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Andrew de Kock, NSRI Simonstown duty coxswain, said: At 16h43, Thursday, 11 July, NSRI Simonstown received a call from a concerned resident reporting they were observing what appeared to be a surf-skier in trouble approximately 200 meters off-shore of Froggy Pond, between Simonstown and Millers Point. Our NSRI Simonstown duty crew were activated to respond …
Government continues to assist those affected by Western Cape floods
Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says government has been hard at work to relocate the families affected by the devastating floods in the Western Cape this week.
Thousands of people in the province have been rendered homeless after flooding destroyed their homes.
“We’ve been able to relocate families into a building that, as government, we have leased for 30 days while we are finding a solution in terms of the informal settlement because they have submerged, whether the rain will come down and we move them back or we have to find an alternative land where we relocate them,” she said.
The Minister added, however, that finding suitable land was proving elusive.
“The challenge in the City of Cape Town is land availability and the requirements we have to follow in terms of our processes of approvals for land use.
“So currently those that were affected in terms of their buildings, formal structures, the assessment has been done by the [National Home Builders Registration Council]. We have received the first report. We are hoping that by Monday, we would have that intervention as fixing those houses by our service providers that we have been able to appoint.
“The materials for the informal settlements are starting to be delivered,” Kubayi said.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape provincial government said it has given the green light for some households in Newton in the Drakenstein Municipality to return home.
This after 900 households in the area were evacuated when it was established that a dam wall in the area was at risk of failure due to the severe flooding.
“Working in consultation with the Department of Water and Sanitation and a dam engineering specialist, Drakenstein Municipality’s Engineering Services Department performed another onsite inspection this morning of the farm dam above Newton and confirmed that the risk of dam wall failure has been mitigated.
“This decision was taken in light of the fact that the water level of 150 000-cubic-meter dam in the Bo-Dal area dropped slightly since last night, as well as the lighter rainfall predicted for today.
“According to the authorities, the dam should be able to handle the flow of water that is expected to reach it today.
“The municipality will keep on monitoring the dam closely and notify residents immediately should the situation change,” the Western Cape government said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Sun, 07/14/2024 - 13:54
Small Business Development Department 'up to the task'
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says the department she leads is “up to the task” of unlocking the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in the country.
The Minister said this when she delivered the department’s Budget Vote in Cape Town on Friday.
“One of the main contributing factors to the low [economic] growth is that too many of our citizens are unable to participate in productive economic activities.
“So in addition to championing reforms that will address energy supply constraints, logistics and crime - which are the focus of Operation Vulindlela - we must also direct our energies to reforms that unlock the potential of SMMEs and the cooperative sector.
“This must be the core priority of the seventh administration, and one for which we bear responsibility as the Department of Small Business Development portfolio. [We] want to assure all members and society that even though we are young and still developing, we are up to the tasks that lie before us,” she said.
The department has been allocated a budget of some R2.437 billion.
Priority areas for market access
The Minister said the department is focussing on five areas related to market access and localisation, which have proven to be barriers for SMMEs.
“Firstly, we will support 200 SMMEs through our Small Business Exporter’s Development Programme to participate in ten trade events in the 2024/25 financial year. In this regard, R20 million has been allocated to exploit our AFCFTA, BRICS partnerships and various global trade agreements.
“Second, we will enhance our Market Linkage Programme to ensure placement of SMME products in strategic warehouses of wholesalers and the shelves of retailers. Through our partnership with Proudly SA, we are developing an e-commerce platform that is likely to go live in the second of this financial year.
“Third, we are working with the public sector in order to exploit opportunities which will be presented by the Public Procurement Bill (once signed into law). We are working with corporates through Community of Practice to influence Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programmes and procurement of products from small enterprises and cooperatives,” she said.
Furthermore, there are plans to “actively building supplier capacity to meet and sustain the market requirements”.
“Here we provide quality improvement, product testing and certification, as well as productivity improvement through the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda).
“Through the Small Enterprise Manufacturing Support Programme (SEMP) at the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) we have allocated an amount of R266.8 million which deepens the black industrialist programme and ensure more participation of small enterprise in the manufacturing sector.
“Fifth, priority is also given to new growth drivers with low barriers to entry. In this financial year (2024/25), we will focus on the energy sector and tech industry – while also implementing our Cannabis Support Programme that will look both at the industrial hemp value chain as well as how to mainstream small indigenous cannabis growers for lucrative markets,” Ndabeni-Abrahams said.
Financing small businesses and cooperatives
The Minister highlighted that financing “remains one of the key constraints for small businesses and cooperatives”.
In this regard, the department has developed an SMME and Co-operatives Funding Policy to expand access to financing and early stage investment.
