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Helpmekaar Liefdadigheidswinkel skenk aan CMR 1/2 Share 13 April 2021 13 April 2021 Indien u belang stel om meer te weet van Helpmekaar Liefdadigheidswinkel, kan u Maryna kontak by 060 646 8389. U kan ook gerus ‘n WhatsApp stuur aan Maryna indien u meer inligting verlang. Om ‘n liggingpen te ontvang van die winkel se adres, stuur slegs u naam via WhatsApp. In die onsekere tye van COVID-19, staan Maryna Reyneke en haar liefdadigheidswinkel sterk, en maak elke dag ‘n verskil in talle se lewens. Maryna woon al 11 jaar in Ermelo, en is ‘n bekende gesig in die gemeenskap. Helpmekaar Liefdadigheidswinkel ondersteun tans minderbevoorregte inwoners in Ermelo, asook gekeurde leerders in Ligbron Hoërskool. Maryna en haar sagte hart wend haar besigheid se hulpbronne aan om sukkelende gesinne en inwoners van Ermelo te ondersteun, en alle donasies word terug geploeg in die gemeenskap in. Maryna het dit onlangs goed gedink om ‘n skenking aan die CMR Ermelo te maak, en sodoende ‘n verskil te maak in talle kindertjies se lewens. Maryna gaan uit haar pad uit om haar hulp te verleen aan alle behoeftiges. Helpmekaar Liefdadigheidswinkel bestaan al twee jaar in Ermelo, en doen hul bes om alle behoeftiges te assisteer. “Ek help waar ek kan, en met die hulp van die gemeenskap kan ek selfs nog meer hulp verleen aan behoeftiges. Ek vra nederig vir donasies vanaf inwoners. Ek aanvaar alle huishoudelike items, boeke, kledingstukke, gordyne en alle ander items wat inwoners nie meer gebruik nie, en ek kan julle verseker dit word gewend aan ‘n goeie doel. Ek wil graag almal bedank wat al donasies gebring het na Helpmekaar toe, ek waardeer dit opreg.” het Maryna aan die Tribune ePaper gesê. Indien u belang stel om meer te weet van Helpmekaar Liefdadigheidswinkel, kan u Maryna kontak by 060 646 8389. U kan ook gerus ‘n WhatsApp stuur aan Maryna indien u meer inligting verlang. Om ‘n liggingpen te ontvang van die winkel se adres, stuur slegs u naam via WhatsApp. < Previous Article Next Article >

1000Kings drops a new project 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 24 AUgust 2021 The DEEP BRIDGE EP brings some solid bangers, and some of the tracks are co-produced by 1000Kings & Sam's Music. 1000Kings Movement is excited to drop another project from 1000Kings Records called DEEP BRIDGE EP, some of the tracks are co-produced by 1000Kings & Sam's Music. All tracks are copyrighted. Digital Release : 01 Sept 2021 Outlets : Traxsource • Junodownload • Beatport • Spotify • iTunes & other digital outlets Author : Makhosi Nkosi Artist : 1000Kings Ft. Sam's Music Label : 1000Kings Records Publisher : 1000Kings Movement Distributor : iMusician Genre : Nu-Jazz • Broken Beats • Soulful • Deep House No of tracks : 8 Registered #SAMRO #RISA #SAMPRA Name : Makhosi S Nkosi Cell : 0732546757 Email : dj.a.k.a.king@webmail.co.za Address: 2282 Nkabinde Street Wesselton Township Ermelo, 2351 https://m.facebook.com/1000kingsMovement https://facebook.com/onethousankings https://twitter.com/1000KINGS_SA https://soundcloud.com/1000king https://youtube.com/1000KINGSMOVEMENT ™ https://instagram.com/onethousandkings https://1000kingsmovement.bandcamp.com https://www.flowcode.com/page/1000kingsrecords https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/1000kings < Previous Article Next Article >

Lack of kiosk maintenance causes concern 1/5 Share GK CRONJE 11 January 2022 NERSA requires mini-substations to be free of rust, and be locked as to be of no safety risk to the public. It is also expected by NERSA that municipalities keep substations and mini-substations painted, numbered and marked correctly, and that hazard signs be clearly displayed. Despite several enquiries and reports regarding the issue from various media outlets, little to no information is available as to the action plan that Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s (MLM) departments are taking in waterproofing, safeguarding and maintaining the electrical kiosks and substations in Ermelo, Wesselton and the surrounding areas. The slightest moisture, drizzle or rain results in leaving hundreds of residents without electricity at any given time. Being a major inconvenience and that equipment and devices are damaged in the resulting electricity spikes, this is an issue which addressing is long overdue. Additionally, the sharp increase in wilful vandalism and alleged sabotage from unknown entities further aggravate the situation. In the latest of a string of instances of kiosk vandalism, neutral electrical wires were cut at a kiosk in George Botha Park. This act in itself is extremely dangerous, and can be the cause of thousands of Rands in damages to residents receiving electricity from this feed. When a neutral wire is broken, cut or disconnected, the unbalanced current cannot return to the supply through the star point, and this current takes the path back to the supply through the lines. This causes “hot” voltage or unequal voltage currents. An instance such as this has been reported recently in the area of Camden Avenue, where the supply current was measured at 380 volt, shockingly higher than the 220 volt that is supposed to be measured. When the voltage is too