Molefi Sompane
Environmental Minister Barbara Creecy welcomed the news that South Africa had secured funding to phase out its coal power. But, warned the transition would have to tackle poverty, unemployment and inequality, issues Zamdela residents know all too well. The country will receive over $8-billion made possible by a climate agreement between SA and the US, France, Germany and the UK. It was announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference which ends in Glasgow, Scotland tomorrow. South Africa will receive the financial package over a ‘three-to-five-year period’, which will help it reduce emissions by 2030. SA is the highest carbon emitter in Africa, and according to the Global Carbon Atlas, it is the 13th biggest CO2 polluter. Coal power currently accounts for about 90% of the country’s electricity and is the single largest contributor to climate change. ‘A transition SA can afford’ Creecy said any transition to a low emissions
A Free State men’s health advocacy group is encouraging men and boys to consider undergoing medical circumcision instead of the traditional practice. And, in doing so, they won’t be placing themselves at risk after 13 initiates died in the Eastern Cape last year. Culturally, circumcision is regarded as a sacred rite of passage. Every year thousands of youths enter initiation schools where circumcision is one aspect of the practice. However, as the traditional circumcisions are not carried out in clinical conditions, initiates are often injured or die. A journey that must be taken Free State’s house of traditional leaders spokesman, Chief Mota, said initiation is a journey from teenage boy to adult man. “Once a boy decides to go through initiation or cultural circumcision he has seen that he is a man and he needs to be initiated fully to be one,” said Mota. He said the custom is important
The Free State has ticked off another box on their to-do list after it was revealed that the province has administered one million COVID-19 vaccine doses. With an overall population of two million, the vaccination campaign has been deemed a major success, but Premier Sisi Ntombela has urged the rest of the population to get out and get jabbed. She expressed gratitude to everyone who heeded the call to receive their vaccination during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “This is indeed an achievement because it gives us an advantage in the battle against COVID-19. We are truly thankful to those who have chosen survivial over fear,” said Ntombela. Calling on the youth “The majority of the people who have been vaccinated are between 36 and 70 years old, so we want to urge the young ones to make use of the opportunity,” Ntombela told Health-e News. She said the province hoped
- ///Free State, News
- ///Free State, News
