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For over 60 years, Dreyer Linen has been a trusted name in the hospitality industry. With decades of experience under their belt, they’ve garnered invaluable insights into the world of linens. Here, they share some essential tips to consider when purchasing bedroom, bathroom, or table linen. Bedroom Linen: Understanding Thread Count When it comes …
Charges against attorney Gary Trappler have been reinstated after CCTV footage came to light
Rwanda has undergone a remarkable transformation since the tragic events of the 1994 genocide. The resilience and determination of the Rwandan people to rebuild their country and create a better future are truly inspiring. Despite the immense challenges they faced, they have managed to achieve impressive social, economic, and political progress. The achievements highlighted, such …
The Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival wowed its full-house audience at the Savoy Theatre on Saturday night. The full programme had guests clapping throughout as they were entertained by the top performances from the six-day Festival. From sassy modern dancers, graceful ballerinas, foot stamping hip hop to the adorable young dancers – the gala programme …
MENtalities Summit to address violence against women
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, will on Tuesday host the Inaugural Transforming MENtalities Summit, which is aimed at engaging men and boys to address the root causes of violence against women.
The Transforming MENtalities Summit is based on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Transforming MENtalities initiative, launched in 2015 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and later spread to a number of other countries.
The department said, the multistakeholder campaign and partnership, aims to champion a world free of gender biases, stereotypes, violence and discrimination, by changing cultural and societal norms through policies, advocacy and capacity-building initiatives.
“A 2013 United Nations Multi-Country Study on Men and Violence reveals that 10% to 62% of all interviewed men reported having raped a woman or girl in their lifetime, and in some places, more than 75% of women aged 15 to 24 thinks that there are conditions under which a man has rightful reasons to beat his wife.
“Socialisation processes are intrinsically linked to structural gender inequalities: violence, aggressiveness and sexual entitlement are too often considered as appropriate expressions of “how to act like a man” in different societies,” the department said in a statement.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2013, the lifetime risk of experiencing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) for South African women is 45.6%; well above the global average of 35%.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), originally known as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Furthermore, also states that sexual Gender-Based Violence, and intimate partner violence are amongst the most prevalent forms of GBV affecting young women aged 16-25 years as they are vulnerable.
The summit is hosted by HIGHER HEALTH and the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) on behalf of the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Department of Science and Innovation. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 08/28/2023 - 15:26
On 28 August 2023, the Ministry of Health in South Africa, the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Africa Health Business and the South African Chapter of the BRICS Business Council co-hosted a successful dialogue on the margins of the BRICS summit to deliberate on a potential African Union and BRICS framework of cooperation for Pandemic, Preparedness, Prevention, Response and Recovery (3P2R).
The meeting brought together BRICS member states- including a fortuitous presence of the newly invited members, Ethiopia and Egypt- business, civil society, development finance Institutions, global health agencies and AU specialised agencies (AUDA-NEPAD, AfCFTA, ARC Group).
The dialogue sought to elicit a collaborative framework for AU and BRICS 3P2R that is actionable and implementable by tabling concrete suggestions, drawing from the AU and BRICS collective experiences of dealing with COVID-19 and other pandemics, identifying the existing capabilities and acknowledging the gaps that would need to be closed for adequate pandemic preparation and response.
Stakeholders acknowledged that many fora are dealing with global and regional pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (PPPR), including the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the Global Pandemic Accord.
However, they highlighted the reality of the shifting centers of global power, pointing out that the expanded BRICS family now represents 4,8 billion people, which is over half of the global population. Increasing human and animal interconnectedness, climate change and an increasing frequency of infectious disease outbreaks mean that the AU and BRICS' ability to contain infectious diseases has a fundamental bearing on global health security.
The realisation of this growing responsibility compelled AU and BRICS stakeholders to convene and begin a process towards a declared collaborative framework.
In the interest of pursuing equitable and timeous access to medical countermeasures in the event of the next pandemic, participants acknowledged the merits of the “Johannesburg Process” in providing an informal platform for stakeholder engagements on an interim medical countermeasures' coordination mechanism.
The “Johannesburg Process” was seen as an effective complementary tool contributing to the work of the World Health Organization and other formal processes.
Participants were further encouraged by the collective capabilities identified in medical and digital technologies, human resource potential (particularly in Africa), and pharmaceutical manufacturing. For instance, it was observed that the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturing Network (DCVMN), which is comprised of manufacturers from BRICS member states, contributed to 60% of the COVID-19 vaccine products. The meeting considered the merits of opening-up the entire expanded BRICS and AU market to all pharmaceutical manufacturers in the BRICS and AU regions.
