Related Articles:
October 23, 2012
The latest proposal for energy hikes by Eskom have been met with upset by not only residents but also the National Consumer Forum body which keeps an eye on the basic cost of living and the impact increases, such as Eskom’s, have on everyone.
The Sky’s isn’t the Limit
The recent application from Eskom is just one more in a line of their requests to increase electricity tariffs over five years. Their first proposal asked for 25% over three years, and now 16% over five years, taking 1kW from 19 cents to just over 61 cents, and it will reach R1.28 by 2017. Families are feeling the pinch with many not being able to afford their electricity bills every month-end. Budgets are becoming tighter, while some just cannot afford it at all and don’t know which way to turn anymore. Becoming energy efficient requires an initial outlay of funds that so many South African households just don’t have to spare.
Some families have taken to calling an electrician in to install prepaid electricity meters as a means to better control their electricity usage and become more energy efficient. Others who are fortunate enough have turned to solar geysers, geyser timers, blankets, and gas stoves to try to cushion the blow. Economists are encouraging people to stretch budgets where they can.
The controversial request has many businesses up in arms. Smaller businesses such as hairdressers are feeling it with some having to close their doors as they just cannot justify the electricity price hikes in their prices, and nor can they afford the monthly bills.
The snowball effect means that food prices will double over the next five years while some people are just not affording rentals, others are defaulting on their bonds. As petrol prices increase, and with Eskom demanding more money, the future looks somewhat murky in terms of finances. Currently, South Africa has the most expensive electricity tariffs in the world, and now they’re set to become exorbitant. There are ways to combat the increases.
People need to make do with possibly buying generators and gas hobs to bring down costs. There are several options that people can consider and one of them is going green. Several people are now growing their own vegetables to combat the inevitable increase in food prices. More and more consumers are using public transport because petrol is just too high. In the meantime, hopefully the National Consumer Forum can help to slow the increases by Eskom and other bodies, to a rate at which all salaries can cope, otherwise everything from plumbing supplies to paid-for parking will become too expensive. At least fresh air is free.
March 29, 2012
One of the most revered hospitals in South Africa has just revealed plans to build a child disease clinic in the city of Cape Town. Red Cross Children’s Hospital is known for its brilliant work with children that are suffering or have suffered through horrendous injuries and diseases.
The Red Cross is aggressively tackling TB and diarrhoea as these are often fatal in children. By building a R30 million clinic that will provide specialist treatment for seriously ill children, the clinic will house the current Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit and a research unit. Another important department within the groundbreaking clinic is the training of specialists that will focus on childhood diseases. Healthcare logistics are at the forefront as Red Cross want to provide a top clinic to treat children with serious diseases.
Dettol SA has made a phenomenal donation of R1 million, and during the handover of the substantial amount Louise Driver, the Chief Executive Officer for the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trust , advised that the unit is sorely needed because there is no infectious diseases unit specifically geared for children. The Red Cross Children’s Hospital is committed to treating infectious diseases and eradicating these conditions that can easily be avoided with good hygiene.
The hospital has confirmed that construction on the clinic will begin in August and should take about 20 months to complete. Give the immense donation from Dettol SA and the unbelievable dedication of the staff at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital there is no doubt that everything from vaccine storage facilities to high-tech machinery will be put to the best possible use in saving the lives of the little ones who desperately need it.
March 26, 2012
Looking for something fun to do with the kids this holiday? You’re certainly not alone. How many parents are pulling their hair out because their kids are complaining of being bored and having nobody to play with? Look no further than the MTN Science Centre for a holiday programme.
Now that school holidays are here MTN science centre in Century City, Cape Town have got a holiday program going that is pretty popular with kids and parents alike. Cub Wednesdays from March 28th to April 4th is where Cubs will introduce visitors to Gutter Boat Racing. Whatever that is, it sounds like fun and is actually hugely popular with cubs the world over. Clearly MTN is more than service providers for business email and collocation hosts.
Another really cool event that science centre offers is on the last Friday of every month, the centre has a Friday Night Science Night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. where children will learn so much about the wonderful world of science and what it involves. The MTN science centre staff at Canal Walk is very hands on and children are encouraged to get involved and ask questions.
There are so many things to enjoy at the MTN science centre such as how to make mini lava lamps, and take photographs, amongst other things to enjoy. Children are taught how light bounces off objects to create kaleidoscopes, and how gravity boats attract one other. MTN is not only dedicated internet. There is life outside the digital world.
March 1, 2012
MTN is the proud sponsor of the 2012 Design Indaba. The expo opened on February 28th and will run to March 4th, 2012. It’s a highly anticipated expo every year because of its proudly South African concept. Local and national talent showcase their skills in music, education, sport, and product design.
