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Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance is encouraged by the early intention shown by Dr Dion George, the new Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment. Minister George has stated he plans to move quickly on progressive policy related to the climate crisis, specifically accessing and spending the multi-billion dollar funding for the Just Energy Transition and …
The number of registered cars in South Africa has been on a steady increase for as long as the records show. According to the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) data, South Africa had 11 760 886 registered self-propelled vehicles in January 2023. This is a sizable increase from the 9 600 412 vehicles recorded at …
Eskom former official, service provider appear in court
An Eskom former employee and a service provider at the power utility have appeared in the Hendrina Magistrates’ Court to face charges of theft and fraud.
The two made separate appearances at the court and were released on bail of R30 000 each.
The power utility explained that an investigation had revealed that between January and April last year, the service provider had supplied five valve stems to the Hendrina Power Station.
According to Eskom the valves “were stolen from the same power station warehouse, as a result of working with the Eskom employee”.
“An internal investigation revealed that the Eskom employee had misused company resources without authorisation for their own personal gain and also falsified documents as the end-user.”
The Eskom employee resigned while a disciplinary action was being instituted.
“Eskom suffered a financial loss of R667 500 because of this criminal activity,” Eskom said.
Eskom Acting General Manager for Security Botse Sikhwitshi vowed that the power utility will continue to root out criminality in its ranks.
“Eskom strongly condemns any fraudulent activity in its business operations and will not tolerate such behaviour. Our internal security investigations team will continue collaborating with the South African Police Service in ensuring that those who enrich themselves at Eskom’s expense are held accountable,” Sikhwitshi said.
The two are expected back in court on 29 July. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 07/09/2024 - 11:11
We need a new approach to policing from Minister Senzo Mchunu
The wait is over! Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, the longest-running and most anticipated TV event in history, returns to South Africa on Monday, 15 July, on Discovery Channel Africa (DStv channel 121). Hosted by the one and only John Cena, this year promises groundbreaking discoveries, thrilling encounters, and a spotlight on South Africa’s very own …
To celebrate its 40th birthday, Protea Hotels by Marriott announced the opening of its first property in Angola while further strengthening its portfolio in South Africa with a new property in Pretoria. The newest additions – Protea by Marriott Luanda and Protea by Marriott Pretoria Hatfield – will offer business and leisure travellers the chance to experience the vibrant local cultures and warm hospitality, along with exceptional accommodation, modern amenities and world-class service.
Protea Hotels by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy's distinguished portfolio of over 30 extraordinary brands, has grown significantly since its founding in July 1984. Starting with just four hotels in South Africa, the brand now boasts over 60 properties throughout South Africa and eight other African countries, including Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and now Angola. This extensive footprint across primary and secondary business centres and desirable leisure destinations makes Protea Hotels by Marriott a popular choice for travellers exploring Africa.
Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President of Premium & Select Brands, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Marriott International, said, “This month we celebrate four decades of exceptional service and genuine African hospitality. What better way to commemorate this milestone than by further strengthening Protea Hotels' legacy with our first hotel in Angola and the ongoing expansion of the brand in South Africa. Both properties will combine contemporary comfort with a deep appreciation for local culture and heritage, offering guests a unique and enriching stay.”
Protea by Marriott Luanda
Protea Hotels by Marriott makes its debut in Angola with the opening of Protea by Marriott Luanda. Situated between the city centre of Luanda and Talatona, the new hotel offers proximity to a wide range of business, sports and private event destinations, as well as leisure retreats near the sea. The hotel interior creates a comfortable ambience across its public space and 84 guestrooms and suites, using contemporary furniture in African-styled terracotta colour and furnishings made with locally sourced materials. Guests can also admire the paintings by Guilherme Mampuya, a renowned Angolan artist based in Luanda. Culinary offerings include Múcua, an all-day restaurant serving up a modern fusion of Portuguese and Angolan cuisines, and a rooftop bar where guests can unwind with drinks and light bites against panoramic views of the surrounding area. Other facilities include a fully equipped gym and an outdoor pool with a waterfall.
Protea by Marriott Pretoria Hatfield
Protea by Marriott Pretoria Hatfield is strategically located in Hatfield, one of the most sought-after areas in Pretoria, providing business and leisure travellers with easy access to diplomatic, government and corporate offices as well as shopping centres, entertainment destinations and sporting facilities. The hotel features 203 contemporary guestrooms designed for comfort and style. Guests can enjoy a memorable dining experience at The African Restaurant and Bar, which dishes up a fusion of global and African cuisines. A cosy 30-seater bar provides a relaxing space to unwind, while five state-of-the-art conference venues cater to both large-scale and intimate gatherings.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Marriott International, Inc..
