Port Elizabeth - A 51-year-old woman was shot in front of her fellow congregants at the Arise and Shine Christian Church in New Brighton in Port Elizabeth on Thursday night. Police spokesperson Mncedi Mbombo said the woman, whose name has not been released, had just left the church, which is on the corner of Singapi and Gunguluza Street in New Brighton, after an evening service at 21:30. Congregants heard shots being fired outside before the woman came back into the church hall. "The … [Read more...] about New Brighton Woman shot in front of fellow church worshippers
If you say there will be no fee increase, we’re in deep …. – Jansen
Government will regret its decision of a 0% increase in tuition fees, University of the Free State Vice Chancellor Professor Jonathan Jansen said on Thursday. Jansen was speaking at the Cape Town Club about the recent student protests and the future of tertiary institutions. He also highlighted three possible scenarios that could play out in terms of the scrapping of the 2016 fee increment. Jansen said it would take extraordinary leadership from government to "get us out of this … [Read more...] about If you say there will be no fee increase, we’re in deep …. – Jansen
MPs call for VIP budget cuts to fund students
MPs called for the cutting of VIP service budgets for government executives saying that the money would be better spent on student fees. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa came under fire in Parliament on Thursday after DA MP Mmusi Maimane took to the podium and called for the cutting of the VIP services budget. “Can't we cut VIP services at R720m from [Dirco] ... cut that budget and finance the students for next year so that we can deal with the shortfall,” Maimane asked Ramaphosa in the … [Read more...] about MPs call for VIP budget cuts to fund students
SA a pioneer in adopting Genetically Modified crops
South Africa was the world's ninth largest producer of genetically modified (GM) crops, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said on Thursday. Briefing the media on a Cabinet decision to approve the country's Third National Report on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, Radebe said the country remained "the pioneer" in adopting GM crops. This was aligned to Section 24 of the Constitution, which advocated sustainable use of biodiversity. The protocol, a legally … [Read more...] about SA a pioneer in adopting Genetically Modified crops
#FeesMustFall movement highlights unresolved inequalities
The #FeesMustFall movement was a "wake up call" about "unresolved inequalities" in society, University of the Free State (UFS) vice chancellor Professor Jonathan Jansen said on Thursday. Jansen, speaking at the Cape Town Club on the recent student protests and the future of tertiary institutions, highlighted the protests were never simply just about fees. He also said the protests furthermore differed between predominantly English, Afrikaans and black universities. "At universities like … [Read more...] about #FeesMustFall movement highlights unresolved inequalities
Renewables the only practical and cost-effective means to address emerging climate crisis
The precarious state of Eskom's finances threatens to hinder the growth of the renewable energy sector in South Africa, just when it is needed most, Steve Sawyer, secretary general of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said at the opening of the Windaba in Cape Town on Wednesday. At the same time low oil and coal prices send the wrong kind of signal to consumers, although it does not threaten the renewable energy sector directly, he said. The most recent prices for wind power are 40% … [Read more...] about Renewables the only practical and cost-effective means to address emerging climate crisis
SA labour market experiencing a prolonged slump
South Africa was in the midst of a prolonged slump in the labour market, a labour market index showed on Wednesday. Solidarity researcher Gerhard van Onselen told Fin24 that there was a small recovery in the index but that a prolonged slump in the labour market was a concern. "There is slow or no real growth and retrenchments in some sectors," he said. Despite an increase from 42.9 to 43.4 the index remained below 50, which represented the "break-even level between rising and falling … [Read more...] about SA labour market experiencing a prolonged slump
PE’s road rage dad – You decide: A Bull or a Beetle of the Dung Variety
The alleged aggressor in a Port Elizabeth road rage incident on Monday had purportedly rushed to the scene after his daughter had been involved in an accident. Footage of the incident surfaced on Tuesday and showed a man beating another at the roadside while paramedics and other bystanders looked on. While a man cowers and tries to shield himself by hiding behind a traffic light-pole, his attacker can be heard saying: "I will [farging farg] you up... [you hairy feline]." Gardmed … [Read more...] about PE’s road rage dad – You decide: A Bull or a Beetle of the Dung Variety
Eskom: No load shedding until May 2016
There likely will be no load shedding until at least May 2016, Eskom CEO Brian Molefe said on Wednesday. While maintenance on Eskom's ageing fleet has been increased, the power utility has managed to stave off implementing load shedding for more than 80 days. "We are doing all that maintenance without load shedding," Molefe said. "We will step up our maintenance in December as everyone goes on holiday. We will add quite a lot of units to the maintenance programme to catch up on … [Read more...] about Eskom: No load shedding until May 2016
Warriors Win in Super Over
Andrew Birch clinched a victory that the Warriors had threatened to throw away as their RAM SLAM T20 opener against the Knights at PPC Newlands went down to a Super Over. Colin Ingram's unbeaten half-century should have given the Warriors a straight-forward victory in a rain-shortened affair, but he saw his side concede 39 runs in the last two overs to allow a dramatic tie. Birch had not been given the opportunity to defend 22 in the last over, but he was handed the ball for the Super Over … [Read more...] about Warriors Win in Super Over
Fuel price relief
The pump price of all grades of petrol, the whole sale price of both grades of diesel, the maximum retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the prices of illuminating paraffin will decrease with effect from next Wednesday November 4 2015. The Department of Energy announced this on Saturday. South Africa’s fuel prices are adjusted on a monthly basis, as determined by various international and local factors. The main reasons for the fuel price decreases in November, according to the … [Read more...] about Fuel price relief
Three important #FeesMustFall lessons
The tens of thousands of university students across the country who came together over the past two weeks for a united cause have taught the world three important lessons about having a successful protest, an academic says. According to University of KwaZulu-Natal Professor Patrick Bond, those three lessons are: make alliances, expand your geographical vision, and choose national targets. Bond, who is also a director at the Centre for Civil Society at the university, said these three … [Read more...] about Three important #FeesMustFall lessons
Fourth arrest for Jayde’s Murder
A fourth person has been arrested in connection with the murder of Eastern Cape teacher Jayde Panayiotou, a report said on Friday. Sinithemba Nenenba appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth's Magistrate's Court on Friday morning, The Herald newspaper reported. Nenenba assisted alleged hitman Sizwe Vumazonke to kidnap and kill Panayiotou, the State claimed. It is alleged that Panayiotou's husband, Christopher, arranged the hit. The third accused, Luthando Siyoli, the alleged middleman … [Read more...] about Fourth arrest for Jayde’s Murder
NMMU tech prize ‘to beat white, male bias’
One tech entrepreneur at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University stands to win R100 000 as part of a programme to encourage diversity in ICT. NMMU and non-profit Happimo NPC are sponsoring the award which is available to Masters and PhD graduates from the Department of Computing Sciences and the School of ICT at the university. "One of the deciding factors in choosing NMMU is that it has the most diverse postgrad student programme in South Africa. The future of technology entrepreneurship … [Read more...] about NMMU tech prize ‘to beat white, male bias’
University funding shortfall plan
A plan to finance university shortfalls will be announced on Thursday, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has told Parliament. This came after President Jacob Zuma's announcement on Friday that there would be a 0% increase in university fees for 2016. The announcement followed days of protests by students who did not want any increase in university fees for next year and who demanded an end to outsourcing at higher education institutions. Speaking at a transformation in higher … [Read more...] about University funding shortfall plan
