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Dear Editor Early this year, the Minister of Public Service and Administration – Noxolo Kiviet, revealed that 5 812 civil servants irregularly benefited from the Covid-19 social relief of distress grants and 33 833 were exposed for benefiting from social grants that they were not entitled to. It has now emerged that the latest crime …
Hendrina, 5 April 2024 – Integrity NDT Projects, in collaboration with Eskom Hendrina Power Station, announced the donation of soccer and netball uniforms to the youth of Hendrina. The donation, aimed at supporting local athletic initiatives, reflects the organisations’ commitment to fostering unity and providing opportunities for young athletes to excel. Kabelo Molaudzi, Key Accounts …
In various sectors, pumps play a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of liquids and gases, driving critical processes, and ensuring efficiency and productivity. From irrigating vast agricultural fields to processing food, extracting minerals, managing municipal water systems, supporting industrial operations, and enabling refrigeration, specialized pumps are at the heart of vital systems. This blog …
DWS commends water entity for outstanding service delivery
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has applauded Siza Water, a water service provider in the iLembe District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, for outstanding provision of water services in the district for the past 25 years.
Mahlobo was speaking during the anniversary celebration of the South African Water Works (SAWW) company, Siza Water, which took place on Friday in Zimbali.
“I cannot understate the significance of Siza Water's commitment to local empowerment and transformation.
“As a 100% South African-owned water utility, with the majority shareholder, South African Water Works, which is also majority black-owned, Siza Water embodies the spirit of inclusivity and socio-economic development.
“Proudly managed by South Africans, particularly from previously disadvantaged groups, Siza Water has become a beacon of hope, demonstrating that diversity is not just a buzzword but a cornerstone of sustainable growth and prosperity,” said Mahlobo.
Mahlobo lauded the achievements of the water utility received over the years, such as being recognised as the Best Performing Water Service Provider in 2014 through the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Blue Drop Certification Programme, to receiving the prestigious Wilson Award of Excellence from the Water Institute of South Africa between 2010 and 2018, amongst others.
Mahlobo said Siza Water has consistently raised the bar for operational efficiency, environmental stewardship and service delivery.
“Siza Water's innovative approach to wastewater management, exemplified by the design, construction, and operation of a state-of-the-art direct reuse plant, underscores its dedication to sustainability and resource conservation,” he said.
With two Green Drop Awards and commendations from the Department of Water and Sanitation for its exemplary sewer systems management, Siza Water has set a benchmark for environmental responsibility and public health protection.
Mahlobo said beyond the realm of awards and accolades, Siza Water's impact extends far and wide, touching the lives of communities and individuals across South Africa.
“We have experienced this through the strategic investments exceeding R725 million over the past 25 years. Siza Water has not only facilitated uninterrupted development but also created hundreds of job opportunities, empowering local communities and driving socio-economic progress,” he said.
Mahlobo reaffirmed the water sector’s commitment for collaboration, innovation and sustainability, with emphasis placed on collaborative work, leveraging on collective expertise and resources to address the challenges of water scarcity, climate change, and social inequality. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 14:03
Door hardware may seem like a small component in the grand scheme of interior design and security, but its impact is significant. In South Africa, where design meets diversity, the selection of door hardware is not just about functionality but also about making a statement. From the elegance of Victorian-style handles to the robustness of …
Abortion clinics play a critical role in providing essential healthcare services to women, far beyond the singular service their name suggests. These clinics have evolved to become comprehensive healthcare centers that address a wide array of women’s health needs. From offering contraceptives to conducting STI testing and providing Pap smear tests, these clinics serve as …
Labour activation programmes to create job opportunities in Gauteng
The Department of Employment and Labour, through its entity, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), will enter into partnerships with private business, SETAs and NGOs to create thousands of employment opportunities for residents of Gauteng.