About Protea Hotels by Marriott:
Protea Hotels by Marriott® is the leading hospitality brand in Africa and it is one of the most widely recognized brands on the continent with over 60 hotels across nine countries including South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Angola. Protea Hotels by Marriott® is ideal for both business and leisure travellers by offering properties in primary and secondary business centres and desirable leisure destinations. Each hotel offers modern facilities, proactive and friendly service and consistent amenities such as full-service restaurants, meeting spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and well-appointed rooms, ensuring global standards for a high quality, relaxed and successful stay.
About Marriott Bonvoy®:
Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands and 10,000 global destinations, offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable locations around the world. The award-winning travel program and marketplace gives members access to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and across the globe. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit http://apo-opa.co/3LgyVpn. To download the Marriott app, go here. Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
Introduction Hiring a forklift can be a critical decision for operational efficiency in various industries. This blog covers the essentials of forklift hire, including types, benefits, and what to consider. Types of Forklifts Different tasks require different forklifts: Electric Forklifts: Best for indoor use due to their zero emissions. Diesel Forklifts: Suitable for …
People of Bhungeni were moved to make way for a mall which has still not been built
Introduction Selecting the right chairs is crucial for the comfort and aesthetic of any event. This blog explores the benefits of plastic and party chairs and provides tips for choosing the best options for different occasions. Benefits of Plastic Chairs Plastic chairs offer versatility and practicality: Durability: Plastic chairs are weather-resistant and sturdy, making …
Introduction Padel is a rapidly growing sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. Choosing the right padel racket is essential for performance. This blog explores the different types of padel rackets and how to select the best one for your style of play. Types of Padel Rackets Padel rackets vary in shape and material: …
JOHANNESBURG – Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has recorded another impressive performance in the latest National Automotive Dealer Association (NADA) Dealer Satisfaction Index, scoring a Gold status award for the fourth year in a row. The NADA Dealer Satisfaction Index has been measuring dealer’s satisfaction with their various OEM brands since 1996 with Lightstone responsible for …
Functional transport sector is key to a successful economy
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says an efficient and functioning transport sector is key to a successful economy.
“Our roads and rail network are the arteries of our nation, [they] should move people and goods safely, speedily and affordably across the length and breadth of South Africa and facilitate our connectivity with the African continent and the wider world,” Creecy said on Monday.
The condition of roads, logistical and capacity issues affecting the freight network and road safety are just a few of the problems that have plagued the sector in recent times, she said at the opening of the South African Transport Conference currently underway in Pretoria.
“When our transport systems suffer, our economy faces depressed economic growth, declining investment and working people cannot get to their jobs affordably or on time and we see a rise in unemployment in a country that desperately needs more jobs,” the Minister explained.
She added that the 7th Administration is aware of the challenges and aims to address them comprehensively throughout the next five-year term.
“Areas of focus include key logistics corridors handling commodities that are essential to the export market and economic growth (such as coal and iron ore), addressing backlogs and congestion at strategic border crossings such as Komatipoort and Beitbridge, combatting congestion in key national highway corridors such as the N1 and N3, as well as interventions to combat cable theft and maintenance backlogs at Transnet.
“The National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) is a young structure, and it is also being employed as a means to encourage more private sector collaboration and participation with Government as we address the many challenges South Africa is facing in the area of logistics,” the Minister said.
Established last year, the Crisis Committee is chaired by President Ramaphosa and brings together all of the relevant government departments to drive a coordinated response to the logistics challenges.
“The workstreams of the Logistics Crisis Committee have been set up with personnel from key ministries, including from the Department of Transport and our Entities. The committee is working to ensure stability across the various supply chain and logistics sectors,” said the Minister.
Creecy thanked her predecessor, Sindisiwe Chikunga, for her instrumental role in the establishment of the NLCC and in encouraging further engagement between the private and public sector in tackling the problems the country is faced with.
The Minister said anchoring times for ships waiting to berth at the port of Durban have been reduced, and a terminal operator has been appointed to enter into a joint partnership with Transnet to develop and upgrade the port.
“PRASA [Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa] is continuing to reopen passenger rail lines severely affected by infrastructure damage and cable theft, with 28 of 40 priority lines being fully operational,” Creecy said.
