Described as a Las Vegas-type of establishment, the resort has it all. There are water parks, heated pools, restaurants, gaming centres, sports facilities and casinos for those who want to try their luck with “the house”. 

Media houses this week reported on financials under the Sun International umbrella and  reported considerable growth in the past month. The hospitality side of its business showed a 12.3% growth, Sun International reported. 

After struggling during the Covid-19 period the hotel chain looks to be back on its feet with international and local guests contributing to that success. “Sun City made R904 million in income for the reported period. The resort made approximately R150.67 million in a month,” The Citizen newspaper reported. 

Despite its change in fortune, Sun City remains pricey for the average South African. The hotels are extremely expensive and its premier hotel, The Palace, is priced beyond the absurd. Many people can afford it only by asking valued members to book on their behalf and check them in. 

For the time-share Vacation Club, resellers who sell their timeshare weeks or weekends are how people visit the establishment without paying levies and monthly prices. I was lucky enough to spend a weekend at the Vacation Club recently. 

The trip was fun with numerous activities to keep my toddler entertained. The blend of swimming pools, jungle gyms and halaal food made it a lovely weekend getaway. Spending the weekend in Sun City at the same time as  the Boks were taking on New Zealand and Liverpool was visiting Manchester United meant various sporting fans were all over the place amid drunken celebrations.

The resort has changed considerably from when I was a teen chasing girls in the entertainment centre and the Valley of the Waves. For one, there is no longer the spring break party it used to have, with the best DJs in the country performing. You could not find a better party in the 2000s than spring in Sun City.

The games are much improved and preteens flush with coins to play them. I remember playing Marvel vs DC, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat until late into the night before indulging in Juicy Lucy’s cheezas, otherwise known as savoury waffles. There are more modern games to tackle now and Milky Lane’s savoury waffles do not compare, neither does the ice cream.

The casino has moved to the main hotel which makes the entertainment centre a much more pleasurable experience. There is an adults-only pool, more luxury services for premium guests, padel courts and a bounce park for the little ones. 

One can indulge in the various culinary options without the jarring sounds of casino games clinking fake money. Having gone at the start of spring I must confess the water was icy. The wave pool was akin to the waters of the Atlantic and I only lasted 10 minutes in the water with my two shivering nieces opting for the slides instead.

There’s a fairly new slide in the offing which adrenaline seekers will love. The slide places you in a capsule while an automated voice counts you down before the floor is ripped away from under you and you drop suspended for about one metre before hitting the slide and flying through it at a frantic pace. My organs have finally settled back into place. 

The Slide of Courage remains a fan-favourite with a steep drop and a tremendous wedgie when exiting the slide. I would highly recommend it if you need to feel alive.

The resort is often referred to as the jewel of South Africa and it’s easy to see why. It does have a somewhat chequered history, though. During the apartheid regime it was built in what was known then as Bophuthatswana (which as an 11-year-old was the first “difficult” word my father insisted I learn to spell). 

This meant that while South Africa, because of its apartheid policies, lost out on many international artists because of a UN cultural boycott, Sun City was absolved from this ban because it was not “formally” in South Africa. This led to a host of global artists performing there in the 80s. 

Stars like Dolly Parton, Queen, Elton John and Liza Minnelli played at Sun City in Bophuthatswana. They were reportedly paid handsomely by the apartheid government, in some cases, around $2 million, rumour has it. 

But it also sparked a wave of protests. In a research paper Jonathan Richard Freeman wrote: “In 1985, Artists United Against Apartheid was a protest group founded by two Americans, activist and performer Steven Van Zandt and record producer Arthur Baker, to protest against apartheid in South Africa. The group produced the song Sun City and the album Sun City that year.

“Taking up the plight of South Africa and protesting against apartheid and racism, this album features a massive assembly of soul, funk, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, and rock artists. Musically, Sun City is firmly rooted in funk with strong, heavily percussive beats and a combination of P-Funk and African rhythms, with some seventies fusion jazz thrown in.”

The song opened eyes to South Africans’ oppression and it became a song of resistance, which was naturally banned by the apartheid regime. 

The resort is still home to the iconic golf challenge which takes place every year and pulls in some major names in golf. 

