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Opinions of the Day: “We need a crisis management attitude to try to ensure a basic electricity supply in the short to medium term”

Newsroom / July 4, 2022

In the opinion pages today, Ralph Mathekga criticises the government and Eskom’s handling of the energy problem and Justice Malala says Ramaphosa’s administration is as clueless as last year about a significant danger to our stability, safety, and security.

SA’s electricity grid is collapsing – and we urgently need a plan to fix it – News24 (for subscribers)

“The government can still show a sense of urgency and marshal an affordable plan to get the basic power supply on.”

In an editorial published by News24, Ralph Mathekga critiques the attitude of the government and Eskom to the energy issue. Mathekga thinks that when a crisis of this kind occurs, it is essential to restore order as quickly as possible while simultaneously articulating policy stances. According to Mathejga, initiating a policy discussion when circumstances are dire demonstrates a lack of comprehension of the gravity of the issue. Read more here

Storms are brewing, and there’s no intelligence on when and how they’ll strike – Times Live (for subscribers)

The flood devastation in KZN will cost the nation billions of rands. Justice Malala argues that the State Security Agency (SSA) should have prioritised South Africa’s national security and found strategies to move communities from dangerous areas, instead, they were focusing on ANC corruption.

“Imagine if the SSA had kept itself busy with real threats such as climate change, which is the direct cause of the KZN floods. If that had happened, we would not be sitting with more than R17bn-worth of damage caused by the floods”

Malala feels that Ramaphosa’s government is as naïve about a genuine and ongoing threat to our stability, safety, and security as it was during the July riots last year. Read more here

Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:

Enyobeni tragedy: Ramaphosa calls for frank discussions about alcohol scourge – Times Live

Police numbers on GBV desks do not add up – News24

NEWS FROM THE FUTURE: Industry invades the metaverse – Business Day (for subscribers)

We need answers on why Bosasa finance boss got off scot-free – Times Live

Give the Public Service Commission more authority – News24

The ANC’s fake bogeyman called Zimbabweans – News24

Top News of the Day: Eskom announces Stage 6 load shedding from Monday | Cristiano Ronaldo tells Manchester United he wants to leave

Morning Newsletter, Newsroom / July 4, 2022
  • Stage 6 load shedding in South Africa: Eskom announces load shedding schedule for the upcoming week. 
  • Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale, says Man Utd, even though reports say the star wants to leave.
  • Former SABC board chair Ellen Tshabalala dies of kidney failure.

Stage 6 load-shedding to continue, with Eskom saying it will take time to recover from strike action – Times Live 

In a press release issued on Sunday afternoon, Eskom indicated that load shedding would continue into the next week.

“Depending on several possibilities — including the workforce fully returning to work to conduct much needed repairs to equipment — it is anticipated that load-shedding will gradually be lowered to stage 2 by the weekend.”

In a separate article for EWN, Eskom said that it would take a few weeks for its power generating system to completely return to pre-strike levels, and blamed the rolling blackouts on the recent strike protests by employees. Read more here and here 

Cristiano Ronaldo tells Manchester United he wants to leave – The Guardian

According to The Guardian, Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester United that he wants to leave because he doesn’t think the team can win the Premier League next season and he wants to play in the Champions League. 

“Ronaldo, who scored 24 goals for United last season after returning to Old Trafford from Juventus, has a contact to the end of next season which includes an option for a further year.”

Ronaldo hasn’t made a deal to play for another team yet. Read more here

Former SABC chair Ellen Tshabalala dies, allies defend her legacy – News24

On Saturday, former SABC chair Ellen Tshabalala died from kidney failure. She served on the board of the SABC between 2013 and 2014. 

News24 reports, “It was a long illness, and it was the culmination of a disease she had called DVT [deep vein thrombosis], which led to complications later in life and Covid-19 compounded it and it led to kidney failure.” Read more here 

Here are the top trending stories of the day. 

Headline: Treasury working on a credible solution for Eskom’s R400bn debt burden – News24 (for subscribers)

Headline: Grabouw fire leaves about 200 homeless – EWN

Headline: Twitter Goes Wild After Drake Joins Backstreet Boys To Perform ’90s Classic Song – Huffington Post

Headline: Carlos Sainz savours maiden F1 win in ‘amazing’ British GP: ‘I don’t know what to say’ – News24

Headline: Who brought the honey? Most talked about SA celeb looks from Durban July 2022 – Times Live

Image credit: Pixabay

Top News of the Day: SA close to stage 8 load shedding | Enyobeni owners remove alcohol from tavern

Morning Newsletter, Newsroom / July 1, 2022
  • If we don’t save energy, Stage 8 will be implemented by Eskom.
  • Siyakhangela Ndevu and Vuyokazi Ndevu remove alcohol from the tavern in Scenery Park. 
  • Beyonce debuts new album artwork.