high, electrical wires may melt, light bulb would burned out real time, and other electrical devices may stop working, or may even burst into flames if an overvoltage is delivered to the circuit. However, the ease of which kiosks and substations in Ermelo can be tampered with is nothing short of laughable, with the vast majority of electrical kiosks being without doors, lids or covers. Nary a kiosk is locked with a padlock as required by law, and many kiosks are completely devoid of cover doors. Several instances have been reported to MLM, where their own technicians have jerry-rigged kiosks or substations in unsafe and dangerous manners. However, these reports have fallen on deaf ears. By now, it is no secret that MLM officials, as well as ward councillors are well aware of the myriad of electrical kiosks and substations which are without doors, have been severely damaged, either my accidents, vandalism or plain neglect on part of MLM, which carries direct correlation in the outages that plague Ermelo. The municipality has appealed to the public to report any suspicious persons near electrical infrastructures, and has stated that municipal employees are identified by overalls and reflector vest with the logo, and/or the name of the municipality. This statement from the municipality is contradictory, as many contractors employed by the municipality drive unmarked vehicles, and wear civilian clothing. This makes the point moot, aggravated by the fact that the call centre operators are all but a zero with regards to public assistance. According to the standards set forth by the National Energy Regulator (NERSA), any municipality, at any given time must, upon inspection, be able to provide a safe and reliable electrical network, that does not pose a hazard to personnel, especially during switching. It is expected of municipalities to provide evidence to NERSA of preventative maintenance on substations. Substations are expected to be built on well-constructed plinths to avoid contact with moisture, or minimize damage during flooding or heavy rain, and also be free of vegetation and/or grass that might pose a fire hazard. This is not the case of some of the substations in Ermelo, which are on ground level and covered in vegetation. Furthermore, NERSA requires mini-substations to be free of rust, and be locked as to be of no safety risk to the public. It is also expected by NERSA that municipalities keep substations and mini-substations painted, numbered and marked correctly, and that hazard signs be clearly displayed. Alas, this is not the case in Ermelo, with no bright light in the municipal tunnel ahead. An electrical kiosk in Steynberg Street has been reported to the municipality on numerous occasions, with no joy. The high voltage cable has been haphazardly connected and snaked through a tree’s branches by municipal teams more than two years ago. The cable poses a direct danger to small children of the nearby preschool, as well as to pedestrians and patrons of a nearby superette. This is but one of hundreds of exposed and dangerous kiosks with the municipal service area. < Previous Article Next Article >

Excitement during Ermelo Lighthouse ribbon cutting ceremony 1/4 Share GK CRONJE 19 October 2021 Enquiries can be directed to Wynand at 078 800 2711, or Jeanah at 079 799 9956. Interested parties can also contact the CMR office on 017 819 1163. With great pride and joy, the Ermelo Lighthouse was officially opened on Friday, 15 October 2021. During the ceremony hosted at the lighthouse, the CMR expressed their gratitude towards Msukaligwa Local Municipality for their support with the initiative. They also expressed their gratitude to all the volunteers currently involved with the project. The CMR’s Jeanah Motsamai, amongst others, thanks the roleplayers for their involvement with the project. The video of her speech can be viewed on our Facebook page, Tribune Ermelo. She also announced during the ceremony that a recovering addict, Sfiso, has also stepped in to assist with the drug addicts and prostitutes in Ermelo. Sfiso has experience in this field, and had been involved in shelters and assistance of recovering addicts seeking help. The CMR has stated that they will start from the roots up, and uplift and assist the community members who have no way out, and eventually reform these individuals to contribute, and take their place in the community. “I used to introduce myself as ‘Sfiso the addict’, and I am struggling with a disease that only Christ can take away. I grew up in these streets, and was part of the problem on these streets. I am now part of the solution on these very same streets, but it is a struggle. We need to stand united, as this issue doesn’t only affect the struggling addicts, but it also affects us a community and neigbours. Before joining the lighthouse project, I was running a recovery house in Davel. In Davel, we assisted those in need, and promoted the word of God to these individuals, and saw the power of faith. We saw them change, and gave them new hope on life. However, the issue that we face is that these individuals always return to the same community where there’s still drugs, prostitution and more. I asked God for a way to deal