Latest news with #NorthernCape
News24
13 hours ago
- Climate
- News24
Thursday's weather: Mix of snow, rain, strong winds and waves as cold front hits SA
Strong winds and waves, disruptive snow and rain are forecast for parts of the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and the Northern Cape, according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS). Impact-based warnings - Damaging winds are anticipated in the northern interior of the Eastern Cape, potentially causing localised damage to temporary structures and interruptions in power and communication. - Damaging waves are forecast between Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas in the morning, spreading to Plettenberg Bay and Alexander Bay by afternoon; small vessels may be at risk of capsizing. - Combined damaging winds and waves are expected between Plettenberg Bay and Port Edward, causing potential disruptions in harbours/ports and dangers to small vessels. Yellow level 2: Damaging waves Affected area: Eastern Cape (East coast) Validity period: 31 July to 1 August 2025 #saws #weatheroutlook #southafricanweather — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 30, 2025 - Disruptive snow reported in high-lying areas between Graaff-Reinet and Komani, likely icing roads and disrupting mountain passes. In the SAWS' colour-coded weather warning system, yellow indicates a moderate risk of impact that requires caution and awareness, while orange indicates that higher-risk impact is expected, requiring increased attention and preparation. SAWS uses the numbers to indicate the likelihood of weather-based impacts occurring. Levels 2 and 6 are high, and Level 4 is low. Advisories Very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected in the southern Namakwa district (Northern Cape), the Eastern Cape interior and parts of the Western Cape interior. Weather advisory: Very cold, wet & windy conditions. Affected area: Western & Northern Cape Validity period: 31 July 2025. #saws #weatheroutlook #southafricanweather — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 30, 2025 The weather in your province Gauteng: Fine and cool weather. Pretoria: 3°C — 21°C Johannesburg: 2°C — 20°C Vereeniging: 2°C — 21°C Mpumalanga: Fine, cool to cold conditions, but warmer in the Lowveld. Mbombela: 5°C — 22°C Ermelo: 2°C — 19°C Emalahleni: 4°C — 19°C Standerton: 5°C — 20°C Skukuza: 3°C — 27°C Limpopo: Fine with cool to warm conditions. Polokwane: 1°C — 22°C Phalaborwa: 5°C — 24°C Tzaneen: 3°C — 24°C Musina: 6°C — 26°C Lephalale: 3°C — 22°C Mokopane: 4°C — 22°C North West: Fine, windy and cool weather expected. Klerksdorp: 4°C — 22°C Potchefstroom: 4°C — 21°C Mahikeng: 5°C — 21°C Rustenburg: 5°C — 21°C Vryburg: 5°C — 22°C Free State: Fine, windy and cold to cool, becoming partly cloudy in the southern parts. Bloemfontein: 5°C — 21°C Welkom: 5°C — 21°C Bethlehem: 3°C — 18°C Northern Cape: Cloudy and cold to cool with isolated showers and rain in the south and west. Scattered rain in the south-west where it will be very cold. Light snowfall may occur in the extreme southern regions. Coastal winds: Moderate to fresh north-westerly, becoming south to south-westerly. Upington: 10°C — 17°C Kimberley: 7°C — 22°C De Aar: 8°C — 15°C Alexander Bay: 12°C — 19°C Springbok: 7°C — 12°C Calvinia: 7°C — 10°C Sutherland: 3°C — 7°C Western Cape: Windy, cold and cloudy with widespread showers and rain. Snow is possible over mountain peaks. Conditions will clear from the north during the evening. Coastal winds: Strong to near-gale north-westerly in the south-west early on, turning westerly to south-westerly later. Cape Town: 11°C — 14°C Vredendal: 11°C — 15°C Riversdale: 9°C — 14°C George: 11°C — 15°C Worcester: 10°C — 14°C Beaufort West: 7°C — 15°C Oudtshoorn: 7°C — 16°C Western half of the Eastern Cape: Partly cloudy, becoming cloudy and cold with isolated showers in the afternoon, scattered near the coast. Light snow expected on coastal mountains and Sneeuberg. Coastal winds: Fresh to strong south-westerly, reaching gale force in the afternoon. Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Fine and warm, cooling over high ground. Cloudy conditions with evening showers expected in the west, alongside snowfall over Winterberg and Eastern Cape Drakensberg. Coastal winds: Moderate north-westerly, becoming fresh to strong south-westerly later. Gqeberha: 9°C — 16°C Makhanda: 12°C — 19°C Cradock: 8°C — 17°C Graaff-Reinet: 7°C — 15°C East London: 16°C — 25°C Port St Johns: 13°C — 28°C Mthatha: 9°C — 24°C Komani: 7°C — 20°C Qonce: 13°C — 25°C KwaZulu-Natal: Fine, cool to warm conditions, turning cloudy in the south by evening with isolated showers and rain in the far south. Coastal winds: Moderate to fresh northerly to north-easterly. Durban: 11°C — 25°C Richards Bay: 13°C — 27°C Pietermaritzburg: 6°C — 29°C Ladysmith: 5°C — 25°C
News24
14 hours ago
- Health
- News24
