Latest news with #SelbyBokaba
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Prepare for water shortages: Maintenance work in Tshwane set to begin
Rand Water will undertake a four-day maintenance at two pumping stations, which may disrupt water supply in Tshwane. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers After public outcry over the 14-day maintenance at Hartebeesthoek Reservoir, which was cut short last week due to its impact on Soshanguve and Mabopane residents, Rand Water is now planning a four-day maintenance at two pumping stations, likely to affect large parts of the City of Tshwane. Starting next week, the water utility will undertake planned maintenance at its Mapleton and Palmiet booster pumping stations, and it has hinted at the possibility of residents facing water shortages during this time. City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the water utility has informed the Metro about planned maintenance at its two pumping stations from May 29 to June 3, 2025, aimed at improving network reliability and efficiency. According to Rand Water, the planned maintenance involves connecting the new B16 pipeline to Engine Room 3 at the Mapleton station. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ Bokaba said the new B16 pipeline will supply water from Station 5 at the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant. According to him, the work is expected to take four-and-a-half days, from May 29 to June 2. 'The water utility has forewarned Tshwane that there will be no pumping from its system for the duration of the work,' Bokaba said. For the Palmiet system, the water utility will isolate the Klipriviersberg Master Reservoir on June 3, 2025, from 6am to 4pm for 10 hours. Bokaba said: 'This is to allow the water utility's technicians to clean and conduct an inspection on the reservoir. During this period, pumping will be reduced to 67% at the Palmiet Station.' The maintenance work is expected to impact Tshwane's meters and reservoirs supplied by both stations, resulting in low water pressure and potential disruptions to the water supply. To mitigate the impact of a possible water supply interruption, Bokaba said, the city is planning to fill the affected reservoirs to over 80% a few days before the maintenance work. However, he said, the supply may be interrupted during the upkeep period, and residents are therefore urged to use water sparingly. 'Our technicians will also ensure the optimal operation of the city's water sources during the maintenance period. Roaming water tankers will be dispatched as and when the need arises,' he said. The affected reservoirs and meters include Corobrick Plant, Carina Street Reservoir, Eersterust Reservoir, Elardus Park Reservoir, Garsfontein Reservoir, Kilner Park Reservoir, Koedoesnek LL Reservoir, Magalieskruin Reservoir, Mamelodi R1 and R2 Reservoirs, Montana Reservoir, and Moreleta Reservoir. This follows last week's maintenance at Hartebeesthoek, which left Soshanguve and Mabopane residents frustrated without water, despite being scheduled to run until May 23, 2025. However, after four days of maintenance and widespread complaints about water disruptions, the work was halted, and water supply was restored to households and businesses.
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Expect delays when applying for driver's licences: SA's only card printer still broken
Expect delays when applying for driver's licences: SA's only card printer still broken Motorists have been warned about delays when applying for new and renewed driver's licences, as the country's only card printer is still broken, Pretoria Rekord reports. According to the National Department of Transport, the machine used to print the cards has been broken since February. Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba said it could take several weeks before the machine is fully operational. 'Ordinarily, a licence card application takes between six to eight weeks to be issued. Drivers are advised to apply for their driving licence renewal before they expire, to enable them to qualify for a three-month grace period,' he said. He said those who have already applied for licence cards can present proof of the renewal application to law enforcement officers if they are pulled over while driving. 'The other option is to apply for a temporary driving licence, which is valid for six months,' Bokaba said. According to The Citizen, the licence card printing machine is 26 years old and has had almost 160 breakdowns, which have become more frequent. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy's spokesperson Collen Msibi told the publication that the department is working on repairing the machine should be running again by mid-May. Outa has recently written to Creecy, requesting urgent feedback on the ongoing breakdown of the licence card printing machine. 'Motorists are once again being subjected to delays and inconvenience due to the ongoing failures of this outdated system. The Department must explain why the machine is not operational, despite previous repairs and maintenance contracts,' Outa's CEO Wayne Duvenage said. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Power restoration anticipated for Sunday in parts of the north