If you can look past the fearless monkeys at the resort and bypass the exorbitant costs of the hotels by purchasing through resellers, Sun City remains a gem of a holiday, catering for all ages and types. And for those in Johannesburg seeking a short staycation less than two hours away, I would highly recommend it. 

Disclaimer: This is not a paid promotion, instead it is a review from a person who thoroughly enjoyed a recent visit to Sun City.

The European commissioner for energy, Kadri Simson, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau announced the two grants in a joint statement, saying the partnership will focus on building  more renewable energy infrastructure, improve energy efficiency and promote sustainable practices. 

“The first, a R490 million EU grant, is expected to leverage R10 billion in private and public sector finance across the hydrogen value chain, covering production, transportation, storage and downstream industries,” they said in the statement on Monday.

This is in line with South Africa’s plans to expand the green hydrogen sector and comes after the announcement of an agreement to launch a $1 billion blended finance fund to help accelerate its development.

The EU grant will be delivered in two tranches, the second of which is meant for Transnet, the state-owned company that manages the country’s rail ports and pipelines. 

“A second EU grant of R138 million to assist Transnet in its turn-around strategy, is expected to leverage additional funding for the green transformation of its core operational areas, including ports, rail, pipeline, engineering and related facilities,” the statement read. 

The topic of green hydrogen is polarising, with proponents arguing that it is a cleaner energy alternative and can play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions. It can be used in electricity production, fuel, powering vehicles, and manufacturing sectors like steel. Detractors say green hydrogen is problematic because it requires a lot of land and energy to produce. And, unless the energy is renewable, green hydrogen will not be a clean source. 

“The main objective is to increase investments in green hydrogen infrastructure and contribute to: reducing global greenhouse emissions, notably in sectors where this is particularly challenging, and promoting local development and economic growth by creating jobs, providing water treatment, and increasing access to [green] energy,” the statement said.

The project aims to help Transnet reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040 through studies and pilot projects “focused on the production and storage of low-carbon hydrogen, and mobilising technical assistance to structure Transnet’s green hydrogen strategy and allow for the scaling up of green hydrogen projects in South Africa”.

Simson said partnering with South Africa “shows the EU Global Gateway strategy in action, boosting smart, clean and secure connections in the energy and transport sections”.

“Our cooperation in support of South Africa’s green hydrogen agenda aims to accelerate the green transition, drive sustainable development, create new economic opportunities, and build a more sustainable future for the region,” she added.

The breeding and release programme of the birds, which are classified as vulnerable, began in 1996 and has been hailed as a success by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi).

“Released vultures are monitored through GPS tracking devices, which provide us with invaluable data on their adaptation and movements in the wild. Some of our released birds have travelled as far as Lesotho and Botswana, which is encouraging evidence that they are integrating into wild populations,” said Sanbi spokesperson Ednah Sekwakwa.

A GPS device is laced around the vulture’s pelvic bones, allowing the birds to move without discomfort and enabling researchers to monitor their journeys across Southern Africa, Sanbi said in a statement.

Sekwakwa said that according to the latest global assessment, in 2021, “the Cape vulture population is between 9 600 and 12 800. “This range highlights their vulnerable status and underscores the need for continued intervention,” she said. 

The Cape vulture is native to South Africa, eSwatini, Lesotho and parts of Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Sekwakwa said the population is threatened by poisonings and power line collisions. 

“The biggest challenge facing vulture conservation is both intentional and accidental poisoning. Intentional poisoning is often linked to the illegal wildlife trade, where vultures are targeted for their body parts,” Sekwakwa said.

Vultures are believed to have healing powers and are considered valuable in traditional medicine.

“Accidental poisoning, however, occurs when vultures feed on carcasses that have been poisoned as part of predator control efforts. This unintended consequence remains one of the most significant threats to the species’ survival in the wild,” said Sekwakwa.

Cape vultures are one part of the initiative to safeguard vulture species. There are a number of plans in place to protect vultures across the country.

Sanbi said that without dedicated conservation efforts the Cape vulture “is highly susceptible to extinction”.

The breeding and release programme is carried out with the vulture conservation group, VulPro, and is part of the multi-species biodiversity management plan gazetted by the former minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, Barbara Creecy.

According to the department, the plan is “to implement comprehensive strategic conservation actions that cover the geographic ranges of all nine vulture species found in South Africa, with a particular focus on the seven resident breeding species”.  