with these issues, and he guided me to change the environment. This will be my mission by joining the lighthouse project. Another issue is to allocate the addicts and prostitutes seeking help to contribute to the community. Many of these individuals really wants help, but when rehabilitated, what will they do, and where will they go? We will aim to provide alternative means of making a living, and better the lives of those seeking assistance. If we address the physical and psychological side of the issue, but neglect the spiritual side, we will still have a problem,” Sfiso said. The CMR would also like to thank the Ermelo East Church for providing the facility where the lighthouse is located. Therefore, Minister Dippenaar was asked to cut the ribbon, officiating the launch of the facility. At the facility, homeless people, drug addicts, and those in need will be able to clean themselves at the institution, as well washed their colthes on a daily basis. The Lighthouse also provides social workers for the necessary support, and there will be a decent and healthy plate of food available every day. The CMR also aims to provide several forms of training to these individuals, in an attempt to integrate them back into the community. There will be different tasks daily that will be performed by those seeking assistance, thus maintaining productivity. There is also a safe room at the lighthouse, which will serve as a safe haven for one night where there were difficult conditions within a family. There are currently many businesses that have opened their hearts and joined hands with the CMR. Security guards will be on duty every day and every night, and the local SAPS has also agreed to help with the security of the premises. The CMR would, however, like to appeal to the community to volunteer at the lighthouse, with the day to day operations. There can never be too many helping hands with the operations. The CMR also still requires donations of food, coffee, milk, sugar, pots and pans, cutlery and crockery on the short term. Toiletries, cleaning detergents, clothes, shoes and especially socks are required. Blankets are also needed. The long term needs include, but are not limited to deep freezes, refrigerators, tables and working surfaces, chairs or couches for the reception area, kitchen cupboards, tables, chairs and benches. Anyone who wishes to make a contribution, can use the following bank details: ABSA Bank, Account Name: CMR Ermelo, Account number: 870230133, Branch code: 632005. Enquiries can be directed to Wynand at 078 800 2711, or Jeanah at 079 799 9956. Interested parties can also contact the CMR office on 017 819 1163. < Previous Article Next Article >

EHS-gholf behaal weer eerste plek 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 25 May 2021 “Baie geluk aan dié seuns met uitstekende tellings en pragtige gholf. EHS is trots op elkeen.” Op Vrydag, 21 Mei, het een van die Erries se gholfspanne die volgende rondte liga gaan speel op Volksrust. As gevolg van die COVID-regulasies, kon daar net een span aan dié liga-rondte deelneem. EHS se A-span verteenwoordig egter die Erries uitstekend, en stap as wenners van die baan af. Dié span is goed op dreef om die liga te wen, met net nog een rondte om te speel. Die tellings van die spelers is as volg: Tobie Leibbrandt behaal15 punte, Wian Swart behaal 14 punte, Liam Kitchenmaster 13 punte en Pieter Leibbrandt 11 punte. “Baie geluk aan dié seuns met uitstekende tellings en pragtige gholf. EHS is trots op elkeen.” < Previous Article Next Article >

MPU tenderpreneurs ride the PPE cash cow 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 26 January 2021 “It is questionable how these items help to contain the spread of COVID-19.” According to an SUI report compiled in 2020, the purchase of surgical masks, sanitizer, food parcels and thermometers varied significantly across all government departments. Tenderpreneurs in Mpumalanga, however, are having a field day with dubious supply contracts amidst the pandemic. Department of Health has come under scrutiny after it has come to light that purchases were made for seven thousand branded umbrellas at a cost of R805 450, seven thousand branded backpacks at a cost of R1 082 725, as well as cellular tablets at Vodacom, amounting to a whopping R1 714 512. The cost of thermometers also came to light, with the majority of government departments paying R2 527 and upwards per thermometer. The Democratic Alliance (DA) will once again place sustained pressure on the Mpumalanga Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, citing her statement of 20 August last year for a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to be appointed. Ms Jane Sithole, provincial leader of the DA, demanded a progress report on COVID-19 corruption from the Premier. Ms Sithole said an investigative report into possible corruption of COVID-19 funds for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has still not come to light. “The DA submitted a letter to the office of the Premier on 25 August, detailing information contained in the Provincial Procurement Report, which showed exactly how the funds meant to contain the spread of COVID-19, became a breeding ground for corruption. The DA further asked the Premier to table the final SIU report in the Provincial Legislature.” Ms Sithole stated. “It is questionable how these items help to contain the spread of COVID-19.” she concluded. At this time, the report is still being awaited. Given the above, the DA has once again written to the Office of the Premier requesting the progress report relating to the investigation process and the outcomes. < Previous Article Next Article >

