The names of 19 bidders - who have been selected as the preferred bidders for Window 2 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers (IPP) programme that will contribute to South Africa's energy mix - were announced on Monday.

The bidding for window 2 closed on 5 March with the total 79 bids received. These bids amount to 3 255MW while the cap was at 1 275MW.

"In this window, the department received 79 bids of which 51 met the qualification criteria as per the Request for Proposals. Given the megawatts limitation and competition, only 19 bidders were selected as preferred bidders for Window 2," Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said in Pretoria on Monday.

Integrated Resource Plan

The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2010) places specific emphasis on broadening electricity supply technologies to include gas, imports, nuclear, biomass, renewables (wind, solar and hydro), in response to both the country's future electricity needs as well as reduce its CO2 emissions.

South Africa wants to procure 3 725MW of renewable energy through this process.

According to the IRP2010 - which is a 20-year projection on electricity supply and demand - about 42% of electricity generated in South Africa is required to come from renewable resources. The department has set aside 100MW of the 3 725MW for smaller projects of less than 5MW.

The department has noted that under window 2, the level of commitment to economic development has improved compared to window 1. "More communities will benefit through employment or as shareholding in these projects," said the minister, adding that most bidders in window 2 will establish community trusts aimed at developing surrounding communities.

Projects allocated

Of the selected bidders, nine were selected for the solar photovoltaic technology, seven for wind, two for small hydro and one for concentrated solar thermal (CSP).

For Solar photovoltaic 417MW have been taken up by bidders with the maximum MW allocated for round 2 at 450; for wind 562.5MW has been taken up with the maximum allocation at 650MW.

For small hydro 13.3MW has been taken up from a maximum allocated for round 2 at 75MW while for CSP the allocated maximum 50MW has been taken up. In the 2nd window a total 1 043.9MW has been taken up by bidders.

Japser Power Company, Solar Capital De Aar 3 and Sishen Solar Facility were among the bidders selected for solar photovoltaic technology; while West Coast 1 and Grassridge form part of the 7 selected for wind and Stortemelk Hydro (Pty) Ltd and Neusberg Hydro Electric Project A were selected for small hydro. For CSP Bokpoort CSP project was selected.

A full list of bidders is available on the Independent Power Producers programme website.

Growing the economy

Peters said government saw the programme as an opportunity to grow the economy given the numbers of unemployed people while the procurement of alternative energy is also aimed at alleviating energy constraints.

The programme also seeks to make provision for local content in the provision of alternative energy sources while the bids were evaluated by technical, financial, legal and international reviewers.

What the department had noted, said Director General Nelisiwe Magubane, was that there were "significant" changes in several areas like pricing whereby in solar photovoltaic in window 1 on average was at about 2.75 per kWh. "We've seen a significant reduction in price of about R1.65 per kWh for window 2," she said.

Additionally there have been significant increases in the local content from 28.5% in window 1 to 47.5% in bid window 2 in solar photovoltaic technology.

"Job creation per province, we've seen a small reduction from bid window 1 but the bidders have indicated that on the total 7 059 jobs created in the construction period and 328 jobs created in the operation of the life of the plant," said Magubane.

In the first window some of the challenges faced by bidders were that they had trouble reaching the financial close, of which June is the financial close for window1 project proposals.

Appeal to financial sector

Peters appealed to the country's financial sector to provide financing to bidders.

"The success of renewable energy hinges on the financial sector," she said, adding that bidders that were having trouble before the financial close to speak up. "I would want to appeal to those bidders that are already experiencing challenges to come to the fore. It is an appeal for the benefit of the number of jobs that will not be realised if there's no financial support," said Peters.

The minister said there had been informal conversation regarding companies experiencing financial strain. "With them not coming to the fore this would mean that we're not going to deliver on the megawatts that we want," she said.

Last year, the Department of Energy announced 28 preferred bidders, out of a total of 53 applications for the IPP bid process in the first window.

Ompie Aphane, Deputy Director General for Electricity, Nuclear and Clean Energy at the department said the department was not sure of the amount of projects that were in financial strain.