Dr Stavros Nicolaou, member of the BRICS Business Council stated, "The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant and vast global health inequities, particularly on the African continent and unnecessary lives and livelihoods were lost, with African post pandemic economic recovery still proving to be challenging. Collaborative efforts across the African and BRICS geographies can enhance surveillance, research, infrastructure and resource allocation to ensure a swift and coordinated response to future pandemics underpinned by a resilient African pandemic prevention, preparedness and recovery system."
Stakeholders also acknowledged that the inequities that persist in many low- and middle-income countries, fragile health systems and inadequate financing for 3P2R for the AU and BRICS families were a threat to pandemic preparedness and overall global health security. More work must be done to diversify manufacturing, support Africa's manufacturing targets, ensure primary health care is fully developed as a foundation for pandemic preparedness, and to support last-mile delivery. The convening emphasised the importance of placing people and communities at the heart of all 3P2R deliberations.
Some concrete actions that were tabled were the necessity of predictable 3P2R financing by establishing a BRICS PPPR fund through the New Development Bank (commonly referred to as BRICS Bank) and the need to convene at the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2023) to agree on an AU and BRICS cooperative framework, inviting the newly announced additional members of BRICS and all the AU member states to deliberate on a proposed collaborative framework.
“Emerging in the wake of a recent global pandemic, this dialogue arrives at a pivotal juncture. It underscores a collective need to fortify health security and adaptability, extending beyond respective national boundaries,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.
Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla said, “as BRICS Member States, we need to solidify our efforts to promote digital health technologies across our health systems to strengthen sharing of information that may be useful for PPPR. At country level, there is a commitment to develop and implement legislative measures for PPPR. I am glad that BRICS member states have reaffirmed and committed to implement global, regional, and national actions to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and fully address the direct and indirect consequences of current and future pandemics.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Health.
Experience It Jozi Whether you’re looking for a great value family escape, a romantic date night hotel, a celebratory dining experience, or the best spot for sundowners, these are the latest offers from Southern Sun’s Johannesburg hotels and restaurants. We’ve selected our favourite specials and packages for you to experience the best of Jozi, discover …
Dear Editor The DA today launched a petition calling for the Johannesburg city council to be dissolved in order to hold fresh elections. This motion comes after the introduction – and apparent subsequent withdrawal – of the seventh motion of no confidence in Joburg since the November 2021 local government elections. The fate of this …
Dear Editor Over the past few days government officials have been reporting back to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy on progress they’ve made in combating illegal mining. They’ve made very little. The overall response to illegal mining has been revealed to be grossly inadequate, for which the blame must lie with the …
PRASA spends R2.1 billion on rail infrastructure in Gauteng
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has spent R2.1 billion in recovering the rail infrastructure in Gauteng to date.
“PRASA is making significant progress in rebuilding the passenger rail infrastructure and refurbishing vandalised stations. Today, PRASA has recovered 18 corridors, with seven corridors now operational in Gauteng with the new Electrical Motor Units, Istimela Sabantu,” Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said on Monday.
She was addressing the launch of the Leralla-Germiston line, which cost under R600 million in rebuilding and rehabilitating the line that first ran commercially on 6 July and now carries 10 000 people daily.
The rehabilitation included the six stations the train stops at, the overhead electrical cables that power the trains and the substations that feed power to the network. The train stops at Leralla, Limindlela, Tembisa, Kempton Park, Rhodesfield and Germiston stations.
“R28 million was invested in refurbishing the stations; R292 million spent on the overhead cables, and R276 million spent on the substations. R44 million was spent to rehabilitate and restore the Elandsfontein substation,” Chikunga said.
The Minister said work is in progress to extend the service from Germiston all the way to Johannesburg Park Station, with a total budget of R130 million allocated to this project.
“Our interventions to restore urban passenger rail services aim to ensure that the return of passenger rail to the city is sustainable. The plans are part of our wider strategy to improve passenger rail services across South Africa and make rail a safe, reliable, and affordable mode of transport.
“Through PRASA’s Capital projects, we will ensure that PRASA continues to invest in local communities and boost local economies by creating job opportunities. We are pleased to announce that 191 jobs were created in this project, with 15 young women under the age of 35 employed, 3 women with disabilities and 21 women over the age of 35. Four Small, Medium and Micro enterprises (SMMEs) from local communities benefited from this project,” she said.
The Minister said it is also prudent that the informal economy benefits from the railway stations and the access they provide to people.
