Unions want government to address the socio-economic crisis in SA

Unions are handing over memorandum of demands to government offices to address the rising costs of living in South Africa.

Leadership from the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) say that the National Shutdown currently taking place in various parts of the country is because of Government’s inaction.

The unions hold that the country has been calling for assistance with rising levels of unemployment and the increased cost of living, but government has done nothing.

The group are marching to the Union Buildings in the capital, while others have been staging demonstrations in various cities across the country.

Cosatu further voiced their concerns about the rising unemployment rate, fuel price hikes, increasing food prices and the electricity crisis

Over-capacity at Khayelitsha District Hospital lead to calls to make it a regional hospital

There’s growing calls for Khayelitsha District Hospital to be transformed into a regional hospital.

The greatest challenges the hospital faces are service pressures, over-occupancy of beds and staffing and resource challenges.

Various role players say the state of the hospital is degenerating with patients reportedly sleeping on the floor.

District hospitals provide level 1 or generalist services to in-patients and out-patients, ideally on referral from a Community Health Centre or clinic. Whereas regional hospitals render services at a general specialist level 2, from specialist expertise.

ANC Western Cape Health spokesperson Rachel Windvogel said with a bed capacity of 340, demand at KDH often exceeded supply.

Researchers create small brick to supply power in rural areas

With South African facing an energy crisis and load shedding frequently implemented at short notice, researchers have created a Power Brick that promises to help power up households that are not on the grid.

A collaboration between Wits university and the Peco Power company have created a small brick used as a power source for light electrical appliances in rural areas or in informal settlements.

The box can be recharged 2000 times using solar energy.