In December, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) announced that it will finance 12 of the 28 preferred bidders to contribute to the country's energy mix. The financing will be to the tune of R5.2-billion. Meanwhile, Peters said the department has started talking to financial institutions.

The minister called on prospective bidders for the remaining three windows that they need not necessary own the land on which projects will operate on. Bidders could co-exist. "We don't want to lose arable land," said Peters adding that bidders could share the same piece of land with farmers.

The department has yet to decide on when bidding will commence for projects to take part in window 3.

Source: BuaNews

In 2011, a wrong turn only 12 kilometres from the finish cost Nedbank 360Life's Kevin Evans and David George victory in the Sani2c mountain bike race. They made no mistake in 2012, smashing the course record as they claimed victory in Scottburgh on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast on Saturday morning.

They took the overall lead after winning the opening stage between Underberg and McKenzie Club near Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday and did not relinquish it.

On the third and final day, Evans and George rolled across the finishing line registering a time of 2:21:08, five seconds behind stage winners and team-mates James Reid and Charles Keey, who rode in the colours of Nedbank 360Life-Blend Properties.

Defending champion Max Knox and his new partner Mannie Heymans of Ormin finished in 2:23:59 to take third place on the day.

Overall classification

Evans, from Plettenberg Bay, and George, from Cape Town, topped the general classification with an overall time of 8:31:33.

The stage victory saw Reid and Keey cement their runner-up spot overall in 8:36:25, with Darren Lill and Brandon Stewart of FedGroup-Itec Connect-Bonitas rounding out the podium in 8:45:18.

"For us it wasn't important to win every stage; the overall was," said Evans, who notched up his fifth victory in six outings, two of which were with George.

"I love this race and I'll keep coming back. The course gets better and better every year."

No mistake

After his near-perfect record was marred last year when he and George overshot a turn on the final day, the pair made no mistake on the fast 72km final stage from Jolivet Farm near Highflats to Scottburgh High School.

By the first water point after 21km, Evans and George, riding with Reid and Keey, had opened up a lead of a minute on their pursuers, which included Knox and Heymans, Stewart and Lill, and Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck of Bell Cycling-Columbia.

Evans said he expected more of a fight from their competition as they went up the first climb. "So we took a chance pacing with our junior team, basically consolidating our lead and making sure we had no hassles coming up to the finish.

They've been riding well

"It's great that James and Charles could win today. They've been riding really well and deserve it," he added.

Evans and George have been in superb form this season. They claimed the African jersey at the Absa Cape Epic in April and then captured the Old Mutual joBerg2c two weeks ago.

The two will also likely be contenders at next month's Trans Germany stage race, which is a solo event.

Women's race

In the women's race, early overall leaders Karien van Jaarsveld and Theresa Ralph of DisChem-Britehouse-MTN took their second stage win in 2:46:47, but it was not enough to secure the overall title after they lost almost an hour the previous day with mechanical problems. That left them in third place in the general classification in 11:07:36.

The overall honours went the way of stage two winners Ischen Stopforth and Catherine Williamson of bizhub-FCF, who came home in 2:54:08 for a combined time of 10:24:11.

Next in were the second bizhub-FCF pairing of Leana de Jager and Nicci Grobler in 3:02:24. They also claimed the runner-up spot in the overall standings in 10:57:52.

"It would have been nice to have beaten them fair and square," said Williamson, who hails from Britain. "We put so much effort into yesterday, going for the stage win because we didn’t know what the time gap was, and paid for it today."

Mixed category

Mixed category overall leaders Erik and Ariane Kleinhans of Contego-28E crashed 10km from the finish to gift bride-to-be Cherise Taylor and her future brother-in-law Dwane Stander - brother of Burry Stander - the final stage honours in 2:45:06.

The Kleinhans couple, who finished second on the day in 2:50:42, had enough of a margin to retain their title in 10:08:40. Taylor and Stander were second in 10:23:00.

Ivor Jones and Bridgitte Stewart of Crusader Logistics crossed the line in third place in 2:52:30 to claim the same position overall in 10:47:36.

SAinfo reporter

The number of internet users in South Africa accelerated dramatically over the past year, driven by both smartphones and ordinary mobile phones, as the internet "finally arrived in the hands of the mass market".