“The Germiston station is one of our biggest intermodal facilities in Gauteng, with taxis and buses feeding into the station, thus supporting a vibrant informal economy where informal traders can ply their trade and sell their wares to passengers and people from surrounding areas.
“The micro-economic activities at the Germiston station clearly demonstrate the role of intermodal facilities in providing transport solutions, convenience, accessibility, and economic opportunities.
“The increase of patronage numbers is vital to the sustainable livelihoods of informal traders and commuters at large who rely on this affordable mode of transport. Plans are in place to regain patronage numbers, including the rebuilding of critical stations for commuters to access the trains,” Chikunga said.
PRASA’s national resignaling programme will ensure that the organization increases the frequency of trains while ensuring the safe passage of our new modern trains and safety for our passengers.
“We are also pleased to announce that since the implementation of PRASA’s integrated security plan, we have seen a reduction of security related incidences in the PRASA environment by 75%.
“Recently, PRASA’s Protection Officers were declared Peace Officers under the Criminal Procedures Act, giving them more law enforcement powers, similar to the police, including powers to arrest. We would like to congratulate all the 286 PRASA Peace Officers who are now trained in Criminal Law and Law in General, amongst many other modules,” the Minister said.
Additionally to the Peace Officer Status, PRASA’s Protection Officers are multiskilled in Armed Response, platform marshalling, CCTV monitoring, and many more.
Their deployment areas include on board the trains, staging yards, rail infrastructure, supported by the SAPS Railway Police and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 08/28/2023 - 13:45
Women’s Month has arrived and what better way to celebrate our women than celebrating their achievements and their contributions irrespective of any boundaries! From women who cherish the serenity of hiking and camping to those who prefer the lively atmosphere of brisk walking in the city, Hi-Tec offers a diverse range of products that cater …
One of Stellenbosch’s most exciting family-oriented mountain bike events, the Fedhealth MTB Challenge welcomes Root44 as a new venue on Saturday 09 and Sunday 10 September 2023. As the location changes, so do the routes, promising entrants an adventure like never before! “Root44 in a dream venue for adventurous families that enjoy the outdoors,” says …
Mahlobo calls for professionalism in water sector
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has called for a culture of work, service and professionalism within the public sector and key stakeholders.
Mahlobo made the remarks during the Emfuleni Section 63 Support Stakeholder Meeting held at Vereeniging, Gauteng, on Friday.
The meeting, which was attended by Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor Sipho Radebe and stakeholders from various structures representing business and civil society within the Sedibeng District Municipality, aimed to provide an update on the progress made on the Emfuleni Section 63 Interventions, and the planned work leading up to the commissioning of pump station 5, which has a capacity of 150 mega litres a day.
In 2021, Minister Senzo Mchunu invoked and placed Emfuleni Local Municipality under Section 63 of the Water Services Act and took over water and sanitation services following the municipality’s failure to manage its water and sanitation services, which resulted in sewer spillages in communities and into the Vaal River, polluting the raw water source.
The objective of the Section 63 interventions is to address sewerage spillage in the Sedibeng District's Emfuleni and Midvaal, as a result of lack of maintenance and aging infrastructure, and demand that is higher than waste water treatment capacity.
Rand Water was appointed as an implementing agent to deliver an effective solution that will eradicate pollution in the river and its tributaries, and address water and sanitation service delivery challenges, inhibiting both social and economic development in the region.
Mahlobo was appointed by Mchunu to chair the Political Stakeholder Committee of the project in the region to keep all stakeholders abreast of the progress in the implementation of the intervention.
Mahlobo noted the overwhelming progress on the work that has been done to address spillages, and urged the department and other water sector stakeholders to improve their work ethic, service delivery, and professionalism, stressing the significance of regular information sharing to demonstrate the progress being made, and to foster patience among the public.
He said this approach will ensure that stakeholders are well-informed about the ongoing developments, and can collaboratively address any challenges that arise.
The Deputy Minister also emphasised the importance of transparency in water management.
“The sharing of information plays a crucial role in informing the public about the measures implemented to enhance the provision of adequate water services. It also allows for clarification on the progress made in various water projects.
“This, in turn, helps to build trust and confidence within the public. Additionally, transparency holds all stakeholders accountable for their actions, thus enhancing good governance within the water sector,” Mahlobo said.
The Deputy Minister also highlighted a need for collaborative efforts with the private sector to succeed.
He said, it is through the collective efforts of the department, including stakeholders, and the public, that meaningful change can occur.
“By cultivating a culture of work, service, and professionalism, the water and sanitation sector can address existing challenges and pave the way for a future marked by sustainable and equitable access to water resources,” the Deputy Minister said.