“This policy will be a game changer as it also proposes an establishment Fund of Funds, which we are currently designing. The fund will de-risk and leverage investment from the private sector and institutional investors for start-ups amongst other things. We will also prioritise the development of a Startup Policy and legislation as required. This will be done in collaboration with relevant departments.
“We will also continue to build on the work we have already undertaken in the previous administration to invest more in under-served SMMEs and co-operatives.
“In this regard, Sefa disbursed R2 billion funding facilities against a target of R2.18 billion to 80 040 SMMEs and co-operatives which led to 98 378 jobs,” Ndabeni-Abrahams said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Sun, 07/14/2024 - 14:32
Nuclear power build will be at a scale "we can afford" - Minister Ramokgopa
Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says South Africa will seek to build a nuclear plant for electricity generation at “a scale and speed that we can afford”.
The Minister was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Cabinet Lekgotla held in Tshwane at the weekend.
President Cyril Ramaphosa lead the first Lekgotla of the Government of National Unity (GNU), which set out the programme of action government will undertake during the seventh administration.
“In the long term, we need to ensure that we anchor the baseload and nuclear is an important part of that intervention. We are working on the framework for procurement because we don’t want to discredit the process through a procurement process that is not transparent.
“We will do it at the scale and speed that we can afford as a country,” he said.
Turning to issues of electricity affordability, the Minister raised his concern that poorer communities are battling to keep up with increasing costs.
“The poor and those that are located in the townships are finding it exceptionally difficult to afford the increases in electricity. The pricing and the tariff is prohibitive and a lot of our people across the length and breadth of the country are not in a position to afford electricity.
“Those are challenges on the distribution side…and we know that over a period of time municipalities have underinvested in the maintenance, replenishment and protection of the distribution grid and of course we are paying the price now,” he said.
Also speaking to media at the lekgotla, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau assured South Africans that affirmative action policies like Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment will not be scrapped during the seventh administration.
“These are foundational principles to the establishment of the Government of National Unity. Included in there are priorities in relation to social justice, equity and redress. Therefore, these are parties that have come together on the basis of collectively addressing transformation because we have committed to redress in the foundational principles.
“The question is what do we do going forward? Of course, we need to look at the next wave of [BBBEE]…where there are lessons to be learnt, we take those lessons into account and where there are greater opportunities to be introduced we need to be able to introduce those.
“We have placed this firmly on the agenda of the programmes that would be driven by this administration and that is why we always say we are focussing on industrialisation, but we are equally focussing on transformation,” he said.
The Minister emphasised that the economic growth and development of South Africa is a key priority.
A key priority for the seventh administration will be to “leverage off the back of Operation Vulindela as a key programme”.
“This would be a focus on network industries amongst others…looking at energy, looking at logistics in particular, the digital economy and other areas. The fact that we’ve made significant progress in that regard enables us to use that as a springboard to grow the economy focussed on industrialisation and re-industrialisation.
“But also, a deliberate and conscious focus on transformation because of course, this will enable us to broaden the base of entrepreneurs in the country [and] to broaden the base of participants in the economy of this country and enable us to grow the jobs that this country so much needs,” Tau said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Sun, 07/14/2024 - 13:52
The housing project was first announced to residents in 2018, and construction won’t be starting anytime soon
First GNU Cabinet Lekgotla kicks off in Tshwane
President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading the first Cabinet Lekgotla of the Government of National Unity (GNU) at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane this weekend.
The lekgotla is expected to set out the programme of action government will undertake during the seventh administration.
Attending the lekgotla are, among others, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Ministers and provincial Premiers.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of the all-important meeting, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the programme of action is guided by the priorities set out in the GNU’s Statement of Intent.
“That will allow us to then go back and consolidate what you know as the Medium Term Strategic Framework. Now we are calling it the Medium Term Development Plan.
“The set of actions are being guided by the priorities agreed by the parties to the GNU. In those nine priorities there is going to be a number of presentations that will say how we agree on this. And we are guided, as another filter, by the National Development Plan (NDP),” she said.
The priorities, in short, include:
• Economic growth, job creation and transformation
• Creating a more just society
• Stabilising local government,
• Investing in people through education, skills development and healthcare
• Building state capacity
• Strengthening law enforcement agencies
• Strengthening the effectiveness of Parliament
• Strengthening social cohesion, nation-building and democratic participation, and undertaking common programmes against racism, sexism, tribalism and other forms of intolerance
• Foreign policy based on human rights, constitutionalism, the national interest, solidarity and peaceful resolution of conflicts
“[Some of the priorities] focus on economic growth, inclusive growth and job creation. We are looking at what we should do to unlock the economy to grow so that it can create jobs for the people of South Africa.
