The collapse of seven pylons on the N4 highway in Pretoria forced the shutdown of a Ford plant, resulting in a daily loss of 720 vehicles, according to News24. The plant missed an entire day of production and will remain without power for the whole of Wednesday, with no clear timeline for restoration. While the pylons are city‑operated, they will be replaced by Eskom, and there are indications that vandalism and criminal activity contributed to the failure. The incident has also left part of the city without electricity.
Statistics South Africa reported a 5.2 % year‑on‑year decline in manufacturing output for February 2023. The drop was driven mainly by reductions in the food, beverages, metals, and machinery sectors, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline. Only the communications and professional machinery sectors, along with the automotive division, showed a slight increase. Ongoing challenges such as rolling blackouts, deteriorating infrastructure, and sluggish global economic growth continue to weigh on South Africa’s manufacturing industry.
A petition with more than 139,000 signatures calling for a ban on pit bulls as domestic pets was presented to Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza. Initiated by the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation after a tragic 2022 incident in Nelson Mandela Bay in which a 10‑year‑old was killed by pit bulls, the petition has prompted government action. Didiza said the government is conducting comprehensive DNA analysis of pit bulls to identify problematic animals and is working with private‑sector stakeholders to form a joint task team for safety measures. She emphasized the need for cooperation between government departments and municipalities to implement by‑laws that protect both citizens and animals.
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