Patients died cold and uncared for: Health Ombud exposes collapse of psychiatric care in Northern Cape
The Health Ombud report reveals that two psychiatric patients died and one was left permanently bedridden. The mental health hospital operated without electricity for year, leaving life-saving equipment useless. Leadership failures and staff shortages caused the systemic collapse of the patient care system. The Health Ombud found that two psychiatric patients died and one was left permanently bedridden due to neglect and poor care. Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital went without electricity for a year, leaving life-saving equipment unusable and patients exposed to extreme temperatures. These are some of the findings in a damning report by Health Ombud Professor Taole Mokoena, who investigated the treatment, complications and deaths of psychiatric patients at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital and the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital. The report cites leadership failures, staff shortages and collapsing infrastructure as the main reasons for the breakdown in patient care. Emergency machines stood useless as they had not been charged. Calls for help could not go out as the phone lines were down. Some patients died. Others were sent out in critical condition. One will never walk again. The investigation followed a complaint made by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in October last year. The report details how systemic neglect, infrastructure collapse, poor staffing and lack of leadership directly led to suffering, medical complications and death. Four psychiatric patients were closely examined in the report – two died, one suffered permanent disability and another experienced complications due to poor monitoring. In his report Mokoena states: The general care provided was substandard, and patients were not attended to in a manner consistent with the nature and severity of their health condition. Taole Mokoena The situation was made worse by a yearlong power outage at Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital, caused by cable theft and vandalism. While neighboring hospitals had their power restored within days, this one was left without electricity due to delays in the provincial department's supply chain processes. 'Because of the lack of electricity, resuscitation equipment could not be used, heating and cooling systems failed, and patients had to endure extreme weather conditions without proper clothing or bedding. The report What happened Cyprian Mohoto was transferred to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital on 13 July last year after he experienced serious complications. A chest X-ray revealed that he had pneumonia, but this was never treated. For three days, his deteriorating condition was ignored by both nurses and doctors. He died on 16 July in the emergency unit. Tshepo Mdimbaza was found unresponsive in his bed at Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital on 3 August. When staff attempted to resuscitate him, they discovered that the equipment was not prepared or functional. His vital signs had not been properly monitored. A post-mortem found he had died from 'exposure to the elements'. John Louw, a patient at Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital, suffered a brain injury known as a subdural haemorrhage. After emergency surgery, including a craniotomy and craniectomy, was performed on 7 July and 23 July respectively, complications have left him permanently bedridden. Petrus de Bruin collapsed in ward M2 at Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital on 30 July and was transferred to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital's Emergency Centre. He was stabilised and admitted for hypoglycaemia. While emergency care was appropriate, nursing monitoring was inadequate. The report highlighted a deep leadership crisis and operational failure at both facilities. At Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital, there was no emergency preparedness, collapsing infrastructure, poor medicine control, a shortage of staff and a lack of proper record keeping, the report revealed. The Ombud found that: The clinical manager had written to the acting head of the provincial department of health, warning about the harmful conditions patients were facing, but no action was taken. At Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, the problems included overcrowding, missing patient files, poor supervision of nurses and staffing shortages across all departments. 'Leadership instability in the Northern Cape provincial department of health negatively affected service delivery, patient safety and the overall quality of care,' said Mokoena. Recommendations The Ombud called for urgent action to fix the broken system. This includes: 'This level of systemic collapse must never be allowed to happen again in our health system,' Mokoena added.
