Latest news with #DeRuyter
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Power, patronage, and the price of reform: Inside South Africa's energy struggle
Between 2021 and 2025, Nersa registered 1 971 electricity generation facilities with a combined capacity of 12 737 MW, representing around R200 billion in private capital investment. Image: Supplied Recent investigative reporting by Pieter-Louis Myburgh in the Daily Maverick into alleged bribery involving the suspended CEO of the Independent Development Trust and her spokesperson underscores how deeply embedded corruption has become in South Africa. Such incidents occur with alarming frequency, and rarely with consequence. For ordinary South Africans, the constant stream of revelations about bribery, fraud, and political patronage has produced a sense of fatigue. The scale and normalisation of such conduct should no longer surprise us. During his tenure as CEO of Eskom, André de Ruyter, exposed organised criminal networks operating inside the utility. In his book Truth to Power: My Three Years Inside Eskom, he described syndicates that extended into the highest political circles. These included the so-called 'coal mafia' that supplied substandard material while diverting coal to other markets, criminal operations stealing and reselling Eskom's own spare parts, and procurement rackets involving basic consumables such as gloves, brooms, and safety gear sold back to the company at heavily inflated prices. When De Ruyter raised these issues with a cabinet member, the response was: 'the cadres should eat.' While opinions differ on De Ruyter's overall performance, his exposure of politically sponsored organised crime identified the underlying cause of Eskom's instability. His efforts to curb corruption appear to have provoked sabotage within the generation fleet, contributing to the increase in load shedding during his tenure. He survived an alleged poisoning attempt, but many other whistle blowers have paid with their lives for confronting entrenched criminal interests. After his resignation, and partly as a result of the organisational changes he initiated - along with a renewed focus on planned maintenance - load shedding decreased noticeably. This improvement was not due to Eskom alone. Between 2021 and 2022, during some of the worst stages of load shedding, businesses and households installed an estimated 5 GW of rooftop solar capacity. This distributed generation created breathing room for Eskom to conduct maintenance. At the same time, private developers expanded generation capacity through projects selling directly to private off-takers while using the national grid. This growth followed a key regulatory change in 2021, when President Cyril Ramaphosa pushed then energy minister Gwede Mantashe to amend licensing rules. Prior to that change, the minister had near-absolute discretion over generation licensing, which allowed him to delay or block private participation. The amendment opened the way for large-scale private investment. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The result was significant. Between 2021 and 2025, Nersa registered 1 971 electricity generation facilities with a combined capacity of 12 737 MW, representing around R200 billion in private capital investment. Mantashe, however, also used his influence to steer procurement in favour of centralised generation projects. After the removal of Karén Breytenbach as head of the IPP Office, the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme was structured to favour gas-to-power projects. This included the highly irregular Karpowership bid. On April, 26, 2022, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) applied to set aside Nersa's decision to grant three Karpowership projects generation licences. On July 31, 2025, Outa succeeded. Nersa withdrew the licences and was ordered to pay costs. This ruling spared the country from projects that could have cost billions of rand and likely channelled a portion of those funds to political patrons. In 2023, Ramaphosa appointed Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as Minister of Electricity. The appointment became permanent in 2024 when the portfolios of electricity and energy were combined under his leadership, ending Mantashe's control of the sector. In my view, Ramaphosa's earlier decision in May 2019 to combine the energy and mineral portfolios under Mantashe created unnecessary obstacles to reform. While the 2024 appointment was a step in the right direction, political resistance remains. In recent months, opposition to market liberalisation has grown. Eskom Distribution has taken Nersa to court over trading licences issued to private companies while Eskom's new subsidiary, the National Transmission Company, is preparing to launch the South African Wholesale Electricity Market, which will expand private participation. Meanwhile, government still signals interest in nuclear power. This ongoing reluctance to cede control reflects a long-standing view of the energy sector as a source of political power and financial leverage. South Africa's future energy stability depends on breaking this pattern. Collaboration between the state and the private sector to unlock further investment in private generation and expanding the national grid is crucial for the country. Thomas Garner holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Pretoria and an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School. Image: Supplied
Business Insider
12-08-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Inside the chopper that NATO warships lean on to find Russian submarines
