ESKOM LOADSHEDDING SUSPENDED @KASIBCNEWS 

Loadshedding remains suspended for over nine months, resulting in year-on-year diesel savings of R16.20 billion

Eskom has reached a significant milestone in its commitment to providing reliable electricity to South Africa. As of today, Eskom has successfully completed over nine months (275 consecutive days) without implementing loadshedding since 26 March 2024. This achievement underscores Eskom’s dedication to addressing the country’s energy challenges through its investment in the Generation Recovery Plan and enhanced maintenance protocols.

Eskom continues to utilise the December summer break to increase planned maintenance activities to further improve the reliability of its generation fleet as many industries have shut down for this period, with maintenance averaging at ~8 000MW.

The recovery plan significantly improved operational performance, particularly by reducing unplanned outages by ~8.1% compared to the same period last year. Additionally, there was a year-on-year diesel savings of R16.20 billion, which is about 65.1% less than the R24.89 billion spent during the same period last year. Diesel usage remains below the year-to-date budget.

In August, Eskom shared its summer outlook for the period from 01 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, predicting a likely scenario of a loadshedding-free summer, including the festive season, due to structural generation improvements. This outlook remains unchanged. Our year-to-date unplanned outages average is 11 900MW, which is 1 100MW less than our 2024 summer base case of 13 000MW.

Over the past week, the average total unplanned outages have been at 11 438MW, an improvement from the 13 980MW recorded during the same period last year, representing a reduction of 2 542MW. Today’s unplanned outages are at 11 154MW, which is 1 846MW lower than the summer 2024 base case.

Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) averaged 56.23% over the past week due to increased planned maintenance, with top-performing stations — including all peaking stations — achieving an average EAF of 70% and above. Five other power stations recorded EAFs above 60%. The year-to-date EAF is at 62.37%.

With an available generation capacity of 26 906MW and a peak demand forecast of 22 474MW for tonight, Eskom remains on track to meet electricity demand. Four units with a combined capacity of 1 735MW are on cold reserve. By Monday evening, an additional 2 950MW is expected to return online.

Key Performance Highlights:

Reduction in unplanned outages:

• The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) is at 24.92% for the financial year-to-date (01 April 2024 to 26 December 2024), improving from 32.97% in the corresponding period last year.

• This reduction in UCLF represents a ~8.1% improvement compared to the same period last year.

Ongoing Planned Maintenance:

Ongoing planned maintenance at 7 979MW, is aligned with our summer maintenance strategy to further improve the reliability of the stations in preparation for winter 2025 and beyond.

Sustained Energy Availability Factor (EAF) improvement:

• The year-to-date (01 April 2024 to 26 December 2024) EAF is at 62.37%, a significant improvement of ~7.0% compared to the same period last year (55.35%).

• The weekly EAF slightly reduced from 57.0% at the beginning of the financial year to 56.27% from 23 to 26 December 2024, mainly due to an increase in planned maintenance.

Continued strategic utilisation of Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs):

Our strategic use of peaking stations, including pumped storage and OCGTs, remains key in managing electricity demand during peak times, particularly during evening peaks (17:00 to 22:00).

• Eskom’s expenditure on OCGTs between 01 April and 26 December 2024 was about R8.69 billion having generated 1 379.03GWh, approximately 65.1% (R16.20 billion) less than the R24.89 billion spent last year over the same period for 3 981.89GWh.

• The OCGT load factor for 01 April to 26 December 2024 stabilised at 6.23%, compared to last year’s figure of 18.00%.

• The OCGT load factor for 01 December to 26 December 2024 was 15.51%, significantly higher than the 4.84% for the same period last year but this is seen as temporary given the current improvement.

• Diesel usage remains below the year-to-date budget.

‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign

While loadshedding remains suspended, Eskom continues to face network overloading issues in certain local areas due to illegal connections, vandalism, meter tampering, unauthorised network operations, theft of network equipment, and purchasing electricity from unlicensed vendors.

To prevent public safety hazards and the risk of network overloading, which can lead to load reduction measures and extended unplanned power outages, Eskom strongly urges customers to avoid illegal connections. Such actions can negatively impact the entire local community and result in hefty remedial fines.