Power restoration anticipated for Sunday in parts of the north Residents who have been without power since Thursday in the north of Pretoria can expect to be reconnected by Sunday evening. This is according to officials of the Tshwane metro, who are in a bid to restore power after a widespread outage caused by vandalism and cable theft at the Theresa Park Secondary Substation. According to Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba, technicians are working around the clock to restore electricity, with most affected areas expected to be reconnected by Sunday evening. The sabotage, which occurred on May 1, caused a fire inside the substation, damaging a 240mm power cable and a T4 switching component. This led to an immediate blackout in the supply zone, impacting both residential and business communities. 'The team's commitment to promptly restore power supply to the affected areas notwithstanding, the extent of the damage and the complexity of the repairs to be effected have resulted in a prolonged power supply interruption. 'This, regrettably, means it will take a few days before full restoration can be achieved,' said Bokaba. Crews are currently replacing burnt infrastructure, re-energising circuits, and conducting safety tests before reconnecting each affected area. The following areas remain without power: – Heatherdale – Clarina – Theresa Park – Nina Park – Eldorette – Pretoria North – Florauna – Dorandia – Tileba The metro has apologised for the extended outage and is urging residents to remain patient while the infrastructure is restored. LISTEN: Community leader Dana Wannenburg previously mentioned that in Clarina, a mini-substation was completely burned out, and it will either need to be repaired or fully replaced. 'Unfortunately, there has been no change in the power outage situation. Many areas, including Montana, Sinoville, Doornpoort, and Annlin, remain without electricity. 'We are still waiting for official feedback from the technical teams and electricity management in Tshwane. There is growing concern that there may be deliberate delays in addressing these widespread outages,' said Wannenburg. He said he waited at the Theresapark Substation, but no technical team had arrived. 'The lack of communication and progress is unacceptable.' The cause of the fire has been linked to cable theft, a persistent issue in the metro. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
City of Tshwane says overtime cap won't stall emergency services
After over 10 days of power outages linked to a substation fire, Tshwane is under pressure to explain its decision to limit service workers' overtime. The City of Tshwane's introduction of financial management measures capping overtime will not stop the municipality from providing services in the event of emergencies, spokesperson Selby Bokaba said yesterday. This follows a fire earlier this month at the Brakfontein substation that affected power in Eldoraigne, Raslouw, Rooihuiskraal North and Wierdapark for over 10 days. Political backlash over budget cuts Opposition leader in the city, the DA's Cilliers Brink, accused the mayor of decreasing the budget for regional service delivery in her adjustment budget last month. This was after the circulation of a letter by the city manager on the capping of overtime in service delivery after hours and over weekends. ALSO READ: City of Tshwane unveils plan to create 150 000 jobs Initially, the city said the report was true and that it was an internal communique. Now, Bokaba has said Tshwane has taken note of misleading messages circulating on social media platforms by some community leaders, purporting that there will be prolonged power supply outages due to the city's overtime curb, which came into effect on 1 April. 'These messages, which are devoid of any truth, further suggest that the city has taken a decision to compromise service delivery through its changes to the management of overtime. Compliance with labour laws 'It should be put on record that the adjustments to overtime hours were based on repeated findings by the auditor-general that the city was regularly paying several employees more than 40 hours of overtime. 'This is a contravention of the Labour Relations Act, which stipulates that overtime should only be limited to 40 hours per month,' he said. ALSO READ: The state of the capital: Three major problems Tshwane promises to fix Bokaba said the city's resources were also strained, which had prompted it to make hard choices concerning overtime, without compromising the delivery of services. 'Through the regional operations and coordination department, the need for changes to the management of overtime was extensively canvassed with the regional directors for electricity. Extra hours allowed for emergencies 'The teams agreed that limiting overtime to 40 hours per month excludes overtime that could not be avoided due to an emergency as defined in Section 3.6.2(ii) of the overtime collective agreement,' he said. Bokaba said while some of the critical functions of the municipality are restricted to 40 hours of overtime, more hours will be granted if it is an emergency involving power outages, water leaks or pipe bursts, sewer leaks, roads, stormwater and community services. NOW READ: Broke City of Tshwane forfeits billions as illegal developers get free ride
Eyewitness News
23-04-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Tshwane assures residents service delivery won't be impacted by employee overtime cuts
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Tshwane has assured residents that service delivery to critical functions will not be impacted by employee overtime cuts. Earlier in April, the metro acted on findings by the auditor-general (AG), who found the city in breach of the Labour Relations Act in regularly paying several employees more than 40 hours overtime. The act stipulates that it should only be limited to 40 hours per month. City spokesperson Selby Bokaba said that several messages circulating on social media suggesting that prolonged power supply outages because of the city's overtime curb were misleading. "These messages, which are devoid of any truth, further suggest that the city has taken a decision to compromise service delivery through its changes to the management of overtime. "The city's resources are also under strain, and this prompted us to make hard choices to the management of overtime, without compromising the delivery of services to the consumers."
