Latest news with #WesternCape
TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Open Book Festival funding crisis — community response and latest government decisions
While the community has rallied with support, recent government funding decisions have confirmed the severity of the financial shortfall threatening Open Book Festival's survival beyond September 2025. Since the festival's initial appeal last week, the organisation expresses deep gratitude for the community support received, with contributors donating R104,177.23 toward the R500,000 target needed for the September 2025 festival. The organisation has also streamlined its donation process to make supporting the initiative more accessible. However, recent correspondence from government departments has clarified the extent of the funding crisis. When the initial appeal was made, the festival had not yet received final decisions from key funding applications. The Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport department has now confirmed support of just over R55,000 – a fraction of the R300,000 originally applied for. Meanwhile, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture's list of supported projects does not include Open Book Festival at all. After years of receiving crucial multi-year funding as a Western Cape Flagship Project, including R700,000 in 2024, this represents a dramatic reduction in government support. "We can no longer depend on government support," stated the festival organisers. "This represents an unprecedented shortfall for an event that operates on an annual budget of approximately R2 million." Open Book Festival encompasses three major annual events: the flagship September festival, the Youth Festival in March, and Workshop Week in June. If Open Book Festival ceases to exist, the impact will be felt by many writers who have enjoyed the platform the festival creates, the sales of books, the opportunities to meet, engage and connect with other writers and the opportunities to talk to readers and engaged citizens. The festival's impact resonates deeply within the literary community. Professor Pumla Dineo Gqola noted that "Open Book reminds me of the beauty and generosity in the world, and gives me permission to feel full joy for a few days." Author Damilare Kuku observed, "I have never been to a festival where I could see art healing people in real time." Shubnum Khan, author of Onion Tears, How I Accidentally Became a Global Stock Photo and The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil describes Open Book as "truly one of the best and nicest book festivals I've ever been to. Everyone was just so warm and welcoming and everyone, whether I knew them or not, felt like old friends." Novelist Yewanda Omotoso expresses her experience of the festival as "really special. I remembered what it is about Open Book that reverberates so powerfully ... A generosity of spirit that inhabits the festival and all who touch it." "Without immediate support, there may be no Open Book Festival beyond September 2025," organisers urged. "Every contribution matters. Every share extends our reach. Every voice raised in support strengthens the community we've built together."
Zawya
6 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Eskom sets record straight on $56.7mln Framatome court order
Eskom has confirmed that the two contractual disputes with Koeberg Nuclear Power Station contractor, Framatome, are being addressed through an agreed resolution process. This came after media reports that the French energy company had won a high court order instructing the power utility to pay R1bn to the company, following contractual issues. Framatome was contracted for the Steam Generator Replacement Project at the nuclear power station located in the Western Cape. 'In accordance with the contract, disputes are first referred to adjudication and, if not resolved, to arbitration. 'Two disputes were adjudicated between December 2022 and February 2023. As Eskom was not satisfied with the adjudicator's decisions, the two matters were escalated to arbitration as per the agreed process. "The arbitration was held from June to July 2025, and a decision is expected in the last quarter of Eskom's financial year. 'Recent media reports appear to have mixed separate legal processes. To clarify, no new payments are currently due, and all actions taken by Eskom have been in line with the applicable legal and contractual procedures,' the power utility said in a statement. Furthermore, Eskom said although it 'disagreed with the adjudicator's decisions,' it complied with the outcomes and made payments. 'All payments had been made by March 2024 as part of standard contract processes – not as penalties or fines,' the electricity supplier said. Simultaneously, the power utility approached the courts. 'Eskom approached the Cape High Court to have the adjudicator's decisions set aside due to procedural irregularities (independent of the merits of the decisions). "The court only delivered its judgment on 17 July 2025, over a year late. Eskom is currently reviewing the judgment to determine the appropriate next steps. 'We encourage the public and media to trust the integrity of this process. Eskom is following the proper legal channels to resolve these matters responsibly, and we remain committed to transparency and accountability throughout. 'Most importantly, despite these disputes, the core technical work, replacing the steam generators on Koeberg Unit 2, has been completed. "This is a major milestone that contributes to the safe and extended operation of the power station, helping to ensure energy security for the country,' Eskom said. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
News24
2 days ago
- Business
- News24
Court slaps Eskom with R1bn bill for Koeberg delays
