All grades of petrol will cost 51c a litre less from next Wednesday, the Department of Energy announced on Friday. Diesel 0.05% sulphur and diesel 0.005% sulphur will decrease by 75.82c and 73.82c respectively, while liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will decrease by 56.0c/kg, illuminating paraffin (wholesale) by 70c/l, and illuminating paraffin (SMNRP) by 93c/l, the department said in a statement on Friday. All petroleum product prices will drop with effect from August 1 2015. The department … [Read more...] about Short lived petrol price relief predicted
Beware, ‘Sister Parks’ writes to you with bad intentions
Port Elizabeth - The Eastern Cape health department has distanced itself from a scam where prospective victims are told to pay fees for a job within its offices. A manager in Empilweni Hospital was notified of the scam earlier this week with the sting also circulating on social media, department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said on Friday. A prospective victim would receive a message from a "Sister Parks" stating their application for a post at the department had been successful. They … [Read more...] about Beware, ‘Sister Parks’ writes to you with bad intentions
NAEF: Protest schools re-open ‘peacefully’
Port Elizabeth - Schools in Port Elizabeth, closed due to protest action since Monday, have re-opened without incident, the Northern Areas Education Forum (NAEF) said. "It was smooth, quiet and peaceful," NAEF secretary Richard Draai told News24. "Attendance was not as expected, but the schools have been re-opened." He could not provide further information as he was on his way into a meeting with Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Danny Jordaan. Residents recently closed down schools in the … [Read more...] about NAEF: Protest schools re-open ‘peacefully’
Water treatment works in critical state
SA's water treatment works are in a poor to critical state and monitoring water quality was also becoming an increasing problem. These were among some of the issues the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research [CSIR] raised on Wednesday. CSIR senior researcher specialising in water quality and aquatic ecology James Dabrowski said there were 8 000 different pesticide products registered in the country. "The Department of Water Affairs is responsible for registering them, but does … [Read more...] about Water treatment works in critical state
SA food production suffering under load shedding
Load shedding is having a severe financial impact on South African food production, according to an expert at energy efficiency firm Energy Partners. According to Dawie Kriel, the head of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration at Energy Partners, this affects not only primary food production, but also post-harvest handling and the retail sector. "The interrupted electricity supply is costing the local food production industry millions every month and could be depriving … [Read more...] about SA food production suffering under load shedding
Economic apartheid still exists
Scenario planner Clem Sunter said on Wednesday that he is as passionate about economic freedom in South Africa as Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, and called for an economic conference to find a solution. "I believe in economic freedom as passionately as Julius Malema, but it's just that my type of economic freedom has to do with entrepreneurs and opening up our whole economy," he told Fin24. "It's not about nationalising the mines and the banks, which I don't think will add … [Read more...] about Economic apartheid still exists
Large August petrol price drop predicted
There might be good news for motorists at petrol pumps in August, the Automobile Association of SA (AA) said on Wednesday. In terms of current data the AA expects the petrol price could decrease by between 47 cents to 49c a litre. The price of diesel could go down by about 70c, while that of illuminating paraffin could drop by 68c a litre. Commenting on unaudited data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) this week, the AA said encouraging mid-month fuel price data has been buoyed by … [Read more...] about Large August petrol price drop predicted
1 million new jobs are at risk
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba should be asked why he is not taking heed of the private sectors' concerns regarding the decline in tourist numbers and the resulting outcry of the tourism industry, Beverley Schäfer, DA Western Cape spokesperson on economic opportunities, tourism and agriculture, said on Tuesday. According to the latest Tourism Business Index of the Tourism Business Council of SA business performance levels across the tourism value chain have dropped from 99.9 points in … [Read more...] about 1 million new jobs are at risk
#NorthernAreas Schools to re-open on Thursday
Port Elizabeth - Schools in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth will be re-opened on Thursday following protests over the lack of teachers. Parents, residents and the Northern Areas Education Forum (NEAF) decided on the date schools would re-open at a meeting on Tuesday night. "The reason why it is on Thursday is because there are logistics that need to be sorted out, like telling the children and some of the principals and teachers that we are re-opening," NEAF secretary Richard Draai … [Read more...] about #NorthernAreas Schools to re-open on Thursday
Uncertainty for unpaid PE teachers
Port Elizabeth - Of the 212 teachers in Port Elizabeth's northern areas still waiting to be paid, only 177 will receive their salary by August 8. For the rest, it is more uncertainty and a bigger struggle as there is no indication from the department of basic education when exactly they will get paid. Education MEC Mandla Makupula acknowledged on Tuesday that there was "a problem in the system" and said the non-payment of teachers was being addressed. "All teachers who have done their work … [Read more...] about Uncertainty for unpaid PE teachers
Three arrested for #NorthernAreas public violence
Port Elizabeth - Three men were arrested for public violence in protest-hit Port Elizabeth on Tuesday morning, Eastern Cape police said. They were arrested along Stanford Road in the north of the city, Captain Johan Rheeder said. The three, aged 21, 22, and 27, allegedly the instigators of the violence, were expected to appear in the Gelvandale Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. This brought the total number of arrests since Monday, when the violence began, to five. Residents have been … [Read more...] about Three arrested for #NorthernAreas public violence
Best two seconds of Jayde Panayiotou’s mothers’ life
Grahamstown - The best two seconds of her life. That is how Michelle Inngs described the moment when the man accused of masterminding her daughter Jayde Panayiotou's murder, failed again in his attempt to be released on bail. Christopher Panayiotou's family as well as his defence, were notably absent from proceedings on Tuesday when Judge Nomathamsanqa Bheshe dismissed his appeal against his bail being denied. Panayiotou, 28, stands accused of having orchestrated his wife Jayde's murder in … [Read more...] about Best two seconds of Jayde Panayiotou’s mothers’ life
Panayiotou bail appeal dismissed
Grahamstown - Christopher Panayiotou's bail appeal was dismissed by the High Court in Grahamstown on Tuesday. "The appeal is dismissed," Judge Nomathamsanqa Bheshe read out in court. She did not read out the reasons for the dismissal. Panayiotou allegedly hired Luthando Siyoli, 31, a bouncer in his employ at the Infinity club in Algoa Park, Port Elizabeth, to find a hitman, Sizwezakhe Vumazonke, 30, to kidnap and murder his wife. Jayde was kidnapped on Tuesday, April 21, while … [Read more...] about Panayiotou bail appeal dismissed
Rocks hurled at #NorthernAreas reporter
Port Elizabeth - Rocks were hurled at a News24 reporter in Standford Road in the Northern areas of Port Elizabeth. Police vans patrolled a section of the road, and every time they drove past homes overlooking the road, children pelted the vehicles. As this reporter was filming one such incident, the children turned their attention to him. "Wat doen die man? Hy moet f*kof [What is that man doing? He must f*ck off]," one yelled before throwing a stone in his direction. Some children … [Read more...] about Rocks hurled at #NorthernAreas reporter
Counting the cost of #NorthernAreas Protests
Port Elizabeth - While schools in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth will still be closed on Tuesday, no violent protests will take place, says the Northern Areas Education Forum. "The principals are meeting the department at 14:00 tomorrow [Tuesday]. They will provide documents and evidence that they submitted to the department [in terms of] of vacancies that they are filling," the forum's secretary Richard Draai told News24. He said the forum would also meet with the education MEC … [Read more...] about Counting the cost of #NorthernAreas Protests
