Eskom gets new board  

BONUS - RUSTENBURG - The board of state power utility Eskom Holdings has been revamped. Mpho Makwana has been named as its new chairman, as the government searches for solutions to end a worsening energy crisis that’s crippling the economy. Eskom, which supplies more than 90% of the power used in Africa’s most industrialised economy, has imposed record power cuts this year, despite a program to improve maintenance on its old and unreliable coal-fired plants. The addition of several board members with technical expertise is the latest move by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration to desperately try and improve its performance. Other members of the new board, which will took office on Saturday, are Busisiwe Vilakazi, Lwazi Goqwana, Clive le Roux, Leslie Mkhabela, Mteto Nyati, Fathima Gany, Ayanda Mafuleka, Tsakani Mthombeni, Claudelle von Eck, Tryphosa Ramano and Bheki Ntshalintshali. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan made the announcement in an online briefing on Friday (30 September). Makwana serves on a number of other boards including as a non-executive chairman of Arcelor Mittal South Africa. Several of the new appointees have technical backgrounds, including Le Roux, Eskom’s chief nuclear officer, and Goqwana, an engineer. Rod Crompton, who served on the previous board will retain his post, as will chief executive officer Andre de Ruyter and chief financial officer Calib Cassim. Efforts to disrupt operations, which have include sabotage, continue at the utility, said Gordhan, who expects outages to decline next week. Ramaphosa has called for the rapid procurement of more power from privately owned plants for the past two years, but that initiative has encountered procedural and legal delays and new plants will take months if not years to be brought online. De Ruyter has said that as much as 6 000 megawatts of capacity is needed to stabilise the system. Most of Eskom’s previous board members were appointed in December 2017. They include its Chairman Malegapuru Makgoba, a molecular immunologist, Tshepo Mongalo, a law professor, and Banothile Makhubela, who has a doctorate in chemistry. Before Friday’s announcement, the number of board members was down to just five, after several resignations.

National Championships in Rustenburg

BONUS - RUSTENBURG - On 3 October to 8 October 2022, Integrated Artistic Acrobatic Association of South Africa’s (IAAASA) National Championships will take place at Selly Park Secondary School in Rustenburg. 
There will be eleven Acrobatic dance studios competing at the competition.

Dance studios from Stilbaai, Durban, Middelburg, Standerton, Ermelo, Heidelberg, Randfontein, Magaliesburg, Rustenburg and Stilfontein will be competing. It is open to the public and everyone is welcome. They will start at 08:00 and will finish every night at about 20:00. 

On Saturday 8 October in the afternoon they will have a showcase and awards ceremony. For more information, you may also visit their Facebook page. It is a week packed with Acrobatic dancing ranging from solos, duets, trios, quartets, characters and groups. Entrance fees: R50 per day or R40 per session. Half price for pensioners and children under 12 years.

💍 Troukiekie-kompetisie 💍

Jan 2020-Junie 2022: Bruide skryf só in!

RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - Is jy enige tyd sedert die begin van 2020 getroud? 

Indien wel, wil ons vir jou R10 000 gee as lesers jou troufoto kies as die wenner van ons Troukiekie-kompetisie. 

Dit is wat op die spel is indien jy sedert 1 Januarie 2020 is, of voor, of op 30 Junie 2022 die ja-woord gee. 

Die enigste vangplek is dat jy steeds getroud moet wees teen die einde van die kompetisie om vir die prys in aanmerking te kom.

Volg die skakel om nou in te skryf vir net R66.00 per foto!      

 Skryf Nou In!

 The latest edition of this week’s Rustenburg Herald is now available on street and in shops. 

24 June 2022

Get yours now for all the latest news, events, achievements and sport.

RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - Tough competition in Production Vehicle Category and three days of greulling racing on the menu for TGRSA 1000 Desert Race.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing SA (TGRSA) 1000 Desert Race, the second round of the South African Rally-Raid Championship that takes place over three days, from 24 to 26 June, and almost a thousand kilometres in the Upington area in the Northern Cape, has drawn a starstudded field in the Production Vehicle Category, as the already high level of competition has been lifted another bar with the inclusion of a class for vehicles that will revel in the desert conditions.

Read more here

 Help die kindertjies - Care 2b Kind

RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - Care 2b Kind wil graag van die geleentheid gebruik maak om elke “engel” wat sover vir hulle ‘n bydrae gemaak het, te bedank. 

Daar is al amper R7 000 ingesamel en hulle vra asseblief dat elkeen wat hier lees, ‘n bydrae moet maak, sodat daar R45 000 ingesamel kan word. Hulle kan nie sekere gesinne uitsonder en slegs vir hulle kos gee en nie vir die ander nie en daarom vra hulle asseblief maak u harte oop vir die kindertjies in hierdie gesinne. Care 2b Kind het R45 000 per maand nodig om gedeeltelik in die behoeftige gesinne se behoeftes te kan voorsien. Dan is daar nog die melk en doeke wat aangekoop moet word - meer as 15 mammas wat op hulle staatmaak. 

Bankbesonderhede: Care 2b Kind, Absa-spaarrekening 9309 832 892, 632-005.

 Rules homeowners should know before installing solar power

RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - There are several pitfalls when using solar power that can result in things going wrong during the insurance claims stage, warns Tarina Vlok, Managing Director of a specialist high net worth insurer. 

Wealthy South Africans are reducing their reliance on Eskom’s national grid by partially or fully converting their households to solar energy. Some wish to escape the ever-increasing price hikes, and others want a reliable power supply free from load-shedding interruptions. Many want to do their part for the planet by using cleaner energy.

However, homeowners should ensure their solar installations comply with regulations, so they do not run into issues with their insurer down the line.

“The installation of solar geyser systems differ immensely from that of an electrical system and is subject to strict regulations,” said Vlok.

“We often have to reject claims or are unable to replace geysers because the previous installation did not comply with regulation.”

Full solar energy installations are expensive — ranging from R80,000 for small grid-tied systems to over R500,000 to take a larger house completely off-grid.

“If you are spending this kind of money on a solar system, then it makes sense to work with qualified technicians and installers who know what they are doing,” added Vlok.

“You don’t want any regrets should you need to ever claim from your insurer.”

Vlok noted that an engineer’s certificate must be issued for all solar geyser installations of 300 litres or more. She also encouraged clients to ensure that their solar geyser systems are installed by technicians who are well versed with the regulations and supported by the appropriate engineering professionals.

“Policyholders should make sure that their installer demonstrates that they are familiar with the technical regulations relating to solar installations,” said Vlok.

She summarised them as follows:

* Installers must ensure that the roof structure can support the solar system. Where it is impossible to comply, a professional engineer or registered technologist must design the installation so that the standard’s safety and performance principles are incorporated. 

* Water heaters or storage tanks with a capacity of 200 litres or more may not be attached to a wall. 

* The solar system must be installed so that it does not accelerate the deterioration of the roof. To avoid catastrophes when it comes to the claims stage, Vlok encouraged policyholders to use their insurer’s network to find accredited technicians and installers who can put the right solutions in place.

“If your electrical geyser bursts and you want to replace it, some specialist insurers will offer you the opportunity to use the claim payment to pay either in part or full for a solar geyser system instead of a new electric geyser,” Vlok concluded.