This is the key finding of the Internet Access in South Africa 2012 study conducted by consultancy World Wide Worx.

The headline findings, released last week, showed that the South African Internet user base had grown from 6.8-million in 2010 to 8.5-million at the end of 2011 - no less than 25% growth.

World Wide Worx forecast that this strong growth would continue during 2012, taking South Africa's internet user base past the 10-million mark by the end of the year.

Demand for online content 'set to explode'

"These findings are a powerful signal that the demand for online content in South Africa is likely to explode in the coming years," said Justin Zehmke, executive producer of howzit MSN, which backed the study.

"The spotlight will not only be on online media, but also on social networking and electronic services in genera," Zehmke said in a statement.

"As the market grows and matures, we are likely to see a diversification in the landscape that will create space for successful niche media, a greater choice in information sources and a maturation of online services."

World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck said the internet in South Africa had "finally awoken, fully. Penetration is now approaching 20%, and for the first time we can see the mass market embracing digital tools on their phones."

According to the survey, 7.9-million South Africans access the internet on their mobile phones. Of these, 2.48-million access it only on their cellphones, and do not have access on computers. The remaining 6.02-million users access the internet on computers, laptops, and tablet computers.

However, 90% of this number - 5.42-million - also access it on their cellphones. This means that almost 8-million South Africans sometimes or regularly access the internet on their phones.

'Huge implications for media, social networks'

"This has huge implications for media and social networks," says Zehmke. "It means that, in the coming years, all services offered online will also have to be offered on cellphones."

While smartphones are the main driver of internet growth, the cost of data use is being driven down by the proliferation of undersea cables connecting sub-Saharan Africa to the rest of the world.

The study shows that undersea cable capacity to South Africa at the end of 2011 was 2.69 Terabits per second (Tbps), and due to rise to 11.9Tbps by the end of 2012.

"That capacity will double again in 2013," said Goldstuck. "While the industry position is that it won't affect prices, such an excess of supply must result in falling prices, which in turn will further drive up demand. The rapid growth we see this year will therefore be maintained through 2013."

The Internet Access in South Africa 2012 study was conducted using multiple methodologies, including primary research, interviews with providers, and market intelligence.

SAinfo reporter

South Africa will be pushing for a decision on the site of the €1.5-billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope at the next meeting of the international SKA organisation members on 25 May, says Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.

"The bidding countries submitted all the required technical information and we are impatiently awaiting the outcome of what we hope will be a final site consideration meeting on 25 May," Pandor said during her department's budget vote in Parliament in Cape Town on Tuesday.

South Africa, allied with eight other African countries, is competing against Australia (allied with New Zealand) to host the SKA, an instrument 50-100 times more sensitive and 10 000 times faster than any radio imaging telescope yet built.

A decision on the site was delayed in April to allow a scientific working group to explore ways of maximising investments already made by rival bidders South Africa and Australia-New Zealand - raising the possibility that the hosting of the world's biggest radio telescope could be shared.

Pandor was disappointment at the delay, saying at the time that she hoped the SKA organisation "will make a decision in the first half of 2012 and that the decision will reflect the best scientific outcome.

"We believe we have an excellent site at which exciting science will be done," Pandor said. "We in Africa are ready to host the SKA."

On Tuesday, Pandor told Parliament that her department had allocated R500-million to South Africa's SKA initiative in the 2012/13 financial year.

South Africa targets new satellites

She said her department would also be working with the South African National Space Agency (Sansa) to develop an implementation blueprint for its next satellite.

South Africa is planning to build its third satellite, to form part of a new African satellite constellation, as part of a government drive to grow the country's share of the global market for small- to medium-sized space systems.

"Our intention is to expand our investment in 'micro' satellites, building on the existing SumbandilaSat platform," Pandor told delegates at the 62nd annual congress of the International Astronautical Federation in Cape Town in October.

South Africa's second satellite, the two-year-old SumbandilaSat, has been out of commission since a blast of solar radiation damaged its on-board computer in July 2011.

Sansa chief executive Sandile Malinga announced in September that South Africa hoped to start building a new, fully operational satellite – not just a prototype or "pathfinder" satellite such as SumbandilaSat – as early as 2012, for possible launch by 2014/15.