At the launch of labour activation programmes for Gauteng on Saturday, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi said an amount of R8.4 billion has been set aside to implement 105 labour activation programmes over 22 sectors, including agriculture, services, IT, construction, engineering, wholesale and retail, safety and security, hospitality, social services, textile and transport in Gauteng.
The Gauteng launch is part of a R23.8 billion national job creation plan that will be rolled out over the next couple of weeks to create more than 700 000 employment opportunities throughout the country. The opportunities will run between 12 and 36 months.
Nxesi, delivering the keynote address, said that in the face of rising unemployment, all efforts to create employment in South Africa should be welcomed.
“It is very important that we respond to the challenge of unemployment, and plan together to implement strategies to mitigate it on an ongoing basis. We believe that government, working together with all stakeholders, has a major role to play in mitigating unemployment, and creating and preserving jobs,” said the Minister.
Nxesi said that only substantial economic growth and development will rescue the country from the huge unemployment challenge.
The launch was attended by labour activation programme beneficiaries, project owners, various MECs from the provincial government, as well as senior government officials.
Participants that will be hired and trained in the programme will be selected through the Department of Employment and Labour’s Employment Services of South Africa database (ESSA).
For registration as a work seeker, members of the public can register on the database using the link https://essa.labour.gov.za/EssaOnline/WebBeans/?wicket:bookmarkablePage=wicket[1]1:za.gov.labour.essa.web.individual.register.RegIndSearch.
Launches of labour activation programmes for other provinces are scheduled to take place as follows:
– SAnews.gov.za
Matona
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 16:19
Diversifying water resource mix essential for supply security, says Mahlobo
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has emphasised the importance of diversifying South Africa's water resource mix for water security.
The Deputy Minister was addressing the Inaugural Built Environment Indaba hosted by the Black Business Council in the Built Environment recently, which was held recently in Gauteng.
The Indaba was aimed at promoting collaboration, procurement and skills development in the industry.
Mahlobo confirmed that in terms of water security, the supply of raw water is currently in balance with the existing demand at national level.
Additionally, government has recognised the localised deficit, acknowledging that 98% of the available water is already allocated. Mahlobo said to ensure water security in the future, it is crucial to broaden the water resource mix through sustainable use of groundwater, desalination of seawater (even though technology remains expensive), water reuse from treated wastewater systems, and water reclamation.
While supply-side measures are essential, Mahlobo emphasised the need for water conservation and demand management.
The Deputy Minister warned that water availability in South Africa could decline rapidly due to factors such as economic growth, population growth, urbanisation, inefficient water use, degradation of wetlands, and the impact of climate change.
He also highlighted the financial challenges faced by municipalities, noting that they owe R19 billion to water boards.
According to the Deputy Minister, one of the main issues plaguing the water sector is the poor performance and adherence to standard operating procedures for drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment.
Infrastructure is often left in poor condition due to a lack of maintenance, with municipalities failing to hire qualified personnel to oversee these essential processes.
Additionally, weak billing and revenue collection, as well as inadequate budget prioritisation for maintenance and operations by municipal councils, further exacerbate the challenges faced by the sector.
In terms of support to municipalities, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and water boards are supporting many municipalities to implement improved plans that are agreed to by the Ministry and municipal leadership.
DWS, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA), Department of Human Settlements, and National Treasury allocate water and sanitation infrastructure grants worth more than R20 billion to municipalities per annum, and provide technical and engineering support and assistance, capacity building and training and financial management advice and support.
Water projects
Mahlobo highlighted several key water sector projects that are currently in implementation.
These projects aim to address water shortages and improve access to water in various regions across the country.
The R40 billion phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP2) is one of the major projects that is currently in progress.
This project is aimed at delivering approximately 470 million m3 per annum in addition to the 780 million m3 per year which the IVRS currently receives from LHWP1 and will increase the availability of raw water for Gauteng and surrounding areas, which have been experiencing water shortages.
