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Drafting a will is a crucial step in ensuring that your assets and belongings are distributed according to your wishes after your passing. While many opt for legal assistance, it’s possible to draft a will without a lawyer. Here’s how: Understanding the Basics Before you begin, familiarize yourself with the essential components of wills. …
Over 20 schools in W Cape closed after severe storm
A total of 21 schools affected by the Western Cape storms have been forced to close due to infrastructure and road damages blocking access to schools’ premises.
Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier said 249 schools in the province have been affected by the storm over the weekend.
“Infrastructure damages were reported by 150 schools out of the 249, ranging from minor leaks to major roof damage, and we are working to assess these damages at present. Thirty-nine schools were closed on Tuesday, and this was reduced to 21 schools on Wednesday, with the vast majority as a result of access roads to school being blocked,” Maynier said.
Briefing the media after visiting Franschhoek High School on Wednesday morning, Maynier said the school has been closed since the weekend’s storms, as it currently has no water and electricity supply, and substantial flooding to the access roads makes it impossible for 650 learners to attend school.
While other schools are open, Maynier said many schools reported low attendance as learners struggle to reach schools in flood-damaged areas.
“The preliminary attendance figures indicates that 30.1% of learners were not able to attend school on Tuesday, and 31.4% were not able to attend on Wednesday. The officials are working with schools to ensure that all schools can reopen as soon as possible, and we encourage parents to keep in contact with their schools for updates regarding closures.
“The schools will implement catch-up plans to ensure that learners do not fall behind as a result of the school days lost this week. Schools close for the spring holidays this Friday, which will provide some breathing room for repairs and restoration of access,” Maynier said.
Th MEC also expressed his deepest condolences to the families of three learners who passed away over the long weekend due to the storm.
He said counselling support has been provided to families and students who have lost lives.
“We thank the emergency services, our government and NGO partners, and our schools for the assistance they are rendering to our teachers, learners, and parents as we recover from this devastating storm,” Maynier said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 15:01
In the realm of digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) stands as a cornerstone. As businesses strive to enhance their online footprint, understanding the financial commitment involved becomes paramount. A frequently posed question is the nature of SEO pricing, particularly if it’s a recurring monthly expense. So, when considering collaboration with seo services south africa, …
In today’s digital age, where the majority of consumers turn to the internet for answers, businesses are in a perpetual race to stand out and capture attention. Amidst a plethora of online marketing strategies, paid SEO emerges as a potent tool. But with the myriad of options available, is investing in a seo agency south …
Presidency notes DA court challenge over the Lady R investigative panel
Presidential spokesperson,Vincent Magwenya says President Cyril Ramaphosa acted within the law in appointing Judge Phineas Mojapelo as the head of the investigative panel to enquire into the circumstances of the docking of the Lady R Cargo vessel in Simon's Town in December 2022.
Addressing media on Wednesday, Magwenya said the Presidency has noted the intention expressed by the official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, to challenge the appointment of Judge Phineas Mojapelo as the head of the investigative panel.
Magwenya said the President decided to appoint the independent panel after having “carefully considered the delicate balance that is needed between the public’s right to information and the State’s need to secure information, the disclosure of which may jeopardise our national security and/or international relations”.
He said: “Hence, the President decided to appoint an independent panel rather than a commission of inquiry, as provided for in terms of section 84(2)(f) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,1996.”
Magwenya emphasised that the President carefully considered his decision to appoint a judge to head the panel.
“President Ramaphosa acted within the law in doing so and we are confident that this appointment will withstand scrutiny.
“In its politically motivated court action, the DA wants to undermine the country’s national interests, failing to appreciate the importance of resolving this matter in a manner that is credible and expeditious.
“The DA is failing to appreciate the damage this issue has caused to our economy and potentially, to very important diplomatic relations, which are now repaired as a result of the level of credibility attached to the panel and its work, the outcome of the investigation and the intensive amount of diplomatic work that has been conducted to date and is still being managed,” Magwenya said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 15:03
In the vast landscape of spiritual wisdom, Rabbi Akiva Tatz, simply known as Rabbi Tatz, shines as a beacon of knowledge and enlightenment. His website stands as a treasure trove of resources, each carefully crafted to inspire and educate individuals on their spiritual journeys. Let’s explore the rich offerings found on Rabbi Tatz’s website. …
The Select Committee on Appropriations has received a briefing from the Office of the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) and the National Department of Health on medical-legal claims and their impact on provincial Health care budgets.