The new satellite would cost in the region of R400-million - compared to the R26-million spent on SumbandilaSat - and would also be used for earth observation, in line with the country's space strategy, which seeks to apply satellite data to help to improve livelihoods, reduce poverty and manage natural disasters in the country and the region.

Source: BuaNews

South Africa may be able to tap into thousands of megawatts in renewable energy when the massive Inga hydro-electric project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) goes live.

The Department of Energy's chief director of clean energy, Mokgadi Modise, said a treaty that would make this possible, outlining the roles and responsibilities of the different actors, was being finalised.

Modise was speaking at a media briefing during the Africa-European Union Energy Partnership's first stakeholder forum in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Potentially largest project in the world

The Inga hydro-electric project on the Congo River could become the largest hydro-electric project in the world, and is expected to generate a massive 40 000MW of electricity - more than the current electricity generation in South Africa.

Modise said the South African negotiating team was being led by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and included the Department of Public Enterprises, the Department of Energy and the National Treasury.

She said the project would help more South Africans access electricity while significantly boosting African regional integration.

Africa-EU Energy Partnership

According to the government's Integrated Resource Plan, a 20-year projection on electricity supply and demand, about 6% of electricity generated in the country will be required to come from hydro resources.

Modise added that the Finnish and Austrian governments were funding nine energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects in South Africa.

The Africa-EU Energy Partnership, created in 2007, is a partnership between business, government and civil society to find ways of meeting sustainable energy challenges on the continent. The partnership has 54 African and European members.

In Vienna in 2010, the partners signed a declaration setting out targets, to be met by 2020, for energy access, energy security, energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable energy.

The partnership's stakeholder forums - of which the Cape Town meeting is the first - are intended to enable members to explore ways of achieving these targets.

Source: BuaNews

10 May 2012

South African authorities have seized properties and assets worth R55-million believed to be the proceeds of rhino poaching involving a game farmer, two veterinary surgeons and nine other suspects from Limpopo province.

The assets - including helicopters, luxury vehicles, houses, townhouses and farms - were attached on Wednesday in a joint operation by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), elite investigative unit the Hawks and South African Police Service (SAPS).

Game farmer Dawie Groenewald, veterinary surgeons Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis and nine others were arrested in late 2010 on 1 872 charges related to rhino poaching, making it one of the highest-profile case in South Africa, according to the NPA.

The charges include assault, fraud, corruption, malicious damage to property, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, contravention of the National Environmental Biodiversity Act and racketeering.

"This team has seized assets in the region of R55-million, believed to have been acquired through criminal activities, particularly rhino poaching from Dawie Groenewald, and two veterinary surgeons, Drs Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis," national police spokesperson Colonel Vish Naidoo said on Wednesday.

"We are still attaching all 11 suspects' assets, and we will make sure that we attach more of them until that [court] case resumes in October this year."

Naidoo said that while the matter was still before the court, the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act allowed the Asset Forfeiture Unit to seize and preserve the assets of an accused until the case was finalised.

"On conviction of an accused, the seizure is realised and these proceeds are then used to continue with the combating of crime," said Naidoo.

The seizures, which are classified under Uncapped Asset Forfeiture, took place in Musina and Polokwane on Wednesday.

"The operation is expected to last until the end of the day today," Naidoo said, adding that the assets would be placed under curatorship.

With regard to the court case, Naidoo said the matter had been postponed for the defence counsel to file a request for further details.

Source: BuaNews

South Africa's women's football team, Banyana Banyana, will step up their preparations for the London Olympic Games with a training camp in Potchefstroom from 9 to 18 May, followed by two matches against African opposition later this month.

Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Kylie-Ann Louw and Roxanne Barker will return from abroad and join up with young guns Andile Dlamini, Robyn Moodaly and Lebohang Mabatle, as part of the 24 players that will go into the training camp.

A squad of 18 players will be chosen for an international friendly against Tanzania in Dar Es Salaam on Sunday, 20 May. Banyana will then face Zambia in Lusaka on Saturday, 26 May, in an African Women's Championship first leg qualifier.