Andrea en Flip groet Ermelo 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 10 November 2020 Tydens ‘n onderhoud met die Tribune het Andrea gesê “Ons gaan almal se gesiggies baie mis, en al die vriendlikheid van die Ermelo gemeenskap maar ons sal al die oomblike vir altyd koester”. Andrea en Flip Raaths, eienaars van Blomme vir Almal, sluit hulle deure na 17 jaar van besigheid. Die egpaar het dit beter gedink om nader aan hulle kinders te trek, en ‘n lekker rustige lewe op hul oudag te kan hê. Hulle het vir 17 jaar Blomme vir Almal gehad te Kerk Straat 12. Dit is met hartseer dat hulle Ermelo verlaat na soveel jare. Hulle wil graag van die geleentheid gebruik maak om die Ermelo gemeenskap te bedank vir 17 jaar se getroue en lojale ondersteuning. Tydens ‘n onderhoud met die Tribune het Andrea gesê “Ons gaan almal se gesiggies baie mis, en al die vriendlikheid van die Ermelo gemeenskap maar ons sal al die oomblike vir altyd koester”. Die Tribune wil graag vir die Raath egpaar net seën toewens vir hulle pad vorentoe. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ermelo clinic scores lowly on service efficiency The suggestion box at Ermelo Clinic. The filing system at Ermelo Clinic. The suggestion box at Ermelo Clinic. 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 6 July 2022 “Communities are continuously complaining that the healthcare workers are in the wrong or not doing their jobs." Ritshidze, a system that offers community-led clinic monitoring, has release their report of primary healthcare in Mpumalanga, which leaves much to be desired. The institution noted that many facilities in the province experience severe staff shortages, amongst other serious issues. Ritshidze stated that the average waiting time per patient was more than four hours, which is unacceptable in light of the sheer volume of patients that require care. The delays were caused by lost files, staff shortages and inefficiency from staff. In 2021, Ritshidze reported that only 7% of facility managers at clinics in Mpumalanga said they had enough staff. The number increased to an astounding 41% in 2022. There is still a massive human resources gap, despite other marginal improvements that had been made, the report states. A total of 74% of the facilities that Ritshidze monitored in 2021 had inadequate filing systems. In 2022, the number has improved to 38%. Ermelo Clinic, Amsterdam Community Health Care, Bethal Town Clinic and Embalenhle Community Health were amongst the bad apples that saw little to no improvement. The Democratic Alliance (DA) health spokesperson, Jane Sithole, stated that clinics and community healthcare centres are barely functioning due to long overdue maintenance, ranging from dysfunctional geysers and leaking roofs, to broken water pumps, which forced nurses to collect water in buckets to clean clinics. “Communities are continuously complaining that the healthcare workers are in the wrong or not doing their jobs. What the communities don’t know is that it is not their fault, but it’s actually the MEC and the officials in the department who are failing to deliver on the basics to ensure clinics have things such as medicine and rotational doctors. Departmental health officials don’t have to face patients and their families, but it is healthcare workers who must deal with angry family members and it is understandable why healthcare workers are negative at times towards patients.” Of the Mpumalanga Department of Health’s R16 billion budget for this financial year, R10 billion has been allocated to district health services, which clinics fall under. While tabling the 2022/2023 budget, MEC Sasekani Manzini stated that her department was determined to increase access to health services. “This is done through deploying mobile clinics to augment the 292 primary healthcare facilities, particularly in remote and rural areas. The department has 92 mobile clinics with 2 186 points that service these remote areas,” she said. < Previous Article Next Article >

