Eskom has expressed concern that the current cold weather will put additional pressure on an already tight electricity-supply system. ”We are currently experiencing an increase in electricity demand due to the weather. ”The cold was so severe that a new morning peak-demand record was set this morning [Wednesday],” the power utility said.
Runaway fires in KwaZulu-Natal have claimed the lives of two firefighters and caused damage of about R1-billion over the past week, the province said on Wednesday. Agriculture and environmental affairs minister Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said thousands of livestock and extensive patches of grazing land have been destroyed.
The debate surrounding two centres of power at the African National Congress (ANC) policy conference is set to overshadow other issues being debated by members concentrating on organisational reviews. Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party’s Blade Nzimande has reacted to President Thabo Mbeki’s opening address.
A group of striking public-service workers protested metres away from the African National Congress (ANC) policy conference venue in Midrand on Wednesday. Law-enforcement authorities closed the road leading to Gallagher Estate while Congress of South African Trade Unions president Willie Madisha intervened.
Healthcare officials in Calgary have unveiled a new ambulance designed for treating and transporting obese patients in an emergency, believed to be the first of its kind in this country. The ambulance is equipped with a wide stretcher and a mechanical lift that gently raises patients weighing up to 450kg into the carriage.
A United States court on Monday ruled against a man seeking $54-million from the Korean immigrant owners of a dry cleaners who, he said, lost his pants despite a promise of "satisfaction guaranteed". Roy Pearson alleged that Custom Cleaners lost his trousers and misled him with a sign promising satisfaction.
A Spanish hotel chain is looking for stressed guests who will be allowed to let off steam next week by smashing the interior of a central Madrid hotel as part of its refurbishment. NH Hoteles will select 30 people who will be able to take part in the destruction of the 146 rooms at the 11-year-old hotel on July 3.
The number of community-service doctors in Gauteng will be reduced from 202 at present to 45 next year, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Wednesday. ”This is a 78% cut that is bound to adversely affect health services,” said the party’s health spokesperson for the province, Jack Bloom.
Africa’s skies are set to become safer with the inauguration on Thursday of the African Civil Aviation Agency (ACAA), a continental body to standardise and oversee licensing, training and inspection of aviation staff and equipment. ”Like the rest of the world, Africa is trying to standardise … airspace,” ACAA CEO Mwangi wa Kamau said on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka closed in on an innings victory in the first cricket Test after breaking Bangladesh’s dour resistance with the bat on Wednesday. Bangladesh, trailing by 488 runs on the first innings, were 233-5 in their second knock when bad light stopped play 10.3 overs early on the third day at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.