Cape Town – Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom says Robben Island, one of the world’s top tourist attraction spots, will soon generate its power from solar panels. The island, which once held the likes of former President Nelson Mandela and struggle stalwarts Walter Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada, amongst others, will be a pilot site for the [...]Solar Power plan for Robben Island is a post from: EconSpire
The post Solar Power plan for Robben Island appeared first on EconSpire.


read more Eco News ..

The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation will visit schools as part of celebrating International Museum Day.

“The outreach component of museum services will be presenting PowerPoint [presentations] on national symbols and nation buildings, as well as careers in museums and contemporary history related topics based on the African Union and Africa’s colonial past and its independence,” Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation spokesperson Tankiso Zola said.

International Museum Day is celebrated on 16 May. The theme for this year’s theme is ‘Museums for a Sustainable Society’.

Grade 7 to 10 learners will participate in the programme from Monday until Friday at schools in the Xhariep District.

“The initiative was created in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), with the aim of raising awareness about the role of museums in the development of society.

“One of the most important contemporary challenges shared by people all over the world is to adapt new ways of living and developing within the limits of nature,” Zola said.

He said the transition towards a sustainable society requires inventing new methods of thinking and acting. “Museums play a key role in this transition, promoting sustainable development and serving as real laboratories for best practices,” Zola said.

The provincial Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation intends to promote and preserve the heritage of the province by observing the International Museum Day.

Activities planned for the celebration will promote unity and enhance the country’s national identity.

“The event will present an opportunity for us to illustrate the importance of museums as part of the cultural heritage of our country to communities and the youth in particular,” Zola said. – SAnews.gov.za

Kroonstaad – It’s been described as South Africa’s most ambitious school infrastructure development programme,Â*ASIDI, that is set to change the face of school infrastructure across the country. Accelerated School Infrastructure Development Initiative – ASIDI Schools And today, top government officials as well as representatives from the private sector, joined Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga in [...]ASIDI Department delivers 100th school is a post from: Teach-the-Brain


read more South Africa Education news ...

Almost 700 people died on South Africa's roads in April alone, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said on Monday.

This, according to the RTMC, was due to reckless behaviour and not obeying the rules of the road.

“Preliminary figures recorded by the RTMC indicate that a total of 699 people perished on the roads between March 30 and April 20 this year. There were 570 fatal crashes recorded during the same period,” RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said.

Most crashes were recorded in KwaZulu-Natal, with 116 fatal crashes resulting in 148 fatalities.

Gauteng was second with 119 fatalities from 100 crashes. The Northern Cape recorded the lowest with 16 crashes, which resulted in 19 fatalities.

Meanwhile, the number of major crashes declined in March this year compared with the same period in the previous years.

Only eight major crashes (crashes resulting in five or more deaths in a single incident or crashes involving four or more vehicles in a single incident with a fatality) were recorded in March this year compared to 12 in 2012, nine in 2013 and nine last year.

The number of fatalities from these crashes has also dropped with 38 people killed this year compared with 62 in 2012, 72 in 2013 and 39 last year.

Half of all major crashes were reported in Limpopo and the Western Cape, according to RTMC.

The majority of these crashed involved head on collisions and instances where a single vehicle overturned.

Human error was the main contributing factor in major crashes with the driver driving in the wrong lane in most cases. Tyre bust and the wheel coming off a vehicle, causing the driver to lose control, were the other factors.

RTMC CEO Advocate Makhosini Msibi has urged motorist to avoid speeding and driving under the influence of intoxicating substances. Tighter law enforcement will be implemented to bring reckless drivers to book.

Msibi also urged motorist to ensure that their vehicles are fit and roadworthy before travelling, irrespective of the distance of the journey. – SAnews.gov.za

Cape Town – Under foggy skies and a slight chill in the air, Great Britain’s Vicky Holland announced her return from injury in style with her first ever World Triathlon Series win. A late surge on the run gave the Brit just what she needed to hold off the USA’s Katie Zaferes and Switzerland’s Nicola [...]Vicky Holland takes Cape Town win is a post from: Time-to-Tri


more [url=http://www.time-to-tri.com/news/vicky-holland-takes-cape-town-winTriathlon news ...[/url]

Government says its current 5.9% offer in the wage negotiations is fair and reasonable, and takes into account the current economic situation of the… GlobalBuzz-SA – Your Employment and Recruitment 5.9 percent wage offer fair is a post from: JobnSpire5.9 percent wage offer fair is a post from: JobnSpire


read more South Africa job news

National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega and Statistics South Africa’s Statistician General Pali Lehohla have announced that the two organs of state will, effective immediately, collaborate in the compiling of crime statistics to increase the quality of data.