Experience and goal scoring

Midfielder Nyandeni, who plays for Russian club Rossiyank FC, will bring experience and a good goal scoring record to the squad. She missed out on the Cyprus Women's Cup in March because of injury and will want to show that she is fit and ready to compete for a place at the London Olympic Games. She has played 92 internationals and scored 27 goals.

While Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza will be keen to analyse the form of his overseas-based players, he is equally happy to have some younger players in camp, who recently did duty for the South African under-20 team.

Defender Lebohang Mabatle (one cap), midfielder Robyn Moodaly (10 caps and one goal) and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini (two caps) will also be out to prove that they can add value to the Banyana Banyana team.

Young stars

Moodaly was a key member of the Banyana Banyana team that saw off Zambia, Tunisia and Ethiopia en route to Olympic qualification last year, while Dlamini has done her chances a world of good by putting in a super performance for her Mamelodi Sundowns' Ladies side in the Sasol League Gauteng Road Show held in Soweto almost two weeks ago.

"In order to send the best players to the Olympics, we have kept the selection process going for as long as possible to make sure we don't overlook any talent," Mkhonza said in a statement.

"I am happy to welcome back our overseas-based players and the national under 20 side players, so we can assess their form as we enter this crucial phase in the build-up to the Olympics."

Banyana Banyana Squad

Goalkeepers: Thoko Mndaweni (University of Johannesburg), Roxanne Barker (Pepperdine University, USA), Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: Lebohang Mabatle (Hallelujah Zebra Force), Amanda Sister (Liverpool Ladies), Janine van Wyk (Palace Super Falcons), Gabisile Hlumbane (Kovsies), Refiloe Jane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Zamandosi Cele (Durban Ladies), Nothando Vilakazi (Palace Super Falcons)

Midfielders: Nompumelelo Nyandeni (Rossiyank FC, Russia), Kylie Ann Louw (Stephen Austin University, Texas, USA), Yola Jafta (University of Johannesburg), Mamello Makhabane (Palace Super Falcons), Mary Ntsweng (Tshwane University of Technology), Leah Sethunya (Maluti Ladies), Nondyebo Mgudu (Durban Ladies), Robyn Moodaly (HPC)

Strikers: Portia Modise (Palace Super Falcons), Amanda Dlamini (University of Johannesburg), Noko Matlou (University of Johannesburg), Sanah Mollo (Bloemfontein Celtic), Andiswe Mgcoyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Leandra Smeda (Cape Town Roses)

SAinfo reporter

Mobile services company Oltio, a joint venture between Standard Bank and mobile operator MTN, is looking to change the way South Africans use their mobile phones by turning their handsets into personal point of sale devices.

Earlier this year, Oltio was nominated in the "best mobile money innovation" category at the annual GSMA Global Mobile Awards for its secure transaction authentication technology, payD.

Through the payD platform, launched in August 2011, consumers can buy products and services online, using their debit cards to pay for their purchase and their mobile phones to enter their PINs.

Major partners, vendors on board

The technology is used by Oltio parent company MTN for its Eazi Recharge pre-paid airtime top-up service, which has nearly 140 000 users.

Other partners include MasterCard, through its recently launched MasterCard Mobile payment platform; PayU, which currently processes 65% of all online payments in South Africa; and Vodacom's new Express Recharge pre-paid airtime top-up service.

In addition, payD has more than 200 vendors on board, including 1time Airline and online retailer TakeAlot, and Oltio is pushing to grow the number of merchants offering payD to its customers.

"The MasterCard Mobile platform enables millions of South Africans to make secure purchases using their PIN-based bank cards," Oltio CEO Terry Timson said in a statement last week.

'Convenient and cost-effective'

"It's a convenient and cost-effective payment mechanism that lets customers make use of their existing bank accounts, credit and debit cards, if issued by Standard Bank, Absa or Nedbank.

"This use of our pioneering technology means consumers can benefit from the competitive prices, convenience and variety associated with buying online, simply by registering their MasterCard or Maestro PIN-based credit or debit card to transact."

payD is also available to PIN-based Visa debit and credit cards issued by Standard Bank, Absa or Nedbank. PostBank customers can also use payD to make payments on their mobile phones.

