Basetsana

South Africa’s electricity generation capacity continues to show signs of improvement and stabilisation, says Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

This follows work done in the past two weeks.

The Minister was speaking on Sunday during his weekly media briefing on progress made regarding the implementation of the Energy Action Plan. 

Outlining the generation performance for period 3 -7 July 2023, the Minister said that Eskom has been able to maintain the increased energy availability of more than 60% resulting in lower levels of load shedding. 

“The progress we're making is tribute to the fact that we've stayed the course. We've received a number of criticism, arguing that government doesn't have a plan and our consistent message was that we have a plan and we are going to deliver against that plan.

“We have been able to maintain the trend line, we are approximating that 60% energy availability factor. In megawatts terms, you can see the running average for the week is about 28 272,” Ramokgopa said. 

The progress was on account of a number of things done over the past weeks. As a result of improved generation capacity now, there is an additional space for Eskom to do good planned maintenance.

The Minister highlighted that one of the underlying assumptions when the country entered winter, is that they were going to drastically reduce planned maintenance so that we have as many units as possible at any given time generating megawatts needed. 

On Friday, they were able to take out double what had been planned because of the room that has been created by the performance of the units. 

“This is planned, it is by design and voluntary. We could have chosen not to but we have chosen to take it out and you are not seeing it in the aggravation of the load shedding situation in the country. 

“Load shedding is bad in all its elements but you can see that we're able to maintain that permutation of 0 to 3 or 1 to 3.

“So either no load shedding between midnight and 4 am then we introduce it during the evening peak because it is more severe than the morning peak...or we introduce Stage 1 load shedding [at] midnight until 4 am and then we ramp it up to Stage 3 during the evening peak starting at 4pm.”

He said that for as long as planned maintenance continues,  “these units won’t surprise us because we are thorough and robust in the manner in which we do it.”

 When we make a promise that this unit is going to run for a certain number of hours without it failing or being taken out, we are confident that our message or promise will be kept.”

Ramokgopa said the month of July is a special one because it marks the anniversary of the Energy Action Plan which was introduced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

The minister said the plan has made progress as they have been able to mobilise private sector players.

“In relation to the Energy Action Plan, we have been able to mobilise private sector players, over a hundred of them are working with us and that in part is to help us recover the units but also to ensure that they are able to transmit the knowledge and exchange it with some of the station managers and junior engineers so that they are able to run on their own.

“When we come out of this very difficult electricity situation, we will be more than confident that we have cadres of young engineers at Eskom, who fully understand how these machines operate,” he said.

 
The Minister added that they were also strengthening issues around accountability when it comes to the Energy Action Plan.

 
On funding to enable investment to the grid, Ramokgopa announced that Eskom has prioritised about 25 transformers that will make it possible to add 12,000 megawatts of capacity into the grid by 2028. –SAnews.gov.za

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents South Africa with unparalleled benefits and opportunities.

Director of Africa Bilateral Economic Trade at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Calvin Phume said the AfCFTA holds immense potential, promising to expand market access for South African entrepreneurs and enterprises.

 “This unparalleled market reach will catalyse a surge in trade, enabling local businesses to tap into new market opportunities, expand their operations, attract investments and bolster their revenue streams,” he said.

Phume was speaking during an AfCFTA awareness workshop in Cape Town on Friday.

The AfCFTA seeks to establish a large single continental market, encompassing a population of approximately 1.3 billion people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately USD 3.4 trillion.

 “We are poised to witness a surge in trade activities, fuelling economic growth and fostering cross-border collaboration.

“With the AfCFTA now in full swing, South Africa stands at the forefront of a momentous trade revolution that will shape the future of the continent encouraging innovation and promoting the development of value-chains, thereby spurring industrialization and job creation across sectors.

“As businesses gear up to leverage the vast consumer base offered by AfCFTA, the stage is set for unprecedented growth and prosperity,” he said.

Phume stated that with the implementation of the AfCFTA, South Africa had embarked on a transformative path towards intra-Africa trade that will enhance economic cooperation across the continent.

“When the AfCFTA was mooted by the Heads of State and Government of African countries, it was over concerns that African countries were not trading with each other, prompting a comprehensive investigation into potential solutions.