Another project is the R26 billion uMkhomazi Water Project in KwaZulu-Natal. This project was facing an affordability deadlock, but Mahlobo announced that it had been resolved, and the project is now moving forward.
The R4 billion phase 2A of the Mokolo Crocodile Water Augment Project (MCWAP) in the North West and Limpopo has also been completed, with funding being raised for phase 2.
In addition to these projects, Mahlobo also highlighted the R12 billion Olifants River Water Resource Development project in Limpopo, the R10 billion Vaal Gamagara project in the Northern Cape, the R8 Billion Mzimvubu Water Project in the Eastern Cape, the R1.2 billion Berg River Voelvlei Augmentation Scheme in the Western Cape and the R4 billion raising of the Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape.
All these projects are aimed at diversifying the water resource mix to ensure water security for South Africa.
Mahlobo assured that South Africa will not run dry by 2030, but there will be challenges if there is no change in the way of doing things. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 14:16
Recruitment process for new vice president of NDB underway
The process of identifying a replacement for Leslie Maasdorp, current Vice President of the New Development Bank (NDB) has started.
Cabinet will announce the new Vice President to the NDB after the recruitment process has been completed.
Maasdorp will at the end of his nine years of service at the NDB step down in July 2024.
In July 2015, Cabinet appointed Maasdorp as Vice President to represent South Africa at the New Development Bank in Shanghai.
Maasdorp was then appointed by the Bank to the role of Chief Financial Officer and was a member of the founding management team of the institution, under the leadership of Mr. KV Kamath, the first NDB President.
At the expiry of his contract in 2021, Maasdorp was reappointed by Cabinet for a second term of three years.
“On behalf of my colleagues, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to Maasdorp for the distinction with which he has served South Africa in this role. As CFO, he led the treasury and capital markets activities of the Bank, having established the global and domestic bond programs for the institution, raising more than USD 15 billion during his tenure.
“He also led the process of obtaining the inaugural credit rating of the Bank in 2018, which established the institution as a leading new emerging markets focused multilateral development bank. I want to wish him well in his future endeavours,” said Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
Maasdorp said it has been a distinct pleasure and honour to serve South Africa over the past nine years as Vice President and CFO of the NDB.
"I wish to thank Minister Godongwana, his predecessors during these nine years, as well as the Cabinet colleagues for having afforded me this incredible opportunity to be part of a historic mission to create a new global financial institution from scratch.
“Over this period, the NDB approved over USD 6 billion of loans to South Africa, contributing significantly to the rollout of sustainable infrastructure, including in rail, ports, power, roads and water projects,” said Maasdorp when commenting on his imminent departure in July. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 13:29
Operation Shanela nets over 500 000 suspects
Police Minister Bheki Cele says 551 506 suspects have been arrested for various crimes across the country since May 2023 when Operation Shanela was introduced.
“Over 500 000 suspected criminals have been removed from society and brought before the courts to answer for their alleged crimes,” Cele said.
Addressing media in Pretoria on Sunday on the Police Take Down Successes of Police Counter Operations , Cele said police on the ground are each week pushing back on crime through high density operations in identified high crime areas across the country through Operation Shanela.
“Officers in all nine provinces, led by the respective Provincial Commissioners, have conducted almost 70 000 (69 468) high density crime prevention and combating operations in the last 11 months,” Cele said.
The countrywide high-density operations have resulted in the arrest of 8 563 suspected rapists and 6 045 murder suspects.
“[A total of] 4 410 suspects have been arrested for attempted murder. Police officers have arrested 63 573 assault GBH [grievous bodily harm] suspects and 37 333 suspects accused of common assault.
“[A total of] 41 191 suspects have been arrested for the Contravention of the Immigration Act and were found to be in the country illegally, [while] 16 073 drunk drivers were taken off our roads and arrested through various roadblocks and stop-and-searches during simultaneous countrywide operations.
