Plans to build new hospital in Paarl
JOHANNESBURG - Life Healthcare has plans to build a 140-bed hospital in Paarl, Western Cape.
It's part of the hospital group's strategy to grow its footprint across the country.
The group released its interim results on Thursday.
Revenue from continuing operations increased by 8.1 percent to R12.1-billion for the six months ended 31 March.
The group benefited from the growth of paid patient days and an overall increase in demand for its services, including mental health.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
New rules mandate energy-efficient motors — a win for SA's strained power grid
As of June 2025, South Africa has activated mandatory regulations that affect a R3-billion industry and will result in annual energy savings of 840 gigawatt hours — enough to power a city the size of Polokwane or approximately 140,000 households for a year. Electric motors might not sound exciting — but they're everywhere. They power conveyor belts in factories, water pumps on farms, fans in cooling systems, and crushers in mines. And as of June 2025, every new motor sold in South Africa will have to meet higher energy efficiency standards. That's because South Africa has officially implemented its Minimum Energy Performance Standards (Meps) for electric motors, bringing the country in line with global standards. The change affects a R3-billion industry, with the goal of saving up to 10% of energy per low voltage motor — which is significant in a country where demand exceeds supply. The new rule requires that most three-phase, low-voltage electric motors sold in South Africa meet IE3 (International Efficiency) standards. Less efficient IE1 and IE2 motors will be phased out over time, as old ones reach their end of life. Regulated by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, this shift applies to motors rated between 0.75 kW and 375 kW with two, four, six, or eight poles — the kind you'd find in factories, farms, and commercial buildings. According to the International Energy Agency, electric motors and motor systems are responsible for about 53% of the world's total electricity consumption. And standards like MEPs offer the potential to reduce the energy demand of motor systems by 20 to 30% with short payback periods. Fanie Steyn, Executive of the Electric Motor Division at WEG Africa, a leading motor manufacturer, said that about 250,000 IE1 motors were imported into South Africa each year, representing a R3-billion value chain. Currently, there's a 3:1 ratio of IE1 to IE3 motors entering the country. 'From now, that's all about to change,' said Steyn. Those motors now need to be replaced with IE3 models, which are typically 4 to 10% more efficient. This might not sound like much — but considering that all electric motors account for around 65% of industrial energy use, and industry accounts for about 60% of the country's total energy demand, these efficiency gains are not negligent. 'Electric motors are the prime mover for all industry — almost everything that moves is driven by an electric motor. 'If you go to where a cold drink is bottled, the pump that pumps it, the conveyor that moves the bottles, where bread is made, or where mielies are crushed to make flour — it's all powered by motors,' he said. 'Almost everything that moves is by a motor.' Efficiency standard So starting this year, the new rules will require that all new motors meet the IE3 efficiency standard, which means they use electricity more efficiently and last longer. While the rules don't force businesses to replace existing motors immediately, over time, as older motors wear out, they will be replaced with these more efficient models. Dr Theo Covary, the lead researcher of the cost benefit analysis undertaken to inform these new regulations, estimates that this change will save South Africa 474 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity in the first year alone — enough to power about 44,000 homes for a year. Over the next decade, the savings will add up to 5,763 GWh, roughly the annual electricity use of a major South African city. 'The new IE3 regulation is expected to reduce electricity demand by approximately 0.25% in year one, which is reducing electricity by 0.25% in one year, 'which may seem small and insignificant but is material given the high net economic benefit to the economy', said Covary. The total cumulative energy savings of 5,763 GWh after 10 years is equivalent to the electricity used by Nelson Mandela Bay in one year. This is because as more and more older, less efficient motors reach their end of life and get replaced by more efficient models, the savings increase. In addition to energy savings, this reduction would prevent about 5 million tons of CO₂ emissions. To put this in perspective, offsetting that amount of carbon would require planting spekboom — an indigenous South African plant known for its carbon sequestration ability — over an area of approximately 3,333 square kilometres, which is about twice the size of the Western Cape's Garden Route District. Energy efficiency adds up If you consider that Eskom generated about 200 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in the financial year ending March 2024, the estimated 840 GWh saved (or 0.84 TWh) from this new standard represents 0.25% of the power the country uses in a year. ' It might not sound like much, but believe me — 0.25% is a lot, and it all adds up,' said Chris Yellend, an electrical engineer and energy analyst from Business EE Intelligence. 'It's good that South Africa is following suit and becoming more energy efficient.' He added that energy efficiency measures like this offer the best returns in terms of cost. 'Instead of spending billions on new generation infrastructure, the economy can invest in efficiency — it's a no-brainer. Improving energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way of 'building' new electricity supply. It's not as insignificant as it might seem.' Steyn echoed these sentiments, saying: 'What do you do if you don't have energy? You have to build more power stations, maybe solar or wind farms — but all those options are massive projects with huge capital outlay. And it takes time and long periods of investment and installations before you can do that. 