“Following this examination, it was determined that establishing a continental free trade area would serve as an ideal platform to promote intra-Africa trade among member states of the African continent,” said Phume.

The workshop raised various issues of interest, including funding interventions as presented by the Western Cape Economic Development Department, the advantages of quality management systems by the South African Bureau of Standards, and an informative session on understanding the dtic incentive schemes.

Following its successful run, the nationwide workshop is scheduled to continue in the Free State, the Northern Cape, and the North West. –SAnews.gov.za

The City of Ekurhuleni has condemned the shooting of an on-duty electrician in Boksburg on Saturday night.

In a statement on Sunday, the City said the employee was responding to a multiple power outage in the area when he was shot and robbed at a substation in Dayanglen at around 8pm. The employee had to be rushed to hospital where he is recovering.

City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said they were grateful the electrician survived the incident.

“This city strongly condemns the senseless attack on a man who left the comfort of his home and his family on a Saturday night to assist the community, only to be attacked by senseless thugs. These unfortunate incidents are becoming a major problem. In fact, our workers are now reluctant and even refusing to attend to power outages at night because of these acts of criminality.  

“The employees’ behaviour is quite understandable because this job is turning out to be life-threatening.  The unfortunate part is that this means that our customers and residents alike will now have to deal with extended power outages,” Dlamini said. 

Dlamini added that the incident forced the team to withdraw from the electricity restoration process leaving Morganridge, Davanglen and Boksburg West without power for the whole of last night. ork resumed this morning. 

“While we remain committed to render quality and sustainable services at all times, such incidents of criminality derail our efforts. We therefore implore our communities to assist in the protection of these employees because they are performing a critical task. 

“We have people who need electricity for survival, and without it they can die. Unfortunately, the criminals care less about that,” Dlamini said.

The City has urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to forward such information to the police for further processing and investigation on 08600 10111. –SAnews.gov.za

 

Government has demonstrated its support to young people in the field of arts and culture by providing them with a platform to showcase their creativity and nurture their artistic potential.

“The Young Creatives Programme (TYCP), a National Youth Service Programme of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, aims to identify, nurture and empower young artists, writers, musicians, performers, designers and creators from diverse backgrounds,” Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa said on Thursday.

Each participant will receive a stipend allowance that ranges from R3500 - R4000.

“Many young creatives are often faced with challenges of not having permanent employment as the sector is regarded as informal because it only offers gig work. This is about to change through The Young Creatives Programme,” the Minister said during the launch of the programme in Johannesburg.

The platform serves as a stepping stone for professional development and a catalyst for artistic careers.

“By recognizing and encouraging their talents, the programme seeks to inspire a new generation of creatives who will not only contribute to the cultural fabric of our society but will earn a living through the arts.

“The Young Creatives Programme offers a range of exciting opportunities for participants, including mentorship programs, workshops, exhibitions, performances, networking events, and access to resources and facilities.

“By engaging with experienced mentors and industry experts, young creatives will have the chance to refine their skills, expand their knowledge, and gain valuable insights into various art forms and career paths,” the Minister said.

Kodwa expressed that government believes that investing in the talents of young creatives is crucial for the growth and vitality of the arts and culture sector.

“Fundamentally, this programme is geared towards improving the employability and self-confidence of participants making them to be successful in the job market or in setting up their own enterprises.

“The TYCP will assist the Department to address the plight of young people in the creative industries – by engaging them in meaningful development,” the Minister said.

Reviving community arts centres

The Young Creatives Programme will be implemented also as a strategy to revive the importance of Community Arts Centres.

It will enable Community Arts Centres to become the centre of youth and community development.

“Our plan is that while The Young Creatives will be engaged in the current programmes of the Community Arts Centre where they are placed, they will initiate their creative arts activities or projects at these sites, to grow and be active agents of change.

“The programme will be implemented in partnership with National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and in the first year, will realise the placement of 270 young creatives in Community Arts Centres across the country.

“We are hoping that these cohorts, with the assistance from the Community Art Centre managers as well as the provincial Department officials and NYDA, will help the community arts environment to be much more viable and importantly, become ‘first space of choice’ where young people can converge and share their creative and artistic experiences,” Kodwa said.