News24
20 hours ago
- Health
- News24
Northern Cape mental health patients ‘freezing to death' amid year-long power outage
Patients were 'freezing to death' during a year-long electricity outage at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital (NCMHH), the health ombud has said. This after an investigation was initiated following the deaths of two mental health patients, while two others were left in a critical condition. The Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, on Wednesday released the findings of the investigation into the treatment, complications, and deaths of psychiatric patients in Pretoria. Mokoena said the delay in repairing the electricity supply to NCMHH was due to dysfunctional supply chain management processes within the Provincial Department of Health. 'This delay rendered the hospital's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system nonfunctional, exposing patients and staff to extreme weather conditions during the summer and winter,' Mokoena said. He added that NCMHH also procured poor-quality pyjamas and blankets, which were inadequate to provide warmth to patients during the severe winter cold, especially at night.
News24
3 days ago
- Climate
- News24
Tuesday's weather: Windy, isolated showers in Northern Cape, fine and cool elsewhere
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has forecast isolated showers and windy conditions in the Northern Cape, while it will be fine and cool but cold in most parts of the country. Gauteng: Fine and cool. Pretoria: 3°C — 18°C Johannesburg: 4°C — 18°C Vereeniging: 1°C — 18°C Mpumalanga: Fine and cool, but cold in places. Mbombela: 4°C — 18°C Ermelo: -2°C — 15°C Emalahleni: -4°C — 16°C Standerton: 0°C — 16°C Skukuza: 4°C — 23°C Limpopo: Fine and cold to cool. Polokwane: 1°C — 15°C Phalaborwa: 6°C — 21°C Tzaneen: 7°C — 18°C Musina: 6°C — 20°C Lephalale: 4°C — 22°C Mokopane: 3°C — 17°C North West: Fine and cool. Klerksdorp: 3°C — 19°C Potchefstroom: 4°C — 18°C Mahikeng: 7°C — 18°C Rustenburg: 6°C — 18°C Vryburg: 3°C — 19°C Free State: Fine and cool, but cold in the south-east. Bloemfontein: 2°C — 17°C Welkom: 4°C — 18°C Bethlehem: -4°C — 15°C Northern Cape: Cloudy along the coast, otherwise partly cloudy, windy, and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers, except in the north-east. Hot conditions are expected in the extreme north-west. The coastal wind will be moderate to fresh north-westerly. Upington: 6°C — 23°C Kimberley: 2°C — 20°C De Aar: 4°C — 19°C Alexander Bay: 19°C — 29°C Springbok: 14°C — 24°C Calvinia: 12°C — 24°C Sutherland: 0°C — 18°C Weather outlook for Tuesday & Wednesday, 29 - 30 July 2025. Partly cloudy conditions are expected over the central & western parts of the country, with isolated to scattered showers & thundershowers. Otherwise, fine & cold to cool, but it will be warm in places in the south. — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 27, 2025 Western Cape: Cloudy in the west during the morning, followed by partly cloudy and warm weather. Evening fog patches are likely in the north-west. The coastal wind will be moderate to fresh northerly to north-westerly. Cape Town: 13°C — 25°C Vredendal: 10°C — 30°C Riversdale: 8°C — 29°C George: 7°C — 28°C Worcester: 12°C — 28°C Beaufort West: 5°C — 24°C Oudtshoorn: 4°C — 28°C Western half of the Eastern Cape: Fine and cool, but warm along the coast. The coastal wind will be moderate northerly to north-westerly. Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Fine and cool, but warm in the south-west. The coastal wind will be moderate to fresh north-easterly. Gqeberha: 11°C — 25°C Makhanda: 6°C — 24°C Cradock: 2°C — 22°C Graaff-Reinet: 3°C — 24°C East London: 10°C — 25°C Port St Johns: 7°C — 22°C Mthatha: 2°C — 25°C Komani: 0°C — 19°C Qonce: 6°C — 26°C KwaZulu-Natal: Fine and cold. The coastal wind will be fresh to strong north-easterly. Show Comments ()
The Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Academy has passion for building cricketers for the future
When he was four years old, Elnathan Meiri held a cricket bat for the first time and since then, he has been hooked on the sport. Fast forward a few years later, Meiri is now a passionate cricket coach and qualified educator. He started the Unicorn Academy in 2020 to give young cricketers the opportunities he was fortunate to have growing up. Having represented provincial teams such as the Eastern Province Colts and Northern Cape Heat Colts, he says his journey in the sport has been long and meaningful. The Unicorn Cricket Academy (formerly known as the Old Grey Cricket Academy) was established in 2020 during Covid, offering young cricketers a place to play cricket matches and train while school sport could not be played. The academy also creates a revenue stream for the Old Grey Cricket Club. What is your core service? We provide private and group coaching as well as match practice for young cricketers to play in a safe, fun, and educational environment and enjoy their cricket. This has enabled us to provide young cricketers with a