Author: Ariana Steenkamp

Starting from September 1, 2024, South Africa will introduce a new retirement savings system, known as the two-pot system. This change will affect all current and future members of retirement funds, making it essential to understand how the new structure works. Here is a simplified overview of the purpose and mechanics behind this new system to help clear up any confusion. Understanding the Two-Pot Retirement Savings System The new two-pot retirement savings system is designed to strike a balance between preserving retirement investments until retirement and allowing limited access to a portion of these savings during one’s working years. Beginning…

Coming Weeks South Africa is on the brink of a significant potato shortage that could send prices skyrocketing as high as R200 for a 10kg bag. This shortage, driven by harsh weather conditions, is expected to impact both fresh and frozen potato products, leading to higher prices across the country. Severe Weather Decimates Potato Crops The potato shortage has been largely attributed to severe weather conditions, particularly the devastating “black frost” that has hit key farming areas in Limpopo. This frost has severely affected potato crops, leading to a sharp decline in yield. According to Mohammed Adam, a buyer at M&R…

Draft Revenue Application Submitted to Nersa Eskom’s price hike request, which includes a 36.15% increase in electricity tariffs for the 2025/26 financial year, has been submitted as a draft revenue application to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). However, the increase remains uncertain as Nersa awaits Eskom’s final submission. Potential Changes to Eskom’s Tariff Application Nersa emphasized that Eskom’s proposed tariff increase is not yet final and could be subject to adjustments. Once Eskom submits its final application, Nersa will adhere to its regulatory processes, which include publishing the application on its website, facilitating a thorough public participation process, and…

South African Fighter Secures Another Victory in the Octagon Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title at UFC 305, defeating Israel Adesanya in a hard-fought battle. The fight, held at the Perth Arena on Sunday morning, ended with Du Plessis forcing Adesanya to tap out in the fourth round. The Fight Breakdown The fight was intense, with both fighters exchanging blows for three rounds. In the fourth round, Dricus Du Plessis capitalized on an opportunity, taking Adesanya down and securing a chokehold that left his opponent no choice but to submit. With this win, Du Plessis extended his winning streak…

Introduction The South African Department of Health has urged the public to remain vigilant in the face of the mpox virus, emphasizing the need for early detection and responsible behaviour. Although the situation is currently under control, the recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) underscores the importance of proactive measures. Current Status in South Africa As of now, South Africa has recorded 24 confirmed cases of mpox, including three fatalities. Despite these numbers, the Department of Health reassures that the situation remains manageable, with ongoing surveillance and epidemiological data…

Rising Hijacking Trend Targets South Africa’s Wealthiest Province The National Community Police Board of South Africa (NCPS) has issued a warning about a disturbing hijacking trend: hijackers are increasingly targeting drivers at on- and off-ramps of major highways, particularly in Gauteng, South Africa’s wealthiest province. Gauteng: The Economic Powerhouse with Rising Crime Gauteng, known as the economic hub of South Africa, plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy, despite being the smallest province geographically. Home to Johannesburg and Pretoria, Gauteng contributes over a third of South Africa’s GDP. It hosts the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the largest in Africa, and is…

Promising News for Fuel Prices Month-end data from the Central Energy Fund suggests a reduction in fuel prices across the board, set to take effect on Wednesday, 7 August. Anticipated Price Reductions The data indicates that petrol prices will drop by 7 to 11 cents per liter, while wholesale diesel prices are expected to decrease by 9 to 22 cents per liter. These changes are attributed to a relatively stronger rand against the dollar compared to June and stable global oil prices, which have declined throughout July. Detailed Breakdown of Price Changes Petrol 93: Decrease of 7 cents per liter Petrol 95:…

Substantial water outages will affect Joburg, Pretoria, and Ekurhuleni this week as Rand Water enters the final stages of a significant maintenance and upgrade program to the main water systems in Gauteng. Here are the details on the projects and the areas that will be impacted. Final Week of Maintenance Rand Water is concluding its extensive infrastructure maintenance program, which began on June 22. The program has been divided into multiple phases: Phase 1: June 22 – June 30 Phase 2: July 1 – July 13 Phase 3: July 15 – July 29 The final two projects are set to address…

Overview of the Outage On Friday, 19 July 2024, Capitec Bank experienced a significant outage that impacted all customer-facing services. This disruption was traced back to an issue with the cloud cybersecurity platform, Crowdstrike. Details of the Service Disruption Capitec outage reports began surfacing around 07:00, as indicated by Downdetector. The issues were predominantly related to mobile banking, online banking, and ATM services. Customers took to X/Twitter to voice their frustrations about declined transactions, non-functional ATMs, and an inaccessible mobile banking app. One user reported, “I’m stuck at a filling station because payments are declining. Now I have to wait or…

Explosive Discovery In a shocking turn of events, the gunman who opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, had explosives in his car, according to reports from US media outlets including The Wall Street Journal and CNN. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, parked his vehicle near the event venue, where investigators later found explosive materials. Violence at the Rally The incident occurred on July 13, 2024, during a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show Inc. As shots rang out, former President Donald Trump was quickly evacuated by Secret Service agents. Trump, who was seen with blood…