SA is 2,000 megawatts away from Stage 8 Load Shedding – EWN  

Eskom has confirmed that stage 8 load shedding would be activated if the national grid had a shortfall of 8,000 megawatts. 

“Eskom will inform you as soon as a need occurs to change the stage of load shedding whether up or down. We, unfortunately, have to go with the dictate of the machines at that point,” reported Eskom spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha for EWN. 

On Thursday, the nation was on stage 6 load shedding- which Eskom claimed was mostly due to continuing protests over a salary dispute. Read more here 

Owner of East London ‘death tavern’ removes alcohol from premises under police guard – Daily Maverick

The Daily Maverick reports that on Thursday afternoon, under police protection, Siyakhangela Ndevu and his wife, Vuyokazi Ndevu, owners of the Enyobeni bar in East London, were seen moving alcohol from the tavern into bakkies.

“Police removed the crime scene tape and handed the tavern back to the owner and her husband, allowing them to remove alcohol from the premises while the police kept guard.”

Last Sunday, twenty-one adolescents and young adults died in the tavern. At this time, the reason for their death is still unclear. Vuyokazi Ndevu expressed her sympathies to the families and stated she was “sorry for what happened at my tavern”. Read more here 

Beyoncé Unveils ‘Renaissance’ Cover & Reveals Her Intention for the New Album – Billboard

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Beyoncé revealed the whimsical cover art for what is sure to be one of the most anticipated albums of all time.

“Set against a completely black backdrop, the Renaissance cover features a mostly bare Bey with long blonde hair, saddled on a glowing silver horse.” 

She wrote, “Making this album gave me a place to dream and get away from a scary time in the world. It gave me a sense of freedom and adventure when nothing else was going on.” Read more here

Here are the top trending stories of the day. 

Headline: Lights out: Business leaders beg Ramaphosa to fix ‘national crisis’ at Eskom – News24 (for subscribers)

Headline: Stage 6 loadshedding will return at 4pm, slight reprieve – Times Live

Headline: Christian Horner opens up on Michael Masi’s axing after Abu Dhabi fiasco: ‘He made one mistake’ – News24

Headline: Wales seek balanced approach to counter Bok muscle: ‘We can’t get caught playing Sevens’ – News24

Headline: J-Hope Gives Fans ‘More’ With New Solo Single: Listen -Billboard

Weather: Fine day for most parts of the country – News24

Top News of the Day: R Kelly sentenced to 30 years | Gordhan seeks load shedding emergency solutions

Morning Newsletter, Newsroom / June 30, 2022
  • R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years for racketeering and sex trafficking. 
  • To permanently end load shedding, the government must implement alternative measures.
  • Kourtney Kardashian is trying to keep Travis Barker in good spirits after his hospitalisation. 

R Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison on sexual abuse charges – News24

On Wednesday, Robert Sylvester Kelly, formally known as R Kelly, has been sentenced to 30 years on counts of federal racketeering and sex trafficking. The American singer and songwriter used his reputation to lure teenage girls and women into a variety of sexual offenses.

“Kelly’s lawyers had argued he should get no more than 10 years in prison because he had a traumatic childhood involving severe, prolonged childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and violence.”

AFP reports that he’ll presumably be sent to a Chicago prison, where he’ll face child pornography and obstruction charges in August. Read more here 

‘Scrap the damn red tape’: Gordhan, Presidency exploring Eskom emergency plans after Stage 6 – News24 (for subscribers)

Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan and the presidency are seeking alternatives to permanently end load shedding. The administration has failed to react to the seriousness of the electrical supply crisis, even though the DA and energy experts have presented “solutions and proposals” to halt load shedding. According to News24, the administration remains committed to the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) as the answer to the load shedding situation.

“One study, done by Meridian Economics, estimates that if Eskom’s performance continues to deteriorate even modestly and government plans are not revised, load shedding will be four times greater in 2023 compared to 2021, five times more in 2024, and 10 times more in 2026.” Read more here 

How Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian Are Feeling Amid His Hospitalization for Pancreatitis – E! News

Kourtney Kardashian is keeping Travis Barker in good spirits after his hospitalization for pancreatitis following a colonoscopy on Wednesday. The reality star and entrepreneur was there when Barker was admitted to the hospital.

“Kourtney is trying to lift his spirits and hates seeing him in excruciating pain.” Read more here 

Here are the top trending stories of the day. 

