Second teenager apprehended for Philippi attack on members of parliament

Posted on August 20, 2025August 20, 2025 by

Western Cape serious and violent crime detectives. in pursuance of leads in the investigation into an attack on three members of Parliament in Philippi on Tuesday afternoon. worked through the night and in the early hours of Wednesday morning effected the arrest of a second suspect.

The 16 year old who was arrested in Browns Farm has since been charged.

The first suspect, an 18-year-old male was apprehended on Tuesday evening as he sought medical assistance at a facility in Lentegeur. It is believed he was shot during the attack on the three victims when one of the vehicle occupants allegedly fired a shot in response to the attack. He is currently under police guard in hospital.

Initial reports of the crime incident indicate the attack was perpetrated by three male suspects. The investigation continues with another arrest expected in due course.

The suspects face attempted murder and attempted hijacking charges.

DA Condemns Attack on MPs in Philippi

Posted on August 20, 2025August 20, 2025 by

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has condemned an attempted robbery attack on three of its Members of Parliament during an oversight visit in Philippi on Tuesday afternoon.

MPs Ian Cameron, Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell were returning from an inspection at the police training college when their vehicle was targeted. Gotsell was struck on the head with a brick and hospitalised, but his condition is not critical. Cameron sustained minor injuries but managed to act in self-defence, preventing further harm.

DA Chief Whip in Parliament, George Michalakis, said the incident highlights the extent of South Africa’s crime crisis, which affects all citizens. “No South African is unaffected by crime. This is a portrayal of the out-of-control crime that South Africans face daily, and no one is exempt from it,” he said.

The DA has renewed its call for the Minister of Police to prioritise the resourcing of the SAPS in high-crime areas such as Philippi. The party expressed gratitude to the City of Cape Town Metro, the Western Cape provincial government, SAPS members who assisted, and the emergency medical teams for their swift response.

“We trust that law enforcement will bring the perpetrators to account, but urgent intervention is needed. The Minister must ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to crime-ridden areas to prevent future incidents and the loss of life,” Michalakis added.

All three MPs are now safe.

Eskom launches first-ever Renewable Energy Offtake Programme

Posted on August 20, 2025August 20, 2025 by

Eskom has announced the launch of its first-ever Renewable Energy Offtake Programme.

This marks a significant milestone in the utility’s strategic objective to facilitate a “competitive future energy industry” and integrate more clean power into the national grid.

In a statement on Tuesday, the power utility said that it was transitioning its generation mix from predominantly coal to a blended portfolio with an increasing proportion of clean energy sources by 2040.

The programme, unveiled through a Request for Proposal (RFP), invites large power users to procure 291MW of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) capacity through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) from Eskom-owned renewable energy sites.

According to Eskom, this programme follows a successful Expression of Interest (EOI) process and extensive engagement with commercial and industrial customers, which revealed strong demand for direct contracting through long-term PPAs.

These agreements enable businesses to align with global sustainability standards, reduce carbon footprints, and green their supply chains, enhancing competitiveness.

The RFP offers tailored solutions that meet operational requirements while contributing to South Africa’s decarbonisation goals.

Successful bidders will enter PPAs ranging from 5 to 25 years, with renewable energy delivered in phases from multiple Eskom projects. The earliest project is expected to reach commercial operation by December 2027.

Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, said the programme was a crucial step in reshaping the company’s generation mix.

“This is the next step in the focused execution of our strategy to integrate additional renewable energy into the grid, in line with global electricity industry trends for environmentally sustainable solutions that support broader decarbonisation objectives.

“We have seen strong interest in Eskom’s capabilities in green energy supply, which this programme demonstrates. Just over a year into our turnaround strategy, we are not only focused on ending loadshedding but are also pivoting Eskom into a sustainable and competitive company while ensuring security of supply through a customer-centric approach,” Marokane said.

Eskom Distribution Acting Group Executive, Agnes Mlambo, said the programme signalled Eskom’s innovation in building a resilient energy future.

“This programme demonstrates Eskom’s commitment to innovation and building a cleaner, more resilient energy future. By offering customised renewable energy offtake solutions, we are enabling our customers to transition to low-carbon operations while ensuring a secure and competitive supply, through customer-centred solutions,” Mlambo said.

She added that structured engagement with the private sector would give impetus to Eskom’s efforts to create a sustainable pathway for clean power integration into the grid.

Eskom said it continues to develop a balanced energy mix, comprising coal, nuclear, gas, renewables, and energy storage solutions such as Battery Energy Storage Systems and pumped hydro.

The power utility added that a renewable energy business will accelerate deployment of green projects, targeting 2 gigawatts (GW) of construction-ready capacity by 2026 and scaling up to 32GW, including Green Hydrogen projects, by 2040

SA Agricultural Sector demonstrates remarkable growth and resilience

Posted on August 20, 2025August 20, 2025 by

The South African agricultural sector has demonstrated remarkable growth and resilience in the face of significant global trade headwinds, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen notes as recent data show South Africa’s exports have not only remained competitive, but have increased in the second quarter of 2025 to US$161 million, up by 26% from the same period in 2024.

“However, it is important to examine this performance with a forward-looking perspective. The recent imposition of a 30% tariff on our exports by the United States (US) has brought to light the urgent need to diversify our export markets and enhance our competitiveness to mitigate the economic impact of losing preferential trade access.”

Minister Steenhuisen says the results of the second quarter of 2025 also highlight how urgent it is to resolve the ongoing tariff talks with the US. “Our capacity to gain steady, long-term access to this important market continues to be a top priority,” he adds.

The figures speak for themselves. In the first quarter of 2025, South African agricultural exports to the US were US$118 million, up by 19% year-on-year.

“This growth is not merely a statistical anomaly, but a reflection of a bountiful harvest, a surge in high-quality produce, and the efficient operation of our ports. The products leading this charge include a variety of fruits such as citrus, grapes, apples and pears, as well as nuts and wine. As we continue to engage in diplomatic negotiations and work towards a more favourable trade agreement, the focus remains on ensuring that our farmers and exporters can continue to thrive in the global marketplace, securing the future of our agricultural sector,” Minister Steenhuisen emphasised.