Author: Ariana Steenkamp

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…

Flooding in Cape Town On July 9, 2024, heavy rains and cold fronts caused severe flooding in Retreat, Cape Town, with storms expected to continue until July 12. Residents and city officials are working hard to manage the damage and help those affected. Impact on Informal Settlements The rain and strong winds have destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in informal settlements, leaving thousands of people without shelter. Areas like Bloekombos, Khayelitsha, and Masiphumelele Township are among the hardest hit. Scenes of Destruction In Bloekombos, commuters struggled with waterlogged streets, and in Khayelitsha, residents faced flooded homes. Masiphumelele Township also saw severe…

Authorities Brace for Severe Weather Conditions Authorities across various provinces are on high alert due to severe weather conditions, including snowfall and icy temperatures. Snowfall in Western Cape The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a series of severe weather warnings effective from Monday. A Level 2 warning for snow has been issued, primarily affecting the central parts of the Western Cape and southern parts of the Northern Cape. Snow has already been reported in the Cape Winelands, including the Matroosberg. Cape Town on High Alert In Cape Town, authorities are on high alert due to continued rainfall. Traffic spokesperson Maxine Bezuidenhout…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed a new Cabinet with members from various political parties, including the ANC, DA, IFP, PA, PAC, and FF+. This move aims to create a Government of National Unity (GNU) despite earlier plans to reduce the Cabinet size. Cabinet Expansion and Changes In a Sunday evening address, President Ramaphosa announced that the Cabinet has grown from 30 to 32 ministers to ensure representation from all GNU parties. Merged and New Ministries Several ministries have been combined or separated for better focus: Electricity and Energy are now one ministry, led by Kgosientso Ramokgopa. Mineral and Petroleum Resources…

Recent Fatality in KwaZulu-Natal A 40-year-old man from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, has died from Mpox, bringing the death toll to three since the outbreak started in May 2024. The Department of Health reported that the man, who showed symptoms such as a rash, did not seek medical care. His test results came back positive for the virus on June 23, 2024. New Infections in Gauteng Gauteng has reported two new Mpox cases. A 43-year-old man from Johannesburg was diagnosed on June 22, 2024, and a 29-year-old man from Mamelodi was diagnosed on June 21, 2024. Both patients had symptoms indicative of…

Next month, expected fuel price drop of approximately 50 cents per litre this July, providing much-needed relief for consumers feeling the pinch. Why Are Prices Dropping? Economists say that two main factors are causing the expected price drop: lower international oil prices and a stronger South African rand. Eleanor Mavimbela, spokesperson for the Automobile Association (AA), shared that data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) suggests fuel prices will decrease in July. How Much Will Prices Decrease? According to Mavimbela, the expected fuel price drop is: ULP95 Petrol: Down by around R1.10 per litre ULP93 Petrol: Down by around R1.15…

The rise in financial scams and identity theft is alarming. These deceptive acts are not just limited to suspicious emails or unknown websites; they have evolved into more sophisticated forms, appearing in our emails, social media messages, and even phone calls.Recognising the Signs of a ScamUnsolicited ContactOne key indicator of a potential scam is unsolicited contact. This involves unexpected communication from someone you do not know, often posing as a representative of a reputable company, financial institution, or government agency.Phone Calls: Scammers may call unexpectedly, offering exclusive investment opportunities, alerting you to issues with your bank account, or claiming you…

Record-Breaking Stock Performance Propels Nvidia to the Top In a remarkable turn of events, Nvidia has claimed the title of the world’s most valuable public company, narrowly surpassing Microsoft’s market capitalisation. This milestone comes shortly after Nvidia outpaced Apple, driven by a surge in stock gains over recent months. Key Highlights Stock Surge: Nvidia’s shares rose over 3% on Tuesday afternoon, reaching approximately $135.65, while Microsoft’s shares saw a slight dip to $447.58. Market Capitalisation: These stock movements elevated Nvidia’s market cap to $3.33 trillion, just edging out Microsoft’s $3.32 trillion. Stock Split Impact: Following a recent stock split, which…