The partnership with the NYDA will bolster the Department’s aims of mainstreaming youth development.

“Participants will have Community Arts Centres as sites of their community activism using their creativity as a weapon to fight social ills, as well as a tool to educate and entertain the community surrounding their Community Arts Centres. The NYDA will not only give training to the young creatives, but they will also look after these young participants as they exit the programme,” the Minister said.

Amongst others, the programme intends to:

• Assist the department in its quest to deliver service in creative arts activities;
• Promote patriotism and nation-building;
• Advance social cohesion and
• Assist participants to develop occupational skills necessary to be self-employed, access work-readiness or employability skills of being successful in getting a job and having sustainable livelihood opportunities. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

 

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government will host a series of high-level engagements as a precursor to the 15th BRICS Summit that will take place in August.

Led by Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the engagements will kick off with the BRICS Gender Dividend Debate to be hosted by the City of Durban at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) on Friday, 14 July 2023. 

The debate will be led by prominent female political leaders, including government officials, and economists from BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and African nations. 

Dube-Ncube said the objective of the debate is to explore the political economy of gender in a multipolar world, framing “Tomorrow’s multipolar world, through a gender lens” for Women by Women in BRICS and African nations. 

She said the main topics of discussion will include the impact of the evolving BRICS and African political and economic landscape on transforming industries to become gender-neutral and inclusive. 

“The debate will also focus on identifying revolutionary decisions, investments, and measures of success that BRICS leaders need to deploy to promote gender equity and equality, fostering inclusive and prosperous BRICS and African economies.

“Furthermore, the debate will emphasise converting promises and hopes into practical solutions and framing resolutions, to advance the BRICS needle on gender equality by 2030, contributing to the Johannesburg XV BRICS Summit Declaration,” said the Premier.

The event will be followed by the 9th BRICS Youth Summit and the Meeting of Ministers responsible for Youth Affairs, to be hosted by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) which will be held from 18-21 July 2023.

The BRICS Youth Summit is a platform for dialogue for delegates from member states, striving for the promotion of peace, security, development in a multi-polar inter-dependent and increasingly complex, globalizing world. 

Held under the theme “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism” the objectives of the summit are to bring together youth participants, affording them an opportunity to share ideas and work on a concrete Action Plan for co-operation in economic, humanitarian, mass media and the science sphere.

NYDA spokesperson, Bongekile Skosana, said this year, South Africa as the Chair of BRICS will direct the summit to focus mainly on discussions that aim to encourage young leaders amongst BRICS nations to actively participate in addressing significant global challenges, economic, social issues, and contribute to the developmental agenda.

“It further focuses to establish constructive engagements on issues relating to youth empowerment, the advancement of youth development and in creating a conducive environment where youth will devise a path to a brighter and better future,” Skosana said.

The BRICS Urbanisation Forum taking place from 26-27 July 2023, will also bring together various stakeholders from the BRICS countries, including BRICS Ministerial delegations, representatives from local governments, policymakers, and other stakeholders to place key issues of urbanisation on their agenda for action. 

The Forum will highlight how to build productive and sustainable urban economies and livelihood survival strategies in urban environments as well as creating inclusive urban spaces.

The last edition of the forum was hosted online under the presidency of China in 2022.

BRICS-AFRICA Women Business Alliance

The events will conclude with BRICS-AFRICA Women Business Alliance (BRICS WBA) Trade Conference, taking place on 20-21 August 2023.

The BRICS WBA Trade Conference is a unique event that brings together 500 women-owned businesses, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises from 18 different countries, namely South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Zambia, DRC, Egypt, Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho.

The conference is set to be a ground-breaking event, featuring several highlights, including the first ever physical meeting of BRICS WBA national chapters, the launch of the Agrowex e-commerce platform, and the unveiling of the BRICS Center for Labour Mobility and Education Services, “Work and Study”.

BRICS Summit

South Africa will host the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 22 - 24 August 2023.

The Summit will take place under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism”. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed condolences to the families of those affected by the gas cylinder leakage which claimed the lives of at least 17 people in Boksburg.

The incident occurred at the Angelo informal settlement in the area on Wednesday evening.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness at the devastating and tragic loss of innocent lives at the Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg. The President extends his heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost loved ones. 