It is also essential for customers to purchase electricity only from authorised vendors. For a list of Eskom-accredited electricity vending outlets across the country, visit:

https://www.eskom.co.za/distribution/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024123Vending-outlets.xlsx

Eskom urges the public to help protect the integrity of the power network by reporting any illegal activities to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.

Eskom will provide an update on Friday, 03 January 2025, or promptly communicate any significant changes as soon as they occur.

Western Cape Fire Disaster at Informal Settlements @KASIBCNEWS 

Ministry of Human Settlements concludes a successful government intervention in the Western Cape fire disaster affected informal settlements

Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala, joined by the Deputy Minister in Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli and the Western Cape Provincial Government, the City of Cape Town and relevant stakeholders, concluded a successful government intervention programme in ensuring that the families of the Siyahlala, Zulwini and Ekuphumuleni in the Du Noon informal settlement, City of Cape Town who were displaced by the recent fire disasters on 18 December 2024 and Christmas Eve received the necessary government interventions to assist them to rebuild their homes and reunite with their families before the new years.

In line with the National Department of Human Settlement’s Emergency Housing Guidelines, Minister Simelane deployed teams to the various informal settlements affected by the fires to do beneficiary verifications and provide detailed reports of affected households before sending in the materials for people to rebuild their structures.

Today, the teams working under the leadership of the Ministry of Human Settlements and the MMC responsible for Human Settlements in the City of Cape Town, and Emergency Housing Officials handed over more than 290 fire kits to affected households, with Du Noon receiving about 188 in the three different settlements, 59 by Wag 'n Bitjie informal settlement in Nomzamo, Strand, 44 in Kosovo and tomorrow morning the team will be in Masiphumelele to handover to the 87 households affected by the fire disasters recently.

Minister Simelane and Deputy Minister Mahambehlala have made a clarion call to communities to work together with government in ensuring that fire disasters are prevented and mitigated before they occur.

The team (Emergency Housing Officials), working together with the City of Cape Town, is currently concluding an assessment of over 500 reported shacks to have being affected by the recent fires in Langa township, a similar government intervention led by the Department of Human Settlements and its Stakeholders to assist the displaced communities will also take place in these affected areas.

“I want to urge our communities to work together with all spheres of government in line with the spirit of the District Development Model, and in its efforts of finding a suitable and habitable human settlements away from municipal servitudes, flood-prone and areas susceptible to fire disasters”, remarked Minister Simelane.

Media Enquiries: Tsekiso Machike, Spokesperson to the Minister 

Dear Fellow South African @KASIBCNEWS

By President Cyril Ramaphosa

We are nearing the end of another year, marked by both triumphs and struggles.  

We celebrated thirty years since the birth of our democratic nation. We reflected on the considerable progress we have made in building a constitutional order anchored on freedom, equality and human rights for all.  

We held our seventh successful, free and fair general elections since 1994. It was a landmark poll, with an unprecedented 70 political parties contesting. The election was a credit to the Independent Electoral Commission, which acquitted itself with distinction, the political parties who campaigned in a spirit of respect and tolerance, and to all South Africans who exercised their right to vote.  

Our democracy has evolved and matured. We have a Government of National Unity comprised of 10 political parties from across the political spectrum. They have agreed on three strategic priorities for this administration.

The first strategic priority is to grow our economy and create jobs.

The structural reforms initiated under the sixth administration are continuing to create conditions for our economy to grow and to create jobs.

The country has had over 250 days with no loadshedding. This is due to a combination of increased maintenance and generation recovery by Eskom, the addition of more capacity to the grid including from renewables, and the large-scale uptake of solar and battery energy solutions by households and businesses. The work of the National Energy Crisis Committee continues. It is working to get more power onto the grid, to expand our electricity infrastructure, to diversify the market for the benefit of consumers, and to lay the groundwork for an energy-secure future.

There has been a significant recovery of commuter rail since theft and vandalism during the Covid pandemic nearly destroyed the network. Stations have been refurbished, new state-of-the-art trains are on the tracks, and 31 out of 40 key passenger corridors are now operational. There were 40 million commuter rail passengers in the last financial year, up from 15 million passengers the previous year.