According to Creecy, as of March this year, 256 stations are fully functional in cities across the country.
“I can report today that continuous work is being done to rehabilitate and open up more strategic commuter corridors. This will ensure that the public can rely on safe, secure, punctual, and affordable public rail services that will not hinder their participation in the economy,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 11:56
Commission issues Guide on Governance Practice for new Cabinet members
The new Cabinet and establishment of the Government of National Unity (GNU) is an important milestone in the existence of the 7th Administration, and public servants and other organs of the state must support the transition and ensure continuity of quality service delivery.
This is according to Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya who briefed the media in Pretoria on Monday.
He said public servants are expected to serve and support the newly elected leadership and government of the day in a dedicated, competent and professional manner in executing priority policies.
“The PSC was established to oversee the public service, amongst others, for an efficient and effective performance of public administration,” Gxoyiya said, adding that the GNU marks a significant moment in the nation's journey towards an accountable and transparent governance.
“A more serious warning should go to the entire public service to rethink how it engages with the citizens, but most importantly to ensure that it is guided by the values and principles governing public administration,” he said.
Gxoyiya said such a public service will reinforce citizen’s trust in the constitutional democracy.
“It is further a call to citizens to be vigilant and hold government accountable for service delivery,” he said.
Gxoyiya said as part of fulfilling its oversight mandate in this period of transition, the commission has released the Guide on Governance Practice for Executive Authorities and Heads of Department (2024) and a Circular to advise Executive Authorities, Heads of Department and employees regarding the prevention and management of unlawful instructions.
“The Guide on Governance Practice for Executive Authorities and Heads of Department provides a simplified reference source for Executive Authorities and Heads of Department on processes and procedures that are essential to promote good governance and performance in the public service.
“It covers work emanating from the PSC’s mandate and provides reference to other critical sources of information from other departments.
“This PSC Guide is intended to supplement Guides and Manuals issued by The Presidency, the Department of Public Service and Administration, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and the National Treasury as part of readiness,” he said.
Gxoyiya said the commission encouraged Executive Authorities and Heads of Department to familiarise themselves with the contents of the guide.
The Guide is accessible at www.psc.gov.za under Documents, Reports, 2024. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 14:48
President Cyril Ramaphosa was honoured yesterday evening, Sunday, 7 July 2024, with a phone call from His Excellency President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt who warmly congratulated President Ramaphosa on his new term of office.
President El-Sisi shared with President Ramaphosa his expectation that South Africa and Egypt will continue to cooperate on issues of common interest.
President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for President El-Sisi's good wishes and agreed on the importance of continued partnership between our two countries on matters of bilateral, continental and multilateral interest.
Of particular significance to the two leaders is the need to work together on the Palestinian issue and the crisis in the Gaza strip.
The Presidents committed themselves to deepening the fraternal ties between Egypt and South Africa as part of advancing continental solidarity.
President Ramaphosa and President El-Sisi were also in agreement on the expansion of trade, mutual investment and other areas of economic cooperation between the two states.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Wet, cold weather expected to continue in Western Cape
Cold and wet weather is expected to continue in the Western Cape this week with a series of cold fronts still to make landfall over the coming days.
“A series of cold fronts are still on track to make landfall, resulting in a week of wet and cold conditions. [Monday] will see the coldest daytime temperatures, and the next cold front with rain is expected to arrive on Tuesday.
“Between 10 and 20mm of rain is expected over the western parts, and between 40 and 60mm can be expected over the southern western mountains,” the Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning department said.
The department added that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) is monitoring the situation.
“[The South African Weather Service] confirmed its outlook for strong to gale force west to north-westerly winds for the south-west coast and emphasised the high danger of runaway wildfires in the Garden Route District. The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to monitor river and dam levels, which are expected to rise significantly in the coming week.
“Eskom reported several outages over the past 48 hours caused by the severe weather. Cape Town, the West Coast and Overberg regions were hardest hit so far, and repair teams are attending to them as fast as possible,” the department said.
READ | Western Cape prepares for inclement weather
Disruptive weather
The department’s MEC Anton Bredell said since the first cold front made landfall over the weekend, the PDMC has received reports of damage and disruptions due in several areas.
“Widespread disruptions and damage, including loss of shelter in informal settlements, localised flooding, fallen trees, electricity outages, and road closures due to snow or flooding, were reported during our meeting [on Monday].
