Have you ever looked back on a year and wondered how you survived it? For the majority of South Africans, 2019 was such a year. It started benignly enough, cosily wrapped in the blanket of Ramaphoria that enveloped us all at the end of last year. By the beginning of February though, the blanket had worn thin, and by March, it offered little comfort against the chill of bad news sweeping the country.
No sooner had we recovered from the misery of Stage 4 load shedding, than an unprecedented outbreak of looting and xenophobic violence left Johannesburg reeling in horror. State capture hearings dominated the news bulletins, along with gloomy forecasts of lower than expected economic growth, failed state owned enterprises, and a burgeoning unemployment problem.
It culminated on Saturday 2 November in a headline to the effect that ratings agency Moody’s had revised its assessment of South African government debt from stable to negative. More bad news; next step, a downgrade to junk, and an inevitable increase in taxes. But this time there was a glimmer of hope. The Springbok team had made it all the way to the final of the rugby World Cup and head-coach, Rassie Erasmus, had just named the squad of 23 players to face co-finalists England later in the day. The English were favourites, but, captained by Siyamthanda Kolisi, the Springboks looked in formidable condition. The entire country united behind them, desperate for a win to cut through the prevailing negativity and restore a semblance of national pride, ala 1995.
The rest is history. During eighty pulsating minutes under the floodlights of a packed Yokohama Stadium, 23 Springbok heroes played their hearts out and did more for 57 million South Africans than their entire government had in the last decade. Refreshingly humble during a post-match interview, the Springbok captain thanked all South Africans for their support and attributed the team’s success to their belief in each other and their shared commitment to become stronger together. Imagine then what we could achieve as a nation if only we could find 23 such committed politicians, and a hero to unite us…
Thanks to sport, we South Africans end a difficult year filled with pride. So let me use the opportunity on behalf of the team at South African Instrumentation & Control to wish all our readers and advertisers a relaxed and joyful holiday season. Come back safe, rejuvenated and ready to face the challenges of 2020 #StrongerTogether.
Helping mines get results from water improvements
News
South African mines operate under constrained, water-scarce conditions where every investment must be justified. Xylem’s Chetan Mistry explains how the right water technology partner helps mines prioritise high-value water systems across the mining lifecycle.
Read more...From the editor's desk: Pushing engineering to the limit Technews Publishing
News
Among the many things robots can do, it’s a lot of fun to follow how fast they are. They go from the Boston Dynamics cheetah, which first reached a record-breaking speed of 45,5 km/h, to the robot Charlie ...
Read more...Schneider Electric concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric's Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa, held in Abu Dhabi with more than 2500 attendees, explored the convergence of energy, AI and industrial software, launched an Industrial AI study and announced the NEST Accelerator Programme for energy and industrial tech startups.
Read more...VEGA brings measurement expertise beyond mining to Electra Mining Africa 2026 VEGA Controls SA
News
VEGA used its Electra Mining Africa 2026 stand to demonstrate that its level and pressure measurement instruments extend well beyond mining, covering water, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and oil and gas applications across the continent.
Read more...Sustainable solutions for sugar Bearing Man Group t/a BMG
News
BMG received a Special Commendation Exhibition Stand Award at the South African Sugar Technologists’ Association Congress, where it showcased an integrated turnkey drive solution designed to simplify the upgrading of ageing crushing-mill drive systems.
Read more...Measure, Manage, Maintain: The operating model behind SA’s water resilience Siemens South Africa
News
South Africa’s growing water crisis is putting pressure on infrastructure, municipalities and the economy. Siemens highlights how digital technologies, smarter operations and safe water reuse could help shift the country from crisis response towards a more resilient and sustainable water future.
Read more...VEGA brings measurement expertise beyond mining to Electra Mining Africa 2026 VEGA Controls SA
News
VEGA used its Electra Mining Africa 2026 stand to demonstrate that its level and pressure measurement instruments extend well beyond mining, covering water, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and oil and gas applications across the continent.
Read more...Schneider Electric concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa, held in Abu Dhabi with more than 2500 attendees, explored the convergence of energy, AI and industrial software, launched an Industrial AI study and announced the NEST Accelerator Programme.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version