We are making progress in the recovery of freight rail and dealing with longstanding operational challenges in our ports. We are seeing improvements at the container terminals in Durban and Cape Town, as well as with infrastructure upgrades.

While unemployment levels remain extremely high, more South Africans are finding jobs.

The second strategic priority of this administration is to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living.

Consumer inflation is at a four-year low, making essential goods like fuel and most food staples more affordable. Over the past twelve months, fuel prices have come down.

Around 60% of the national budget is dedicated towards the ‘social wage’. These are the measures that reduce poverty and directly improve people’s lives. In addition to the provision of grants to vulnerable groups and unemployed people, this social wage includes subsidised housing, free basic services, no-fee schools and school nutrition. Government has been able to sustain these measures even as public finances are under severe pressure.

The third strategic priority of this administration is to strengthen the capacity of the state to deliver on its mandate.

Our efforts to improve the capacity and capability of the state to deliver on basic services continue.  

We have experienced moments of great national pride this year. Our sportsmen and women did us proud, including at the Olympics and Paralympics. Our nation’s artists hoisted our flag high on the global stage, proving themselves to be among our most valuable exports.

The momentum we have achieved this year was marred by tragedy. The deaths of a number children from eating contaminated foodstuffs was a great sorrow and caused deep concern. We have put a number of stringent measures in place to prevent such tragedies.

While we are making progress, we have a long way to go. The pace of economic growth is still too slow and not enough jobs are being created. Families still struggle with the high cost of living.

While there has been some improvement in the crime statistics and there have been breakthroughs in tackling crime syndicates, crime and violence is still widespread in many communities.

Disruptions in the supply of electricity and clean water is a major problem in many municipalities. Many local councils are plagued by poor governance, limited capacity and severe financial constraints. This is affecting service delivery to our people. Strengthening local government is our key priority.

These are the challenges we are grappling with. We have identified local government as a major focus in this administration. Through initiatives like the Presidential eThekwini Working Group, we are bringing all stakeholders together to solve local problems

The progress we have made this past year and during the course of the previous administration shows that we can overcome the difficulties our country faces.

As government, business, labour and civil society, we are able to achieve a great deal when work in unison to overcome our common challenges. In the new year, we will embark on a National Dialogue that will draw together all South Africans in crafting a common vision for the country.

As the host of the G20 next year, South Africa will play an important role in addressing the challenges that many countries across the world experience. We will seek common solutions that improve the lives of all our people.

Overcoming poverty and underdevelopment, creating more jobs, and addressing societal ills like gender-based violence requires that we must all play our part, where we can.

On many fronts, this year has been better than the last. We will build on these achievements in 2025.

Wherever you may be this festive season, I wish you well.

With best regards,

Cyril Ramaphosa is President of South Africa.

M@KEK@SiGRE@T©®™

 

Reconciliation Day: Reflecting on the past, building a united future @KASIBCNEWS

By Nomonde Mnukwa

The act of forgiveness and reconciliation has been central to the story of South Africa since 1994. Reconciliation Day came into effect in 1994 and was intended to help build a united and prosperous South Africa. This day and in subsequent years, Reconciliation Month has become synonymous with our drive to nurture and entrench new values in our society.

The annual commemoration of Reconciliation Day allows us to reflect on the many positive strides we have made since 1994, while acknowledging that much work remains. Even now 30 years into democracy the lives of many continue to be shaped by the circumstances of their birth. We cannot accept this reality as a nation, and we must therefore all do more to address the untold damage wrought by apartheid and colonialism.

If we don’t act and find ways to work together our future will continue to be shaped by our ugly past. National Reconciliation Day is therefore of even greater importance today and can serve as a springboard to build a more cohesive and united society.

This year Reconciliation Month is being held under the theme “Healing Historical Wounds and Forging New Futures”. The theme serves as a reminder that reconciliation is not about forgetting or ignoring our painful past. Rather, it is about talking openly about what happened in our past and to learn from it so that we can build a country that works for everyone and not just a few. By learning from the past we can begin to imagine a future where all citizens are valued and have equal opportunities to develop and thrive.