'We have an energy crisis, so in the short term one of the quickest or easiest ways to overcome that is to increase efficiency of products.' Steyn added: 'South Africa has done a phenomenal job over the years with labelling programmes — for fridges, TVs, lights. But now, finally, we're targeting the big energy consumers: electric motors.' According to a 2022 cost-benefit analysis by Covary and economist Linton Reddy of DNA Economics — which informed the regulation — these seemingly small savings are actually substantial, especially given the poor performance of Eskom's generation fleet. Despite the modest efficiency improvements, the long operating hours of motors translate into significant overall savings. To put it into context, Yelland said: 'If you value electricity at around R2.00 per kilowatt-hour, that's a saving — or a reduction in revenue to Eskom — of about R1.68-billion.' Tax breaks and rebates for motor upgrades Companies that upgrade to the new IE3 motors can tap into financial incentives. Zadok Olinga, a former president of the Southern Africa Energy Efficiency Confederation and director of resource management consultancy Oelinga, said the new minimum standards aligned with South Africa's broader push for energy efficiency — and opened the door to claiming Section 12L tax deductions and Eskom rebates. Under Section 12L, businesses can claim 95 cents per kilowatt-hour of verified energy saved as a tax deduction. Eskom also offers a 41c/kWh rebate for projects that cut electricity use — including motor upgrades — as long as minimum savings and demand reduction targets are met. Phase in Manufacturers and Original Equipment Manufacturers can still sell off their existing IE1 and IE2 stock until May 2026. End-users — such as factories or farms — aren't required to immediately replace older motors, but must buy energy-efficient ones when they do. 'Motors are built to last around 20 years,' said Van Niekerk from WEG.'But in reality, many reach end-of-life within seven to 10 years, especially in demanding environments.' For businesses that run motors 24/7, the higher upfront cost of an IE3 motor is often recovered in a matter of months through lower electricity bills. For others — say, a bakery or a workshop that runs motors eight hours a day — the payback period might be two to three years. DM
Daily Maverick
18 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Daily Maverick partners with Cape Town summit to champion informed dialogue on AI
The new AI Empowered summit in August aims to make artificial intelligence accessible and accountable to ordinary professionals, educators, creatives and citizens – using AI to think bigger, move faster and lead faster. Daily Maverick is proud to announce its support for a new summit focused on making artificial intelligence (AI) accessible, actionable and relevant for South Africans. AI Empowered (AIE) will take place on 7 and 8 August 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. How do we prepare for a future we don't fully understand? As AI accelerates into every part of our lives, South Africans need more than buzzwords. We need clarity, access and serious conversation. It's easy to feel like AI is something happening out there – in techland, in code, in jobs that don't look like yours. But AI is already shaping how we work, how we learn and how we're governed. And in a country like South Africa – where inequality, unemployment and institutional fragility run deep – it's not a trend to observe; it's a force to understand, urgently. PwC South Africa's 'Value in Motion' report estimates that AI could add R129-billion to the country's GDP by 2030, with Africa as a whole standing to gain up to R1.9-trillion. The sectors with the greatest potential impact? Healthcare, education, financial services, agriculture and government. But that future doesn't build itself. And if we don't engage critically with what AI is and what it isn't, we risk repeating the mistakes of every other digital divide. Bringing AI down to Earth That's what makes this summit worth noticing – not for its glitz, but for its grounding. Inspired by the Entrepreneurs' Organization Cape Town, AIE is attempting to make AI accessible and accountable to ordinary professionals, educators, creatives and citizens. It positions itself as a summit about humans, using AI to think bigger, move faster and lead faster. Over two days, AIE will host conversations that go beyond the hype and into the real questions facing South Africans and the world today. With input from local and global thinkers in ethics, policy, education, tech and law, AIE is not selling a product; it's opening a conversation. What's on the table? Yes, there'll be a programme – three stages, 1,500 attendees, keynote speeches, panels and workshops. There'll be big names like Western Cape premier Alan Winde, AI ethics advocate Nazareen Ebrahim and Shoprite CTO Chris Shortt. And, yes, there's a track on how AI is already transforming business strategy, law, creative industries and climate science. But the real value might be in the tone: less promise, more proof. Less marketing, more meaning. AI in a South African context According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs report, 44% of core job skills are expected to change in the next five years due to automation and AI. South Africa, with its complex labour market and education challenges, can't afford to sleepwalk through that shift. At the same time, AI presents enormous opportunities for scale and reach. Already, homegrown innovation is using AI for language translation in education, telemedicine in rural clinics and agricultural optimisation in drought-stricken provinces. What's needed now is not just policy, but participation. Why Daily Maverick is watching closely At Daily Maverick, we don't partner lightly. We're here because we believe that a better-informed public is the foundation of any future worth having. And AI, like climate change or inequality, is now a civic issue, not just a technological one. Join the conversation If you're curious, cautious or just craving clarity. Because South Africa can't afford to wait for others to define the future.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Saru declares significant loss in 2024 financial report – but 2025 outlook positive
