Latest news with #WesternCape
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Facet Power, Kalulu Resources, & ReinAgri Announce ReinPower Climate-Smart Poultry Joint Venture
Transforming South Africa's Poultry & Energy Sectors with Climate-Smart Innovation 'ReinPower is not just a solution—it's a revolution. We're creating a future where innovation, nature, and humanity thrive in harmony. This is more than progress—it's a promise to future generations.'— Amy McCrae Kessler, Esq. CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA, June 1, 2025 / / -- Facet Power, Kalulu Resources, and ReinAgri have joined forces to launch ReinPower, a joint venture revolutionizing South Africa's poultry and energy sectors. Through deployment of Climate-Smart Poultry EcoSystems, ReinPower is addressing the critical challenges of energy insecurity, agricultural sustainability, and economic resilience, while empowering farmers and communities with innovative solutions for a sustainable future. A Vision for the Future: ReinPower's Climate-Smart Poultry EcoSystems convert poultry litter into decentralized, carbon-negative baseload renewable electricity and biochar, a soil-enhancing byproduct that promotes regenerative agriculture and permanently removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These systems provide farmers with stable, affordable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create new economic opportunities, supporting South Africa's transition to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector. By fostering collaboration between farmers, innovators, and investors, ReinPower is driving a new era of climate-positive agriculture and energy independence in Southern Africa. Key Benefits of ReinPower's Climate-Smart Poultry EcoSystems:. Climate Resilience: ReinPower equips farmers to combat climate change by delivering dependable, carbon-negative renewable energy and biochar solutions that actively reduce emissions, restore ecosystems, and improve soil health. Energy Security: ReinPower ensures uninterrupted operations by providing stable, cost-effective, and decentralized baseload renewable energy, addressing challenges from load shedding and outdated infrastructure. Economic Empowerment: Farmers achieve energy independence, cost stability, and additional revenue streams, and access to global carbon markets, fostering long-term financial resilience. Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture: By enhancing soil fertility and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, ReinPower supports sustainable poultry farming, ensuring a reliable and affordable food supply for South Africa and beyond. Environmental Impact: ReinPower's systems actively remove carbon, conserve water, regenerate soil, and support biodiversity, delivering a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. Phase I Projects: ReinPower's first phase will deliver six renewable electricity projects, each ranging from 1MW to 3MW, across the Free State and Western Cape regions of South Africa. These scalable projects are designed to address the immediate challenges of load shedding and energy insecurity while laying the foundation for regional expansion and long-term sustainability. Phase II is in planning. . Leadership Perspectives Amy McCrae Kessler, CEO of Facet Power, shared: 'At Facet Power, we believe that solving the climate crisis requires bold, systemic action. ReinPower is not just a solution—it's a revolution. By transforming poultry waste into renewable energy and biochar, we are empowering farmers to become leaders in sustainability, revitalizing their land, and driving economic resilience. Together, we are making transformative investments in the long-term health of our communities and our planet, creating a future where innovation, nature, and humanity thrive in harmony. This is more than progress—it's a promise to future generations.' Tom Elliot, CEO of Kalulu Resources, added: 'ReinPower is about unlocking the potential of South Africa's farmers and communities. By integrating renewable energy with agricultural operations, we are providing farmers with the stability they need to grow, adapt, and succeed. This is not just about solving today's problems—it's about building a foundation for a sustainable, resilient future for generations to come.' Ryal de Waal, CEO of ReinAgri, shares: 'At ReinAgri, we are not just solving problems; we are rethinking the way agriculture interacts with the environment. By prioritizing sustainability and ethical practices, we aim to create solutions that benefit farmers, consumers, and the planet alike. Together, we can reinvent agriculture for a cleaner, greener future.' Join Us at AVI Africa 2025 ReinPower will showcase its transformative solutions at the AVI AFRICA 2025 Conference, the continent's largest poultry industry gathering where industry leaders convene to explore sustainable innovations. This event, June 3–5, 2025, at Emperors Palace, Gauteng, South Africa, offers the perfect platform to explore how ReinPower is shaping the future of sustainable agriculture and energy in South Africa and beyond. ________________________________________ About ReinPower ReinPower is a joint venture between Facet Power, Kalulu Resources, and ReinAgri, committed to transforming Southern Africa's poultry and energy sectors through innovative, sustainable solutions. By integrating renewable energy, agricultural innovation, and carbon market access, ReinPower empowers farmers and communities to build a sustainable, climate-resilient future. About