Author: The Bulrushes
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Monday announced that it has filed papers to apply for leave to appeal the decision of the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division Pretoria, relating to the Unit’s intended investigation into the affairs of Telkom. Last month, the High Court ruled that Proclamation R49 of 2022 authorising the SIU to investigate allegations of serious maladministration, malpractice, and possible corruption in the affairs of Telkom was declared unconstitutional, invalid, and of no force or effect. The High Court found that Telkom is not a State Institution and therefore, the SIU could not investigate allegations…
Former president Jacob Zuma, who was unlawfully released on medical parole, was admitted to the Estcourt Correctional Services on Friday morning and processed before he was released on remission of his 15-month sentence for contempt. The former president went back to the Estcourt Correctional Facility early Friday morning, where he was re-admitted, processed, and released as a beneficiary of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special remission of sentences he authorised in April. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said Zuma was considered a low-risk offender who is benefitting from the special remission of sentences. Minister Lamola said President Ramaphosa approved the remission of non-violent…
Astron Energy on Monday announced that it has marked the rebrand of its 100th service station as part of the fuel company’s mammoth project to rebrand its network from Caltex. The company’s 100th service station is Astron Energy Greenways in Strand, Western Cape. Astron Energy is set to reach over 200 sites by the end of this year. This will place the new Astron Energy-branded service station footprint ahead of several other smaller fuel brands that have been around for longer. Astron Energy CEO Thabiet Booley said: “We are very pleased with our progress so far, which has seen a…
Kusile Power Station has been exempted by the regulator from meeting strict anti-pollution rules for the next two years in a move that could add 2 100MW to the grid, Eskom announced on Sunday. “The National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) has granted Eskom postponement to meet Minimum Emission Standards (MES) at Kusile Power Station from 5 June 2023 to 31 March 2025, subject to certain strict conditions,” Eskom said. “The postponement application was necessitated by the failure of Kusile’s west stack on 23 October 2022. “The failure limited the power station’s ability to operate three commissioned generating units (units 1,…
Spotify on Tuesday announced a new Original Podcast with Trevor Noah, one of the most successful comedians in the world and a New York Times best-selling author. The weekly podcast will blend Trevor’s signature humor and razor-sharp wit with his global perspective to deliver a unique take on the hottest and most captivating topics of the moment. Launching later this year, the series will also feature in-depth and freewheeling conversations between Trevor and some of the most influential and interesting figures around the world. The new original series will be available on numerous platforms and sees Trevor joining Spotify in partnership like…
Midrand – If variety is the spice of life, then Africa’s Big 7 Expo at Gallagher Convention Centre is the place to be. All kinds of goodies are on display for three days from Sunday. One of the more impressive exhibitions is the Indonesia pavilion, where well packaged products are bound to catch the eye. At least five companies from Indonesisa sent representatives to the expo with various agricultural products that include; noodles in a cup, Arabia coffee, coconut milk, green tea, sardines, tinned snail and more. You may love Indonesian coffee, but not even know it because many of…
Six people – some former employees of the old Department of Employment and Labour – have been arrested by the Hawks for fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) claims in the North West. Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said the suspects aged between 36 and 58 were arrested by the Hawks in Mahikeng on Saturday, (10 June 2023). Narrating events leading to the arrests, Lieutenant Colonel Mathebula, said allegations were that two former employees of the old Department of Employment and Labour and four recruiting agents recruited jobless individuals between 2019 and 2020. Allegations are that the jobless individuals were enticed with promises of…
Business has every interest in seeing universal health coverage in South Africa, but it must be sustainable, and provided in a way that best uses the scarce resources of the state. National Health Insurance , as it is conceived in the bill now approved by the health committee in Parliament, is not that. Indeed, in my view, the NHI envisaged in the bill would leave all South Africans worse off, in a system in which state provision becomes impossible and private health provision is effectively closed down. The system would impose a single-payer model in which the government is the only…
The African National Congress (ANC) National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) on Friday said a written notice of its findings and disciplinary action against Ace Magashule had been sent to his residence. The NDC has found former party secretary general Magashule guilty of misconduct and has given him seven days to say why he should not be expelled from the ANC. The findings on Magashule’s discipline matter were first made public by ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula on Wednesday during a media briefing. Magashule was charged with contravening the ANC Constitution’s Rule 25.17.12 and Rule 25.17.3 read with Rule 25.17.12 and Rule…
Afrorama, a new African encyclopaedia and information platform has been launched on the back end of Africa Day for anyone with an interest in Africa. Afrorama provides a curated collection of articles, videos, and other multimedia content. This packaged, dynamic content includes information on arts and literature, business and politics, entertainment, geography and nature, history, sciences and technology and philosophy from pre-colonial times to the present day. Afrorama aims to combat misinformation, promote a nuanced understanding of Africa, and showcase its true beauty and complexity. Afrorama’s database of African knowledge is curated by a team of writers and researchers located…