AGSA said medico-legal claims are costing the health sector an accumulative R77 billion and the amount has, over the years risen significantly rather than the planned reduction. AGSA further said by 31 March 2022, 15 148 medico-legal claims were lodged against the Department of Health valued at R125 billion. The committee heard that provincial health facilities lacked reliable and accurate record-keeping and, in most cases, this was caused by a shortage of administrative staff.
The committee recommended that the focus shifts towards improving patient services at healthcare facilities rather than funding for possible litigation. The committee also called for significant improvements in archiving and record keeping and called for the establishment of an electronic card management system.
The committee further welcomed reports from various provincial health MECs who shared their province's plans to mitigate rising medico-legal claims and their support for strengthening record-keeping management. The committee noted that the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act (NARRSA) calls for the designation of senior staff to ensure the implementation of sound records management. The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Dikeledi Mahlangu emphasised that issues of health are societal issues and need everybody to be on board.
The committee welcomed the news that the AGSA is conducting a forensic investigation into law firms involved in litigation against provinces on medico-legal claim matters.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Mystical, potent, and utterly captivating, singer-songwriter Luanga Choba is back after a nine-year sabbatical with a powerful new EP about reclaiming one’s feminine energy and casting off the ‘yoke’ or burden of womanhood. The launch of the EP takes place on 30 September 2023 at the Umlilo Flame & Grill Restaurant in Rustenburg. Don’t miss …
Eskom Summer outlook anticipates lower stages of load shedding
Eskom’s outlook for this summer indicates that South Africans can expect lower stages of load shedding towards the end of the year and early 2024.
This was revealed by Eskom Acting Group Chief Executive, Calib Cassim, during the power utility’s State of the System media briefing held on Wednesday.
According to Cassim, Eskom anticipates a lower Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor [UCLF] – or unplanned breakdowns – over the summer period.
However, Cassim warned that the power utility does not rule out load shedding stages rising.
“Our base case of 14 500MW [UCLF] shows a maximum of Stage 4 load shedding in terms of the outlook. Does it mean we are saying that there’ll be no stage 6? No we are not saying that. If the unplanned outages increase to the outer scenarios of 17 500MW, then you would utilise Stage 6 to protect the integrity of the grid,” Cassim said on Wednesday.
The acting CEO explained why the power utility believes that it can achieve a UCLF of 14 500MW over the coming months.
“In winter, the average UCLF was around 16 500MW. This outlook for summer is... 14 500MW. Why are we saying that? The fundamental point is that you are bringing back over 2 000MW [at] Kusile… the three units plus unit 5. That is why we are confident with the 14 500MW.
“In doing this outlook of these scenarios, we, on the Kusile side, had the assumptions of these units returning from the temporary stacks, coming online at the end of November and December.
“From a management perspective, yes we’ve got our base case, [but] we are making every effort to reduce below 14 500 MW,” he said.
Cassim apologised to the nation for the load shedding currently facing the country.
“Eskom does apologise for the inconvenience to the economy and livelihoods and the impact it’s having on everyone in the country and the impact on the GDP.
“But let’s also understand and appreciate that we implement load shedding to manage the system to avoid a blackout,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 15:12
Stats SA blames Covid for long delay in completing fourth national enumeration since democracy
Gauteng school finalists in National EduPlant School Garden Competition 2023 September 2023. Five schools based in Gauteng have been selected as finalists in the annual national EduPlant School Gardening Competition 2023. Boitumelong Secondary School, Gahlanso Primary School, and Peter Zongwane Primary School in Tembisa; Masizani Primary School in Atteridgeville, Tshwane; and MC Weiler School in …
There’s nothing like the immersive experience of a home cinema to make you feel like you’re a part of the movie you’re watching. But setting up a home theatre can seem like a daunting task—especially when there are so many options to choose from. That’s why today we’re going to help you bring the movie …
Smart homes are the future of living, offering a new level of convenience and control that was unimaginable a decade ago. With advancements in technology, creating a smart home is more accessible than ever. But what exactly is a smart home, and why is it becoming a must-have? What Is a Smart Home? A smart …
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the African Embassies in Bangkok, namely, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa, as well as Khon Kaen Province, Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce, Khon Kaen University and Young Ambassador of Virtue Foundation organised the Colours of Africa 2023 events during 13 - 14 September on 21 September 2023. The events sought to promote public awareness, including the private sector and the academia, on the African continent, as well as the potential of trade, investment and tourism opportunities in Africa.
