| PREPAREDNESS KEY TO MANAGING WORKPLACE INJURIES |
 |
Eden Gardens Private Hospital Manager Qubekani Ndiweni (left) and Noxolo Khubone (Department of Labour) addressing the large breakfast gathering.
Eden Gardens Private Hospital hosted a well-attended breakfast session at the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business on Wednesday on Effective IOD (Injuries on Duty) Management, stressing the importance of being prepared before accidents happen. Speakers, including Hospital Manager Qubekani Ndiweni and the Department of Labour’s Noxolo Khubone, underscored how proactive planning can reduce both human and operational costs. Attendees explored the legal landscape, employer responsibilities, and common pitfalls when managing IOD cases.
Eden Gardens introduced its dedicated IOD Centre, which streamlines the process with quality patient care and expert support for administrative tasks. The event offered vital insights for employers, HR teams, and safety officers, reinforcing that with the right systems in place, workplace injuries can be managed efficiently and with care. |
| SCHOOL BANDS TO BLOW UP STORM AT HOSPICE TOMORROW |
Msunduzi Hospice is staging its popular Winter Fair tomorrow, 26 July, from 8 am to 2 pm. The fair features a food garden, book hall, various shops, including the sale of plants and a jumping castle. The fair also includes live entertainment by Jan Swart and school bands from Pietermaritzburg Girls High, St Nicholas band and the drummie squad from Riverwood College. For a sneak preview of the White Elephant section, click here. Contact 082 699 9105 (WhatsApp) for any enquiries.
|
| EXTENSIVE ROADWORKS TO DELAY N3, N2 WEEKEND TRAVEL |
Sanral has cautioned motorists to expect delays on the N3 and N2 this weekend and to plan their journeys accordingly. The closures will affect the EB Cloete Interchange, popularly known as Spaghetti Junction, to accommodate the safe demolition of the Thames Pedestrian Bridge and deep foundational work as part of ongoing upgrades. Both the N3 west-bound (Durban to Pinetown) from 6 pm tomorrow, 26 July, to 9 am on Sunday, July 27 and the N3 east-bound (Pinetown to Durban), immediately after Spine Road / St James Avenue off-ramp, will be fully closed. The N2 south-bound (Umhlanga to N3 Westbound Pinetown) will be affected by the Pinetown ramp off the N3 closure from tomorrow, 26 July, to 6 pm on Sunday, 27 July. For more information about alternative routes, click here.
|
1993: Azanian Peoples' Liberation Army attack on St James Church in Cape Town killed 11 worshippers and injured 58.
Elsewhere, in 1978, the world's first test tube baby was born after Louise Joy Brown was conceived using in-vitro fertilisation.
Got a pair of red shoes? Then step out, on International Red Shoe Day.
|
 |
FORD RECALLS 5 718 VEHICLES ACROSS SOUTHERN AFRICA
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has recalled 5 718 vehicles across the Ranger, Everest, Puma, and EcoSport ranges due to potential safety risks. Affected Ranger and Everest models, built between June 2022 and March 2025, may suffer engine stalls from camshaft sprocket failure. The latest call back follows the largest vehicle recall in South Africa earlier this year, affecting major manufacturers Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, and Volvo due to safety defects relating to the global Takata airbag issue, brake problems, battery fire hazards, and seatbelt malfunctions.
Ford said EcoSport units built between April 2021 and July 2022 risk power loss or rollaway due to faulty half shafts. Puma vehicles manufactured from November 2021 to September 2024 may experience fuel line damage, posing fire risks. Ford urges owners to contact dealerships for free inspections and repairs. VIN-based recall checks are available on the Ford website here.