The two officials made the announcement during a media briefing at the Imbizo Centre in Parliament on Thursday.

The announcement will come as good news to efforts to improve the already credible crime statistics.

General Phiyega said the collaboration would bolster the integrity of the crime statistics.

“Our collaborative agreement is a result of the relationship between the South African Police Service and Stats SA which dates back to 2011.

“Considering the continued cooperation … between these two government departments, we have decided to officially announce that we have established a partnership that will enhance the quality of the crime statistics.

“The beneficiaries of our partnership will be the citizens of this country to whom we account and serve.

“In order to ensure the continued improvement in the crime statistics that we present to the public, our collaboration will go a long way in enhancing the integrity of our crime statistics,” she said.

To formalise the partnership, General Phiyega and the Statistician General signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enter into partnership in the National Statistics System (NSS).

The NSS is the process of coordinating the production of quality statistics in the country through a partnership between producers and users of data in accordance with quality standards set down by the Statistician-General.

Partnership in the NSS will also see the SAPS developing management and administrative systems that facilitate compliance with NSS statistical production protocols and support the production of quality data from which statistics can be generated for the pool of official statistics on a sustainable basis.

Speaking at the media briefing, General Phiyega said four years ago - ahead of signing the partnership – the SAPS consulted with independent researchers, civil society organisations, other key local and international stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening the management of crime statistics.

Amongst the organisations she engaged includes the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Medical Research Council, the Institute for Security Studies and Stats SA.

She said further consultations were held with countries such as the United Kingdom, United States of America and Mexico.

“This collective, collaborative approach, which will enhance the reliability and validity of our statistics, is something that we would like to pursue,” she said.

The Statistician General said the signing of the agreement was a watershed moment and a step in the right direction.

He said putting pen to paper formalises a lot of work that has been done behind the scenes to realise the partnership. - SAnews.gov.za

Government says its current 5.9% offer in the wage negotiations is fair and reasonable, and takes into account the current economic situation of the country.

According to government -- as the employer -- the current offer sufficiently cushions the salaries of public service employees from the effects of inflation.

It says the offer is estimated at R37 billion. This offer is inclusive of the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) plus other benefits for 2015/16 financial year.

The current wage bill is R400 billion and is projected to grow to R430 billion in the 2015/16 financial year. This constitutes about 35.5% of the total government budget.

“Any increase beyond what is budgeted will lead to borrowing for recurring expenses such as salaries and impact negatively on operational budgets of departments, infrastructure development, employment creation and service delivery,” the Department of Public Service and Administration said on Thursday.

Government is currently locked in wage negotiations with public sector trade unions and the two parties have failed to reach an agreement. They have taken their dispute to arbitration. Some unions also plan to embark on a protest to National Treasury offices in Pretoria next Thursday to demand better wages.

However, the parties have agreed on certain terms such as the GEMS medical aid subsidy, which will be improved from 17.6% to 28.5% for public service employees. The parties have also agreed to review the efficacy and assess the operating model of GEMS.

The parties have however not reached an agreement on COLA.

The employer has offered a projected CPI + 1% for 2015/16; projected CPI + 0.5% for 2016/17 and projected CPI + 0.5% for 2017/18.

The State, as employer, says it remains optimistic that the conciliation process will produce a mutually beneficial outcome and that the negotiations will conclude this month. - SAnews.gov.za

An Indian woman from Earth’s most threatened tribe is fighting for her life after being contacted in Brazil’s north-eastern Amazon rainforest. Health disaster strikes recently contacted Indians in Brazil Jakarewyj, a member of the Awá tribe, has contracted flu and a severe respiratory disease after her group was “surrounded by loggers” and contacted in late [...]Health concerns for Brazil Indians is a post from: EconSpire
The post Health concerns for Brazil Indians appeared first on EconSpire.


read more Eco News ..

South Africa – Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa has published the Biodiversity Management Plan for white rhinoceros in the Government Gazette No. 38619, for public comment. “The gazetting of the management plan is in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 and was developed in accordance with the National Norms and Standards [...]Biodiversity plan for white rhinoceros is a post from: EconSpire
The post Biodiversity plan for white rhinoceros appeared first on EconSpire.


read more Eco News ..