Looming strike from trucking industry 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 26 January 2021 SANCATDRA and the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa’s (ATDF-ASA’s) national shutdown, which Mofokeng assured would be legal, is scheduled to start on Monday, 25 January 2021. A national shutdown of the trucking industry is imminent as the South African National Cargo Transport Drivers Association (SANCATDRA) continues to push for clarity on the employment of foreign drivers. The association marched to the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) on 15 December 2020 to hand over a memorandum demanding that the bargaining council should be neutral and impartial, clause 35 should be scrapped from the main collective agreement, labour brokers should be abolished in the road freight industry and court-designated agents must be investigated and apprehended. They also stated in the memorandum that the employment of foreigners is transferring poverty in the industry The association’s president Daniel Mofokeng stated that the union expected a response from the council within 21 days. However, to date there has been no response. “We are currently following the legal route in pursuing the council to respond to us. After we have obtained permits and authorisation from law enforcement agencies, then we will give out an announcement on when the shutdown will be,” Mofokeng explained. According to NBCRFLI, the bargaining council’s first board meeting for 2021 is scheduled to take place in February. “There is still an issue of employment of foreigners. We are very much dissatisfied with what is happening in the country, with the burning of trucks and driver attacks. There is a lot of corruption, with no companies actually complying with the council. Drivers are frustrated, waiting, not being paid accordingly… There is total noncompliance in the industry but people are meant to monitor compliance. There are laws to follow.” stated Mofokeng. “With unemployment such as South Africa’s, we still believe someone is not doing their job properly; someone is benefiting. Ministers want to come up with quotas. If they allow say 20% of foreigners, it means another 20% of South Africans are not working. We’ve got all the resources, we need to deal with these issues, but we are turning a blind eye to the issue of foreigners,” he closed off. SANCATDRA and the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa’s (ATDF-ASA’s) national shutdown, which Mofokeng assured would be legal, is scheduled to start on Monday, 25 January 2021. < Previous Article Next Article >

Government backtracks on feeding scheme agreement 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 16 June 2020 “The closure of the NSNP impacts not only on the health and education of learners, but has knock-on effects on entire families – in a context of heightened unemployment and loss of income due to the nationwide lockdown, many families are struggling to put food on the table. These families urgently require the NSNP to be reinstated in order to meet their children's basic nutritional needs and ensure that they are able to buy other desperately needed necessities in the home,” the bodies stated. Two Equal Education (EE) and the school governing bodies (SGBs) launched an urgent court application against the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and provincial education departments to compel the departments to provide meals for pupils. The organisations are challenging what they say is the “current failure to roll-out the National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP) to all learners”. “The NSNP normally provides meals to over nine million learners every day, but was halted when schools closed on 18 March 2020, jeopardizing the food security of these learners and exacerbating the severe hardship experienced within their households," Represented by the Equal Education Law Centre and Section27, the organisations have filed legal papers at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria which argue that the failure of the DBE and provincial education departments to roll-out the NSNP to all qualifying pupils is a regressive measure that violates learners' rights to basic nutrition, basic education and equality. While schools had been closed under the national COVID-19 lockdown, children have not had access to the nutritious meals they would normally receive at school. “The closure of the NSNP impacts not only on the health and education of learners, but has knock-on effects on entire families – in a context of heightened unemployment and loss of income due to the nationwide lockdown, many families are struggling to put food on the table. These families urgently require the NSNP to be reinstated in order to meet their children's basic nutritional needs and ensure that they are able to buy other desperately needed necessities in the home,” the bodies stated. The programme is currently being rolled out only to pupils at school in Grades 7 and 12, while pupils who have not been permitted to return to school are not being fed, the organizations state. The organizations are seeking a declaratory order that there is a duty on government to ensure all qualifying pupils are entitled to a daily meal as provided for under the NSNP, regardless of whether or not they have resumed classes at their respective schools. “We are also seeking a structural order requiring the national and provincial departments, within five days of the court order, to each provide a plan or programme to ensure that all qualifying learners receive their daily meal from the NSNP. It is imperative that the DBE and provincial education departments continue to fulfil their constitutional obligation to deliver nutrition to all eligible learners. The constitutional rights of learners to basic nutrition, basic education and equality must be protected, even during the state of national disaster.” Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga allegedly backtracked on a promise to reinstate the National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP) to feed nine million pupils from this month, irrespective of whether or not they are back at school. In late May, with the announcement of the phased reopening of schools, the director-general of basic education undertook that the NSNP would, from 1 June, be rolled out to all pupils, including those not physically attending school. Four days later, Motshekga retracted this, saying it would only restart for Grade 7 and Grade 12 pupils "because we really need to find our feet in this new environment". However, organizations are having none of it. “The minister has given no legitimate reason for this failure. It's not a new programme. All that is new is the need to ensure that it is done in a manner that does not place providers and pupils at risk. All that is needed is planning and implementation. Funding is available to roll out the NSNP to all grades. It is a specific purpose grant. The total budget for this year is R7.6 billion and each province would have received its initial allocations by April 30 this year. With the lockdown, there has been R1.7 billion of potentially unspent funds,” the bodies argued. Equal Education is asking a judge to declare that all qualifying pupils, regardless of whether or not they have resumed classes, must receive a daily meal, and that the minister and the provincial MEC’s are in breach of their constitutional duties. < Previous Article Next Article >

EHS Landsdiens skop af met ‘n virtuele kamp Marice de Jager. Johnke Prinsloo. Marice de Jager. 1/2 Share INHOUD VERSKAF 11 Augustus 2020 Die leerders moes ook self ‘n TikTok dansie uitwerk, werkskaf in die tuin, iemand in die huis ‘n poets bak, saam met hul troeteldier gaan draf en vir hande-arbeid iets met hul hande maak. Foto’s en video’s van die aktiwiteite moes aan die onderwysers deur gestuur word as bewys daarvan dat die aktiwiteite wel voltooi is. Hoërskool Ermelo begin DV eers amptelik in 2021 met Landsdiens, maar ons is bevoorreg om reeds vyf geregistreerde lede te hê! Marice de Jager, Mariska en Anke van Biljon, Divana Smit en Johnke Prinsloo het vanaf 31 Julie tot 2 Augustus aan Mpumalanga se provinsiale virtuele kamp deelgeneem. Die leerders moes hul eie sakke pak, tent opslaan en die naweek daarin slaap! Hulle was verantwoordelik om self stokbrood te braai, hamburgers te maak, ‘n ontbyt aanmekaar te slaan en potjiekos te maak. Daar was nie veel tyd vir rondsit en niks doen nie: pa of ma se kar moes gewas word, daar is Saterdag oggend al douvoordag aërobiese oefeninge gedoen, Bybelstudie gehou en hindernisbane gebou! Die leerders moes ook self ‘n TikTok dansie uitwerk, werkskaf in die tuin, iemand in die huis ‘n poets bak, saam met hul troeteldier gaan draf en vir hande-arbeid iets met hul hande maak. Foto’s en video’s van die aktiwiteite moes aan die onderwysers deur gestuur word as bewys daarvan dat die aktiwiteite wel voltooi is. Welgedaan aan die Erries se pionier-Landsdieners! Julle maak ons trots en ons sien sommer vreeslik uit na al die lekker Landsdiens-kampe en byeenkomste van 2021! < Previous Article Next Article >

Brace for year of increased load shedding 1/1 Share Content Supplied 15 November 2022 Generating units at Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden power stations will also be taken offline over the next five years. Starting over the next few weeks, Eskom will embark on some major capital investment projects and major repairs that carry significant risk and that will serve to further increase the implementation of loadshedding. These risk factors will remove more than 2 300MW of generating capacity from the system. Eskom cautions the public to anticipate the increased risk of loadshedding until these problems are resolved over the next six to 12 months. Of serious concern is the high levels of unplanned outages, which contributed to the 155 days of loadshedding experienced since January. To limit the stages of loadshedding, Eskom had to heavily rely on the extensive use of open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs), burning millions of litres of diesel. “Due to the vulnerability and unpredictability of the power system, coupled with the major capital projects, maintenance and major repairs to be executed starting during the next few months, the risk of continued loadshedding remains quite high,” said Jan Oberholzer, Eskom Group Chief Operating Officer. On 08 December 2022 Unit 1 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, which has enjoyed 384 days of uninterrupted supply today, will be shut down for normal maintenance and refuelling, and the replacement of the three Steam Generators (SGR) as part of the long-term operation to extend the operating life of Africa’s only nuclear power station. The most reliable of Eskom’s generation machines, the unit is anticipated to return to service during June 2023. This will remove 920MW of generation capacity from the national grid during this time. Koeberg Unit 2 was returned to service after a forced shutdown to remedy the control rod slippage issue and has been operating for 51 days today. The 23 October 2022 duct (chimney) structural