Eskom has been ordered to pay around R1 billion to French nuclear reactor company Framatome over delays in the replacement of Koeberg's steam generators. The Western Cape High Court agreed with the findings of an adjudicator who investigated the delays two and a half years ago, ruling that Eskom was at fault for the work stoppage and had to pay for breaching its contract. 'There is no basis to set aside the decisions of the adjudicator which are valid and binding,' said acting Judge RT Williams. He ordered the power utility to pay Framatome €35 288 582 (about R728 million at current exchange rates) plus R256.6 million, for a total of R984.6 million. Eskom will likely have to pay well over R1 billion when it factors in interest and Framatome's legal fees. The dispute centres on the replacement of steam generators at Koeberg, South Africa's sole nuclear power station. Framatome had, in 2018, taken over the contract to supply and install replacement generators at the power plant's two reactor buildings from Areva NP. Eskom needed to replace the plant's six steam generators - three in each of its two units - to prolong its life by another 20 years. Eskom scheduled an outage for Koeberg's Unit 2 starting in January 2022 to replace its generators. But in March, it told Framatome it would not be continuing with the steam generator replacement and ordered it to stop work. Framatome told Eskom that the order to stop work amounted to a 'compensation event' under its contract – meaning it could claim for the disruption. Eskom's project manager agreed, but gave the compensation as nil – meaning Framatome would not be able to claw anything back. The nuclear company then referred the matter to an adjudicator as provided for in its contract with Eskom. READ | Eskom scrambles to save R5bn Koeberg project after generator is 'dropped' in China The adjudicator, advocate Peter Ramsden, had to rule whether the event did, indeed, amount to a compensation event. He had to say what, if anything, Eskom owed Framatome for the abrupt stoppage. On 15 December 2022, Ramsden ruled the work stoppage order was a compensation event. In March 2023 – a year after Eskom told Framatome to stop work – he fixed what Eskom owed at €35.2 million plus R256.6 million and interest. Eskom then took the order to court. It argued that adjudicator had taken too long to make a decision, that he had overstepped his authority, that this authority had lapsed, and that he had failed to give detailed reasons for his decision. Framatome, meanwhile, supported Ramsden's decision. In a ruling handed down last week, Williams dismissed every one of Eskom's objections, saying Ramsden had done nothing wrong. 'Eskom's challenge to the reasons provided by the adjudicator is clearly a distortion of the quantum decision and a stratagem to avoid having to comply with the adjudicator's decision,' he found. The steam generators in Unit 2 were eventually replaced during a long‑term outage that began in December 2023. The unit was synchronised to the grid again in December last year.
News24
4 days ago
- News24
R50k reward for info on gunman who targeted Cape Town school, asking for cop's child
Police have launched a manhunt for a gunman who entered a Cape Town school, looking for the child of a police officer. The man was armed when he approached the school. However, the child had already been fetched from school. Police in the Western Cape are offering a R50 000 reward to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of a gunman who entered a Cape Town school, looking for the child of a police officer. It's alleged that the unknown man was armed when he walked into the school in Bellville on 20 June at about 15:00. According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, the man approached the aftercare teacher and asked about the whereabouts of a pupil, who happens to be the child of a police member. However, the pupil had already left school. Although the man did not appear to be armed, CCTV footage later showed him placing his hand on a firearm tucked into his clothes as he ran from the school after failing to find the child. 'It is imperative that the person be traced and brought in for questioning,' Swartbooi said. After a month-long investigation, detectives attached to the Western Cape Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit have turned to the public for assistance. They want information that will lead to the detention and conviction of the man. Police have offered a R50 000 cash reward for information on the whereabouts of the person of interest. The investigating officer, Detective Constable Mawande Mqhwayi, can be contacted on 073 734 2611 or alternatively, use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.
Mail & Guardian
4 days ago
- Mail & Guardian
Plant poachers get slapped with jail sentences of 15 years each
The men were sentenced for poaching 303 rate specied found in the Northern and Western Cape. Photo: WWF The Calvinia regional court has sentenced four people to 15 years imprisonment each for The plants, commonly known as the miracle bush lily or Oorlogskloof bush lily, are estimated to carry a black-market value of R6 million to R30 million. The rare species is endemic to parts of the Northern and Western Cape and is highly sought after in the illicit global plant trade. The four individuals — Mark Daddy (43), Raphael Mhashu (25), Simbarashe Charanelura (33) and Elton Ngwanati (34) — were arrested on 20 April last year after being found in possession of the endangered specimens. They were convicted on charges relating to the illegal harvesting of protected plant species and breaches of South Africa's immigration legislation. Sentencing took place on 3 July. The department of forestry, fisheries and the environment said the conviction reflects a broader trend of organised criminal syndicates expanding This is driven by high international demand, particularly in Asian markets. 'These crimes threaten biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, and push already vulnerable species closer to extinction,' it said. The conviction is a critical milestone in the country's fight against environmental crime, said Environment Minister 'The department will continue to strengthen enforcement, build international partnerships, and work closely with police and prosecutors to stop the illegal trade in wildlife and plants.' George commended the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority and all other officials involved, including investigating officer Constable Danver Matthys and prosecutor Darryl Bromkamp, for their dedication in securing this outcome.