“[A total of] 2 819 illegal miners involved in illicit mining were also caught and taken through the court processes,” Cele said.
Under operation ‘Vala umgodi’, a multidisciplinary operation involving various government departments such as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, 3 298 illegal miners were arrested.
Cele said 1 028 hijacking suspects have been arrested over the past 11 months and 3 670 suspects were nabbed and face business burglary charges, while a further 10 743 suspects were arrested for breaking and entering into houses.
“Working jointly with local, provincial and national traffic police and other sister departments, the focus of Operation Shanela remains the prevention of crime,” the Minister said.
Over 150 suspects shot and killed by police
Cele said over 150 suspects were shot and killed from April 2023 to date.
This figure, according to Cele, includes the September 2023 fatal shooting of 19 cash-in-transit (CIT) suspects in Makhado, Limpopo, who engaged in a gun battle with police instead of surrendering.
Cele said while it is the aim of the police to arrest suspects, some heavily armed suspected criminals choose to engage the police in a gun battle and police respond accordingly.
“Police have and will come out on top during these takedowns. In April 2023, 10 heavily armed CIT-related robbers were shot and killed during a confrontation with police in Sebokeng in Gauteng province,” Cele said.
He noted that the kidnapping of members of the public and influential individuals, as well as businesspersons, remains a concern.
“The responses by the police to this crime is, however, encouraging and sizable inroads are being made,” he said.
The Minister said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has arrested 62 suspects involved in kidnappings for ransom from April to date.
“Police operations have also led to the arrest of 55 suspects for the kidnapping of Chinese nationals in the country. Five suspects have been arrested for their role in the kidnapping of Mozambican nationals.
“The DPCI has also undertaken significant takedown operations targeting various criminal syndicates in the past 11 months.
“These operations have resulted in the interception of 14 identified targets across a range of illicit activities including theft, fraud, drug trafficking, money laundering and contraventions of financial regulations.”
Assets, with an estimated value of R6.2 million, were seized from April 2023 to date. Sixteen drug labs, with drugs valued over R161 million, were also shut down during this time.
Additionally, 20 suspects were apprehended in connection with drug-related offences.
Cele said in separate operations targeting narcotics, led by the DPCI, drugs valued at over R506 million were taken out of circulation and 148 suspects were apprehended through policing operations.
“Added to the work of the DPCI, the Organised Crime Unit -- within the Detectives of the SAPS -- conducted numerous multi-disciplinary takedown operations focusing on drugs. Illicit substances such as mandrax, cocaine, heroin and magic mushrooms, with an estimated street value of R121 700 000, were seized,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 12:16
April marks major milestone in South Africa
Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the month of Aril is a very important month in the country's calendar because it marks Freedom Month, as well as an incredible milestone of 30 years of democracy.
“This month offers us an opportunity to reflect on the progress made thus far in transforming our society, while also examining our challenges,” Mashatile said.
Addressing the Muslim Judicial Council Iftar Dinner in Rylands in Cape Town on Friday, Mashatile said although government has made great strides since 1994, inequality, poverty, and unemployment remain major obstacles to South Africa's national unity and social cohesion.
“We should be in one accord in addressing the remaining challenges that threaten our society's social fabric,” the Deputy President said.
Mashatile said South Africans should unite as they did when they fought apartheid, and when political leaders stray from their objectives, religious leaders should steer them in the right direction to make the country better.
He commended the role played by the Muslim community in building the country.
“Muslims have played an important role in shaping South Africa's history, a role that has continued to this day.
“They fought selflessly for the freedom we have today. Let us reciprocate our forefathers' selflessness with kindness and humility and replicate their spirit of fighting for the good of others.
“Let us do good deeds to improve one another’s health and wellbeing. Let us do good to provide shelter and a meal to the homeless. Let us do good by keeping young people out of the streets and providing them with quality education,” Mashatile said.
He further commended the leadership of the Muslim Judicial Council for their dedication to education in the community by offering excellent education in their schools.