The activities included:
1. The Seminar on Trade and Investment Opportunities in Africa on 13 September 2023 at Avani Hotel Khon Kaen, with speakers including African ambassadors to Thailand and successful Thai entrepreneurs. The session observed the exchange of knowledge on trade and investment opportunities in Africa, as well as first-hand experience on conducting business in the region to the audience comprising of entrepreneurs from Khon Kaen and nearby provinces.
2. Academic Lecture on Africa on 14 September 2023 at Khon Kaen University, under the topic “The African Union Agenda 2063” and “Nelson Mandela: The Epitome of Ethical Leadership in Africa and the World: Learning from his Legacy for a better Africa and a Humane World Order,” was given by the African Ambassadors to Thailand, with more than 300 students and lecturers from Khon Kaen University participated. On this occasion, the African Ambassadors also visited the university's Faculty of Agriculture, which already had academic cooperation with various universities in Africa.
3. The Student Quiz Competition, Games and Exhibitions to enhance knowledge on Africa on 21 September 2023 at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with more than 200 participants, including students and teachers from 23 Thai schools around Thailand affiliated with the Young Ambassador of Virtue Foundation. During the quiz's final round, Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Acting Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, and African Ambassadors to Thailand were invited to ask questions and present scholarships to the winning teams, as well as tokens of appreciation and certificates to all participating students.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Johannesburg, September 2023 – Entrepreneurship is a journey laden with challenges and triumphs. To navigate this path successfully, it’s crucial for entrepreneurs to harness the power of Human Resources (HR) and align their strategies with their core values. CRM Enterprise offers invaluable advice for entrepreneurs seeking to do the same. Starting a new venture often …
Basic Education Committee adopts Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has adopted the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.
In a statement on Tuesday, committee chairperson, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, said this brings the bill, which has been more than 20 years in the making, in line with continuing the transformation agenda of the basic education sector.
Some of the proposals that were adopted in the bill include making Grade R the new compulsory school-starting age; penalties for parents who do not ensure that their children are in school and confirmation that corporal punishment is no longer allowed at schools, with penalties for those found guilty of such offences.
Mbinqo-Gigaba said during voting on the bill, the majority of members of the committee voted in support of the bill, while three members voted against the adoption of the bill.
Mbinqo-Gigaba said the proposed amendments are to align the bill with developments in the education landscape and to ensure that systems of learning are put in place in a manner that gives effect to the right to basic education, as enshrined in section 29(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
She emphasised that the committee extensively deliberated on all clauses of the bill.
“In some instances, all members of the committee agreed that certain proposed amendments did not belong in the bill and ensured that they were removed, whereas in other instances, the committee vigorously debated clauses which saw the majority of members of the committee agreeing to retention of such clauses. This is all to ensure that we better the education landscape of the next generation.
“The committee held extensive public hearings across the country. We heard oral submissions in Parliament from stakeholders and thousands of written submissions were considered when debating and drafting this legislation,” Mbinqo-Gigaba said.
In terms of language policy, the amendment states that the governing body must submit the language policy of a public school and any amendment thereof to the Head of Department (HOD) for approval.
The language policy must also take into consideration the language needs of the broader community. The committee further adopted the proposed amendment that the Head of Department, after consultation with the governing body of the school, has the final authority to admit a learner to a public school.
“The contentious proposed amendment, regarding home education, was partially agreed to. This amendment provided for the HOD to, when considering an application, require a delegated official to conduct a pre-registration site visit.
“It was agreed that the said site visits can happen at any place of choice, should parents not agree to such visits at their homes. Furthermore, a report at the end of each phase will now be required by a qualified educator or assessor to prove the competency of the learner in that phase,” the committee said.