“President Ramaphosa has described this as a very sad morning. He further urges investigators to get to the bottom of what may have caused this accident to avoid similar disasters in future,” the Presidency said.

Meanwhile, Ekurhuleni Municipality Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana has pledged the municipality’s support to the affected families.

“As the City of Ekurhuleni we would like to send our condolences to all the families of Angelo and all the families that have lost their loved ones. I know this is a difficult time that we are in and it’s a very shocking tragedy. 

“But we hope that God will be with all the people that have suffered a loss. With the community of Angelo and the city, we promise to give all the necessary support that they need,” Ngodwana said. – SAnews.gov.za

Cabinet says it welcomes the improvement in Eskom’s energy availability factor, which is now closer to 70%. 

This comes after about 400 megawatts (MW) have been added to the grid and planned maintenance has improved quickly.

The Cabinet statement released on Thursday also noted the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s National Air Quality Officer granting Eskom a postponement to meet minimum emission standards at Kusile Power Station, in Mpumalanga. 

“The postponement will allow Eskom to carry out repairs on the stack that was damaged on 23 October 2022. The power utility will also construct three temporary stacks that are expected to return 2 100 MW of power to the national grid and reduce load-shedding by two levels,” Cabinet explained. 

The Executive has reiterated government’s commitment to the Just Energy Transition (JET) and determination to mitigate the impact of climate change. 

The JET, established in 2020, aims to achieve “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050.

“Cabinet also thanked South Africans who continue to use electricity sparingly, especially during peak times. Our combined energy efforts have helped bring about lower stages of load shedding.”

They further welcomed the commitments made at the New Global Financing Pact Summit held in Paris, France, last month. 

The summit, which President Cyril Ramaphosa attended, aimed to build a new contract between the North and the South to help address issues of climate change, development and debt.

Green hydrogen 

Cabinet further welcomed a joint declaration of intent to establish the South African-German Hydrogen Task Force, signed by Electricity Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck. 

“The task force will look at how the green hydrogen market will be created and developed, as well as create business-to-business opportunities between the two countries. Green hydrogen is generated by renewable energy and it has significantly lower carbon emissions than traditional hydrogen.”

The state already has plans for a Hydrogen Valley, which is expected to run from Limpopo through Johannesburg to Durban. 

“The valley will establish opportunities for projects that will kick-start hydrogen initiatives in hubs to boost economic growth and job creation.” – SAnews.gov.za

Cabinet has commended the Provincial Disaster Management teams for their quick response in assisting communities affected by the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape.

The floods have caused extensive damage to road infrastructure, electricity supply, sewer systems and houses in the affected areas in KwaZulu-Natal, while roads in some parts of the Northern Cape have suffered structural damage.

Cabinet expressed sadness at the loss of lives in KwaZulu-Natal, and sent condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives.

Cabinet said government and humanitarian organisations continue to provide immediate relief supplies to the affected communities in KwaZulu-Natal, including food parcels, blankets, plastic sheeting and emergency boxes. 

“Eskom and municipal electrical departments have also been activated to restore power to affected areas,” Cabinet said in a statement issued on Thursday.

Residents called to participate in Presidential Imbizo

Meanwhile, Cabinet has called on residents to play an active role in determining the future of their communities by participating in the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo Programme.

The call follows a Presidential Imbizo held in KwaZulu-Natal last week.

President Ramaphosa, joined by leaders from all three spheres of government, undertook the 7th DDM Presidential Imbizo of the sixth administration at the uThukela District Municipality.

Government leaders used the Presidential Imbizo to interact with residents on service delivery challenges and plans for the development of the district.

“All citizens are urged to play a role in the development of their communities by being active citizens. By working together, we can identify issues of concern and unblock impediments to integrated service delivery,” Cabinet said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says tax administration tools are imperative to countering illicit financial flows and ensuring that governments can continue to collect revenue and serve society.

He was addressing the 13th Africa Initiative Meeting held by Tax Transparency in Cape Town on Thursday.

The Minister highlighted that in Africa, illicit financial flows are costing governments between €48 billion and €77 billion – valuable resources needed for functioning governments.