“By prioritising skills development, you empower people and provide them the opportunity to make important contributions to our country.
“Furthermore, by promoting social cohesion, you lay the groundwork for a society in which mutual respect and understanding serve as the foundation for all relationships,” the Deputy President said.
Mashatile urged urge all other religious communities to engage in charitable work and community service, benefiting not only their members but society as a whole.
“We must unite as a society to help the less fortunate, support those in need, and foster a culture of compassion and generosity.
“These acts of service promote inclusion and caring communities. Through such religious communities, we are also able to instil moral values such as forgiveness and respect for others, therefore strengthening our moral compass.
“We urge the Muslim community to continue to advocate for social justice and human rights and to lead movements for equality, dignity, and freedom, empowering people to speak out against injustices and fight towards a more equitable world order,” Mashatile said.
He encouraged every South African to actively participate in acts of kindness, volunteer their time and resources towards uplifting communities and promoting social cohesion. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 10:14
President Ramaphosa in Rwanda
President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
This year, Rwanda marks 30 years since the Genocide against the Tutsi, which began on 7 April 1994 and lasted for 100 days, leading to more than a million deaths of mainly ethnic Tutsis.
Every year, on this date, the government of Rwanda hosts an official ceremony to mark the beginning of the 100 days of commemoration.
The ceremony of remembrance will take place in Kigali today.
President Ramaphosa will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, followed by the National Commemoration ceremony, which will conclude with a Night Vigil at BK Arena in Kigali.
On arrival in Kigali on Saturday, President Ramaphosa had a bilateral meeting with President Paul Kagame.
Bilateral relations between South Africa and Rwanda were established in 1995, which were further strengthened through the signing of a General Cooperation Agreement in 1999.
Since the inauguration of the Joint Cooperation Commission in Pretoria on 22 June 2001, significant progress was recorded in areas such as institution and capacity building, health and education. South African companies have also invested in Rwanda. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 09:26
President Ramaphosa to receive Letters of Credence
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday receive Letters of Credence from Heads of Mission-designate at a Credentials Ceremony to be held in Pretoria.
Letters of Credence are official diplomatic documents presented to the President by Heads of Mission-designate, who have been nominated by their respective governments to serve as ambassadors to South Africa.
President Ramaphosa will receive Heads of Mission-designate from the following countries:
1. The Republic of Rwanda
2. The Swiss Confederation
3. The Federation of Malaysia
4. The Republic of Italy
5. Mongolia
6. The United Republic of Tanzania
7. The State of Kuwait
8. The Republic of Belarus
9. The Dominican Republic
10. The Republic of Korea
11. The Republic of Kenya
12. New Zealand
13. The Islamic Republic of Iran
14. The Republic of Suriname
- SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 09:12
President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 06 April 2024, undertake a visit to the Republic of Rwanda to attend the 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
This year, Rwanda marks 30 years since the Genocide against the Tutsi which began on 7 April 1994 and lasted for 100 days, leading to more than a million deaths of mainly ethnic Tutsis. Every year, on this date, the government of Rwanda hosts an official ceremony to mark the beginning of the 100 days of commemoration.
The ceremony of remembrance will take place in Kigali on Sunday, 7 April 2024. President Ramaphosa will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, followed by the National Commemoration ceremony, which will conclude with a Night Vigil at BK Arena in Kigali.
Bilateral relations between South Africa and Rwanda were established in 1995, which were further strengthen through the signing of a General Cooperation Agreement in 1999. Since the inauguration of the Joint Cooperation Commission in Pretoria on 22 June 2001, significant progress was recorded in areas such as institution and capacity building, health, and education. South African companies have also invested in Rwanda.
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor will accompany the President.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
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UK company Globeleq, the leading independent power company in Africa, today announced that its Red Sands project in the Northern Cape has been awarded Preferred Bidder status in South Africa's Energy Storage Capacity Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (ESIPPPP). Globeleq is majority-owned by British International Investment (BII), the Development Finance Institution of the UK Government.