A number of stakeholders also expressed their gratitude towards progress made by the intervention, adding that it has been evident that the Emfuleni Section 63 worked extremely well and that more opportunities must be availed for women.
Significant progress in water-related projects
The Rand Water, which is responsible for supplying potable water to the Gauteng Province, highlighted significant progress in various water-related projects.
In its reports, the utility noted that the refurbishment of pump station 2 is currently at 80% completion with pump station 9, which has reached 50% completion.
The utility also highlighted that the gravity main to pump station 2 is halfway through its renovation, while pump station 10 is nearing completion at 95%.
Another progress noted was the successful completion of the collapsed sewer pipeline at Union Street in Vereeniging, which is 100% completed.
Mahlobo concluded the meeting by directing the Department of Water and Sanitation Provincial Head for Gauteng, Justice Maluleke and his team to ensure that real issues are captured and site visits take place at the specific areas and feedback given. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 08/28/2023 - 10:26
Say goodbye to the hassle of relocating your power stations during load shedding. EcoFlow, a global leading sustainable energy solutions company, is excited to introduce the enhancement that expands the abilities of its DELTA Series and RIVER Series to power your home with just a single plug. These cutting-edge power stations are now compatible with …
Hundreds marched to the Clareinch post office in Claremont to commemorate four years since her rape and murder
South Africa will be sending a team of top rowers to the upcoming Rowing World Championships, which are scheduled to take place from 3 to 10 September 2023 on the Sava Lake in Belgrade, Serbia. These championships are extremely significant as they serve as the crucial qualification races for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. …
Dear Editor President Cyril Ramaphosa’s continued silence over Zimbabwe’s sham elections, which saw Emmerson Mnangagwa controversially “re-elected” for a second term, is a tacit endorsement of the ZANU-PF government’s electoral farce. A preliminary report by the SADC Election Observer Mission (SADC-EOM) noted that the elections “fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, …
Dear Editor Last week the DA presented Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille with a copy of the KPMG final report from 2017 into the City of Tshwane’s Dinokeng Music Festival investigation. The KPMG report provides a plethora of detailed information, which includes how it appears that inflated payment figures provided by the then Director of …
Op-Ed by Michelle Geraghty, Business Development Head at FNB Business Advisory: Business succession planning is often an overlooked aspect of leadership for many business owners, most of whom tend to consider it only when retirement is imminent and the need to hand over the reins becomes apparent. Regrettably, even when the need to identify a …
Crackdown on crime pays off in the Eastern Cape
Nelson Mandela Bay District SAPS Commissioner, Major General Vuyisile Ncata, has commended the men and women in blue following significant arrests and confiscations that were recently made.
In a statement, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape said the relentless crackdown on criminals sends a strong message that illegal activities will not be tolerated.
This as SAPS Humewood arrested a 20-year-old suspect allegedly involved in a business robbery at 12:06 in Govan Mbeki Street. It is alleged that the complainant was in the shop when the suspect entered and threatened him and demanded money. The complainant scuffled with the suspect and managed to apprehend him and confiscated a replica firearm. The suspect was arrested on charges of business robbery.
In another unrelated matter on Wednesday, near Truckers Inn, Public Order Policing were performing crime prevention duties when they noticed a suspect standing nearby. Upon being searched, the suspect was found in possession of a silver revolver (serial number filed off) with six rounds of ammunition. The 25-year-old was detained on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
On Thursday night, police arrested two suspects involved in a house robbery in Perridgevale. It is alleged that the suspects entered a residence occupied by students in Haven Road and stole four cell phones and fled the scene in a blue Volkswagen Golf.
SAPS Mount Road members received information that the blue VW Golf was driving in Sydenham. Suspects were found in Milner Street. The two suspects aged 21 and 22 years were arrested.
On Friday, the SAPS Anti-Gang Unit executed a search warrant at a house in Bowles Street in Bloemenda. A revolver with its serial number filed off and eight rounds of ammunition were found. A 32-year-old suspect was arrested on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
A firearm of which the serial number was filed off, was found when police responded to a complaint in Chase Street, Walmer Location. In addition, 82 rounds of ammunition were found at the scene and confiscated.
The suspect was arrested on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and Illegal possession of ammunition.
Some of the suspects that were arrested over the course of last week have already appeared in court while others are expected to appear in various courts today, 28 August 2023.
