🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
AA CEO Bobby Ramagwede challenges carmakers on South African safety standards
via The Citizen4 min read
Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of the Automobile Association of South Africa AASA, has launched a campaign to improve new car safety standards in the country. He questions why the lives of South African motorists, particularly first-time buyers of entry-level cars, are valued less than those in other countries. The AA, in collaboration with the Global New Car Assessment Programme GNCAP, conducts safety tests on popular locally sold cars, revealing low ratings such as a "zero star" for the Hyundai Grand i10 and two stars for the Toyota Corolla Cross base model, with a minimum of three stars considered a passing grade. Carmakers in South Africa argue their vehicles meet homologation requirements, but GNCAP disagrees. Ramagwede's career spans various industries, including banking and healthcare administration, before he was appointed CEO of the AA. He advocates for a "delayed gratification" mindset to address issues like infrastructure maintenance. The AA, established in 1930, has over 270,000 members and is part of the African component of the FIA. Ramagwede notes that some manufacturers, like Volkswagen Group Africa, have already upgraded safety standards for their entry-level models due to the campaign.
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A new national program launching this month aims to equip doctors in South Africa with entrepreneurial skills to build and manage sustainable medical practices. Run by the Regenesys School of Entrepreneurship in association with the health and welfare Sector Education and Training Authority, the six-month program will train up to 1,000 doctors, focusing on those entering private practice or establishing independent healthcare ventures. It addresses the challenge medical professionals face in balancing clinical excellence with business realities, providing training in business design, medical billing, regulatory compliance, and partnerships. The program also offers a funding pathway, with R100,000 grants for the top five practitioners and access to loans of up to R1 million from RH Fund Managers. Dr. Reabetswe Kgoroeadira, CEO of the Regenesys School of Entrepreneurship, stated that the initiative fills a critical gap by enabling doctors to extend their impact beyond the consulting room. The fully funded program targets unemployed doctors, those completing community service, and professionals transitioning into private practice, aiming to foster a new generation of healthcare entrepreneurs to improve access, efficiency, and innovation in the sector.
Must ReadThe South African government is facing increasing pressure to stop mining companies from exporting coal to Israel, with claims that the fuel contributes to the conflict in Gaza. The SA Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions BDS coalition sent a letter to the government demanding an immediate halt to coal supply deals, arguing that continued exports contradict South Africa's stance against the alleged genocide in Palestine, especially given the country's case at the International Court of Justice ICJ. BDS highlighted that the ICJ confirmed a plausible risk of genocide in January 2024, triggering international obligations for states to prevent it. In March, BDS formally demanded that Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau use statutory powers to prohibit coal exports to Israel and delivered a report titled "Fuelling Genocide." On April 1, BDS also urged Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy to investigate and prohibit vessels transporting South African coal to Israel. The Congress of SA Trade Unions Cosatu has joined the call, with Matthew Parks stating their support for legal efforts to end Israeli aggression, including sanctions. Mining expert David van Wyk noted the difficulty in stopping these exports as private companies, not the government, mine the coal and have existing off-take agreements. Kaamil Alli, spokesperson for Minister Tau, confirmed receipt of the BDS letter and stated a response would follow. Glencore, a major mining company, declined to comment. Po
Must ReadWhile South Africa has marked 340 days without load shedding, thousands of households in Gauteng are still experiencing daily power outages due to Eskom’s load reduction program. Eskom differentiates load reduction from load shedding, explaining that load reduction targets specific communities affected by illegal connections and aging infrastructure, unlike load shedding which is a national measure for insufficient generation capacity. The utility's load reduction program involves rotating schedules, with some areas facing outages of up to four or five hours. This week, various regions across Gauteng will experience power cuts during both morning 5am to 9am and evening 5pm to 10pm windows. Affected areas include Moroka, Dhlamini, Tsakane, GaRankuwa, Winterveldt, Tlhabologo, Mabopane, Tsebe, Odinburg Gardens, Klippan, Kagiso, Protea City, Diepkloof zones 1 to 6, Spruit View, Orlando East, Tshepiso, Chiawelo, Diepsloot, Cosmo City, South Roodepoort, Zandspruit, Nomzamo, Langaville, and City of Johannesburg Lakeside, among others. Eskom aims to eliminate load reduction entirely by 2027 through a phased program targeting 971 feeders and approximately 1.69 million customers. Key interventions include the rollout of smart meters, integration of Distributed Energy Resources, expansion of free basic electricity support, and customer education initiatives. Eskom noted that despite the underlying issues, the power system remains stable and generation capacity exceeds demand, with South
Must ReadANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula stated that the ANC is not responsible for the election of some controversial mayors in the City of Johannesburg, attributing this to the current era of coalition politics in South Africa. Speaking in Johannesburg, Mbalula highlighted that the ANC sometimes has no alternative but to negotiate with other parties in municipalities, even if it means supporting candidates from smaller parties. He noted the fragility of coalition politics in Johannesburg, which has seen multiple mayors since the 2021 local government elections, including Mpho Moerane, Mpho Phalatse, Thapelo Amad, Kabelo Gwamanda, and current mayor Dada Morero. Mbalula mentioned that the ANC and its partners elected Amad as mayor in 2023, but he was later asked to resign due to allegations of incompetence. He also referenced a similar situation in the City of Ekurhuleni where a mayor from a small party was removed for inefficiency. Mbalula indicated that both the DA and ANC now support new legislation for a threshold in coalition arrangements to reduce the likelihood of small party candidates holding mayoral positions, a proposal smaller parties are rejecting. He added that the ANC aims for an outright majority rather than coalition governance. Regarding the appointment of the EFF's Nkululeko Dunga as Gauteng's Finance MEC, Mbalula asserted that the ANC is not to blame, as coalition partners provide their own candidates.