Battery storage is an essential enabler of renewable-energy generation, and the market for these systems is growing rapidly in South Africa and worldwide as a means of resolving energy crises and tackling climate change. These systems provide reliable power supply on demand, even when the energy grid is unstable, overcoming the challenges of intermittent wind and solar sources. They store energy at times of excess generation so that it can be released into the grid when generation falls short of demand, helping to mitigate the need for load-shedding.
Experts say that widespread energy storage is vital to expanding the reach of renewables and speeding the transition to a carbon-free power grid - this is key to helping reduce South Africa's reliance on fossil fuels as it seeks to transition to clean energy. This R5.7 billion (US$300 million) investment therefore represents a flagship project financed by the UK as part of its commitment under the Just Energy Transition Partnership agreed at COP26.
The Red Sands project is in the Northern Cape, about 100km southeast of Upington, and was originally developed by African Green Ventures, a South African renewable project development company owned by Norwegian based energy firm Magnora ASA. The project will cover approximately 5 hectares (12 acres) and will connect to the grid through the Eskom Garona substation. The substation will be upgraded by the Red Sands project to ensure that full network support capabilities of the project's batteries can be utilised.
Working closely with leading global battery and balance-of-plant suppliers, Globeleq estimates that the project will require an investment of approximately US$300 million and will take 24 months to construct after financial close, which is expected in 2024.
Globeleq is the largest independent power produce in Africa, providing nearly 1,800 MW of energy in South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt and Cameroon. Globeleq is a UK company based in London and backed entirely with Official Development Assistance (UK aid).
Red Sands will be Globeleq's first Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS) project in South Africa but the Group owns and operates a combined solar and BESS plant at Cuamba in Mozambique, and is developing BESS projects across the African continent. Globeleq also owns and operates 8 renewable plants (6 solar PV, 2 wind) in South Africa with a total generating capacity of 384 MW.
Mike Scholey, Globeleq's CEO commented:
"I am delighted that we have received Preferred Bidder status for this very important project, and I look forward to working with the government and our partners to take Red Sands to financial close and into operations. Electricity storage is going to be key not only in helping South Africa meet its considerable industrial and domestic demand for energy but also across Africa as more renewable energy projects benefit from the advances our industry has made with BESS technology."
British High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson said:
"This is a significant investment in South Africa's future. The UK is proud to play such a vital role in helping to tackle the energy crisis with new technology that will bring power supply stability and most importantly support South Africa's ambition to reduce carbon emissions."
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of British High Commission Pretoria.
The protest marked Al-Quds Day, an international day to oppose the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory
Newly launched terminal a symbol of resilience
President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the newly opened Newlyn Park Bayhead Rail Terminal as a symbol of South Africa’s recovery following the challenging COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s resilience in the face of challenges.
The President launched the terminal in Durban on Thursday.
“The completion and launch of the Newlyn Park Bayhead Rail Terminal project at the Port of Durban is not only a much-needed boost to South Africa’s logistics infrastructure network. This terminal is also a symbol of recovery and resilience. For the city of Durban, for the eThekwini Metro, for KwaZulu-Natal, and for the country at large,” he said.
President Ramaphosa reflected on the “worst public health disaster in modern times in the form of COVID-19” which forced South Africa and the entire globe into lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.
“As we were just emerging from the pandemic’s shadow in 2021, parts of our country, notably KwaZulu-Natal, were the scenes of deadly unrest and an unleashing of violence, arson and mayhem that caused loss of life and cost our economy approximately R50 billion. Then, just a year later, in 2022, KwaZulu-Natal was one of the provinces that experienced devastating floods.
“We all recall seeing the images of the damage to the Port of Durban at the time…especially in and around Bayhead Road, we saw much damage. We know the extensive work and effort it took to restore operations and to get the port and its associated infrastructure up and running again.