Facet Power Facet Power is a pioneering force in the climate sector, specializing in developing and deploying innovative Climate Solution & Energy EcoSystems that transform biomass waste into high-impact products like renewable electricity and biochar. By integrating cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices, Facet Power is leading a trillion-dollar climate revolution, redefining what's possible in the fight against climate change. About Kalulu Resources Kalulu Resources is committed to harnessing natural resources responsibly to drive sustainable development across Africa. With a focus on renewable energy and landscape restoration, Kalulu Resources collaborates with local communities and international partners to create solutions that empower economic growth while preserving environmental integrity. About ReinAgri ReinAgri, provides sustainable, innovation agricultural solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact. By focusing on clean, cost-effective alternatives, ReinAgri strives to reinvent traditional agricultural practices, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations. Media Inquiries Facet Power, Inc. email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
News24
2 days ago
- General
- News24
Ex-Mandela bodyguard and Anti-Gang Unit boss Andre Lincoln dies
Former top cop and late president Nelson Mandela's former bodyguard, Major-General Andre Lincoln, died on Friday morning. Lincoln has been remembered for his service in fighting crime. He was the head of the Anti-Gang Unit before his 2021 retirement. Former Anti-Gang Unit boss Major-General Andre Lincoln died on Friday morning. Lincoln was one of late former president Nelson Mandela's bodyguards and was appointed as the Head of the Presidential Investigation Task Unit in 1996. He also served as a Cluster Commander and later as Head of the Anti-Gang Unit, where he contributed to police efforts to tackle the scourge of gang violence in the Western Cape. Provincial MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, sent her condolences to the family, friends and the law enforcement fraternity. Marais said: 'Major-General Lincoln's contribution to improving safety in the Western Cape will continue to form part of the legacy he leaves behind after serving in the SAPS for over 39 years. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.' Lincoln retired in 2021. He was made head of the Anti-Gang Unit in 2018 after a career of ups and downs. Former police boss Jeremy Vearey said Lincoln's death had been a shock. 'Our paths started together long before we joined the police,' he said. Both had worked together in the armed struggle, and Lincoln had supported Vearey after his release from Robben Island in the 1990s. 'Andre was there when I was released from Robben Island. Some of us, as political prisoners, needed protection. Comrades like Lincoln were there for us,' Vearey recalls. The two had worked together guarding Mandela, and Vearey recalled Lincoln's excellent evasive driving skills that had kept Mandela safe on numerous occasions. 'We were soldiers on the ground, defending our movements. I know him from battle, from blood, as a comrade for whom I would lay my life down,' he said. He described Lincoln as a 'humble man' who had a 'core strength' and demonstrated a 'zen-like calm' that was likely born of many years of practising martial arts. He also had a love for bonsai. 'Andre had a bonsai, which produced a micro pomegranate. It's one thing to look after your bonsai; it's another thing to have the patience to get it to bear fruit. That is understanding, a relationship with nature, that is almost spiritual.' In an outpouring of tributes on social media, Lincoln was described as a 'soldier' who lived a 'life of serving'. 'Thank you for putting your life at risk for us, the general public. Your dedication in the line of duty is beyond the call of duty, and we are immeasurably indebted to you,' said one social media user. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of late Major General Andre Lincoln on the tragic passing of such a... Posted by Ezra October on Thursday, May 29, 2025 His daughter, Nikki, posted: 'A part of me thought you would live forever. You were always so strong and so resilient. Imagining life without you was so impossible I let myself believe in the impossible. Rest in peace, Daddy. I don't know how to be a person without a father. I don't know how to navigate life without your wisdom. I love you forever. You took a piece of my heart with you, but I know a piece of yours will stay here with me.' A part of me thought you would live forever. You were always so strong and so resilient, imagining life without you was... Posted by Nikki Lincoln on Thursday, May 29, 2025 Lincoln and former Crime Intelligence chief Peter Jacobs were embroiled, with Vearey, in allegations of misconduct in one of the most recent controversies. One of the allegations against Lincoln and Jacobs was whether they responded appropriately to an informant who warned that AGU detective Charl Kinnear's life was in danger. Kinnear was murdered outside his house on 18 September 2020. Lincoln had previously faced 47 criminal charges and was convicted of 17 of these in 2003. He then appealed the conviction and was acquitted on all the charges, according to a previous News24 report. Lincoln was also among a number of senior police officers whose phone location was tracked, allegedly by former rugby player Zane Kilian, who is among those charged, along with Nafiz Modack, for the murder of Kinnear.