“The City of Cape Town, Overberg, Cape Winelands and West Coast Districts were hardest hit by the severe weather. As always, our focus remains on the safety of our residents and the humanitarian support that they need,” he said.
Significant rainfall has already been recorded in several towns in the Western Cape, including at Ceres, which received some 123mm and Elgin Grabouw which received 84mm of rainfall.
The provincial government and the national Department of Human Settlements are working together to assist those who have lost homes due to flooding.
Search and rescue operations are also ready for those communities cut off from main roads.
“Wuppertal and other communities in the Cederberg area will be reached by specialised 4x4 teams once a needs assessment has been conducted, and we will be ready for similar requests as the week unfolds,” Bredell said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 15:00
Stop works order issued by Heritage Western Cape as no heritage permit obtained
PSC applauds officials who refuse to accept a bribes
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has applauded officials who refuse to accept bribes at the country’s ports of entry to South Africa.
“The integrity of officers at South Africa’s ports of entry plays a significant role in combating and preventing bribery and corruption in rendering customs, transport, and immigration services to the public,” said PSC Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya.
Addressing the media in Pretoria earlier today, Gxoyiya said this was demonstrated by officials from the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) who refused to take bribes of R200 000 and R50 000 respectively, to allow a truck carrying 614 boxes of semi-manufactured tobacco worth over R6 million to enter the country.
He said the display of integrity by officials promotes a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct.
“The PSC once more applauds the exemplary ethical behaviour displayed by the officials from SARS and the RTMC for refusing to take a bribe at the Beitbridge port of entry,” said the Commissioner.
“Bribery at the ports of entry manifest in various ways, including, but not limited to, facilitation payment, document falsification, preferential treatment and smuggling,” Gxoyiya said, adding that corrupt officials may cooperate with criminal networks to smuggle illicit goods and even enable human trafficking in exchange of bribes.
“In addition, the PSC would like to congratulate the Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille and officials in her department who were instrumental in the recovery of the R35 million in irregular payments made through SA Tourism's US and South Africa Offices, for services not rendered,” Gxoyiya said.
He said the recovery of the funds demonstrated their commitment in fighting corruption and ensuring that funds allocated to the department are used appropriately in line with the Public Finance Management Act.
“The PSC would like to encourage all public servants across the country to uphold the constitutional values and principles which calls for professional ethics and accountability. These actions will contribute towards building a professional, ethical, and capable public service,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 15:05
The delicious taste of spicy chai has been enjoyed for thousands of years, with its roots established in the fabric of Indian tea culture. Chai, which is actually the Hindi word for tea, has more recently become a popular choice in many countries, with the traditional Chai being reimagined in various ways. One of the …
Trust and relationships key ingredients to coalition governments
Former Advisor to Coalition Governments in Ireland, Fergus Finlay, says trust and relationships are an important ingredient towards the success of coalition governments.
“The key thing about coalitions is relationships, acceptance that you not going to get everything you want in a coalition, [and] acceptance that even if you don’t get everything you want, you are going to respect the bottom line,” Finlay said.
Finlay made the remarks during a webinar held under the topic: “Making Coalitions and Governments of National Unity Work: The Role of Professional Bureaucracies.”
The webinar was hosted by the National School of Government (NSG).
It provided a platform to discuss the likely impact of the Government of National Unity (GNU) on the public administration and governance system, with lessons from countries abroad that have gone through power sharing arrangements, as well as in the country’s local government system where coalitions have also been in existence for a few years.
During Monday’s session, experts from the country and abroad shared their insights and experiences on the impact of coalition arrangements on public sector institutions.
Sharing his experience on coalition governments, Finlay said relationships, trust and a written programme is essential, noting that detailed structure to get to the programme is imminent.
“There is no guarantee in the end of success, unless there is trust and mutual respect,” Finlay said.
Former Chief of Cabinet for various Belgian Ministers, including the Vice Prime Minister from the Belgium government--which is known for coalition governments-- Jan Cornillie noted that the longest coalition negotiation in Belgium took 514 days.
Sharing lessons learned on coalition agreements, Cornillie underscored the importance of discussing coalitions before entering into government and the need to make compromises and institutionalise it because ‘pacification is in itself a key to coalition outcome.’
“Limit the zone of possible agreements by introducing facts and constraints into the discussions (what is implementable), provide an overarching narrative in which governing parties can find themselves; make use of the nation’s centre(s) of excellence in policymaking, and provide access to chief advisors from all governing parties,” Cornillie said.