“We are focusing on what are the areas of reforms that will unlock the economy, the issues around water, electricity and energy. We’re dealing with the issues around job creation, what the economic growth trajectory look like.
“To do that we need a partnership with business. We need also a capable, ethical and developmental state to have that capacity,” she said.
The Minister explained that the lekgotla will further be guided by “evidence-based planning and action”.
“The Statistician General [Risenga Maluleke] is going to present in terms of the indicators that we are looking at and what that means in terms of the government programme.
“We’ve tabled the budget of Statistics SA to say we are starting to work on the indicators of how … to support the implementation of the District Development Model to be evidence based…and to strengthen our research capabilities to make sure that we move with speed to achieve the goals of the NDP,” she said.
Ntshavheni clarified that following the lekgotla, Cabinet – which includes Ministers and the President – will adopt the programme of action.
“It has to be adopted by Cabinet. Cabinet is the governing authority of South Africa so it will adopt it and [then] clusters will go and work on their priorities and initiatives. From there departments go and work.
“The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, during that period, will continue to work and make sure that there’s alignment across [departments] and everyone knows what they want to do.
“We are going to implement government priorities collectively because there’s no ‘DA minister’, there’s no ‘ANC minister’, there is only a ‘minister of government’.
“We are consolidating so that we have a single view and a single programme of action that is agreed to by all and that cascades to provinces,” she said.
President Ramaphosa will communicate the outcomes of the lekgotla during the opening of Parliament on 18 July. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Sat, 07/13/2024 - 13:07
Relentless rain hampers relief efforts
JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) today announced IMG ARENA, OpenBet’s sports data and streaming products arm, as its exclusive official...
“I can only cook meals for a few people. There are so many more people needing food.”
DIRCO faces critical staffing shortage due to budget cuts
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says his department, which is facing a critical staff shortage, must do more with less due to resource constraints.
A critical challenge faced by the department, Lamola explained, is managing exchange rate volatility, which affects 60% of expenditures allocated to missions abroad.
The Minister was speaking during his Budget Vote Speech for the 2024/25 financial year, where he announced that the department had been allocated R6.57 billion, which dropped by 5% compared to the previous year.
“Strategic cost management in this area is essential to safeguarding our financial stability. Equally vital is addressing employee compensation, where the current ceiling set by the National Treasury requires careful consideration to maintain workforce morale and operational efficiency.”
According to the Minister, the department could only fill critical vacancies identified at the head office to remain within the baseline for employee compensation, which resulted in a “very high vacancy rate”.
He said that this hurts the department’s operations and service delivery.
“However, several line function posts were filled at the Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director levels, mainly through internal promotions to address the lack of upward mobility,” he added.
The Minister also announced that the department cannot fill all the critical vacancies with the available funds, and operations continue to be negatively affected.
“The June 2024 mission posts placement process was also deferred due to the shortfall in the compensation of employees’ budget. Additional funding is thus required to cover the shortfall and fill other critical vacancies at the head office and missions abroad.”
This financial year, he stated that the department will improve its information and technology and property infrastructure portfolio to optimise resources.
“This strategic initiative aims to release more lease funds and redirect them towards operational needs. While these budget adjustments pose challenges, they also present opportunities for efficiency gains and prioritisation of essential expenditures.”
He informed Parliament that the department will soon be advertising a cadet programme and a youth development initiative, which he deems crucial to the national youth development imperative and the department’s future capacity requirements.
The department is also finalising its organisational structure review process to streamline the business units and processes and optimise scarce resources to leverage global economic opportunities in advancing the country’s national interest, he added.
“Our commitment to delivering quality services and fostering economic growth remains unwavering. This budget signifies our determination to balance fiscal prudence with the imperative to support our citizens and invest in our nation’s future.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 11:11
Government intervenes to assist families amid Cape Town heavy rains
At least 500 households, whose homes were destroyed by heavy rains in Cape Town, are being temporarily relocated to safer accommodations, as gale-force winds and heavy rains persist.
This comes after Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, visited the affected areas on Thursday.
Kubayi and Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala led a Human Settlements delegation to assess progress of interventions for families in desperate need of shelter in the unrelenting cold and wet weather.
The Ministerial delegation visited various disaster-stricken areas in Khayelitsha, including Nkandla, Zami Mpilo, Kuyasa and Victoria Mxenge in the Western Cape.
Scores of people have been left temporarily homeless due to water-logged homes across the province as wet weather and flooding continues.
Kubayi said the department’s immediate intervention is to relocate families to be accommodated at the Western Cape School of Governance, where the department will enter into a lease agreement of 30 days.