Sarah Chabangu, the curator of birding at the Pretoria Zoo, said: “Our Cape vulture breeding programme has been a cornerstone of our conservation efforts for nearly three decades. The progress we’ve made, in collaboration with VulPro and other partners, is a testament to our commitment to protecting this vulnerable species.”

She said the multi-species biodiversity management plan “will guide our efforts in the coming years, ensuring that these birds continue to soar in the skies of Southern Africa”.

Aside from the breeding and release, Sanbi is involved in education and awareness initiatives about why the species is important and needs to be conserved.

“These talks, combined with our ongoing public education campaigns, are essential in raising awareness and shifting public perceptions. Additionally, our partnership with conservation organisations like VulPro plays a critical role in supporting broader conservation strategies, including anti-poisoning efforts and habitat protection initiatives,” Sanbi said.

Of the vultures released in 2015, Sanbi said two had died and one was electrocuted by power lines in September 2020, “a reminder of the dangers vultures face in the wild”.

Of those released in 2024, one had travelled across South Africa and Lesotho, another “removed” its tracking device and the third had to be euthanised after a severe injury.

Apprehensive walk to work

It’s 6:30am on the quiet streets of Crosby in Johannesburg as Galima Sibeko walks to the Brixton police station, which is about 1km away from where she lives. From there she catches a bus to work in Morningside. 

Despite the five to six-minute walk, Sibeko is always on edge. “I fear being mugged, kidnapped. Basically I fear men,” the 24-year-old human resources assistant said.

“I feel this fear the most when I’m walking in the streets to get to the bus or to go to the shop to buy groceries.”

Winter is more terrifying because the sun rises late. “There’s usually no one in the streets because it’s dark, so I always walk looking behind me just to make sure no one is following me”.

Sibeko reads the domestic crime statistics religiously. The stats for the second quarter of 2023-24 showed that there were 10 516 reported rapes, 1  514 cases of attempted murder and 14  401 assaults against women. In the same period, 881 women were murdered. 

Sibeko is scared to leave her daughter with anyone, even relatives, when she has to work.

“Young boys can do things to young girls. It’s very scary,” she said.

Even the occasional catcalls she gets during her walk worry her, because there is the danger of that the men could become aggressive if she ignores them. 

Sibeko is grateful that she has never been physically harmed, but wonders how long it will be before she is next.

‘I always park close to doors’ 

Nolwazi Sibiya, who lives in Midrand, is very deliberate about where she parks her car when she goes out. 

“There are certain parking spaces that I don’t go to. I try to park closer to the doors at the malls so that I am not in a secluded place. I keep pepper spray as well.” 

Sibiya hasn’t had a personal experience, but has heard stories about other women being attacked or kidnapped in parking lots. At shopping malls, she makes it a point never to go to the bathroom alone.

“Unfortunately, because we only have ourselves, we can’t rely on the justice system or police or anything, we have to take extra precaution,” she says. “You have to be responsible for yourself. There’s always that thing at the back of your head everywhere you go.”

‘You can’t really be you’ 

Galaletsang Phongwako works at a male-dominated logistics company and feels her safety is compromised “almost every day”.

“My company is built for men and I’m a woman, so obviously, it doesn’t favour me much. 

“It makes me so angry that even after 30 years of being a democratic country and establishing systems where equality and safety for all is supposed to be implemented, I still feel so unsafe in a country where I am supposed to feel safe. So I feel like I don’t belong.” 

Phongwako likes clubbing, but has had to change the way she dresses so that she can feel safe. 

“I don’t wear short things. I don’t wear things that are revealing enough for men to have the temptation to force me enough to do something that I’m not comfortable with.

“I try to cover up so I’m not in danger of being raped, sexually harassed or even touched or somebody comments things to me that I don’t like. You can’t really dress like you want. You can’t really be yourself for your own safety.” 

Gang violence, cat-calls

Vernetia Lewis is from Cape Town and said she feels unsafe where she lives because of the danger of being caught in the crossfire between rival gangs. She also feels unsafe driving alone at night or walking through the streets of her neighbourhood.

“I recall a specific incident when my parents were away overnight, and there was an attempt to break into our home. I was alone with my two younger siblings, and it seemed as though the perpetrators were aware of my parents’ absence,” she said. 

