Latest news with #R2.19
The South African
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Kendrick Lamar smashes touring records with 'Grand National Tour'
Kendrick Lamar has done it again. The Compton-born rapper, already a legend, just made history with his 'Grand National Tour'. Kendrick has become the first rapper to have multiple tours in the top five highest-grossing hip-hop tours of all time. 'The Grand National Tour' has already grossed over R2.19 billion, overtaking his own 'Big Steppers Tour', which earned R2.16 billion in 2023. Industry experts now predict it will rake in over R6.8 billion by the end, smashing Drake's previous record and setting a new bar for the genre. Kendrick Lamar kicked off the tour in Minneapolis, where he and SZA pulled in a record R177 million from just one night. Houston saw another record: R184 million in a single show. Seattle? An eye-watering R288 million, with nearly 61,000 fans in attendance. It was the the largest crowd yet, according to Hot New HipHop. The tour isn't just about Kendrick, as SZA, his co-headliner, also brings her own magic. Their chemistry on stage is electric, and together, they've dominated the charts. SZA's SOS album even dethroned Michael Jackson's record for the longest-running #1 album in Billboard history. Fans have been treated to unforgettable duets, including 30 for 30 and Luther , as well as Kendrick's viral diss tracks Euphoria and Not Like Us . Kendrick Lamar enjoys immense popularity in South Africa, consistently ranking among the country's most-streamed international artists. According to Spotify's 2024 data, Kendrick was one of the top-streamed artists in South Africa. Kendrick Lamar's influence is further underscored by his streaming dominance. He surpassed 5 billion Spotify streams globally in just the first four months of 2025. This demonstrated his enduring relevance and reach among South African listeners and beyond. At SoFi Stadium, Kendrick reflected on the journey. 'They always claim you're the most subdued audience across the globe. I swear they say that,' he told the crowd. 'But for the last two nights, I believe we have transformed their entire viewpoint worldwide.' With the tour's momentum, the world is watching. Kendrick Lamar makes history, one sold-out stadium at a time. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
30-04-2025
- Business
- The South African
Parts of Limpopo to be affected by a 11-hour power outage
Eskom has confirmed that areas supplied by the Vaalwater and Dorset substations in Limpopo will experience an 11-hour power outage on Wednesday, 1 May, due to emergency maintenance on the Nylstroom-Vaalwater 66kv line. The outage is scheduled from 9:00 to 20:00 and will affect Vaalwater Town, Vaalwater Township, and neighbouring farms. The power utility said this action is necessary to ensure the reliability of supply and to prevent potential long-term disruptions. 'The safety and well-being of our community and customers are paramount, and we urge all customers to treat all electrical connections as live during this period,' Eskom said in a statement. It also asked customers not to log faults during the power outage. Eskom maintenance amid system improvements The emergency work comes as Eskom continues with its broader maintenance programme ahead of the winter season. 'Planned maintenance continues to ensure system readiness for increased winter demand, to meet regulatory requirements and to ensure environmental compliance,' the utility said. Over the first 24 days of April 2025, Eskom placed 7 164MW under planned maintenance, amounting to 15.32% of total generation capacity—an increase from last year's 11.52%. At the same time, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) has improved to 27.82%, a drop of about 2.1% from the same period in 2024. Eskom noted that between 18 and 24 April, average unplanned power outages dropped to 13 430MW, 472MW less than last year. Eskom also revealed that it had spent about R2.19 billion year-to-date on fuel for Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTS), generating 372.05 GWh—more than double the output in 2024. The utility expects this fuel usage to decrease as maintenance slows down over winter. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
27-04-2025
- Business
- The South African
10-hour power outage planned in parts of Gauteng on Tuesday
Eskom announced it will carry out a scheduled power outage in parts of Gauteng next week. Residents in Etwatwa Extension 7 will experience an electricity interruption on Tuesday, 29 April, from 8:00 to 18:00. The power utility explained that the outage is necessary to perform essential maintenance on distribution power lines. 'In the interest of safety, customers are advised to treat all electrical appliances as live at all times during the power supply outage,' Eskom warned. The company also thanked residents for their cooperation and apologised for any inconvenience caused. Eskom cautioned that unforeseen circumstances could cause a delay or cancellation of the planned maintenance. However, the utility emphasised that it remains committed to improving the stability of the electricity supply. Eskom maintenance Supports Winter Readiness While conducting the planned maintenance, Eskom assured the public that the national power system remains stable. 