Kubayi said the department must identify land in two weeks, adding that she has spoken to all the affected families, and they have agreed to move.
“Our concern is mainly that with a level 8 warning, it means the rain will continue and we do not want these communities to continue in this dire state where their shelters are submerged under water.
“We are moving them to a safe place at least for 30 days while we look at alternative land parcels where they can be permanently relocated to build a new life away from flood plains,” Kubayi said.
The Minister noted that the relocation for the community is not only in one ward but will expand to more areas currently in danger or Category C informal settlements [immediate relocation].
The Minister said the City of Town alone has over 800 informal settlements in danger zones, emphasising a need for a more proactive approach when dealing with disasters.
“We need to put preventative measures in place, and this work is ongoing. Moreover, I have instructed MECs in all nine provinces to also identify more of these Category-C informal settlements so that work can continue to mitigate imminent disasters,” Kubayi said.
As part of disaster intervention and mitigation measures, the department also provides the Informal Settlement Upgrading grant to provinces and municipalities. This entails the upgrading of informal settlements in-situ (developing the area where an informal settlement is located) by providing bulk infrastructure like storm water drainage to avert flooding.
Kubayi also underscored the need to put in place bulk infrastructure to mitigate against a situation where people are locked in water, noting that some areas they visited have no proper stormwater drainage system to absorb water during heavy rains.
The Minister also emphasised that the response to disasters requires all the affected government departments play their part in ensuring that the victims are attended to.
“This is because beyond the provision of shelter for the victims, there are other needs such as transport, protection of property (which in some cases gets stolen), food and other necessities,” she said.
Kubayi further acknowledged efforts by NGOs, including the Gift of the Givers, who continuously work with government during emergencies.
She assured that the teams will continue with work onsite throughout the weekend, assessing the structural integrity of damaged formal structures.
“The team from Human Settlements Emergency Housing, which includes the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), has been on the ground since the disaster to provide the necessary support to those who have lost their informal structures in Monwabisi, New Monwabisi Park, and Kuyasa informal settlements, as well as to assess the damage caused to permanent structures,” Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 11:36
Retrenchments in the platinum sector a cause for concern
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says he is concerned about the recent retrenchments in the platinum sector.
“Whilst the mining sector employs 489 000 mineworkers, we have noted with concern the recent retrenchments specifically in the platinum sector. In response to these job losses, we have pulled our social partners together and are in discussions to craft an approach to minimise them,” Mantashe said, delivering the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s Budget Vote in Cape Town.
He said significant progress has been made by the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) and National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) who have formed partnerships with industry players to improve the state of infrastructure to support mining.
“The department is currently drafting amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act (MPRDA) aimed at ensuring that areas that have been identified as weak and those that have been challenged legally are strengthened against international best practice.
“The amendments will also review the licensing regime to reduce red tape and improve the business environment for investors while keeping in sync with South Africa’s social and economic fabric,” Mantashe said.
He said the amendments are a continuation of the regulatory and policy adjustments initiated during the sixth administration.
“Given South Africa’s endowment with considerable mineral reserves of strategic significance to the global economies, we are convinced that increased exploration will enable the country to meaningfully benefit from its global advantage.
“To enable this the department, guided by the country’s exploration strategy, has in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) established an exploration fund to support emerging and junior miners,” Mantashe said.
Government intends to intensify engagements with several fund managers and the investor community to secure additional financing to sustain the fund into the future.
The department has allocated R72 million to fund artisanal and small-scale miners, including women and youth-owned companies.
Mantashe said the health and safety of mine workers remains at the centre of government’s work.“Owing to our strategic partnership with our social partners we have improved our performance towards the zero harm goal,” he said.
The Minister said this is demonstrable in the decline in mine fatalities, injuries and occupational diseases as evidenced by the 49 fatalities being the lowest on record in 2022.
“Although we had set our sights on beating this record in 2023, the regrettable disaster at the Impala Rustenburg that killed 13 mineworkers and many other fatal incidences contributed to the regression resulting in 53 fatalities reported in 2023.
“We have also noted with great concern the emerging trend of fatalities related to motor accidents and disasters involving illegal miners.
“To this end, the department has entered into an agreement with the industry on the development of minimum standards and guidelines to mitigate against road fatalities, while intensifying the fight against illegal mining,” the Minister said.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the department has been allocated at least R8.84 billion, of which R6.4 billion is earmarked for transfers to public entities, municipalities, and other institutions or implementing agents. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 12:19
Management of Ribas Manufacturers has offered R1.75 per hour increase
Water and Sanitation allocated over R130 000 billion budget
The Department of Water and Sanitation has been allocated an amount of R134.909 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
Presenting the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Friday, Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Mojodima, said the budget includes allocations of R42.604 billion, R46.362 billion and R45.941 billion in the 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years respectively.