Cornillie also emphasised that government is not completed by Ministers and Cabinet alone, but need a whole system, including advisors, the civil service, national expert bodies, and political advisors that trust each other.
Overcoming difficulties
Professor of Political Science at the University of Florence and Coordinator of Department of Public Policy and Governance, National School of Administration (SNA), in Italy, Professor Andrea Lippi, acknowledged that coalition governments are difficult.
Lippi said through coalition governments, Italy has seen transformation of the Cabinet with more relevant, not only legal supervision, but brokering and with more employees; and creeping professionalisation of civil servants towards a strategic role of policy making.
He said Italy also experienced the relevant role of informal relationships, networking, governance among ministries, and multilevel governance with 20 regions and 7 000 more municipalities, as well as new relationships between representative bodies and bureaucrats and related new problems, including accountability, delegation of responsibilities, and bargaining.
“We have observed the increasing relevance of soft power in place of (or beside) hard power; new stream of skills for a policy of training in favour of top civil servants; increasing the role of evidence-based policy making [including] policy evaluation, policy advice, open government and participatory procedures, and multi-level governance [amongst others].”
Professional public officers should be apolitical
Lesotho Institute of Public Administration and Management Administration Director-General, Nthabiseng Tlhomola, argued that the role of professional public officers is to serve the government of the day and as such, should be apolitical.
For the first time since 1966, the Lesotho general elections in 2012 produced a hung government, where no single political party could form government, and political parties were forced to engage in talks to join forces.
On the rise of GNU in Lesotho, Tlhomola said in general, the manifestos of the country’s political parties were similar - looking into infrastructure development, job creation and growing the economy.
“We are now more than 10 years [into] a coalition government; we therefore have a story to tell,” Tlhomola said.
Tlhomola noted that even though the oversight institutions are affected by government changes, the government makes sure that their role to ensure that government business operates as expected, continues. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 15:20
KwaZulu-Natal’s Durban Shongweni Club will once again play host to the Ignition Group Polocrosse World Cup from 17 to 28 July 2024, with South Africa joining 7 other top world-ranked sides in competing for the cup. The fast-paced action will captivate spectators, with live entertainment and music, food and beverage vendors, and pop-ups keeping the …
Introduction In today’s fast-paced world, businesses must be accessible around the clock to meet customer expectations and needs. This blog delves into the significance of 24/7 telephone answering services and how they transform customer service dynamics. The Need for 24/7 Answering Services Availability can make or break customer satisfaction. Here’s why round-the-clock answering services are …
Democratic dispensation necessitated a complete overhaul of state bureaucracy
Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya says the transition from apartheid to a democratic dispensation necessitated a complete overhaul of the state bureaucracy.
“Though tailored to the South African context, South Africa’s public administration reforms – notwithstanding their debatable strengths and weaknesses – followed international trends, from Traditional Public Administration (TPA) through to variants of New Public Management (NPM),” Gxoyiya said.
Speaking in Pretoria earlier today, Gxoyiya said governments worldwide continuously reform to promote efficient public administration that is responsive to people’s needs and the countries’ social, economic and technical challenges.
“Similarly, there is recognition that reforms vary from country to country, and in the case of South Africa, the transition from apartheid to a democratic dispensation necessitated a complete overhaul of the state bureaucracy,” Gxoyiya said.
He said the need for reflection on the historical and current factors that have shaped public service administration as it is known today became unavoidable at the tail end of 30 years of democratic governance in South Africa.
“The PSC has consistently argued that the realisation of the fundamental rights in the Constitution and the peremptory adherence to the Constitutional Values and Principles (CVPs) are central to public administration reform.
“Simply put, one way of evaluating the public administration reforms in South Africa is to examine the public services provided and citizen’s perception of their efficacy,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 15:21
Introduction Keeping a vehicle in top condition requires understanding the essentials of car repairs. This blog covers everything from gearbox repairs to air conditioning maintenance. Importance of Regular Car Repairs Routine maintenance is key to vehicle longevity and safety. Here’s why regular checks are crucial: Safety: Regular maintenance ensures critical systems, like brakes …
Introduction Kosher certification represents a critical guide for millions of Jewish individuals around the world, dictating dietary choices based on religious laws. This blog explores the meaning, process, and types of Kosher certifications, and its impact on both consumers and food producers. Understanding Kosher Certification Kosher certification ensures that food products comply with the …