collapse that has shut down Unit 1 of the Kusile Power Station; and the decision to delay the return to service of Units 2 and 3 as a precautionary measure, has inflicted another serious blow to Eskom’s efforts to improve the availability of electricity generation capacity and to reduce the implementation of loadshedding. This loss of the Kusile units has added additional strain to an already constrained generation system. Unit 4 is the only one currently on load at Kusile. The extent of the damage to the Kusile duct system will be established over the next few weeks as investigations into the structural failure pick up speed. The investigations into the duct failure will also establish whether there is any risk to Unit 3 of Kusile, whose chimney is also housed in the same stack as the other two units. This will determine whether it can be returned to service. Unit 3 was online at the time of the duct failure and continued generating at a steady pace for a week. What can be said with certainty at this point is that returning the Kusile units to service is still at least a few months away. “This is the reality of operating a shrunken generation system bereft of any reserve margin - every single breakdown pushes the whole system to the edge,” said Oberholzer. “This loss of capacity, temporary as it is, will make for a very challenging summer season, particularly as this is our peak planned maintenance period where a number of units at various power stations have to be shut down to conduct much needed maintenance.” While Eskom works on returning these large units to service, we will have to continue limping along to meet demand for electricity, particularly over the next six to 12 months, said Oberholzer. This means Eskom continues to experience a tough period in terms of its generation operations, especially on the coal generation side of the business, with the year-to-date energy availability factor (EAF) falling to the current 58.53%. The high levels of planned maintenance, impacted by a high rate of breakdowns, contributed to the low EAF. There has, however, been some notable progress and sustained good performance on several aspects of the business. Coal stock levels are healthy at an average of 35 days, excluding Medupi. Including Medupi, this doubles the coal stock-days to just under 70. Rain Readiness plans have proven to be resilient and have ably withstood the unusually high summer rainfall season last year, which included heavy storms that caused considerable damage in some parts of the country with critical generation infrastructure. The plans are in place for the current rainy season. “All coal-fired power stations plans have been stress-tested to ensure they are again able to withstand the high rainfall period,” said Thomas Conradie, the Acting Managing Director for Generation. The Transmission and Distribution divisions are performing to expectation. However, increased equipment failure, theft and vandalism on the transmission and distribution networks negatively impact operations, safety, and reliability. Electricity theft and non-payment continues to manifest as both operational and financial risk. Kusile Unit 4 achieved commercial operation on 01 June 2022, ahead of the expected target date of January 2023, and is currently producing the maximum 720MW. This brings the capacity brought to the national grid through the New Build Programme since 2005 to a total of 15 533MW. A fire during commissioning in the Gas Air Heater of Kusile Unit 5 on 17 September 2022 has delayed the commercial operation of this unit by an estimated 12 months. The unit was scheduled to be synchronised to the grid early 2023 and contribute to the grid during capability tests prior to commercial operation, which was planned for the middle of 2023. Some of the existing generation capacity must be taken offline as the older power stations reach retirement age and the end of their licenced operating lives. The last unit of Komati Power Station was taken offline in October. Generating units at Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden power stations must also be taken offline over the next five years as they will reach the end of their licenced operating lives. Within its own scope of influence, Eskom has led initiatives that will result in four independent power producers to invest at least R40 billion in new renewable plants on land leased at four of its power stations. This will produce at least 2 000MW in new generation capacity on approximately 6 200hectares of land over the next few years years. This is the first phase of the land lease programe, which will raise hundreds of billions in renewable energy investment without any underwriting recourse to Eskom and the taxpayer. To contribute to closing the supply gap, Eskom will repurpose these power stations and take advantage of the existing Transmission infrastructure in these facilities and convert these coal-fired power stations to renewable sources. This not only allows Eskom to continue generating much-needed electricity in these and other areas, but also to continue extending economic opportunities to the host communities under its Just Energy Transition programme. < Previous Article Next Article >