The department’s budget consists of two components, including the main account and water trading entity.
“On the main account, the department has been allocated R72.989 billion over the MTEF. This consists of allocations of R24.074 billion, R25.159 billion and R23.754 billion in 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 respectively.
“Included in the main account budget are conditional infrastructure grants for municipal water services totalling R36.305 billion over the MTEF. This includes R20.130 billion for the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant and R16.175 billion for the Water Services Infrastructure Grant,” Majodima explained.
She noted that the water trading entity is mostly funded through revenue collection from the sale of water, but also receives some transfers from the fiscus for infrastructure projects.
The water trading entity has been allocated R61.920 billion over the MTEF, including R18.530 billion, R21.202 billion and R22.187 billion in 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 respectively.
The department, said the Minister, will make every effort to ensure that the resources are deployed as efficiently as possible “to ensure that service delivery reaches our communities”.
The department will also continue to clear all the department’s historic incidents of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in collaboration with National Treasury and the law enforcement agencies.
The Minister committed the department to a zero tolerance to corruption and ensuring the promotion of good governance.
“In recent years, the department has successfully reduced its under-expenditure against its budget – in 2021/22 there was R2.5 billion under-expenditure (which equals to 14.3% of the budget), in 2022/23 there was R860 million under-expenditure (5% of the budget), and in 2023/24 there was R44 million under-expenditure (0.2% of the budget).
“It is our intention to eradicate under-expenditure altogether and achieve 100% expenditure of our budget in the current financial year. This will be done by making our infrastructure procurement processes more efficient and effective and by improving our management of allocations to projects during the financial year,” Majodima said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 14:10
Incentives for municipalities owing water bills
In a bid to address the water debt owed by municipalities, the Department of Water and Sanitation, including water boards, have strengthened and standardised debt collection processes and put in place incentives for municipalities to pay their water board bills.
Presenting the Water and Sanitation Budget Vote on Friday, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said the municipal debts to the water boards increased to R21.3 billion by May 2024, posing a major risk to the financial sustainability of the whole water sector.
Majodina said this debt has forced the department to close down the Sedibeng Water Board in 2022 and transfer its functions, including assets and liabilities, to the Vaal Central and Magalies Water Boards.
“The debts owed by municipalities to Sedibeng Water had resulted in it no longer being able to service its own debts and to meet its operational expenditure requirements. However, the transfer of Sedibeng’s operations to the Vaal Central and Magalies Water Boards did not solve the underlying debt problem and the municipal debt continues to grow,” Majodina said.
While non-payment by municipalities poses a threat to the financial sustainability of all the water boards, Majodima said the department is particularly concerned about Magalies Water and Vaal Central Water, which are experiencing an increasing cash flow challenges due to non-payment.
“One of our immediate priorities will therefore be to work with our colleagues in Cabinet, particularly the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to find a sustainable solution to this problem,” Majodina said.
While acknowledging that not all municipalities are falling behind on their payments, Majodima warned that non-payment by a few municipalities which are served by a particular water board can result in severe financial difficulties for that water board.
During the 2023/24 financial year, the National Government allocated R61.7 billion of water and sanitation-related grants to municipalities to enable the municipalities to address water and sanitation infrastructure backlogs and provide free basic water to the indigent.
Apart from these grants, the water services sector must be self-financing through revenues from the sale of water.
Available infrastructure for other economic activities
To ensure the department’s assets contribute towards the objectives of the Government of National Unity, Majodina said the department would be availing its infrastructure for other economic activities, including promoting tourism and recreation, and reducing the risk of load shedding through the use of dams for generation of hydropower.
The Minister noted that during the last financial year, the department issued an expression of interest to obtain access rights to state dams for tourism and recreation activities, with the aim of promoting economic development, particularly of communities adjacent to dams.
She said the expressions of interest received will be processed during the current financial year.
“In consultation with the Ministry of Energy and Electricity, the department has also issued requests for applications for interested parties to apply for water use authorisations to generate hydropower using water courses and the water resource infrastructure owned by the department.
“This process received interest from over 200 applicants, for generation of 2 845 Megawatts of electricity from the water courses. To date, the department has issued 40 authorisations for floating solar panels, and the remaining applications will be processed in the current financial year,” Majodina said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 14:37
Jump on the democracy bus
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), in partnership with the South African National Roads Agency, has launched the Democracy Bus, which will travel the country to drum up citizens’ participation in celebration of the 30 years of democracy.