As a social worker, Lewis tries to make a difference in the lives of young people, hoping to help create a South Africa where women can feel safe in their everyday lives.

‘Fearful but I speak out’

Laaiqa Variawa, 25, tries not to live under the constant shadow of fear, but makes sure to always be aware of her surroundings, avoid walking alone at night, and stay informed about local crime trends. 

“I also believe that it’s important to speak out against gender-based violence and support initiatives that work towards creating a safer environment for all,” said Variawa, who has been subjected to catcalling when using public transport, at work or even out shopping at the mall. For her, there is always the worry that the catcalling could degenerate to physical assault. 

Variawa recalls a day she was taking an elevator at the mall towards the parking lot when she noticed a man behind her. Unsure about his intentions, she walked back into the mall and waited for more people to head towards the parking lot so that she was not alone.

Cost of reporting violence

Bronwyn Marcus is outspoken about gender-based violence and the fact that perpetrators lurking in churches, businesses and homes often get away with their crimes simply because it is too costly — emotionally and financially — for women to lay criminal charges.

Marcus, the editor of the Unfold Durban guide, attended a widely publicised event in July for which she had already purchased a ticket.

“Upon arrival, it was apparent the event was over capacity, leading to traffic, access and safety problems for the public, prompting questions from members of the public and I sought some answers on their behalf,” she said.

“Unfortunately, a senior official responsible for the event took umbrage at being asked these questions. His approach was surly and combative. 

“In an attempt to stop me from recording his abrupt answers, he tried to grab my phone out of my hands. In the process he grabbed my wrist with severe force to prevent me from countering his phone snatch.

“I tried to free myself and retreat but he tightened his grasp and injured my wrist as I wrestled away. Perhaps he was afraid that the misogynistic and condescending retorts he was giving were being recorded. Afraid his carefully cultivated public image might be shattered? Yet, by choosing violence he shattered it all by himself.”

Marcus did not open a case of attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances with the police for the same reason many women are silent about their abuse — she views the legal system as too onerous.

To open a case she would need to be examined by a doctor to get a medical certificate.

“And I would have to spend money to travel to the police station to open a charge. Unfortunately, a powerful individual like this could also make my life extremely difficult through his commercial and social contacts, so I had to weigh up the short- and long-term costs of being abused further through the wielding of his power.”

The Daily Maverick reported recently that customers relying on electricity supply from municipalities would be hit hard as Eskom is considering increases of 43.55% in 2026; 3.36% in 2027 and 11.07% in 2028, with the first increase set to be implemented on 1 July 2025. These price hikes would see the utility collecting revenue above R400 billion for each year.

It also reported that there is a request to Nersa for an increase of 36.15% in the standard tariff that it charges non-municipal customers during the financial year 2026, 11.81% in 2027, and 9.10% in 2028. 

This year Nersa approved a 12.74% tariff increase which kicked in from April. A 40% hike in the electricity price is unmanageable for most South Africans. People can barely afford the cost of living now. This type of price hike would affect poor and middle-income households the most. 

Eskom and Nersa regularly disagree on tariff hikes with Eskom generally receiving less than the requested tariff hike. This was often the case in the past few years. The power utility has constantly argued that revenue sales in electricity are not enough to cover its debt. The plan to open up the electricity market as part of the Electricity Regulation Bill which has recently passed through the National Council of Provinces means it will struggle to make up revenue as electricity will not be monopolised by Eskom.

But Eskom is staying mum on this request to Nersa. In its recent summer outlook briefing, a question was posed to Eskom heads on the tariff. Calib Cassim the chief financial officer said that the utility consults with the South African Local Government Association and the national treasury before submitting to Nersa. He confirmed that a submission was made to Nersa for multi-year price determinations. Only once Nersa publishes the tariff request does the utility publish and open up discussions, he said. 

The tariff hike would be for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

Minister of electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has said before in his updates that the situation is unmanageable for most consumers, implying that people will have to balance keeping the lights or buying food. 

It’s clear that the minister acknowledges that the tariffs are high and higher tariffs are unaffordable for most people. He has indicated that the price of electricity has increased by almost 400% in the past 10 years. South Africa has one of the highest rates of electricity. It is higher than countries such as Brazil, China, India and the United States. 

