for dialogue, debate, and the exchange of ideas. It has played a crucial role in promoting social cohesion, advancing human rights, and amplifying the voices of marginalised groups,’ the GCIS said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

In a world filled with information overload the significance of our own stories should not be overlooked, especially those that contribute positively towards achieving regional integration and co-operation between the people of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Regional integration and telling our own stories was one of the key reasons for the establishment of the SADC awards, following a decision by the Council of Ministers in 1996 to recognise best media work in disseminating information on SADC to support the process of regional co-operation and integration.

The awards aim to recognise excellence in journalism in the area of print, photo, television, radio as well as to encourage media practitioners in member states to cover issues pertaining to the region.

We call on media practitioners in South Africa and the region to share their stories that focus on economic well-being, improvement of the standard of living and quality of life, freedom and social justice, peace and security
for the people of Southern Africa. The SADC Media Awards present a unique opportunity for the SADC region’s journalists to be celebrated and recognised by their peers.

Media practitioners are encouraged to continually ensure that we popularise projects that are underway in the SADC region. Africa and the region must tell her own stories. It is important that we hear from a range of voices from our diverse nations. By telling our own stories, we will bridge divides between SADC nations.

The other focus of the awards is to encourage SADC nations to further boost intra-Africa trade through greater market integration, cross-border infrastructure development, and policy coordination.

By sharing and telling these stories, we can show how integration and infrastructure development is driving regional economic development, trade and investment.

The SADC Secretariat has announced that entries for the 2024 SADC Media Awards are open. Entries must be submitted by no later than 29 February 2024, and will be judged in
four categories namely; Photo, Print, Television and Radio Journalism. The awards are open to journalists from the SADC Member States. Journalists who wish to enter the competition can access more information about the competition from the www.sadc.int and www.gcis.gov.za websites.

*William Baloyi is Chief Director: Media Engagement at the Government Communication and Information System

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Western Cape provincial government says it is ramping up efforts to step in to support Eskom to fix the electricity outage in the Central Karoo.

This comes after a thunderstorm ravaged the district municipality earlier this month, damaging infrastructure.

According to the Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, the Central Karoo is currently facing hard rock formations, faulty equipment, and Stage 6 load shedding.

‘Staff across the Western Cape provincial government have been assisting with all sorts of support that Eskom needs to expedite this issue, from procuring drilling equipment to transporting and moving generators and equipment to the affected areas, they are working tirelessly,’ Winde said, thanking all their staff and partners.

‘I want to reassure the residents of the Karoo that we are working flat out to help Eskom restore electricity to you.’

Eskom, said the provincial government, reported that a hard rock formation on the site between Touws River and Laingsburg led to the breakdown of its rock
drill, which is now preventing the completion of the last four 2.4 metres deep holes that are needed to anchor the remaining temporary poles to support the new electrical lines as part of the outage repair work underway in the Karoo.

Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell, said the provincial government has already at the weekend reached out to equipment and transport contractors to assist Eskom in procuring another drilling rig as well as an additional 20-ton and 35-ton excavator.

‘The faulty rock drill is currently being fixed but we need to do everything in our power to avoid delays on this project. As such we will support Eskom where we can with procurement and logistics,’ Bredell said.

However, he said the rapid acceleration of load shedding to level 6 has further compounded matters for the affected Karoo towns, as generator availability in the province is stretched to the limit.

‘Many of these generators are from an R88 million allocation that the WCG mad
e to municipalities at the beginning of 2023 when they needed to secure safe drinking water and water treatment as the worst impacts of Eskom’s load shedding were becoming increasingly felt.

‘I never anticipated that this intervention would be so deeply needed under circumstances like this where entire Karoo towns have been without Eskom power since Saturday, 3 February,’ said Winde.

He said the province is also seeing loan generators being called back from the Karoo towns as they are needed by their owners to cope with the extended load shedding.

‘We must allocate generator capacity where it is being utilised optimally at this stage. As such, it was worrying to learn of a large 65kVA loan generator from the Garden Route District Municipality that broke down in Kannaland over the weekend. We will investigate the cause of the breakdown.’

Bredell explained that at least four additional generators are required to provide power to critical infrastructure in Leeu Gamka and Prince Albert Road at this stage.

Me
anwhile, the provincial Department of Social Development is providing food relief to indigent households across the Central Karoo.

The department has also enabled three old age facilities in Prince Albert, Laingsburg, and Ladismith, to buy diesel for generators as their diesel supplies have been running low.

Social Development MEC, Sharna Fernandez, said food relief efforts were taking place over the weekend.

‘DSD staff have been working around the clock on assessments and vetting processes to ensure food relief goes to the residents who need it most.

‘Hundreds of beneficiaries were assisted through this weekend’s efforts, in various towns, and the work continues. Thank you to the incredible staff on the ground, and the municipalities and stakeholders for working with us to help our vulnerable residents for whom these power outages have been especially hard,’ Fernandez added.

According to the province, Eskom has indicated the project is still scheduled for completion by Thursday, 15 February.

Source: S
outh African Government News Agency