|
… AS 100 000-VEHICLE EMISSIONS STUDY GETS UNDERWAY
Johannesburg has launched South Africa’s first large-scale roadside vehicle emissions study, using remote sensing technology to measure tailpipe pollutants from over 100 000 vehicles. Led by the city’s Environment & Infrastructure Services Department with UJ Peets and the International Council on Clean Transportation, the project forms part of the global True Initiative and Breathe Cities campaign. Vehicle pollution accounts for more than 75% of Johannesburg’s nitrogen dioxide emissions. The study will provide real-world data to support policies such as clean air zones and tighter emissions standards. Testing runs until September 2025, with a full report due mid-2026 to inform future air quality actions across South Africa and the continent. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity) |
… AS PANEL-BEATING BODY UPS APPRENTICE ON-SITE TRAINING
The South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (Sambra) and Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) are tackling a severe training shortage in the motor-body-repair industry. With just 12 accredited centres left, the rollout of a new workplace-based training model by the QCTO allows employers to deliver full apprentice training on-site. A hybrid pilot with 13 apprentices is already underway. While promising, implementation faces hurdles like red tape and limited rural access. Sambra urges streamlined processes to boost participation. The sector, employing 300 000 people, could help train 4 500 artisans yearly if just 20% of employers adopt the model. (SOURCE: Engineering News) |
RAMAPHOSA KEEPS FAITH IN DIPLOMACY AS 30% TARIFFS LOOM
With 30% US tariffs on South African exports looming from August 1, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed optimism about ongoing talks with the US to resolve tensions. Speaking during a BMW SA plant visit, he acknowledged concerns over a US congressional bill reviewing bilateral ties and potential sanctions. Ramaphosa stressed that diplomacy would prevail, noting productive exchanges with US counterparts. Acknowledging export vulnerabilities in key sectors like automotive and agriculture, he urged South Africa to also strengthen trade via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and global markets to ensure economic growth and job creation through diversified export strategies. (SOURCE: Engineering News) |
MICROSOFT HACKERS TARGET TREASURY, LOCAL COMPANIES
A global cyberattack exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint servers has impacted multiple South African entities, including a car manufacturer, a university, and local governments. Hackers breached about 400 government agencies, corporations and other groups around the world, although the number could be a lot higher, Dutch cybersecurity firm said. Most of the victims are in the US, followed by Mauritius, Jordan, South Africa and the Netherlands, it added. The National Treasury confirmed malware was detected on its Infrastructure Reporting Model website and has requested assistance from Microsoft, though its systems remain operational. The South African Reserve Bank reported no breach. The attackers are primarily targeting clients using on-premise SharePoint servers, prompting urgent global security reviews and response co-ordination efforts. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
See below: Starlink outage leaves thousands in the lurch |
ZIMPLATS TRIPLES PRODUCTION AFTER R32 BILLION UPGRADE
Impala Platinum’s Zimbabwe unit, Zimplats, has commissioned a new smelter in Selous as part of a $1.8 billion (about R32 billion) expansion plan, tripling its processing capacity to 380 000 tons of concentrate annually. The facility will also process platinum group metal (PGM) concentrates from other miners. Zimplats chair Thandi Orleyn confirmed $1.1 billion has already been invested under the 10-year plan ending in 2031. The expansion aligns with Africa’s push to add value to minerals locally. Currency volatility and central bank forex controls remain challenges. Zimbabwe, with the world’s third-largest platinum reserves, relies heavily on mineral exports for revenue. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
EU, US INCH TOWARDS 15%-TARIFF DEAL
The European Union and United States are negotiating a trade pact that would impose 15% tariffs on imports, mirroring a recent agreement with Japan, to avoid threatened 30% US tariffs from 1 August. According to Financial Times sources, the deal would harmonize existing duties - such as reducing car tariffs from 27.5% to 15% - while zero-rating others, including aircraft, spirits, and medical devices. Most EU member states reportedly favour the compromise, despite reservations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a breakthrough was imminent. If talks fail, the EU may activate its anti-coercion instrument, potentially barring US firms from public tenders and curbing trade privileges. (SOURCE: FreightNews) |
GLOBAL STARLINK OUTAGE LEAVES THOUSANDS IN THE LURCH
Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, suffered a rare global outage yesterday. The company confirmed the disruption via X (formerly Twitter), stating it was “actively implementing a solution.” Downdetector reported over 25 000 user complaints, with internet traffic halted entirely during the afternoon. Doug Madory of Kentik confirmed it as a total, worldwide outage - an unusual event for Starlink. Musk assured users that the root cause would be resolved to prevent recurrence. The outage has affected thousands of customers, with restoration efforts underway. Starlink is owned by SpaceX and serves users globally with satellite-based internet connectivity. (SOURCE: Reuters) |
CITIZEN SCIENCE GOES TO THE DOGS IN ALIEN FIGHT
In a groundbreaking study, over 180 everyday dog-owner teams across the U.S. successfully trained their pets to sniff out invasive spotted lanternfly egg masses, a growing agricultural threat. The Virginia Tech-led initiative showed that with simple scent training, “citizen science” dogs achieved an 82% success rate in controlled tests and 61% in real-world conditions - surpassing human-only searches. With over 1,000 dogs initially volunteering, the project proves that household pets can join conservation efforts. Researchers say this pioneering model could transform community-driven environmental protection, empowering dog owners and their pups to help detect and fight invasive species nationwide. (SOURCE: The GoodNews) |
|
|
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
Maurice Switzer |
|
|
|
| Dollar | R17.64 | - 0.22% | | Pound | R23.82 | - 0.18% | | Euro | R20.75 | - 0.27% | | Yen | 0.120209 |
| | Yuan | R2.46 | + 0.01% | | Bitcoin | $115277.50 | - 2.75% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 420.30
| - 0.67% | | Gold | $ 3 355.90
| - 0.37% | | Oil | $ 69.72
| + 0.58% | | All Share | 99 721.12 | - 0.21% | | Repo | 7.25 | | | Prime | 10.75 | |
|
|
|
|
|