MyBroadBand has also reported that South Africa’s residential electricity prices are well above the average tariff in 144 countries and more expensive than in most African countries, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.

For a country with such high unemployment rates, these prices have to become more affordable. But aside from saying innovative solutions are needed, nothing else is being done to lower these prices. 

Financially, Eskom has battled a growing municipal debt leaving it requiring bailouts from the treasury. This means that electricity consumers face a serious burden paying for electricity. In previous years when load-shedding was rife, diesel was used to run open-cycle gas turbines at great costs, often in the billions. This would undoubtedly affect the price of electricity. 

But this year, load-shedding has come down significantly, with more than 150 days of no power cuts. That means the use of diesel has significantly gone down. Yet, the alleged tariff hike remains. 

The alleged tariff hike has reached some important ears. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to parliament to debate the hike which was approved by National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza. It has also written to Nersa to protest such a hike. 

The party believes the hike is exorbitant and will severely affect the average South African. 

Nersa has confirmed that Eskom has put in a request for a tariff hike without confirming how much. It has said in a statement it will be handled properly with consultation and transparency. 

Nersa’s head of electricity regulation Nhlanhla Gumede has recently been in the news as well. He recently said the regulator made a crucial mistake in the past regarding the approval of tariff increases. He said the prices were regulated according to Eskom’s revenue instead of the cost of the supply. 

The regulation of these tariffs has also been questioned by Ramokgopa who has called for the methodology to be reviewed. This cannot happen soon enough as South Africans can ill-afford such high tariff hikes. It needs urgent addressing or electricity will only be affordable for the rich.

Eskom has had 152 days without load-sedding.

“Against this backdrop, if we keep unplanned losses below 13GW [gigawatts], we should have a load shedding-free summer,” Marokane said. “In the worst case, if there is 15.5GW of unplanned losses, we will at most experience stage two,” Marokane told a media briefing on the summer outlook.  

Marokane said there was a clear drop in unplanned losses from last year and the Eskom team was focused on maintaining this trajectory. He showed a graphic illustrating that in May 2023, unplanned losses were about 18 000MW compared with 11 300MW in July this year.

If the unplanned losses can be kept at under 13 000MW, load-shedding can be averted, the Eskom boss said. He was also optimistic that by the end of the year, the utility would get an additional 2 500MW from the Koeberg, Medupi, Kusile and Tutuka power stations.

The better performance in terms of unplanned losses was a result of “calculated moves and deliberate intentions”, he said, adding that there had been a focus on the generation recovery plan. 

He said the improved energy availability had resulted in better staff morale and was also a boost for the economy.

Marokane said the load-reductions being implemented in some areas had nothing to do with “imbalance from a generation perspective” , but rather “it has everything to do with illegal connections. We need to tackle this as a society.”

Eskom said in a statement spending on diesel has been reduced by about R10 billion, a decrease of about 75% compared with the same period last year. The statement also said the year-to-date (1 April 2024 to 22 August 2024) energy availability factor is at 63.54%, a significant improvement of about 8.1% compared with the same period last year (55.41%).

Marokane said planned maintenance had also improved by 10.3%.

He noted that summer brings with it wet weather and heat, saying this was why Eskom was being cautious in its forecasts.

The Eskom boss said he believed that fixing power stations and stabilising electricity supply would make it possible for renewable energy sources to take shape, adding that the utility was focused on increasing capacity from coal-fleet.

If the generation capacity continued in the same trajectory, the end of load-shedding could be in sight, he said.

“Generation capacity from Medupi unit four, Kusile unit six and a second unit are going through its long-term operation programme,” he said.

“That 2 500MW will add significant margins to our reserves and once we have that, together with the sustained performance we are seeing, we should have a conversation around March [2025] as to when we can essentially indicate that from our perspective load-shedding at the chronic level that it was, is behind us.”

Eskom generation executive Bheki Nxumalo said the improvement in the utility’s fleet was a result of maintaining the power stations’ energy availability factor at a high level, with some key stations constantly maintaining an energy availability factor of higher than 60%.

Based on a letter sent out by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) COP 28 presidency, the Azerbaijani COP 29 presidency, and the Brazilian COP 30 presidency, ambitions to keep the world at this level will be one of the event’s crucial discussions. 