unique cricket experience and fulfil our mission to foster a love and excitement for cricket in young cricketers. What makes your business unique? What truly sets us apart is that our coaches genuinely care about each player's development, both on and off the field. Every coach in our team has played cricket at a high level and brings valuable insight into what it takes to succeed at various stages, especially within school systems. We understand the specific skills required at each age and ability level, and tailor our approach accordingly. As an academy, we offer a full spectrum of cricketing opportunities: from skills training and mentorship to competitive match play, net sessions on turf pitches, and real-game experience that mirrors school and club structures. This holistic approach ensures that every cricketer's needs are met, whether they're just starting or aiming for provincial selection. How did you navigate your business during the pandemic and load-shedding? At our academy, we offer young cricketers the unique opportunity to play night matches, which are a highlight of our programme. However, load-shedding has often forced us to postpone or reschedule these games. We've learnt to adapt by planning flexibly, communicating clearly with parents, and making the most of available daylight hours. Like many small businesses, we've had to stay agile and solution-focused to keep operations running smoothly. If someone wanted to copy your business model, how would they start? They'd need a deep understanding of cricket coaching, a passion for youth development, strong community ties and a plan that balances professionalism with heart. Starting with one-on-one coaching to build trust and reputation is a good foundation. What are some of the biggest inhibitors your business faced before getting off the ground? One of the biggest challenges was learning how to operate a business while already being deeply involved in cricket as a player and coach. I had to learn many aspects of running a business on the job — from admin and finance to communication and planning. Another major hurdle was time management, as I was juggling my own playing career, coaching commitments and academic studies at the same time. It was a steep learning curve, but one that helped shape the academy's foundations. Do you have any tips for budding entrepreneurs or new business owners? My biggest advice is to pursue what you love — passion fuels perseverance. When you truly enjoy what you're doing, it becomes easier to show up consistently, even during the tough times. Consistency is key: small, focused efforts every day compound into long-term success. What are some of your biggest challenges in day-to-day business operations and your particular industry? Weather plays a massive role in our operations, as outdoor training is at the core of what we do. Maintaining high coaching standards every single day is another priority that requires careful planning. Communication with parents is also essential, as we need to confirm sessions, manage changes and keep everyone informed. On top of that, planning future bookings, organising matches, and developing new ideas to keep our offering fresh and exciting are ongoing challenges that require constant attention. What is the best advice anyone gave you on success? 'Birds of a feather flock together' — surround your environment with people who want to move forwards and add value. . How do you measure or define success in your business? For me, success is seeing our players improve — not just technically, but also in their confidence and love for the game. The true indicator is long-term: if our cricketers continue playing the sport and stay passionate as they grow, then we know we've had a positive impact. Our motto is 'Building Cricketers for the Future,' and everything we do is aligned with that vision — developing not just skills for today, but foundations for a lifelong journey in the game. What are some of the best practices that have made your business successful? One of our core practices is always being available for our customers — building trust with both parents and players is essential. We also focus on instilling 'gold medal behaviours' in our young athletes: discipline, respect, effort, and a winning attitude both on and off the field. Lastly, consistency in our coaching standards and in the way we operate has helped us build a strong, reliable reputation over time. What kind of advertising do you do? We advertise mainly through our social media platforms — Facebook and Instagram — under the handle @unicorncricketacademy. We also use WhatsApp broadcast lists to communicate directly with parents and clients. And of course, being based in Gqeberha, we rely heavily on word of mouth, which has been incredibly powerful in growing our community. What is your company's vision? Our vision is to build a wholesome cricketing community in Gqeberha — one where we support and guide players throughout their entire journey, from as young as five through to life after school, helping