This year’s reconciliation month focuses on collective efforts of government and the people in advancing reconciliation, nation-building, social cohesion, healing and forgiveness. It also takes place three months after we received 35 human remains of South Africans who were buried while in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The next phase of the project will focus on the repatriation of the remains of South Africans buried in Angola.

This initiative is crucial for national healing and reconciliation, allowing families to find closure and honour the memory of those who fought for freedom and justice. Moreover, this project is part of our commitment to honour and restore the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives for the country's freedom.

As we commemorate reconciliation month, we also pay tribute to our many freedom fighters and others who sacrificed their lives for us to get freedom and democracy. Their long walk has brought us this far; now it’s time for this generation to stand up and lead.

Young people should work with government in building a South Africa in which all people are free, equal and are included in the economy. Our reconciliation should be linked to transforming our society by broadening the participation of all South Africans in the development of the country.

While progress has been made in our journey of reconciliation over the years, more still needs to be done especially to grow the economy at a higher rate to create more jobs.

We are hopeful that the foundation we have set over the past 30 years will enable us to move faster in improving the lives of people and in helping to heal the divisions of the past. 

Nomonde Mnukwa is the Acting Director-General of the GCIS 

M@KEK@SiGRE@T©®™

 

Festive Season Road Safety 2024 @KASIBCNEWS 

By Dr Ntombi Nala

The end of the year is a special time, characterised by family and festive celebrations that are eagerly anticipated by everyone. During this period, many people travel far and wide to spend their holidays with family and friends.

The festive season is unfortunately also a time when many incidents and accidents occur on the roads as a result of higher than usual traffic volumes that accompany the holiday season.

To prevent incidents and ensure safety is prioritised on our roads, the Department of Transport recently launched its National Safer Festive Season Operations. This 46-day campaign starting from 1 December 2024 to middle January 2025, aims to ensure increased police visibility across the country during the festive period, especially in high-risk zones.

The launch of the road safety campaign coincided with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR). WDR acknowledges the millions of individuals killed and injured on the world’s roads as well as officers who died in the line of duty and the scores of family and friends affected by these deaths.

Given this stark reality our safer festive season operations seek to enhance knowledge of road safety and includes various initiatives and actions to reduce road fatalities. These actions will contribute to our goal of halving serious injuries and fatalities by 2030, as per the National Road Safety Strategy 2016 to 2030. Attaining this vision for the nation requires everyone to work together to create a safer road environment for all.

To ensure safer roads during the upcoming festive period, law enforcement operations will be intensified on all major routes led by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the South African Police Service, provincial and municipal traffic authorities. The road safety campaign will be accelerated according to traffic volumes, with higher police presence on the roads ahead of the Christmas and New year weekends. High-risk zones will be given priority and there will be stepped up law enforcement during these peak periods.

This year’s festive road safety operations give attention to the use of cell phones whilst driving and drunk driving. Citizens are urged to drive responsibly and refrain from texting whilst driving, and to use Bluetooth or a hands-free kit if they need to make or receive calls when driving to minimise any distractions on the road.

One of the main hinderances to good driving and safe roads is driving under the influence of alcohol or any intoxicating or mind-altering substances. Citizens are also urged to avoid driving or even walking on the road when intoxicated, as it puts their lives as well as the lives of others at risk.

During this festive period, traffic police and law enforcement will work together to tackle drunk driving by adopting a zero-tolerance approach. Citizens are encouraged to play their part by adhering to the rules of the road, which includes ensuring that their vehicles are roadworthy, and their driving documents are up to date.

Everyone can also play their part in road safety through simple acts such as wearing a seatbelt, driving within the speed limit, refraining from speeding or overloading vehicles and taking breaks when needed along their journey.

As we prepare for the festive season, let us be vigilant and mindful of each other on our roads so we can all reach our respective destinations safely and enjoy this holiday season.

Dr Ntombifuthi Nala is Acting Chief Director: Research Analysis and Knowledge Services at GCIS

M@KEK@SiGRE@T©®™