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Friday, April 30, 2010.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Tracy Hancock.

Making headlines today:

Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said at the launch of the long-awaited 'Green Drop' report that South Africa would need about 23-billion-rand to prevent the country's wastewater treatment works from collapsing.

The report assessed 449 treatment plants out of the country's 852 systems. It revealed that 55% of these scored below 50%, while 38% scored between 50% and 89%. Only 7% were classified as excellently managed.

However, Sonjica refuted claims that sanitation was in a crisis.

The Green Drop programme is an incentive-based regulatory approach, but is linked to other regulatory initiatives within the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs. It will include drastic measures when continued failures are recorded.

Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has proposed far-reaching changes to the sector education and training authorities system.

The proposals include reducing the number of Setas from 23 to 21, amalgamating several Setas to secure greater efficiencies, which will result in six new Setas being established, and recertifying the remaining 15 with minor changes.

Nzimande said the governance mechanisms for Setas were also being reviewed and legislative steps would be taken to improve their functioning.

Also making headlines:

French energy technology company Areva plans to develop a solar power business in South Africa.
Rental car sales jump by 89% as the World Cup draws near.
South African mine-protected vehicle company wins another contract in Europe.
And, power utility Eskom is confident it will be able to meet this year's power demand, but supply will be tight from 2011-2012 unless new capacity is brought on stream.

That's a round up of news making headlines today.

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