“We are committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety of our citizens. Your actions would not go unchecked,” Ncata said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 08/28/2023 - 10:50
Rowers from South Africa’s three medal-winning boats at the Olympic Games will all be in action at the 2023 World Rowing Masters Regatta taking place on home soil at Roodeplaat Dam in Pretoria from 21 to 24 September. The four-day showpiece will not only be a historic event as the first World Rowing regatta on …
Say goodbye to the hassle of relocating your power stations during load shedding. EcoFlow (https://www.EcoFlow.com/za), a global leading sustainable energy solutions company, is excited to introduce the enhancement that expands the abilities of its DELTA Series (https://apo-opa.info/44uAEib) and RIVER Series (https://apo-opa.info/3PhnlNH) to power your home with just a single plug. These cutting-edge power stations are now compatible with the major transfer switches on the market, enabling seamless integration with home circuits for comprehensive power coverage.
Easy Operation, Seamless Integration
"This compatibility empowers users to effortlessly connect EcoFlow portable power stations (https://apo-opa.info/3qGeZWt) to their homes, suitable with a variety of transfer switches on the market." said Joy Wu, Head of LAMEA&APAC at EcoFlow. "In the face of relentless load shedding, this innovation provides an energy-efficient and time-saving solution. Users no longer need to shuffle power stations or appliances around to maintain essential functions. With a single switch, power will course through your home circuit."
This home backup power solution encompasses an EcoFlow power station and a transfer switch. Installation only takes about 20 minutes by a professional electrician. Once connected to the home main panel of electrical circuits via a transfer switch, your EcoFlow power station becomes a reliable source of power for your entire home. From the living room to the kitchen, bathroom, or bedrooms, the solution operates seamlessly, eliminating the need for complex wiring or redundant operations.
Accessible and Reliable Home Power Solution
One of the most compelling advantages of EcoFlow's portable power solutions with transfer switch compatibility is their affordability. "The additional cost for a transfer switch in the market is approximately R500-1000," noted Joy. "Compared to traditional home power solutions, the EcoFlow combo provides an economical entry point for families seeking dependable backup power."
The solution caters to both the DELTA Series and RIVER Series portable power stations, offering up to 10.8kWh of capacity to power an entire home - from critical appliances to lighting and communication devices. The built-in BMS (Battery Management System) provides multiple protections against overload, overvoltage, overheating, etc., freeing you from the worries of unstable grid power.
In addition to their cost-effectiveness, these power stations present a safe and eco-conscious alternative to noisy and poisonous emission-heavy fuel generators, making them suitable for household use.
Limitless Application, Anytime and Anywhere
An added benefit is the portability of EcoFlow's portable power stations. Designed for plug-and-play convenience, users can effortlessly unplug their power stations and carry them anywhere, providing adaptable energy solutions for outdoor activities, travel, and emergency situations.
"This innovation marks a significant step forward in the field of home power solutions, simplifying households' ability to maintain uninterrupted power supply during outages," addressed Joy. For a limited time, the combo of a portable power station and a free transfer switch is now available on EcoFlow's official website (https://apo-opa.info/3QYiPVt).
* Note: this compatibility is applicable to both the EcoFlow DELTA series and the RIVER series; however, the actual performance may differ based on the capacity and rated power of the respective power stations. This solution is not advisable for the RIVER 2 model.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EcoFlow.
Links to additional content:
DELTA Series: https://apo-opa.info/44uAEib
RIVER Series: https://apo-opa.info/3PhnlNH
EcoFlow portable power stations: https://apo-opa.info/3qGeZWt
EcoFlow's official website: https://apo-opa.info/3QYiPVt
Media Contact:
Orange Lin
EcoFlow Communications Manager in South Africa
orange.lin@ecoflow.com
About EcoFlow:
EcoFlow is a leading eco-friendly energy solutions company with the vision to power a new world. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow aims to become a reliable and trusted energy companion for individuals and families across the world, providing accessible and renewable power solutions at home, outdoors, and in mobile spaces. Today, with operational headquarters located in the USA, Germany, and Japan, EcoFlow has empowered more than 2.5 million users in over 100 markets worldwide.
JOHANNESBURG – During women’s month, Mitsubishi Motors South Africa celebrated the many women that form part of their critical staff compliment. A key strategy within the Mitsubishi Motors South Africa business is their commitment to empowering and elevating women within their organisation “At Mitsubishi Motors South Africa we pride ourselves in the fact that we …
The two teenagers will join 30 others from more than 10 nations between the ages of 14 – 16 at the Allianz MoveNow Camp – Global Edition in Munich, Germany from August 31 – September 4, 2023. Allianz Commercial, a leading global corporate insurance carrier and a key business unit of Allianz Group has selected …