According to Timson, this means "we are, in effect, enabling the vast majority of the more than 30-million South African debit card users to join the e- and m-commerce revolution, many for the first time."

SAinfo reporter

South African travel technology company Tourism Radio has teamed up with global guidebook specialist Frommer's to provide "the next generation of travel guides" that begin playing on travellers' mobiles as they enter their location.

"Tourism Radio's unique mobile technology seamlessly blends Frommer's text content with Tourism Radio audio clips, which automatically play as travellers enter their location," Tourism Radio said in a statement last month.

The initial partnership involves the release of audio and text travel guides to a number of popular travel destinations around the world, including comprehensive guides to New York, London and Paris.

The guides can be downloaded as standalone applications for Android and iPhone, or accessed through Tourism Radio's travel application, Hummba - listed by Forbes magazine as one of the Top 20 Startups in Africa in February this year.

"Travellers will now be able to easily access an unprecedented amount of quality travel information, directly from their mobile phones," said Tourism Radio founder and CEO Mark Allewell.

Tourism Radio's location-based audio travel guides can be downloaded for between US$0.99 and $4.99. A selection of free, "lite" guides can also be downloaded by travellers wishing to sample the content before committing to a purchase.

Founded in Cape Town in 2005, Tourism Radio currently has offices in South Africa, New Zealand and Spain.

SAinfo reporter

South Africa's drinking water is among the best in the world, and the country remains one of few in which water can still be consumed from the tap, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said in Cape Town on Monday.

Releasing the 2012 Blue Drop report during the Water Institute of Southern Africa Conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Molewa said 98 of the country's municipalities were awarded Blue Status this year, up from 66 last year.

The average national Blue Status score jumped from 72.9% last year to 87.6% this year.

The scores have increased year-by-year since the first Blue Drop report was released in 2009, when municipalities notched up a national average of 51.4%.

In all, 153 of South Africa's 287 municipalities and 931 water systems were audited for this year's report.

Not just a quality audit

Molewa stressed that just because a municipality was not awarded Blue Drop status, it did not mean that their water remained unfit for human consumption.

This is because Blue Drop certification goes beyond the quality of drinking water to include aspects such as risk management, operations and asset management of water services.

The programme is not a voluntary programme but an incentive-based regulatory initiative which requires water services institutions to provide information in line with the legislative requirements of Section 62 of the Water Services Act.

Top performing municipalities

In this year's Blue Drop report, Ekurhuleni came out as the top municipality with a score of 98.95%, followed by the City of Johannesburg with 98.92% and Mogale City with 98.79%.

Ethekweni (Durban), Tlokwe in North West province and the City of Cape Town were the next highest scoring municipalities respectively.

Molewa commended the Victor Kanye Local Municipality (formerly Delmas) in Mpumalanga province, which increased its score from 18.26% last year to 80.07% this year.

She also congratulated the Thembisile Local Municipality, also in Mpumalanga, which increased its score from 27.77% to 78.30%.

15 municipalities warned

However, Molewa said she was concerned about the worst scoring municipality - Koukamma (5.6%) - and iKwezi (7.9%), both in the Eastern Cape, which are among 15 municipalities that have received warnings over the quality of their water.

People living in these municipalities "have been informed not to drink the tap water without improving the quality first by either boiling or using other methods of purification," Molewa said, adding that her department was working closely with these municipalities to bring their water quality up to standard.

Molewa said that, despite the 15 warnings, her department now knew where the problems were and would be attending to them.

Water board, private sector involvement 'key'

Helgard Muller, acting deputy director-general of policy and regulation in the department, said the involvement of water boards and the private sector were key to improving the management of South Africa's water services.

While other countries which had water audits only looked at the quality of water, the department also considered risk management and asset management in the Blue Drop report.

Of the 98 municipalities that achieved Blue Drop certification, 38 were serviced by water boards and about 20 by the private sector.

The top performing province was Gauteng with a score of 98.1%, followed by the Western Cape (94.2%) and KwaZulu-Natal (92.9%).

The remaining six provinces all notched up scores below the national average of 87.6%, with Mpumalanga the worst performing province at 60.9%, followed by the Northern Cape (68.2%).

Source: BuaNews