Business Insider traveled with the Dutch Navy in the Arctic region to witness NATO operations. A reporter flew on the European-made NH90 helicopter, which specializes in anti-submarine warfare. This small aircraft is highly suited for missions in the Arctic, where NATO monitors Russian subs. ABOVE THE NORWEGIAN SEA — The sleek, gray NH90 helicopter cut through the brisk Arctic air, leaving the jagged coastal mountains and fjords behind. From above, the frigid blue waters below showed no signs of life. The helicopter wasn't on the hunt when Business Insider flew from Tromsø, Norway, out to the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, but it's built for that mission. Had a Russian submarine been lurking below the surface, as they often do in this remote part of the world, the helicopter could have employed its powerful dipping sonar and other advanced — and secretive — equipment to find the hidden boat. The flight out to the Dutch frigate, the lead ship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, as it was conducting operations in the Norwegian Sea, was merely an airport transfer; however, the NH90 plays an integral role in anti-submarine warfare, one of the standing group's key missions in this latest deployment. Several of De Ruyter's crew members described the helicopter as essential to its sub-hunting capabilities. "It's a fantastic asset," British Lt. Cdr. Michael Royle, the staff anti-submarine warfare officer aboard De Ruyter, said of the NH-90. He described the helicopter as a valuable "force multiplier." 'A big addition' to the warship The NHIndustries NH90 is a twin-engine multirole helicopter made by a consortium of European companies and is in service with nine NATO militaries, including the Netherlands. Although they aren't members of the alliance, Oman, Qatar, and New Zealand also operate the aircraft. The NH90 was developed to satisfy NATO's need for a helicopter that could operate in naval environments. Since the aircraft made its first flight in the mid-1990s, over 500 of them have been built in two variants — an army transport version and another that can be embarked on frigates like the De Ruyter. One of the NH90's main mission sets is anti-submarine warfare. It is equipped with dipping sonar — a deployable underwater sensor that emits pulses and analyzes echoes — and expendable sonar buoys, which rely on acoustic sensors to track submarines and potential threats underwater. The helicopter is relatively spacious. Two pilots sat in the cockpit, while a third crew member sat in the back. At one point, as the aircraft approached De Ruyter, he slid open the door, giving way to a blast of Arctic breeze. The NH90 is full of sensitive equipment, so much so that Business Insider was not permitted to take photographs of the interior. Royle said that the sonar system can be dropped into the sea at "a big depth;" he declined to say how deep. "That allows you to exploit the water column in order to get the massive ranges for sonars to be able to potentially detect submarines." Dutch Cpl. Duncan, a NH90 maintainer with the De Ruyter who was only authorized to use his rank and first name for security reasons, told Business Insider that by deploying both the sonar and the buoys, "you can determine the exact spot and triangulate where something — or someone — could be." The NH90 helicopter can also operate in bad visibility, which can be a challenge in the Arctic region, making it an important tool in countering Russia's submarine force. Russia fields one of the largest submarine fleets in the world, with an estimated 64 active boats. Dozens of boats belong to its Northern Fleet, based in the Murmansk region along the Barents Sea. To get to the Atlantic and Mediterranean as quickly as possible, they have to sail through the Arctic and head west around the northern tip of Norway, through the waters where Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 was operating last week. In recent years, top Western military officers have drawn attention to growing Russian submarine and naval activity in the Atlantic, among other waterways. There is also increasing concern in Europe about damage to critical underwater infrastructure; in January, NATO deployed military forces to the Baltic Sea to respond to sabotage incidents. Commodore Arjen Warnaar, the Dutch commander of the Standing NATO Maritime Group, told Business Insider that countering submarines is one of the De Ruyter's main tasks on its current Arctic deployment. "One of the main reasons for me to be here is to increase our readiness. So that's basically what we've been doing up north," he said. "We've been exercising all kinds of different operations," Warnaar explained. "Surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare — just basic picture compilation, replenishment, logistics are important. And at the same time, we've been having a good look around." NATO forces operate several other aircraft equipped to track down Russian submarines, such as Boeing's P-8 Poseidon or Lockheed's P-3 Orion. These planes, while well-equipped, are less flexible than helicopters like the SH-60 Seahawk or NH90 because they operate from airfields rather than ships at sea, limiting time on site. Cpl. Duncan called the helicopter "a big addition" to De Ruyter because it can extend the range of the warship's anti-submarine warfare capabilities. "The range extension of the sonar is an important aspect because of the abilities of detecting, seeing, and determining if there are any contacts on the water," he explained, adding that the helicopter can clear water columns of potential threats — also known as sanitizing the area — before the ship moves into the space. Adm. Stuart Munsch, the commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, previously told Business Insider that anti-submarine warfare is one of the hardest missions to execute in naval operations. However, he said NATO forces have become increasingly proficient at this task in the Atlantic Ocean and in the High North region.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NATO sends warships to patrol Arctic waters
