As the country heads into the winter months, power utility Eskom, which does not foresee rolling blackouts, has urged the public to be energy efficient.

“We are still busy with our maintenance [of power plants] plan but we are cutting back naturally at this time of the year as the demand for electricity increases but at this stage everything is under control. If we do have a problem in winter it will be for a short sharp peak in the evening. It’s not a rolling blackout scenario,” Eskom acting spokesperson Andrew Etzinger said on Monday.

He was speaking at a New Age breakfast briefing in Midrand, Johannesburg.

Eskom, he said, was in “good shape at this stage”, but that the system was tight and that energy efficiency is an important aspect to keep the lights on.

Earlier on, Energy Minister Ben Martins said that energy security is a pertinent issue, adding that energy efficiency is important. The rollout of alternative power will help, he said, adding that energy efficiency on its own “will not carry the country”.

Most of the country’s power stations were old. “They are old and need to be replaced,” he said, adding that a pertinent issue for the country is that of energy security.

To date, said the minister, only 14% of South Africans lack access to electricity. Terrain was among the issues that had slowed down the process of getting electricity to all South Africans.

“People shouldn’t be punished for staying in rural areas,” he said, adding that the process of getting electricity to every South African continues.

Net metering

On the issue of net metering, which allows consumers to send their extra power back to the electricity grid, the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) is looking at the issue.

“At the moment we are still doing preliminary investigations to see how it has worked or not worked in other countries,” said Nersa CEO Phindile Baleni, who was also at the breakfast briefing.

She further added that while the regulator is looking at this, its important to take note that most municipalities in the country depend on electricity as part of their revenues. A pilot is being conducted. - SAnews.gov.za

Given the challenges facing South Africa’s youngsters today, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe says government stands ready to work with all youth formations to uplift young people.

This, he said, government does by giving youth groups technical assistance, resources, training, education and entrepreneurship development programmes.

“Young people constitute the most energetic and creative section of our society and have the potential to play a meaningful role in the reconstruction and development of our country.

“We have a duty to develop and empower young people, so that they are well-prepared to assume roles that may shape our future,” Deputy President Motlanthe said over the weekend.

He joined Future Leaders in marking its 10th anniversary in Durban. The organisation grooms young people into responsible citizens, capable of rising into positions of leadership.

The Deputy President commended Future Leaders for the sterling work it has done over the past decade, saying it had played an important role in getting young people involved in the community.

“It is vital that young people organise themselves in order to share ideas and create formations that enable them to secure their participation in the socio-economic planning for their own future,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom will on Tuesday launch the Department of Science and Technology (DST)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Food Security at the University of the Western Cape.

The CoE is co-hosted by the University of the Western Cape and the University of Pretoria.

“The DST-NRF CoE in Food Security will bring together a cohort of experts and researchers to research the systemic and structural factors that shape food access and dietary choice, as well as food security strategies, choices and decisions for poor and vulnerable people,” the department said in a statement.

The department said it will not look at agricultural productivity in isolation, but will take a "farm-to-fork" approach.

“Studies show that food insecurity is widespread in South Africa, where more than 60% of the population is urbanised,” the department said.

Approximately 57% of South Africans live below the poverty line (meaning that some days there is no food).

According to the department, chronic malnutrition affects one in five young children in both rural and urban areas, and about 80% of households in South Africa are unable to afford nutritionally balanced meals.

“For South Africa to be food secure, food needs to be available both nationally and locally, and people have to have the means to access it (either producing it themselves, or buying or bartering for it).

“People also need to have the knowledge to make informed choices about what they eat,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

The FNB Platinum Trail Run presented by ISUZU celebrates its second anniversary this year. Taking place at ATKV Buffelspoort (North West Province)...

more South Africa running ...

The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South […] The post HIV/AIDS trial scoops award appeared first on HealthnSpire. … HealthnSpire » News HIV/AIDS trial scoops award is a post from: All4DataHIV/AIDS trial scoops award is a post from: All4Data


more News Publishing ...

Pretoria – Water supply in the Eastern Cape is set to improve with the launch of the R12.45-billion Mzimvubu Water Project in Tsolo Junction.

President Jacob Zuma on Friday oversaw the *** turning ceremony, which marked the official start of the project.

The massive undertaking forms part of government’s Strategic Integrated Projects, specifically SIP 18, which focuses on the delivery of water and sanitation to all in South Africa.