According to the Paris Agreement, a legal document about keeping global climate change under 2°C, countries are called on to lower carbon emissions by forming nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which are commitments countries make to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of mitigating climate change. These commitments are set to be renewed next year as part of the agreement. 

COP29 looks to promote discussions around what countries need to achieve global goals of reducing climate change. It will look at how countries can be supported, what barriers exist and how implementing these NDCs can be achieved. 

Assessing how far countries are in achieving these goals will be crucial, especially looking to next year, when they are to be updated. 

Climate Analytics, a global climate science and policy institute, has created a tool to assess how countries are faring with their NDCs ahead of the crucial COP29 this year and COP30 next year in Brazil. 

The tool uses data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and scientific evidence to show how countries across levels of development can align their decarbonisation efforts with the Paris Agreement to prevent climate change and its effects.

Let’s take a look at how South Africa is progressing.

Under current policies, the tool says South Africa will not reach its climate goals. To reach the goal of 1.5°C, emissions will need to fall significantly. It found that coal must be phased out by 2030 to 2035. 

Coal makes up most of South Africa’s power supply, roughly 85%, and that needs to drop significantly if 1.5°C is to be reached. 

But the draft Integrated Resources Plan (IRP), the country’s energy blueprint, highlights the need to extend the life of coal. This is not in line with the country’s NDC ambitions as coal-fired power stations contribute significantly to the country’s emissions. 

Coal is still featured in the plan as critical to stabilising the country’s power supply, where the problems are well documented. 

The IRP Horizon One calls for a delay in decommissioning coal stations, which is one of the reasons why the country will battle to reach its climate goals. 

While it doesn’t call for new coal-fired stations, which is good, delaying decommissioning will undoubtedly not see the country in a favourable light at the talks.

Renewable initiatives are lacking. “South Africa’s 2023 draft energy plan envisions an estimated 22% renewables in the power system by 2030, down from 33% in the 2019 plan. This is well short of the 75-93% required under a 1.5°C-compatible pathway. 

“While market signals, such as record-breaking imports of solar components in 2023, indicate that a more rapid deployment of renewables is underway, stronger targets are needed to guide policy and drive ambition,” the tool found. 

However, the country is making some strides in fighting climate change. The recently signed climate change bill is one of them. It looks to “ensure that South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions”, the presidency said.

Renewables need to be scaled up and not down — this is a key flaw in the draft IRP. The country needs ambitious renewable rollouts to ensure our climate goals are realised. 

The tool found a “rapid uptake of renewables reaching 93% of generation by 2030 and near phase-out of coal by 2030” could help the country reach its goal of net-zero emissions. 

In its current form, the renewable output for the country is at 4.5 gigawatts of new wind and solar between now and 2030. 

Energy writer Nick Hedley writes this, combined with private sector-led projects, would lift the share of renewables in the power mix to 22% by the end of the decade. It is nowhere near enough to reach the climate goals.

To ensure renewables are scaled up funding must be secured. These funds need to come from COP negotiations. It will ensure grid capacity, which means more renewable projects can come online and a lower reliance on coal. Funds are also needed for renewable energy technologies.

Closing the funding gap and ensuring countries can achieve their NDCs will be a goal at COP29.

The advert was placed on a webpage promoting the #FuelYourExperience competition, together with South African National Parks (SANParks), encouraging people to visit South Africa’s parks.

The South African Fossil Ad Ban campaign, a programme of Fossil Free South Africa, lodged a greenwashing complaint arguing that the energy group’s fossil fuel exploitation directly contradicts sustainable development. 

The ARB agreed and acknowledged that TotalEnergies’ support of SANParks over the last few decades could be determined as a commitment to environmental protection but the claim of sustainable development was misleading because of its fossil fuel exploitation.

The ARB had told members not to accept any advertising from the energy company that carries the words “committed to sustainable development”, especially regarding its support of SANParks, it said. 

In a statement, Lazola Kati, campaign manager for Fossil Ad Ban, welcomed the decision, saying the ruling was a “significant victory” in the group’s fight against greenwashing tactics. 

“It sets a critical precedent in South Africa, affirming that companies cannot mask their harmful environmental practices with misleading claims. This decision is not just a win for sustainability integrity but also for consumer protection,” Kati said. 