“[The] bus will travel to different parts of our amazing country from the nation’s towering cities to deep rural communities. Government calls on all South Africans to get on the bus so that they can see and experience the changes we have gone through as we relive the many pivotal moments in our democratic journey," Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced during the delivery of the Budget Vote of the GCIS to the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on Friday.
“The bus is also expected to stop at the GCIS Thusong Service Centres which are earmarked as key activation sites. It will also stop at venues for community meetings, izimbizo and national events as well as dams, police stations, schools, clinics and hospitals built over the years as we celebrate our 30 years of democracy,” she said.
Spot the Bus
The Minister said citizens will be able to participate in a “spot the bus” campaign.
“As the bus travels on our roads, across all our provinces to 30 locations in various parts of our country, citizens will have the opportunity to be part of the spot the bus campaign. Citizens can keep a look out for information on the bus journey through a digital map that will be published on various social media platforms.
“This is the way GCIS is bringing South Africans to acknowledge the work that has been done over the last 30 years but also acknowledging the challenges that still lie ahead which government, through its new programmes of the seventh administration…will address the challenges that remain,” Ntshavheni said.
Crime
The Minister also said the GCIS was implementing a campaign that will seek to encourage communities and stakeholders to participate in the fight against crime.
She said the department has set the fight against crime as one of its communication priorities for this financial year.
“GCIS is implementing a crime management campaign which will target the areas of organised and violent crime, illegal mining, cable theft and vandalism of essential infrastructure along with the scourge of violence against women, children and vulnerable members of society.
“To strengthen stakeholder participation, the GCIS has established a directorate of stakeholder management and special projects to marshal all stakeholders in a common front against social ills. We have learnt during COVID-19 that the coordination of the work is more impactful in our communication space,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 14:44
Twenty-Five Basketball Coaches from 15 African Countries Selected for NBA 2K25 Summer League; Five Players Who Featured in the 2024 BAL Season (https://BAL.NBA.com/) to Compete in Las Vegas.
Twenty-five basketball coaches from 15 African countries have been selected to participate in the NBA 2K25 Summer League which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 12 -22, 2024. The selected coaches form part of the Africa Coaches Program, which builds on NBA Africa's and Basketball Africa League's (BAL) commitment to building capacity and expertise of coaches from across the continent, improving the quality of the on-court product, and contributing to the continued growth of basketball on the continent. Eight of the coaches represent teams that have participated in the BAL.
Please see below for some of the notable storylines, followed by the full roster of the African coaches, players, and referees who will take part in the Summer League.
African Coaches Program
Building Continuity
Empowering the Next Generation
NBA Academy Africa Well-Represented
Female Participants
Please see below for the complete list of African coaches participating in the NBA 2K25 Summer League and the NBA teams coaching staff they have joined.
|
First name |
Last name |
Country of origin |
NBA Team |
|
Mohamed Lamine |
Kriedeche |
Algeria |
New Orleans Pelicans |
|
Stef |
Pare |
Burkina Faso |
Orlando Magic |
|
Francois |
Enyengue |
Cameroon |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
Victor |
Samnick |
Cameroon |
Denver Nuggets |
|
Pierrot |
Ilunga |
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Toronto Raptors |
|
Emmanuel |
Mavomo |
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Milwaukee Bucks |
|
Ahmed |
Elgarhi |
Egypt |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
Alia |
Mahmoud |
Egypt |
Washington Wizards |
|
Ruth |
Bibeyi |
Gabon |
Los Angeles Lakers |
|
Ahmed |
Salam |
Morocco |
Atlanta Hawks |
|
John |
Wilkins |
Morocco |
Phoenix Suns |
|
Sofia |
Bey |
Morocco |
Sacramento Kings |
|
Karim |
Nesba |
Morocco |
Sacramento Kings |
|
Leonel |
Manhique |
Mozambique |
Brooklyn Nets |
|
Ogoh |
Odaudu |
Nigeria |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
|
Mohamed |
Abdulrahman |
Nigeria |
Utah Jazz |
|
Mugisha Igor |
Keys |
Rwanda |
Boston Celtics |
|
Prosper |
Naci |
Rwanda |
Philadelphia 76ers |
|
Matar |
Mbodji |
Senegal |
Chicago Bulls |
|
Goitsemang |
Ditsheko |
South Africa |
Houston Rockets |
|
Akech Wuoi Garang |
Ajak |
South Sudan |
New York Knicks |
|
Bechir |
Hadidane |
Tunisia |
Memphis Grizzlies |
|
Mhamed |
Gaddour |
Tunisia |
Los Angeles Clippers |
|
Radouane |
Slimane |
Tunisia |
Miami Heat |
|
Andrew |
Senyondwa |
Uganda |
Trailblazers Portland |
BAL Season 4 Players*
Five players who played in the 2024 BAL season are set to feature in this year's Summer League: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (South Sudan; Sacramento Kings), Samkelo Cele (South Africa; New York Knicks), Obadiah Noel (USA; New York Knicks) Devine Eke (Nigeria, Milwaukee Bucks), and Makhtar Gueye (Senegal; Atlanta Hawks).