Headline: ‘Victimised’ public protector office head reinstated with R1.5m back pay – Times Live

Headline: Tavern tragedy a ‘perfect storm of non-compliance and corruption’ – Times Live (for subscribers)

Headline: Goodall hopes Proteas batters can dig deep: ‘We’ll come back fighting’ – News24

Headline: It’s disappointing to be snubbed in your country – Sowetan Live

Headline: Kanye West sued over claim of illegal sample on ‘Donda 2’ – Daily Maverick

Weather: Fire warnings for parts of Northern and Western Cape – News24

Image credit: Getty Images

Top News of the Day: Stage 6 load shedding: what caused the power outage? | Travis Barker Taken To Hospital

Morning Newsletter, Newsroom / June 29, 2022
  • Eskom employees will restore power utility to “some level of normality”.
  • A 32-year-old patient in Cape Town tested positive for Monkeypox. 
  • Travis Barker was taken to the hospital for unspecified reasons.

Gordhan hopes Eskom back to normal on Wednesday, blames intimidation for stage 6 load-shedding – Times Live

Pravin Gordhan has assured South Africans that everything would be done to restore the power to its normalcy. This after Eskom announced load shedding stage 6 on Tuesday.

“Public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan on Tuesday said staff from Eskom will restore the power utility to “some level of normality” after the resolution of an unprotected strike which began on June 22.”

Loss of generation capacity and an unprotected strike by employees are reportedly to blame for Stage 6 load shedding, as reported by Times Live. Read more here 

Second case of monkeypox recorded in SA, this time in Cape Town – Times Live 

On Tuesday, a 32-year-old patient from Cape Town tested positive for Monkeypox in South Africa. This is the second reported case in South Africa.

Minister of Health Joe Phaahla has asked South Africans to adopt hygienic measures comparable to covid-19 norms. “Members of the public, who experience symptoms similar to Monkeypox, are urged to report to their nearest healthcare facility for early detection and successful treatment.” 

The patient has no history of travel. Read more here 

Travis Barker Reportedly Taken To Hospital By Ambulance – Huffington Post

On Tuesday, musician Travis Barker was taken to the hospital. It is not known what his condition is.

TMZ was the first to report that the Blink-182 drummer was seen lying on a stretcher outside of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His wife, Kourtney Kardashian, is said to have been with him. Read more here 

Here are the top trending stories of the day. 

Headline: Enyobeni Tavern owner criminally charged – eNCA

Headline: Stage 6 fiasco: Ratings downgrade may now be on the cards, economists warn – News24 (for subscribers)

Headline: WATCH | Light aircraft crash-lands in Cape Town, residents attempt to rob pilot and student – News24

Headline: Serena Williams out of Wimbledon after losing first-round thriller – News24

Headline: North West’s 9th Birthday Features Private Jet & Bloody Tents – E! News

Weather: Heat wave, high temperatures for Northern Cape – News24

Image credit: Pixabay

Trending News: Investigating the deaths of 21 teens at Eastern Cape tavern

Newsroom / June 28, 2022

South Africans desperately want answers as to how 21 teenagers – the youngest just 13 years old – were tragically found dead at the Enyobeni Tavern in East London in the early hours on Sunday morning.

Many questions remain unanswered, why were there so many minors allowed into a tavern where alcohol was being consumed, why was the popular night spot so overcrowded, and what exactly caused the chilling deaths of so many?

Community youth leader Langa Miya says it’s not good enough that there are so many unanswered questions. “What we want as young people is the truth. We want to know what exactly happened to the deceased, and the owner must be arrested for what happened at his tavern. How can he allow teenagers to enter the tavern?”.

At first glance, it was reported that many believed the victims had been poisoned since there were no obvious injuries on the bodies of the deceased. But authorities are still investigating the cause of death with forensic pathologists unable to confirm the cause of death at this stage.

Nomusa Cembi, a spokesman for the South African Democratic Teachers Union, said the “incident is a sad reminder of the appalling conditions our young people live under”.

While Suthentira Govender writes that the lack of recreational activities for the youth have led to underage drinking and “tavern-prowling”.

While we wait for the story to develop, here are the latest articles covering the tragic deaths.

Protesters demand the arrest of the owner of East London’s Enyobeni ‘death tavern’ – Daily Maverick

A locked door, hysteria and dead bodies: Teen describes horror as soccer mates died at Enyobeni Tavern – News24 (for subscribers)

Enyobeni tavern tragedy: What we know so far – News24

Lack of township amenities forces youth to ‘tavern-prowl’, says Sadtu in wake of Enyobeni tragedy – Times Live

Allow Police to investigate Enyobenu tavern deaths – EWN

Enyobeni tavern deaths: Parly urges EC govt to act in finding those responsible – EWN

Image credit: Pixabay

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