South Africa and Africa’s biggest provider of mobile, internet, server colocation, and satellite products is to helm the welcome address for the Design Indaba. MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, Serame Taukobong opened the event on Wednesday February 29th at Cape Town’s CTICC. Taukobong expressed that this is a very exciting time for MTN as they show their encouragement for local talent and skill that is the future of South Africa.
The concept behind the MTN expo stand is for future posterity. Designers will be given the opportunity to leave their pearls of wisdom and personal philosophy on any one of the many Y’ello blocks situated around the CTICC Design Indaba venue. The idea is that MTN wants to give young designers the opportunity to immortalise their creative thoughts and inspirational expressions that scores of international delegates, and future generations, will be privy to.
The Design Indaba also recently expanded its international outreach by inviting the US-based Common Pitch to the 2012 Indaba. Common promotes social change by assisting in the networking of designers and creative’s in the way of building businesses and effecting positive change forward.
The 2012 Design Indaba is set to be one of the most exciting with the country’s large hosted exchange provider playing its first, and extremely large, role in the event. First-time designers to the event are extremely lucky to be a part of this massive local and relatively international, event.
January 18, 2012
Eco friendly is the way to go these days; even vegetarians are now referring to their eating preferences as eco friendly eating. But with eco friendly homes still amongst the minority it’s time we started seriously paying attention to the benefits a green home has, not only for the environment, but for our health too. Here are several simple tips to help you on your way to an eco friendly home, and eating.
Eco friendly home
- Recycle your old furniture that you’re thinking of tossing out. There’s no need to throw something out unless it’s been eating by termites or been burnt to smithereens. Restored furniture is the new trend, and if you don’t have any furniture take a look around some thrift stores for good deals. You’ll find gems in second-hand stores.
- Thermal curtains are great for eco friendly homes. They keep the heat in during winter and the rooms cool during summer. It’s the perfect way to naturally heat and cool your home.
- Electricity rates are going up and solar heating is becoming more and more popular thanks to the fact that we can’t be charged to use the suns energy. Consider it, because it’s just as effective, if not more so, than manually generated electricity that’s hurting the planet.
- Replace your old appliances. They were designed and made during a period that didn’t know, let alone care, about eco friendliness. There are plenty of ways to be eco friendly at home, and this is a big one. Old heaters, toasters and ovens are infamous for emitting green-house gases, so send them on their way.
Eco friendly eating
- Be Proudly South African and support local vegetable and fruit suppliers. Most frozen products have been shipped to us and have remained refrigerated for their long journeys which mean the carbon footprint from the ships is quite substantial. They also can’t touch the tastiness from home.
- What’s wrong with tap water? Nothing, in most parts of the country. The fossil fuels used to produce and ship bottled water, which is excessive and pointless when you have perfectly good drinking water in your house. Bottled water is obviously the better option when holidaying in places that don’t have access to drinking water, but make an eco friendly decision to only use it when necessary.
- Eating less meat also makes a huge difference towards an eco friendly home and diet. The amount of water, petroleum and plethora of natural resources that are used to groom livestock for slaughter is huge. Eating just one meatless meal a day can make a huge difference for a planet that needs more eco friendly homes and diets.
There are plenty of options to consider when you’ve decided eco friendly homes are the way to go. Everything from LED lighting, to solar panels and water saving shower heads, it’s all done for you and all you have to do is decide to make that change.
Some broadband internet news coming out of South Africa now; all universities and public research institutes are to be given access to broadband internet at a heightened speed. South Africa’s internet infrastructure, while being somewhat stable, has always been lagging behind international first world countries. The South African Department of Higher Education and Training has stated that the Department of Science and Technology is to invest R886 million (about $117 million) into linking local universities and public research organisations with a minimum internet bandwidth speed of 10mb/. This is big news since that speed is perhaps a premium that the average consumer in South Africa may not be able to afford.
The reasoning behind the infrastructure upgrade, which includes on-site servers and a managed firewall system, is that South Africa is looking to become a major player in international science and research. The idea is that international scientists will be able to bring their research into South Africa without fear of losing their own super-fast broadband internet service infrastructure. The project is being managed by SANReN which forms part of an initiative founded by the Department of Science and Technology; the number one priority for them has been dedicated server hosting and broadband internet access for tertiary institutions and research organisations across South Africa.
South African broadband internet has always had less than fantastic speed tests, but this heightened priority of providing universities with the infrastructure to rival first world nations might just kick things into hyper-gear. The broadband internet deals that consumers in South Africa will have available may become more sophisticated as a result of this initiative; this may return the favour for an echo of upgraded infrastructure. Freedom to access broadband internet was even made a human right by the UN recently which goes to show how important the service is for the entire human race. So many jobs and research is dependent on broadband internet these days that it makes sense to make this a high priority for educational means.