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HISTORICAL FACTS: 2 - Caught on Camera

Tourists are returning to South Africa – but the sector will need to go green to deal with the country's electricity crisis

For the past 16 years South Africans have dreaded rolling power cuts euphemistically dubbed “loadshedding”. These are caused by the ailing state power entity Eskom’s crumbling infrastructure and its over-reliance on ageing and poorly maintained coal-fired power stations. Loadshedding has worsened in 2023, with some areas experiencing power cuts for…

The Conversation

South Africa power outages: some improvement but a long way to go before the grid is stable

Over the past few months, South Africa’s power generation sector has performed better than expected. Four factors explain this: an acceleration of solar power installations, less frequent breakdowns at power stations, a less restricted supply of diesel and the return to operation of some units at Kusile coal fired power…

The Conversation

South African authorities target coal-smuggling gang they say contributed to a power crisis

South African authorities say they have conducted raids across five provinces to break up a coal-smuggling syndicate blamed for stealing more than $26 million in coal, degrading state-owned power plants and contributing to an electricity crisis

The Independent UK

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Power crisis, bird flu trigger imminent chicken shortage in South Africa

Africa’s most advanced economy is enduring frequent electricity cuts that ramp up cost of business, including poultry.

Al Jazeera

Eskom and South Africa's energy crisis: De Ruyter book strikes a chord but falls flat on economic fixes

The former chief executive of South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, has written a scathing critique of the ruling party’s practices that have seriously damaged the country’s economy.

The Conversation

South Africa's power blackouts: solutions lie in solar farms and battery storage at scale, and an end to state monopoly

Rolling blackouts are costing South Africa dearly. The electricity crisis is a barrier to growth, destroys investor confidence and handicaps almost every economic activity. It has raised input costs for producers and retailers, and has triggered a new round of inflation and interest rate increases.

The Conversation

Corruption in South Africa: former CEO's explosive book exposes how state power utility was destroyed

One repeated theme of the memoir Truth to Power: My Three Years Inside Eskom, by Andre de Ruyter, former CEO of South Africa’s troubled power utility, Eskom, is that “negligence and carelessness had become cemented into the organisation”.

The Conversation

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Eskom warns South Africa to brace for longer power cuts

State power firm says it may ramp up scheduled electricity outages to avoid a national grid collapse.

Al Jazeera

South Africa minister denies extensive ANC corruption at power utility, concedes 'naughty' few

A senior South African government minister denied Wednesday there was extensive corruption within the ruling African Nations Congress party in relation to the country’s financially-crippled power utility

The Independent UK

South Africa can keep coal fired plants running longer, climate committee says

South Africa's climate policy body on Monday suggested the government could delay retiring its ageing coal-fired power plants to address electricity shortages and said a power crisis had put the country on track to meet its climate goals anyway.

Reuters

Sudanese rush to borders to evacuate amid ongoing chaos

In tonight's edition: There is hope for Nigerians who have been stuck in limbo amid Sudan's fighting. Dozens of buses are sent to take nationals to Egypt. Also, the death toll from Kenya's starvation cult rises to 95. The pastor who encouraged his followers to fast to find salvation is…

France 24

South Africa: Ex-CEO won't name politicians in utility probe

The former chief executive of South African power utility Eskom has refused to name high-ranking politicians allegedly involved in corrupt activities at the state-owned firm

The Independent UK

Blackout-beset South Africa may delay closing coal stations

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa may delay the timetable for shutting down many of its highly polluting coal-fired power stations as the nation deals with crippling daily electricity blackouts

The Independent UK

South Africa's power outages could reach critical levels this winter - likely scenarios

Over the past 15 years South Africa has been experiencing a gradually worsening number of electricity cuts. This state of affairs has prompted frustration among citizens, negative international economic sentiment and financial hardship for many businesses.

The Conversation

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The Independent UK

South Africa ends 'state of disaster' over electricity

The South African government has terminated the national state of disaster it declared two months ago to deal with an electricity crisis, although there are no signs that the power problems are ending

ABC News

Governments are increasingly reliant on consulting firms. Critics says it's often to their detriment

Critics say governments are outsourcing their own knowledge and activities to consulting firms, yet these firms aren't held to the same standards as the public sector.

The Conversation

South Africa's corporate whistleblowers don't get enough protection: what needs to change

Corporate misconduct is difficult to detect and prove. This is because it is often hidden by a complicated web of transactions, misleading corporate records and convoluted company group structures. This is why corporate whistleblowers whose positions give them an inside track on misconduct are so important in exposing corporate crime…

The Conversation

Explosive revelations about South Africa's power utility: why new electricity minister should heed the words of former Eskom CEO

A month ago South Africans heard some hard truths about the state of the power utility, Eskom, from the outgoing CEO André de Ruyter. In an interview broadcast on television, De Ruyter made accusations about the role of criminal gangs as well as politicians in corruption that’s crippled the utility.…

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The Conversation

Power cuts: South Africa's state of disaster is being contested in court - COVID rulings give clues as to the outcome

South Africa has declared a second national state of disaster in less than three years.

The Independent UK

South African leader grapples with ever-worsening power cuts

South Africa’s ever-worsening power crisis — putting homes and businesses without electricity for up to 10 hours per day — is strangling Africa’s most developed economy

Autosport

Why Cape Town should be the mould for future Formula E venues

OPINION: It may have taken Formula E longer than planned to arrive in Cape Town, but it was worth the wait as stunning city scenery married with thrilling track action. There was also substance to the style at South Africa’s first world championship single-seater race in nearly 30 years, from…

The Independent UK

South Africa: Fallout over power utility CEO's graft claims

South Africa’s troubled state-owned power utility Eskom has appointed an interim chief executive after a fallout with its outgoing head over a media interview he gave alleging ongoing corruption at the company linked to the ruling party

The Conversation

South Africa's bailout of Eskom won't end power cuts: splitting up the utility can, as other countries have shown

The announcement by the South African finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, of debt relief for the country’s troubled power utility, Eskom, is a step forward. It will fix one problem: Eskom has too much debt. But the plan won’t end power cuts which have worsened in recent years.

France 24

Australian airline Qantas is back in black after pandemic losses

For the six months ending in December, the Australian national carrier Qantas posted profits of €920 million. It expects strong demand over the next two years as well. But as FRANCE 24's Bryan Quinn explains, dark clouds are still looming over the company and its decision to cut staff during…

The Conversation

Home power backup systems -- electrical engineers answer your questions

South Africa’s electricity utility Eskom has made it clear that “loadshedding” – rolling scheduled power cuts – isn’t going to end any time soon. This reality, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during his annual state of the nation speech on 9 February 2023 that tax incentives for solar power use…

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