There is a growing trend of fighting false advertising by fossil fuel companies. This was noted by UN Secretary General António Guterres who recently called fossil fuel companies “godfathers of climate chaos” and urged advertising bans. 

He also called for advertising and PR agencies to stop working for fossil fuel companies.

“The ARB’s decision marks a pivotal moment in South Africa’s journey towards stricter regulations on fossil fuel advertising,” Kati said.

In its statement, the Fossil Ad Ban campaign said: “It’s essential for the public to be aware of the tactics used by the fossil fuel industry to obstruct progress towards sustainable energy sources. This revelation underscores the urgent need to prioritise truthful and transparent information about our energy options.”  

Kati urged vigilance and asked people to report any suspected greenwashing to the ARB. 

He used it to explain that South Africans are built differently and that despite our challenges we will give our all to win, to fight and to make our mark on a global scale especially when it comes to sport. 

Our sporting teams have been excellent on a global scale. The Proteas making the final of the Cricket World Cup recently, the Springboks winning two Rugby World Cups in a row. Even the generally hapless Bafana Bafana performed admirably at the most recent African Cup of Nations. 

Now, more recently, our Olympic delegation performed well doubling their medal haul compared to the previous edition. South Africa bagged six medals compared to Tokyo where we came home with three. While that may not seem like a lot compared to nations like China, the US and Great Britain, it is important to note what a feat this was given the little athletes we had attending as well as the struggles our athletes face. 

Olympic silver winner in the javelin highlighted Jo-Ane van Dyk who described her journey as “difficult” relying on funding from her parents rather than government institutions. For a country that produces such exceptional talent, underfunded athletes cannot be tolerated. It is something that must be rectified with urgency. 

Imagine if our athletes received the backing that other countries received. Take for example Australia and Japan, both countries finished in the top five on the medal table. South Africa can compete with both countries in most other sporting codes but when it comes to gold medals, Japan finished with 20 and Australia with 18. Comparatively, South Africa had one.

For comparison, South Africa sent around 150 athletes whereas Japan and Australia sent numbers in the 400s. That simply cannot be. Our athletes, sports and grassroots competitions need funding. We need to pour money into athletics, swimming and various other sporting codes and ensure they are developed to give out athletes every chance of success.

It cannot be a lack of talent because in other sports that are well-funded like cricket and rugby we are constantly challenging and excelling. That is something that Gayton McKenzie the new Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture has promised to do. 

On the social media app X, he posted the following: 

“I salute all Olympians, making it there is a huge milestone, competing against ppl with 20 times your budget and preparation time & still doubling your Tokyo medal tally is even a more bigger achievement. We will have no excuse in 2028. The preparation is starting now in earnest.”

He also issued an apology to our Olympians following Van Dyk’s complaints about a lack of support:

“This nonsense will not happen under my watch. I wanna profusely apologise to all athletes that experienced same. You have my absolute word that things will be much different and better for out athletes in future. The stories by the hockey fraternity will drive you 2 real tears”, he posted.

It is good that McKenzie is well aware of the issues facing our athletes, it is also admirable that he acknowledges that it needs fixing by way of an apology. But he has his work cut out for him. 

GroundUp an investigative journalism outlet published an article in early August detailing how the National Lottery Commission stepped up three weeks before the event to issue a lifeline to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) by way of a grant that boosted participation at the Games. 

This money came with strict instructions on how it could be used. Previously, some athletes had to crowdfund to attend the Games as Sascoc came up short in ensuring their funding. There are blatant issues within Sascoc and it is in desperate need of an overhaul. As GroundUp reported, the strict conditions were a result of “abuse of the hundreds of millions of rands that had poured into the Olympic body’s coffers over the years while top athletes struggled to find funding to compete on the world stage.” 

Without going into the details of looted funds, it is imperative that Sascoc is fixed if South Africa is to have any chance of competing at such global events. A recent governance inquiry into Sascoc revealed some damning assertions. These include a lack of ethical leadership, very little effort put into high performance of athletes, lack of governance, transparency and abuse of public funds. 

McKenzie’s work will be cut out for him especially if he is to overturn such a traditionally dysfunctional body. The next generation of athletes is clearly worthy of investment. There was considerable youth who performed well at the Olympics from the relay sprinters to swimmers as well as other athletes. 