'In the past 24 hours a total of 3 320MW of generation capacity has been restored, ensuring a stable power system with enough supply to meet the long weekend's demand,' Eskom stated. Emergency reserves remain available and will be strategically used during periods of high demand. According to Eskom, maintenance activities are crucial to prepare for the upcoming winter months, comply with regulations, and meet environmental standards. 'Year-to-date (1 to 24 April 2025), 7 164MW of the generation capacity has been under planned maintenance, on average,' the utility confirmed. This figure reflects a 3.8% increase compared to the same time last year. Additionally, Eskom revealed that a further 4 058MW would be returned to service before the evening peak on Tuesday, helping to stabilise the grid further. Despite suspending load shedding, Eskom urged the public to use electricity responsibly. 'While load shedding remains suspended and electricity demand continues to rise, Eskom urges the public to help prevent transformer overloads and related equipment failures, which can result in explosions and prolonged outages,' it said. Customers are encouraged to avoid illegal connections, buy electricity only from accredited vendors, and regularise their electricity usage. Eskom also reported spending R2.19 billion on fuel for the Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) fleet so far this year, generating more electricity than during the same period last year. This expense is expected to decrease as winter approaches and maintenance activities slow down. The utility reminded residents to register for free basic electricity with local municipalities and report any infrastructure tampering to the Eskom Crime Line. Eskom plans to release its winter outlook on 5 May. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
27-04-2025
- Business
- The South African
Eskom continues planned maintenance plan
While planned maintenance continues, power utility Eskom has assured the public of a stable power system. Here's hoping! Image: Pixabay Home » Eskom continues planned maintenance plan While planned maintenance continues, power utility Eskom has assured the public of a stable power system. Here's hoping! Image: Pixabay While planned maintenance continues, Eskom has assured the public of a stable power system. 'In the past 24 hours a total of 3 320MW of generation capacity has been restored, ensuring a stable power system with enough supply to meet the long weekend's demand. 'Emergency reserves are adequate and will be strategically utilised when necessary to manage peak demand,' Eskom said. In a statement, the power utility said that planned maintenance continues to ensure system readiness for increased winter demand, to meet regulatory requirements and to ensure environmental compliance. 'Year-to-date (1 to 24 April 2025), 7 164MW of the generation capacity has been under planned maintenance, on average. 'This equates to 15.32% of generation capacity, marking a 3.8% increase compared to the same period last year. The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF), or unplanned outages, for the financial year-to-date (1 to 24 April 2025), stands at 27.82%, improving by ~2.1% from 29.89% achieved in the same period last year,' it said. 'A total of 4 058MW will be returned to service before the evening peak on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, to further stabilise the grid,' it said. This as the power utility implemented Stage 2 load shedding last Thursday afternoon. 'While load shedding remains suspended and electricity demand continues to rise, Eskom urges the public to help prevent transformer overloads and related equipment failures, which can result in explosions and prolonged outages. 'This can be achieved by avoiding illegal connections, purchasing electricity only from Eskom-accredited vendors and ensuring that customers take responsibility for regularising their electricity usage.' It further added that from 18 to 24 April 2025, average unplanned outages reduced to 13 430MW, showing an improvement of 472MW compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date (1 to 24 April 2025) average unplanned outages stand at 13 243MW. Year-to-date (1 to 24 April 2025), Eskom spent approximately R2.19 billion on fuel for the Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) fleet, generating 372.05GWh. This is higher than the 149.9GWh generated during the same period last year. 'This is expected to decrease as maintenance activities begin to slow down in the winter period,' it said. Eskom further encouraged eligible households to register for free basic electricity with their local municipalities while adding that any illegal activity impacting its infrastructure should be reported to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp on 081 333 3323.'With the winter period setting in, Eskom requests the public to continue to use electricity efficiently.' Eskom is scheduled to announce its winter outlook on 5 May 2025. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
