The Sona buzz is real in the newsroom

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Wed 08 Feb   [Ozayr Patel] The M&G news room is buzzing this week, we’re covering the State of the Nation Address (Sona), the Mining Indaba, load-shedding and Eskom as well as conservation. Let’s not forget the excellent Friday section which this week will review the movie Glass Onion and also look at SA’s wine route. This week I’ll start with something my colleague Sarah Smit has been exploring and that is semigration — moving from one part of the country to another. The pandemic and work from home has resulted in many people looking to move to the coast. But the crazy [prices of property in Cape Town]( is hampering movement to that part of the Western Cape. Basically, unless you have foreign currency which is miles better than the rand, it is almost unaffordable to buy or rent in Cape Town. People are now looking to other parts of the region and possibly the Eastern Cape. That means that in Johannesburg, there are more houses available than usual and that allows buyers to have more negotiating power. Rumours are flowing that David Mabuza’s time as deputy president has come to an end after a clip was leaked which seemed to suggest that he was making way for Paul Mashatile. Lizeka Tandwa did some digging and confirmed via his office that he will be [attending Sona as vice president](. The upcoming cabinet reshuffle may see him moved on for Paul Mashatile, we wait with baited breath. This week we’re also looking at conservation, rhino poaching numbers are out, while they have gone down, it is alarming that they have gone up in KwaZulu-Natal. It seems like poachers have shifted to this region after successful anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park, as environment reporter Sheree Bega notes. Still on conservation, the [Drakensberg Boys choir are taking up the fight to conserve vultures](. They collaborated with Wildlife ACT on a musical piece to raise awareness for vulture conservation. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Green Guardian, our environmental newsletter [here](. Ozayr Patel | Climate & Environment Editor [@Ozayr8]( [David Mabuza to attend State of the Nation address as deputy president]( Presidency says Mabuza is still second in command while he waits for Ramaphosa to release him with Mashatile waiting in the wings Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( Articles labelled as Premium are only available to subscribers. [CLICK HERE]( to subscribe Already a subscriber? [SIGN IN HERE]( Premium [Promises on legal cannabis industry all smoke and mirrors]( Five years after being told to fix South Africa’s unconstitutional cannabis laws, the state has failed to do so Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( [Ramaphosa frowns upon Tottenham Hotspurs sponsorship deal]( The cost is not justified, the presidency says of the deal with a R1 billion price tag Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [Drakensberg Boys Choir helps vulture conservation through song]( The Drakensberg Boys Choir collaborate with George Philippart of The Voice Germany to raise awareness on vulture conservation Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( Premium [Transnet and mine companies have ‘a brilliant working relationship’, says Portia Derby]( Chief executive has recently come to blows with the Minerals Council South Africa, which called for her axing in a leaked letter Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( [DA releases rules of engagement for its elective conference]( Candidates vying for top positions in the DA will undergo rigorous vetting including audits of their financial records Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( [Eskom plans to spend 18.2% more on independent power producers in the next five years]( Power utility will buy significantly more electricity from IPPs as they come onto the grid, outgoing chief executive De Ruyter tells NCOP Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( [Earthquake kills more than 4 300 in Turkey, Syria]( Over 5 600 buildings were destroyed in several cities, including many apartment blocks where residents were sleeping when the quake struck Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( Pic of the day A fire burns in the Iskenderun port in Hatay after the earthquake in Maraş on February 7, 2023 in Hatay, Türkiye. (Photo by Eren Aka / dia images via Getty Images) [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa