Author: newsnote correspondent
South Africa’s largest retail group, Shoprite, says that it spent R560 million on diesel to keep its operations going during stage 5 and stage 6 load shedding over the last few months. The group published an operational update on its business for the six months ending 1 January 2023, outlining strong growth across its operations for the period. The group’s core business, Supermarkets RSA, contributed 80.1% to group sales and achieved sales growth of 17.5%. This growth is reported against the six-month period ended 2 January 2022 when sales increased by 11.3%. According to Shoprite, the growth in sales reflects…
Currently, 2023 is expected to have more rolling blackouts than 2022. Energy availability factor (EAF) will need to increase from 58% to 70% in two years to recover Eskom’s coal-fired power stations. As a result of the crisis, Eskom considered implementing permanent Stage 2 and Stage 3 rolling blackouts, a statement it has since retracted. The issue of declaring a National State of Disaster for the energy emergency received urgent attention during the ANC’s four-day lekgotla at Esselen Park in Ekurhuleni. Numerous roleplayers, including traditional leaders, community-based organizations, and trade unions, urged the crisis to be declared a National…
With only a few weeks since the reopening of schools in the country, the North West Department of Education has condemned the burning of a school principal’s office and one classroom at Mothelesi Secondary school in Shaleng Village near Pampierstad. The learners were unable to attend Saturday’s extra lessons, due to the incident. MEC Viola Motsumi, said the cause of the fire is still unknown. “I take this time to strongly condemn the torching of Mothelesi Secondary School. Such incidents delay the delivery of quality education to the learners. This incident is going to exacerbate the infrastructural backlogs faced by…
Prohibition Partners published its African Cannabis Report in 2019 and predicted that by 2023, the medical and recreational cannabis markets in South Africa will each be worth R11 billion and R20 billion, respectively. The nation is in a position to take the lead in this competitive industry. South Africa has a significant competitive advantage over its rivals, a positive reputation abroad for the caliber of its output, and is ranked first in Africa for technical proficiency and production cost. However, it is still extremely early in the process of removing the myriad social, political, economic, and legal barriers preventing it…
The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has redeployed its former provincial chairperson and former premier, Sihle Zikalala, to the National Assembly. The party said on Monday it discussed this with Zikalala and added that he would soon resign as Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC in the province. Zikalala, who is also the former KwaZulu-Natal ANC provincial chairperson, was elected to the party’s national executive committee after the December Nasrec conference. The KZN ANC thanked Zikalala and said a new MEC to replace him would be announced once it finalised its deployment process within its structures.
South Africa has been named host nation of the next two editions of the World Rugby U20 Championship – in 2023 and 2024. This will be the first time South Africa hosts the event since 2012, when the Junior Springboks beat New Zealand in the final at Newlands. This year’s event is scheduled for 24 June to 14 July and will take place over five match days in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington. The teams will be based in Cape Town. Meanwhile, World Rugby also confirmed that Kenya will host the second-tier World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament. The two tournaments return for the…
Judge Nkosinathi Chili has taken the reins from Judge Piet Koen in former President Jacob Zuma’s arms deal corruption case. Koen this morning recused himself from the matter. This is because of Zuma’s looming application for the removal of lead prosecutor, State Advocate Billy Downer. The application, which has yet to be formally filed, is premised on the fact that the former president has now instituted a private prosecution against Downer over allegations that he leaked confidential medical information to the press. Zuma raised the same allegations in his failed special plea, which was also aimed at getting Downer off…
Local authorities in South Africa’s Eastern Cape region said that gunmen opened fire at a birthday celebration, leaving eight people dead and three more injured. The shooting on Sunday is the most recent in a string of shootings that have brought attention to the nation’s issues with violent crime and the increasingly common usage of lethal firearms.A spokeswoman for the South African police agency stated in a statement that the incident was carried out late on Sunday in Kwazakele, Gqeberha, by two guys. Three ladies and four men out of the seven victims perished at the spot. Two ladies and…
According to Julius Malema, the EFF will shut down the country on March 20 to protest the lack of electricity and Cyril Ramaphosa’s resignation. He addressed the media after the plenary in Johannesburg on Sunday. Malema said that the reason for the march is the rising cost of living and poverty, high levels of corruption and lack of service delivery, among others. He also said that the economy will come to a halt and there will be no schooling. Meanwhile, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has requested a meeting with President Ramaphosa over the energy crisis. Earlier this month, Winde…
In light of the recent 18.65% electricity tariff increase granted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government was considering additional mechanisms to deal with rising electricity costs. This will put more pressure on already cash-strapped South Africans. Earlier this week, Ramaphosa appealed to the energy regulator to delay the price hike by modifying the period over which the tariffs will increase. On Monday (30 January), the president wrote in his weekly letter to the public that it is important to affirm the independence of the body and the legal process it follows.…