“These were all significant setbacks…that could have knocked us down, that could have prevented us from moving forward and that could have made us to give up.
“We can all be immensely proud of what has been achieved here, and of the persevering, pioneering South African spirit that this new terminal embodies. It also illustrates what can be achieved when government and business work together,” the President said.
Fruition
The Newlyn Park Bayhead Rail Terminal is a fruition of a commitment made during the South African Investment Conference (SAIC) in 2019.
Reflecting on the investment commitment Newlyn has made into South Africa, President Ramaphosa recalled that at SAIC 2023, Newlyn further pledged R4 billion into the “development of a near-zero dust emission manganese back- of-port storage and handling facility project at Coega, as well as in a similar facility for iron ore at Saldanha Bay”.
The President emphasised that the terminal represents a “good model” of what can be developed when government and private sector work together.
Partnership
“The terminal has been built on land leased from Transnet and the partnership with Newlyn will assist in improving operational efficiency right across the board. This precinct will address some of the challenges we have been experiencing in the logistics, infrastructure and network industries that have had a negative impact on economic growth and the creation of jobs.
“In order for this rail terminal project to deliver full benefits to South Africa for the purpose that it was designed, it has to have trains and slots to be made available to clients. This will lead to a significant increase in revenue for Transnet and Natcor Corridor through the migration of cargo from road to rail,” he said.
The project has injected some R 3.4 billion in investment and created some 4 013 direct construction jobs.
“More than 1000 employees are currently employed full time in this facility and this number is expected to grow as the facility handles more cargo. Much of the material that has gone into [building the terminal] has been sourced locally and many of those who participated in setting this facility up were also local providers.
“Upgrading local port infrastructure is critical to the success of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and this new terminal will facilitate the swift movement of goods from South Africa to the rest of the continent and, indeed, beyond,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 04/04/2024 - 14:54
Introduction In the dynamic world of business, establishing a distinct and cohesive brand image transcends beyond logos and slogans to encompass every aspect of an organisation, including the attire its team wears. Branded corporate clothing is a testament to a company’s identity, ethos, and professionalism. It embeds itself as an integral part of the brand’s …
Home Affairs offices to open Saturdays
The Department of Home Affairs is set to open its offices for five hours a day on Saturdays from 06 April to 25 May 2024, excluding the 27 April 2024 public holiday, for ID collection services.
This also includes facilitation of new applications and issuance of Temporary Identity Certificates.
According to the department, the offices will also be resolving challenges pertaining to duplicates, amendments, rectifications, and dead-alive cases with the required supporting documents.
The offices will open from 8 am to 1 pm.
Mobile offices are also scheduled to return to deliver IDs in the remote areas where they took applications from.
“Local offices, working with stakeholders that include councillors, will communicate the dates, times and venues of those visits. Mobile offices will be used to support the identified local offices.
“In addition, clients can now book appointments to collect their Smart ID Cards and Green barcoded ID books before visiting offices by using the Branch Appointment Booking System which is available on the Department of Home Affairs website- www.dha.gov.za,” said the department on Thursday.
Alternatively, clients can simply visit Home Affairs offices without making a booking.
“We invite people who have applied for their IDs, particularly young people who are first time applicants, to come to our offices to collect their documents. This initiative gives people more options to collect their enabling documents,” said Deputy Minister, Njabulo Nzuza.
The department has encouraged clients who have applied for identification documents and have received their SMS notifications, to seize the opportunity by visiting their Home Affairs office to collect these critical documents. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 04/05/2024 - 09:31
When it comes to corporate promotional products, beanies offer a unique blend of visibility, practicality, and brand reinforcement. As an essential accessory for colder climates, a branded beanie not only keeps the wearer warm but also serves as a moving advertisement for your brand. Let’s explore why incorporating beanies into your promotional strategy can be …