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The guy holding the owl in the photo is the rescuer, not the "depositer!" He says he's running into too many people not reading the article and think he did it.

From Times LIVE - South Africa

24 April 2024

Customers and staff at an Absa branch in Gauteng were dumbstruck when a customer tried to open a bank account using a live barn owl as a deposit.

The unlucky predator's luck changed when the man was told the bank could only accept legal tender, and his feathered friend was whisked to safety after intervention by the Owl Rescue Centre.

Absa confirmed the unusual request was made last Wednesday at a branch in Westonaria.

“As a trusted banking partner servicing customers from all walks of life over many years, we are committed to supporting our customers even when it comes to unusual life situations because every story matters,” said a spokesperson.

“We can confirm a customer approached our Westonaria branch on April 24 wanting to open a bank account and offering a live owl as a deposit. Given that we are a financial institution, and we only accept legal tender as deposits, we were unable to assist the customer, and cannot comment on the customer’s rationale for his approach.”

They immediately reached out for help.

“Our branch colleagues enlisted the assistance of the Owl Rescue Centre and saved the life of a beautiful owl because owl stories matter too,” the spokesperson said.

Absa had more good news for bird lovers.

“While we don’t accept animals, or livestock, as deposits, we are thrilled to announce Birdlife South Africa will soon be one of our Absa Rewards beneficiaries to which customers can donate through our free Absa Rewards programme.”

We interrupt this newscast for the following addendum:

😧😠😮‍💨

Back to our story!

Hartbeespoort Dam-based animal rescuer Brendan Murray said: “We have had stranger rescues and more difficult ones. My wife Danelle started Owl Rescue in Harties about 15 years ago. Since then almost not a day has gone by without us being called out to rescue some sort of animal.”

He was alerted to the owl's predicament.

“I immediately rushed over and we saved another one of our animal friends.”

Murray believes the man originally wanted to sell the owl.

“He first went to a muti shop close to the bank but the owner said they don't buy live animals. From there, he went to the bank.

“There seem to be a lot of people who believe it is OK to catch wild animals and sell them to businesses. We were called a while back by a pawnshop in Hillbrow. When I arrived there was an owl sitting at the entrance in a gilded cage from the 1980s.”

They recently helped relocate an owl from Saudi Arabia to an animal rehab centre in Turkey.

“We did the organising and managed all the EFT payments and everything without leaving South Africa.””

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Rooftop solar is being adopted so quickly in South Africa it has eliminated the country's previous problem with blackouts from its main electricity grid. (self.southafrica)

submitted 1 month ago by padjakkels to c/southafrica

15 comments fedilink

cross-posted from: https://futurology.today/post/1354587

Further Info from Wietze Post, a South African renewables provider.

Why load shedding has disappeared in South Africa.

Since March, South Africa’s myriad rooftop solar plants have terminated load shedding. Before, solar reduced load shedding.

Compared to last year (and 2022), SA's demand for Eskom's power has steadily declined since ±Sept 2023.

Daily peak demand is on a declining trend.

SA's daily peak demand is now about 1½GW-2½GW lower than last year. The gap vs the previous year is increasing.

The evening peak demand is trending down faster than the morning peak. I expect the morning peak to exceed the evening peak for the first time this summer (2024/ 2025).

Solar plant and battery capacity are expanding. The monthly compound growth rate is 4,6%-5%.

During the day, solar power is replacing Eskom power. That gives Eskom breathing room to replenish its hydro reserves. It also takes the pressure off hasty maintenance. Thus, they can do more thorough maintenance. Their plant operational readiness has improved.

Eskom's diesel turbines have run below-budgeted levels during the last four weeks.

The reason for load shedding's disappearance is not as bandied about by politicians. It has not stopped due to Eskom running their gas turbines on overdrive. The turbines do run sometimes, but usually only a few plants during the peak, if at all.

Solar generation is the prime reason for the decreased load shedding. SA’s evening peak demand has declined due to your solar batteries.

During the day, solar generation reduces Eskom’s demand (about 20% of the national load). Solar power also charges the batteries.

From late afternoon, solar households run on battery power. That usually carries them through to the early morning. Then, household power demand shows up again for Eskom. The home starts drawing energy from the grid. Verify my points by checking your PV plant's daily consumption curves.

As morning solar power increases, grid demand goes down. Consequently, Eskom does not ‘see’ the household again until the following morning. Add up 100s of thousands of households, and that makes a significant difference to the Eskom load.

East-facing panels generate the most valuable energy. Those who've had the foresight to install East-facing panels have the earliest benefit. If you also have West-facing panels, you will make the most efficient use of your battery.

‘Overload’ your inverter with East and West-facing PV panels. Then you’ll get the cheapest energy (kWh) and most stable power supply (kW).

I recommend you read up on “Wright’s Law” and the “Solar Duck Curve”.