*Rosters are subject to change.
Referees with BAL Experience
Five referees who officiated in the 2024 BAL season will also join the program, including Annie Joyce Muchenu (Zimbabwe). Muchenu became a FIBA international referee in September 2008 and was appointed to officiate at the FIBA Women's Champions Cup in Nairobi, Kenya the same year. She has since officiated at major competitions on the African continent including junior and senior tournaments but has also officiated at two All Africa Games (2011 and 2015), three FIBA U-17 World Cups, two FIBA U-19 World Cups, pre-Olympic Qualifiers and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and the BAL since the beginning of the competition.
Please see below the complete list of African referees:
|
NAME |
COUNTRY |
|
Oumar Sy |
Mauritania |
|
Yann Davidson |
Madagascar |
|
Annie Joyce Muchenu |
Zimbabwe |
|
Vitalis Gode |
Kenya (Referee Supervisor) |
|
Silver Houngbedji |
Benin |
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Play Your Part campaign to be reimagined - Minister Ntshavheni
Brand SA has set out its plans to reimagine the Play Your Part campaign.
This according to the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was speaking during the Budget Vote of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on Friday.
Brand SA, the country's official marketing agency, has been allocated R186 million to carry out its work for the 2024/25 financial year.
According to the Minister, the Play your Part initiative aims to “inspire, empower and celebrate active citizenship”.
“It aims to lift the spirit of our nation by inspiring South Africans to contribute to positive change, become involved and start doing. It calls on South Africans to use some of their time, money, skills and goods to contribute to a better future for all of us,” she said.
Ntshavheni said the Media Development and Diversity Agency has made “significant strides in developing the community media sector to reflect the needs and aspirations of all South Africans”.
The entity has been allocated at least R38.5 million for the 2024/25 financial year.
“In its duty of providing funding and other support for the marginalised groups to enable them to start and sustain their own community media projects, it has supported over 586 small commercial media projects over the years despite its meagre budget.
“This includes 321 community radio and community television stations along with 185 community print projects such as community newspapers, magazines and small commercial print as well as digital platforms,” she said.
She emphasised the vital nature of the work of the MDDA.
“The work of the MDDA is important because community media serves to connect people with shared interests and concerns. It amplifies the unique stories and experiences within a community and promotes understanding amongst its members.
“In essence, community media acts as a catalyst for social cohesion, empowering individuals to actively engage in dialogue, bridge cultural gaps and collectively address challenges for the greater good of society,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 14:48
Water partnerships office to support funding for municipal infrastructure
The Department of Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), has put in place an office to support municipalities in establishing partnerships with the private sector.
This as poor investment in water and sanitation infrastructure by municipalities is one of the biggest challenges in the water sector currently.
Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Madojina, said this when she tabled the department’s Budget Vote in Cape Town on Friday.
While South Africa is doing well in terms of mobilising private sector finance for investment in national water resource infrastructure, Majodina said it is not doing so well in terms of private sector financing of municipal water and sanitation infrastructure.
“Aging infrastructure, pipe leaks and lack of operation and maintenance, among others, are some of the main causes of high levels of non-revenue water in municipalities. For example, the water partnerships office is currently supporting the eThekwini, Mangaung, Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane municipalities to mobilise private sector finance for the replacement of leaking municipal water distribution pipes which result in high levels of non-revenue water,” Majodina said.
She added that other focus areas include private sector investment in municipal water-reuse and desalination projects.
Water resource infrastructure agency
The Minister further announced the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency, which will own all the national water resource infrastructure assets and obtain the revenue streams associated with those assets.
This will enable the agency to borrow additional funds on the strength of its balance sheet.
“The establishment of the agency will be one of the major focus areas of the department over the coming year. Parliament passed the National Water Infrastructure Agency Bill before it rose in May this year and we are expecting it to be signed by the President shortly.
“This will involve the transfer of all the national water resource infrastructure assets currently owned by the department to the agency, as well as the staff responsible for the operation and maintenance of the assets,” Majodina said.
The Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) will be merged into the National Water Infrastructure Agency, along with the water trading entity in the department, which is responsible for collecting revenue from the sale of raw or untreated water to the water boards, municipalities and industry.
“A transition plan is in place, and we aim to complete the establishment of the agency by May 2025. During this financial year, the department will be focusing on implementing the major structural changes and staff transfers associated with the establishment of this agency,” the Minister said.
The Minister shared her intentions to ensure that there is continuity of the various reforms and improvements that were initiated by the former Minister Senzo Mchunu. Many of them were mandated by the National Development Plan and the Presidency’s Operation Vulindlela. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 15:04
[Listen to Baxolile Nodada speak on this] Dear Editor The DA is deeply concerned about the recent cyber-attack on the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and the severe consequences it has on public health services. The attack, attributed to the BlackSuit group, has rendered critical data unusable, significantly disrupting the delivery of essential health services. …
This Mandela Day, Urology Hospital (UH) in Pretoria will once again partner with African Synergy Health (ASH) for the ASH Mandela Week Surgical Marathon. From July 15-19, they’ll perform life saving surgeries using cutting-edge robotic surgery. Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed in South African men and the fifth leading cause of death globally with …
'This moment in our history is one for all South Africans' - Minister Ntshavheni
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says the mandate given to political parties by South Africans following the general elections is a mandate that all South Africans must act on to create a better South Africa.
The Minister said this when she was delivering the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Budget Vote n Parliament on Friday morning.i
This year’s general election results produced no outright majority winner – tasking various political leaders to work together to form a Government of National Unity (GNU), much like what was required at the dawn of democracy in 1994.
Some 11 political parties are part of the GNU with leaders from some of those political formations appointed as Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
“The historic mandate which we are granted to be the seventh administration and the seventh parliament is not confined to political parties. But this is a national effort in which all South Africans must participate as each of us acts to create the South Africa in which we wish to live, raise our children and exercise our economic skills following the general elections.
“This mandate must build on the great strides we have made since 1994 as reflected in the Census 2022 results which paints a picture of a society on the move and which reflects improvements across most indicators despite the challenges confronting us,” she said.
The Minister explained that the GCIS will “dedicate its expertise and resources to supporting the work of the Government of National Unity so that we can provide South Africans and our partners with information that can help us to move forward as a country”.
“Our first task, as the country navigates these unchartered waters is to educate citizens about the establishment of the seventh administration which, in its current form, is unprecedented in the history of our democracy.
“As part of the new administration and with an equally inclusive cohort of communication professionals, GCIS will spearhead a well functioning communication system that prioritises informed and empowered citizens,” she said.
Ntshavheni acknowledged that the task before the department is a “mammoth one”.
The budget allocation for the GCIS over the three years of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) amounts to some R2.3 billion.
“In the coming period, the GCIS will have to be at the forefront of engaging citizens on the work of government with emphasis on mobilising all of society to be part of the unity and change and progress in our country.
“This moment in our history is one for all South Africans to make their voices heard and their actions seen and felt across society,” she said.
Ntshavheni laid out some of the plans the department will embark on to ensure that every citizen has access to information.
“GCIS has put forward bold and decisive plans to use the strong communications system it has developed over the years to ensure that South Africans remain abreast of key developments that take place within the country.
“The department will…use communication to help citizens across the length and breadth of our nation to participate in and enjoy the benefits of our hard won democracy and freedom. It will share critical information on government services and programmes as well as create opportunities to open the economy to more South Africans,” she said.
The Minister revealed that one of the tasks that the government-wide communication system has is to rebuild “trust between citizens and the government the nation has put in place”.
She added that the department will also be tasked with motivating South Africans to “replace cynicism, suspicion and despondency with active citizenship, social investment and confidence in our future”.
Turning to the gains of the past 30 years of democracy, Ntshavheni emphasised that the developments seen across South Africa since 1994 are “not by chance” but are as a result of concerted government programmes and effort.
“Today millions of households have access to housing, water, sanitation and electricity when compared to 1994.
"Our policies have facilitated the greater economic transformation and the empowerment of previously disadvantaged individuals.
“We have introduced laws and policies on worker rights, employment equity and broad based black empowerment. There has been strong investment in infrastructure, public employment programmes and achieving higher levels of economic growth; but the challenges remain.
“This is a journey that has had and will have many facets into the future,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 13:34
Gauteng, South Africa – TT Waterproofing, a well-established market leader in the installation of roofing and waterproofing systems, shares valuable insights on the importance of comprehensive waterproofing for homes and businesses. With over nine years of industry experience, TT Waterproofing has become synonymous with reliable roof repairs and waterproofing solutions across Gauteng, including Pretoria. Waterproofing: …
Much has been written about how e-bikes could solve our transport crisis, reduce greenhouse gases, ease road congestion and contribute to the overall well-being of our citizens. BUT, like all renewable energy products, the initial capital outlay is beyond the reach of most ordinary citizens. As part of our market research into e-Bikes we embarked …