Mail & Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- Mail & Guardian
DA renews bid to control policing in Western Cape
Raid: South African Police Service members patrol the streets on the Cape Flats (above). The Democratic Alliance wants the Western Cape to take over policing responsibility from the national government. The party has bristled at billionaire Johann Rupert's remarks that the Cape Flats are the epicentre of South Africa's violent crime problem This content is restricted to subscribers only . Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invites to subscriber-only events - the opportunity to test new online features first Already a subscriber?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
South African woman sentenced to life for selling six-year-old daughter
A South African woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment alongside two accomplices for trafficking her then six-year-old daughter, in a case that gripped South Africa and gained international attention after the girl went missing last year. Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, were convicted of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin Smith, who disappeared from her home in a small township in the Western Cape in February 2024. Joshlin has still not been found, despite an extensive police search. During the trial, a witness said Smith had told her she had sold her daughter to a sangoma, a traditional healer, for 20,000 rand (£830) and that the girl had been desired for her 'eyes and skin'. Another witness, a pastor, said Smith told him in 2023 that she planned to sell her daughter. 'There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence than the harshest I can impose,' the high court judge Nathan Erasmus said. Erasmus also imposed a 10-year kidnapping sentence on the three, to run concurrently with the life sentence for human trafficking, and ordered their names be entered into the child protection register. Erasmus said the fact Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn were drug users was no excuse and described Smith as 'a person who is manipulative and manipulates the facts as it suits you'. '[You] went as far as to blame your parents for your conduct in this matter,' the judge said during the sentencing in Saldanha Bay, a fishing town 85 miles north of Cape Town. 'The evidence presented as to the disappearance of your own daughter was clear. Besides on one occasion earlier and yesterday, I saw no indication of remorse, but it didn't start there because we know from 19 February 2024 the lack of concern.' Smith's mother, Amanda Daniels, was present at the sentencing, wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with a photograph of Joshlin's face. The day before, a court officer read out a victim impact statement on her behalf, describing how she had 'cried my eyes out' on Mother's Day earlier in May. Daniels' statement said: 'Kelly, you have made our lives hell on earth. I feel like my heart has been ripped from my body. You have broken [this family] apart.' Daniels is now caring for Smith's two other children, of whom Joshlin was the middle child, and said she was constantly afraid they would go missing too. South Africa police said they had extended the search for Joshlin outside the country. Soon after her disappearance, Gayton McKenzie, the leader of the populist, minority Patriotic Alliance party and now sport and culture minister, offered a 1m rand (£42,000) reward for her safe return. Kidnappings have soared recently in South Africa, with more than 17,000 in the 12 months to 31 March 2024, almost treble three years earlier, according to South African police data. Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this story
Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Editorial: The fault in our Starlink narratives
Elon Musk. (AFP) Addressing the nascent computer industry in 1990, information theorist Neil Postman questioned the unspoken assumption that the capacity to process information is at the heart of society's ills. 'If children die of starvation in Ethiopia, does it occur because of a lack of information?' he asked. 'Does racism in South Africa exist because of a lack of information? If criminals roam the streets of New York City, do they do so because of a lack of information?' Postman's prophetic words are important to remember in the aftermath of last week's Oval Office sitdown between President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation. In that infamous meeting, South Africa's richest man Johann Rupert pleaded the case that the country's police stations are in desperate need of Starlink — the communication technology controlled by the world's richest man, Elon Musk. Rupert has rightly received acclaim for his articulation of the fact that crime is devastating to the whole nation, and not one group in particular. But this particular point is worth considering. Crime and its causes in this country are many, varied and nuanced. To his great credit once more, Rupert used the Western Cape as an example of its complexity. So often seen by outsiders as an oasis in a broader swamp, the province's neighbourhoods endure some of South Africa's most brutal, seemingly interminable violence. Such crime is not going to be solved overnight with a satellite. But would the use of Starlink — presumably as a surveillance tool — have a measurable effect? Lacking further evidence, we are not going to dispute the possibility. What we will caution against, however, is reducing our motivations to simple narratives. The Starlink discussion is turning all shades of ugly and threatens to be the latest issue to tear at the perpetually shaky unity of our government. Black economic empowerment has emerged as central to the debate. Resentment towards the policy has always existed but it has bubbled closer and closer to the surface as the economy falters, and the government endures sustained attack from a superpower using propaganda to cast redress as racial persecution. As a democracy, it is incumbent on us to continually revisit the effectiveness of our practices, but it must be done for the right reasons. The state should consider the unintended consequences that have flowed from its policies. The country might consider that in the Oval Office, the world witnessed not only our weaknesses but our peculiar, imperfect oneness as a people and ask where we are willing to compromise and for what real gain.