them reach the highest level of the game. We aim to create an environment where cricketers have access to quality coaching, the right equipment, and opportunities to learn from and shadow professional players. It's about developing well-rounded individuals and building a sustainable cricket culture in our city. What is your target market? Our target market is young schoolboys and girls between the ages of five and 13. This is a crucial stage for building fundamental skills, developing a love for the game, and setting the right habits early on in a cricketer's journey. What have some of your highlights been in running your business? One of our standout highlights was hosting our first eight-a-side tournament on March 21. The event was a huge success — we accommodated more than 100 young cricketers across 12 teams and three different age groups. It was an incredible day of fun, competition and community spirit. Another ongoing highlight is seeing our players grow in confidence and skill, playing the game with joy and purpose. Watching their development over time is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. We're also excited to announce that we'll be hosting another tournament on September 24, and we look forward to welcoming even more young players to experience competitive cricket in a fun and supportive environment. How important is social media and an online presence for your business? We've recently started placing more emphasis on building our social media and online presence, as we recognise the value it brings in terms of visibility and engagement. However, up until now, much of our growth has come through word of mouth — which speaks to the trust and satisfaction of our clients. Going forward, we aim to strengthen our digital footprint to reach more families and showcase the work we do. How many people do you employ? We currently have four dedicated coaches. Do you have any plans for expanding the business, and how would you go about this? Yes, we're excited to introduce a membership programme soon. This initiative will help us improve the quality and consistency of our Friday matches, host pop-up coaching clinics with professional cricketers and provide parents with discounts on cricket equipment. It will also allow us to give away prizes for our members — adding excitement and value to their experience. Most importantly, the membership model will help us keep coaching and match day prices as low as possible, ensuring the game remains accessible to more families while continuously raising the standard of our offering. 21. How did you acquire funding for the business? I initially used my personal savings to purchase cricket equipment and get the academy off the ground. Over time, we've also received support from local businesses — most notably ONE GOLF PE, who generously supplied our coaches with professional coaching shirts. Their contribution has helped us maintain a strong, unified image and continue delivering quality sessions. What is the biggest lesson you've learnt from your business journey so far? The biggest lesson I've learnt is that if you take care of your product and always give your best, the rest will take care of itself. Consistency, effort and staying true to your purpose go a long way in building something meaningful and lasting. What have been the greatest challenges and advantages of running your business in Gqeberha? I love Gqeberha, and one of the things I appreciate most is how 'small' and connected it feels — word spreads quickly, and people notice when you're being genuine. That sense of community can be incredibly powerful. The greatest advantage of running a business here is definitely the people. If you offer a good product and stay consistent, the trust and support you receive from the community is unmatched. That said, Gqeberha being a smaller city means that our numbers can fluctuate depending on the season, especially with school schedules, holidays and weather. It requires flexibility and planning, but the supportive nature of the community makes it worthwhile. What would you say are the three key traits of a successful entrepreneur? Passion, consistency and a strong work ethic. What would you say are the key traits of a successful employer? A successful employer is empathetic and leads by example. They should never ask employees to do something they wouldn't be willing to do themselves. Being hands-on, approachable and always willing to assist where needed builds trust, respect and a positive working environment. What should people know about your industry? Cricket is a lifelong sport that teaches young players valuable life skills such as patience, discipline, resilience and teamwork. What many people don't realise is that the best way to succeed in cricket is to play for the love of the game — passion fuels growth. It's also a mentally challenging sport, where failure is part of the process. That's what makes success in cricket so rewarding — because it's earned through perseverance in a game built around overcoming setbacks. The Herald