Despite a large deficit, the South African Rugby Union is optimistic about the short-to-medium-term future. The South African Rugby Union (Saru) reported a R93-million loss for the 2024 financial year, which was expected and forecast, despite record earnings, its latest financial statements reveal. On the up side, new sponsorships and becoming a full shareholder of the United Rugby Championship (URC) from next month, has led to a bold prediction of a R100-million surplus in the current financial year. Summary 2024 financial year (reported) Loss: R93-million (expected and already offset in early 2025) Commercial revenue: R1.552-billion (up from R1.44-billion in 2023) Total income (including grants): R1.76-billion World Rugby grant: R186-million Merchandising: Doubled from R30-million to R62-million Expenses: R1.871-billion (up 2.9% from R1.816-billion) World Rugby events: R133-million Player image rights: R148-million (+R24-million) Private equity transaction costs: R13-million URC/northern hemisphere franchises: R446-million National teams including Springboks: R433-million (-R27m from 2023) 2025 outlook Forecast revenue: Above R2-billion Projected surplus: R100-million Drivers: New sponsorships Full URC membership Continued commercial growth According to the financial report, the R93-million deficit had already 'been wiped out' over the first six months of 2025. Overall, in 2024, group commercial revenues exceeded R1.5-billion for the first time (R1.552-billion), up from R1.44-billion in 2023. Total income with the addition of grants (principally from World Rugby of R186-million) took total income to R1.76-billion. Revenues for 2025 are forecast to exceed R2-billion. The 7.8% increase in revenues was attributable to increased broadcast revenues in a non-Rugby World Cup year, competition sponsorships and a strong performance in merchandising receipts, which more than doubled from R30-million to R62-million. Expenses increased from R1.816-billion to R1.871-billion. The 2.9% increase was put down to investment in hosting three World Rugby tournaments (R133-million), a R24-million increase in player image rights (to R148-million), and the costs associated with the mooted private equity transaction (R13-million). Total expenditure attributable to the northern hemisphere international franchise competition was R446-million, while Saru was still able to make a full distribution to member unions. Spending on the No 1 world-ranked team, the Springboks, and other national teams was R433-million, a reduction of R27-million on the Rugby World Cup-winning year of 2023 (R460-million). 'Reporting a loss can never be desirable, but the irony is that we are more than satisfied with our position,' said Saru CEO Rian Oberholzer. 'We had budgeted for a loss in 2024 in the expectation that the members would approve the private equity transaction that they had sought, releasing funds to cover the deficit. 'When that did not happen, we continued with our planned commercial reset, and other revenue generation plans, which have borne fruit. We are in the very rare position among our international peers of continuing to be debt-free and confident of posting a surplus in 2025.' European costs Saru's biggest accumulated cost over the past eight years has been paying to participate in URC (and the Pro14 competition before that). The cost of securing South Africa's place in northern hemisphere rugby, which was accelerated by the collapse of Super Rugby in 2020, has been R2.2-billion. According to the finance notes, Saru currently pays R392-million annually for top club teams to compete in URC and European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). Without this contribution, the Bulls, Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks and Stormers would have no international competition. Another R54-million is paid to travel and other associated costs for the teams. Saru also paid R347-million to member unions (the 15 provinces) to ensure their existence. Saru president Mark Alexander highlighted a period of significant challenges and growth for the organisation. Despite the unsuccessful private equity transaction, it elevated Saru's profile and led to the exploration of alternative commercial initiatives, including a new commercial app and digital platform to diversify revenue streams. The Saru president acknowledged a financial loss for the period, but emphasised that the R2.2-billion investment was made to secure future participation and full membership in the URC and EPCR by the end of June 2025. He also noted that budgets for 2025-2027 had been secured, ensuring financial stability. Plans include digital transformation and leveraging partnerships for growth beyond 2028. Alexander also praised the Springboks' continued world-class performance, ranking No 1 in 2023 and 2024. Oberholzer said the financial outlook beyond next year was equally healthy, with strong revenues forecast for 2026 with new competition formats in the pipeline. 'The income that SA Rugby generates all goes back into supporting the growth and promotion of rugby in the country,' he said. 'It allows us to fund Springbok campaigns, expand women's rugby programmes and fuel our other national teams. It pays for our members' activities in their communities as well as their professional teams. 'It underwrites our rugby safety programme BokSmart; supports referee and coaching development and our age group competitions as well as development programmes, and allows us in turn on sell-out Test match entertainment and our domestic competitions. 'Ultimately, every rand that we earn goes into powering the game in some shape or form and after a challenging 2024, we have a good news story to tell our South African rugby community as we look ahead.' DM