The Mzimvubu project will include the construction of two dams: one in Ntabelanga on the Tsitsa River, which will be used for domestic and agricultural water supply requirements.

The Ntabelanga dam will store approximately 490 million cubic meters of water. Once completed, it will become the 10th largest dam in South Africa.

“The Ntabelanga dam is also strategically placed for a possible supply to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Orange/Vaal River System in the longer term,” President Zuma said.

The other dam to be built is the Laleni dam, which will be used for hydro power generation. The dam has the potential to generate 35 megawatts of base power, or up to 180 megawatts of peaking power when operated jointly with Ntabelanga dam.

About 18.5km of power lines will be erected to feed the power onto the national power grid.

In all, the Mzimvubu Water Project entails the building of the two dams, a hydropower plant at Laleni, bulk water distribution infrastructure and infield irrigation developments in the area.

The project is also good news for employment in the province.

“The project is expected to create about 6 700 jobs per annum during the construction phase and 6 500 jobs per annum during the operational phase,” said President Zuma.

Three districts -- OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo and Joe Gqabi -- will benefit from the project, which aims to serve over 720 000 households in domestic water supply.

A detailed design of Ntabelanga dam and associated works and infrastructure is currently underway and is expected to be completed by June this year.

The actual construction of the dam and associated works and infrastructure is expected to start in November this year and to be completed by February 2018.

This will be followed by an intensive construction of bulk water conveyance infrastructure, the infield farming infrastructure and the building of the Laleni hydro power scheme in 2016/17.

First water delivery is expected to be in early 2018. – SAnews.gov.za

Delegates at the three-day Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Social Sector conference have reiterated the programme’s commitment to provide work opportunities for unemployed and unskilled people.

Held under the theme ‘United in action to accelerate employment creation through EPWP Social Sector’, the conference signalled the end of the EPWP Phase II – which started in April 2009 with an objective to create 4.5 million work opportunities.

Of these, 750 000 were expected to be created by the social sector between 2009 and 2014.

The EPWP Social Sector achieved over 800 000 work opportunities by December 2013 against the set target of 750 000, through programmes such as early childhood development, home community based care, the School Nutrition Programme, community crime prevention, School Mass Participation and Kha Ri Gude (a mass literacy campaign).

The sector has an obligation to create 1 038 929 work opportunities, as a set target towards the overall EPWP Phase 3 target of six million work opportunities.

Representatives from government departments such as Health, Basic Education, Public Works, Community Safety and Liaison as well as the Independent Development Trust also attended the conference. – SAnews.gov.za

Komatipoort - More than 2 000 people living near the Swaziland and Mozambican borders received comprehensive government services on their doorstep as part of World Health Day.

Led by Mpumalanga Health and Social Development Department MEC, Candith Mashego-Dlamini, officials from the South African Social Security Agency and police officers celebrated World Health Day with villagers, who gathered at a local stadium in Naas on Friday.

"We did not choose Nkomazi because the people here are mostly affected by HIV and Aids, but we chose Nkomazi because there are two borders, which makes people vulnerable to mosquitoes that cause malaria," said MEC Mashego-Dlamini.

The MEC also warned anyone travelling to countries like Swaziland Mozambique to visit their local hospitals or clinics to get injections for Yellow Fever.

"Get the Yellow Fever injections and also make sure that your houses or the places you live in are clean because those small insects can harm you and your kids," she said.

She added that while malaria was dangerous, it was also important for people to avoid contracting HIV.

"Our stats show that now there is a high number of teenage girls who are infected with HIV. This is less the number of teen boys infected,” she said, warning teens against the dangers of sugar daddies.

The MEC further encouraged the use condoms and testing for HIV and other sexual transmitted infections.

About 200 people were given spectacles, while two people with disabilities received wheelchairs. Eleven families received food parcels. – SAnews.gov.za

Easy Credit in an Age of Oversupply American investment banker Daniel Alpert argues in his new book* that there are only four solutions to an unsustainable debt problem: Strong economic growth can make debt sustainable; but growth in advanced economies will remain anaemic as long as there is a need to deleverage. Net debt can [...]

more Book news and information ...

The Barbican is very pleased to announce the appointment of Huw Humphreys as its new Head of Music. Humphreys brings a wealth of experience from...

more Global Music ...