MILAN — NATO has deployed a maritime task group made up of Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, and German vessels to boost its maritime presence in the Arctic and High North. The alliance's maritime forces assigned to the Standing Maritime Group 1, or SNMG1, have been operating in the strategic waters since this week. These include the flagship vessel De Ruyter from the Netherlands, the Thor Heyerdahl from Norway, the Bartolomeu Dias from Portugal, and the Rhön from Germany. Additional maritime patrol aircraft have been complementing the ships' activities. The NATO task group will conduct anti-submarine activities designed to protect critical sea lines of communication and ensure freedom of navigation in the region as well as routine patrols. '[They will also carry out] integrated operations involving the coordination of various surface ships and air assets to increase the alliance's understanding of the maritime environment, enhance information sharing and rehearse navigational maneuvers,' Commander Arlo Abrahamson, spokesperson for NATO's Allied Maritime Command, told Defense News. He added that it will provide NATO maritime forces with 'valuable' opportunities to enhance their knowledge of the polar regions and their ability to sustain operations in these waters. The deployment comes a few days after Russia launched a major naval exercise in the Pacific, Arctic, Baltic and Caspian seas, according to the Russian defense ministry. The 'July Storm' drill, which took place from July 23-27, was reported to have involved 150 warships and 15,000 military personnel. Over the last few years, experts have signaled an Arctic rapprochement between China and Russia displayed by organized joint military drills near the Arctic region as well as naval and air patrols over the East China Sea and Sea of Japan. A recent report published by the Center for European Policy Analysis warned that both countries also share a willingness to disrupt critical undersea infrastructure, which could affect the interests of NATO states. 'The disruption of critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) and seabed warfare activities represents another form of nefarious relations that Russia and China might further in the Arctic – both have a clear interest in disrupting CUI as part of a continued subthreshold operations against Western interests,' the report said. Seven NATO countries have territories located within the Arctic circle: Denmark, Canada, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Arson suspected in 'dramatic ember shower' that rained across north Spokane neighborhood, catching multiple properties on fire
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 7—A fire believed to have been intentionally set in an alley spread to multiple properties, burning a home and several outbuildings Wednesday afternoon in a north Spokane neighborhood, according to the Spokane Fire Department. The fire was reported shortly before 12:30 p.m. in the area of East North Avenue and North Standard Avenue in the Nevada Heights Neighborhood. A black column of smoke coming from the neighborhood was spotted from downtown Spokane 5 miles away. Fire crews found a shed and garage fully engulfed in flames, according to a fire department news release. Fire investigators determined the fire originated in the alley next to a fence before spreading to a large pine tree and arborvitae bushes. "This burning vegetation caused a dramatic ember shower that rained across the neighborhood, sparking spot fires in mulched gardens, flowerpots, and several fences," the release said. Fire department spokesman Justin de Ruyter said investigators believe a person driving a light blue or silver Audi A4 pulled up in the alley and got out, and then smoke and flames could be seen in the alley as the Audi drove away. The fire spread to two homes, a shed, garage, shop, numerous fences and vegetation on about six properties along the alley, according to de Ruyter. Firefighters cut a hole in the roof of one of the homes after flames got under the eaves of the roof and into the attic, de Ruyter said. Pine needles burned on the roof of another home, which did not appear to be damaged. De Ruyter said arborvitaes are extremely flammable. "They go off like a torch and they throw embers everywhere," he said. He estimated firefighters controlled the fires in 15 or 20 minutes. No injuries were reported and no residents were displaced, according to the release. De Ruyter said the Audi A4 has damage to the rear bumper. The front wheels are black and the rear wheels are silver. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Moses Lake man accused of selling stolen Spokane Fire Department gear to undercover detective
Feb. 25—A 53-year-old Moses Lake man was arrested after selling thousands of dollars of stolen Spokane Fire Department equipment to an undercover detective, according to a Moses Lake Police Department news release. Christopher J. Rock was booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree trafficking stolen property and second-degree possession of stolen property. A Spokane firefighter recognized the Spokane Fire Department gear on Facebook Marketplace and then notified his supervisor, said Justin de Ruyter, fire department spokesman. Moses Lake police's Street Crimes Unit received a phone call Friday from the fire department informing detectives that stolen fire department equipment was being sold on Facebook in Moses Lake, police said in the release. Police identified the suspect as Rock, and an undercover detective made contact with the suspect and negotiated the sale of the stolen gear. The undercover detective met with Rock in a grocery store parking lot and purchased the equipment, which de Ruyter valued at about $4,500. Detectives then followed Rock until he was away from the busy parking lot and arrested him, according to police. De Ruyter said he's unsure how Rock acquired the equipment, which he said was "bunker gear." The gear includes a helmet, jacket, pants and a firefighter breathing apparatus, said Moses Lake Police Capt. Jeff Sursely. De Ruyter said the fire department will get the equipment back.