Ensuring that they have an institute that looks out for them rather than its own pockets is what’s needed. It may be a good time to leverage high-performance institutes such as those at universities. Involving former Olympians to guide the way forward will certainly help as well. 

Mckenzie believes that having more numbers represent us in four years time will be key. But emphasis must also be placed on high-performance strategies and providing the resources for the athletes to thrive. Other sporting codes can provide a blueprint for achieving these high levels. Look at how the South Africa Rugby Union overcame challenges with Covid-19 and funding to establish a team that is the best in the world. 

There is cautious optimism that these issues can be resolved and that the country can achieve its highest rank on the medal table in four years. Sports like athletics and swimming regularly deliver medals for us. These need attention as well as the lesser-known sport. Then the Olympic world can also know what we know.

The study, conducted by an international team of scientists, says sharks help keep the ocean healthy by keeping competitors, which are other large predatory fish, away and making for a more biodiverse ecosystem, transporting nutrients, as well as maintaining seagrass and coral reef habitats.

Previously it was known that sharks were apex predators, despite being preyed on occasionally by orcas (killer whales), but their important role in transporting nutrients and ecosystem well-being was not fully appreciated. As apex predators, they maintain the species under them in the food chain, which serves as an indicator for ocean health. 

Sharks help maintain balance in a delicate food web, reef sharks feed offshore and bring nutrients to the reefs. These nutrients are moved around the bottom of the food chain. 

According to Oceana, an international advocacy organisation dedicated to ocean conservation, sharks’ role as apex predators is helping to “remove the weak and the sick as well as keeping the balance with competitors helping to ensure species diversity … they shift their prey’s spatial habitat, which alters the feeding strategy and diets of other species”.

Sharks maintain the seagrass and coral reef habitats. Without these services, coral reefs and seagrass beds degenerate and the commercial fisheries that rely on these habitats suffer. 

If sharks are taken out of coral reef ecosystems, other large predatory fish increase and feed on herbivores. This has a domino effect, meaning more macroalgae expansion, affecting coral. The algae dominance affects the reef’s survival, Oceana said.

Tiger sharks and great whites play a massive role in ocean health but are the most affected by fishing. This means they should be prioritised in conservation efforts, especially because their size alone is a deterrent for species that could overeat seagrass and other important plant life. A variety of sharks in different ecosystems are needed to maintain ocean health.

The authors of the study called for a holistic approach to safeguard sharks, including a focus on preserving the role they play in marine ecosystems, not only their abundance.

Well-enforced marine protected areas that protect wide-ranging predators, with the help of modern technology, offer a promising solution,” said marine biologist and co-author Alison Kock of South African National Parks.

“Engaging public support and incorporating local cultural values into management will also foster a greater appreciation for sharks and their essential ecological functions, especially in the face of widespread human impact on the oceans,” Kock said.

A major part of the problem is declining shark numbers. A press release accompanying the study noted that shark abundance has dropped 71% in the last 50 years and populations of the top five reef shark species have been depleted by 63%. This means that the important roles they play are lost with their declining numbers. 

“Protecting the species, their habitats and their life history stages, such as aggregation areas and gestation periods, is essential for their survival,” said Jennifer Olbers, a senior scientist at nonprofit conservation organisation WILDTRUST.

The researchers said solutions include protected areas with quotas and restrictions on gear that affects sharks. They said something to consider is the fact that, with climate change and shifting prey, sharks are constantly on the move. There must be proper legislation stopping shark catch by commercial fisheries, especially for the most threatened species.

“National and international policy must focus on actions that rebuild populations and restore sharks’ functional roles,” said Mike Heithaus, a co-author of the study and marine ecologist at the Florida International University.

“That requires action to increase both spatial measures like Marine Protected Areas and fisheries management measures like catch/size limits and gear limitations. If people want healthy oceans, we need healthy shark populations,” Heithaus said.

The difficulty lies in the many challenges that sharks face, including climate change, fishing and growing ocean and wildlife tourism. Researchers are also keeping an eye on orcas attacking great white sharks, something which has increased in the last few years.

Understanding the areas in which they operate and managing fisheries can contribute to securing their habitats and environments.