Some proposed amendments were scraped in totality. The proposed amendment regarding the sale of alcohol on school premises after hours during functions did not get support from the committee.
The proposed amendment dealing with members of a governing body, who must disclose on an annual basis all their financial interests and the financial interests of their spouse, partner and immediate family members also did not garner support and was deemed too onerous an administrative task.
The bill and the report of the committee will now be referred to the National Assembly for debate and consideration. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 15:32
Organisers of the aQuellé Midmar Mile have announced that Early Bird entries for the iconic race open today, 27 September 2023. Celebrating its 51st edition in 2024, the aQuellé Midmar Mile will return to the famous KwaZulu-Natal dam from 8-11 February where thousands of swimmers of all ages and abilities will take to the water …
A specialist home which provides temporary safety care for orphaned and relinquished babies has benefited from a kind-hearted donation from a local business. Tiny Owls Baby Home in Durbanville, has been boosted by a R20,000 donation from business outsourcing company, Sigma Connected. The funding from Sigma Connected, which offers contact centre services from its offices across …
The Totalsports Women’s Race organizers are thrilled to collaborate with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, in conjunction with Western Province Athletics, to jointly host the Cape Town edition of the Totalsports Women’s Race, which will also include the renowned Big Walk, on Sunday, 01 October 2023. “We’re delighted to collaborate with an event …
To mark World Tourism Day, Mireille Wenger, the provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities which includes Tourism, lauded the vital contribution that the province’s tourist guides make to the tourism and hospitality sector at a graduation of 38 tourist guides in Langa, Cape Town. Addressing the graduation, Minister Wenger said: “What a pleasure it …
No Lawlessness Will Be Tolerated During Eff’s So-Called Protest Today, Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, met with District Executive Mayors, along with relevant and senior officials from various provincial departments, district municipalities and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to assess provincial readiness for the Economic Freedom Fighters’(EFF) so-called …
Dear Editor The DA notes the announcement by AgriSA CEO, Christo van der Rheede, that at least R1 billion worth of crops and livestock were destroyed in raging fires in the Northern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo. The amount also includes infrastructure damage. From mid-August, these fires have affected at least 1.2 …
Summer is around the corner and it’s almost time to put away your socks and boots. When it comes to sandals, spring and summer are synonyms so let your feet breathe and expand your footwear closet with UGG. They rounded up both trendy and classic options, so you can find the styles that best suit …
President to host the Special Olympics Team at the Union Buildings
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to host the Special Olympics Team at the Union Buildings following the team’s success at the Special Olympics World Games that were held in Germany in June 2023.
Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya announced this during a media briefing to update the public on the President’s public programme.
The Special Olympics Team brought home a total of 49 medals - 22 gold, 20 silver and 7 bronze.
“The interaction with the Special Olympics Team is part of President Ramaphosa’s ongoing commitment to encourage and celebrate excellence amongst South Africa’s sports women and men and the President’s recognition of the role of sports to unite our nation and forge social cohesion,” Magwenya said.
The President will host the team on the morning of 3 October 2023.
Later in the afternoon on the same day, President Ramaphosa will receive Letters of Credence from Heads of Mission-Designate at a credentials ceremony at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House.
Letters of Credence are official diplomatic documents presented to the President by Heads of Mission-designate to mark the beginning of their ambassadorship.
This ceremony is a platform where newly nominated diplomats from the continent and other parts of the globe outline relations between the two countries and their objectives for strengthening partnership.
Border Management Authority
On 5 October 2023, the President will preside over the launch of the Boarder Management Authority (BMA) in Musina, Limpopo.
The launch of the BMA follows its formal establishment and assumption of its status as a schedule 3 (A) public entity on 1 April 2023.
The establishment of the BMA means that South Africa now has an integrated border management platform, with a single command and control with which to support the attainment of secure borders, safe travel and trade.
“The President will be joined by members of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on the BMA and the Border Technical Committee. The President will also tour the Beit Bridge Border Port of Entry and later address guests during a ceremonial parade at the Musina Show grounds,” Magwenya said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 14:22