“[Tax administration] is one of the most valiant career callings because it is at the centre of enabling governments to provide infrastructure and basic services, and improve the lives of society at large, but especially the lives of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised. As tax administrators, you are tasked with the imperative responsibility of collecting what is due to governments in a timely and efficient manner.

“However, this task is not easy where tax evasion, tax crimes and illicit financial flows continue to spirit away revenues due to the State. A means to counter this scourge is [allowing] tax administrations, with the requisite tools and capabilities, measures such as tax transparency through Exchange of Information (EOI), as facilitated by the Global Forum and its regional partners,” he said.

Godongwana emphasised that although these tools are being improved, “this is only effective where the necessary political will is explicit”.

“We see this in the quality of laws that are passed, international agreements that are entered into, and the commitment to build competent and fully resourced tax administrations and the development of best international practices in effective tax administrations,” he said.

The Minister reflected on the efficiency of international tax standards and how these have become an “effective tool” in curbing tax evasion and other illicit financial flows.

“During the past eight years, the Africa Initiative has changed the tax transparency landscape in Africa, enabling the mobilisation of more than €310 million in domestic resources. However, continuous action is needed to ensure a long-lasting positive impact.

“Working with its regional partners, the Global Forum should continue to serve African countries and to support the Africa Initiative in its efforts to build or enhance their capacities to use the EOI standards at their full potential on the continent.

“From the South African experience, I can unequivocally say that [Exchange of Information on Request] and [Automatic Exchange of Information] are essential tools to drive tax compliance. As such, I want to urge members of the Africa Initiative to continue this important work, to collaborate closely, and to ensure that a sustainable legacy is left behind for future generations,” Godongwana said. – SAnews.gov.za

Eskom has lodged a dispute against Lesedi Local Municipality as a result of the municipality’s failure to service its R125 million debt.

According to Eskom, the municipality began to default on payments in June last year and says it has exhausted “all avenues” to recover the debt.

“In January 2023, Lesedi submitted a payment proposal to Eskom to settle the arear debt, which Eskom accepted on condition that it would continue to service its monthly current account.

"However, the municipality defaulted on both the repayment and the current account by failing to settle the April 2023 invoice of R20 million that was payable on 29 May 2023, and only paid R7 million.

“The May 2023 invoice of R21 million, which was due on 29 June 2023, remains unpaid. Eskom has issued the June 2023 invoice of R38 million and that is payable on 27 July,” the power utility said.

Eskom has struggled to recover monies owed and regular payments from municipalities. Municipal debt for bulk electricity supply had ballooned to at least R56 billion by December 2022.

This, Eskom said, is hampering its ability to deliver on its mandate of supplying electricity to the country.

“Failure to service debt by Lesedi and other local municipalities burdens the power utility’s revenue streams, ultimately affecting service delivery. This puts further strain on Eskom’s finance and its ability to operate effectively,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has sent condolences to the family and friends of Irish tourist, former rugby player and coach, Greig Oliver, who lost his life in a paragliding accident in Cape Town on Monday.

“We share in their grief and offer our full support at this difficult time,” De Lille said.

Oliver, 58, reportedly collided with another paraglider in the air above Sea Point Promenade.

Despite the immediate emergency response by the National Sea Rescue Institute and Emergency Services, he was declared deceased at the scene.

“South Africa offers a broad spectrum of adventure tourism activities, and we firmly believe in providing exhilarating, safe and memorable experiences to our visitorsm," De Lille said.

“This tragic incident is a reminder that we must fully support robust safety protocols and a strong regulatory environment to grow and develop South Africa as a destination in which adventurers feel safe and secure,” De Lille said.  

She further reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the highest levels of safety standards maintained by the adventure tourism sector in South Africa, commending the efforts of organisations such as the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, which promote self-regulation in the adventure tourism sector.

“Through our collective efforts, industry stakeholders, adventure tourism operators and associations can strengthen our safety protocols and ensure the well-being of adventure tourists.

“I am committed to engaging with industry stakeholders to collaborate on any initiative that prioritises the welfare of our tourists,” De Lille said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed 78 newly trained constables deployed in various police stations in that province.

The welcoming session was held at the Landbank Building at the Provincial Commissioner’s boardroom.

Hadebe officially welcomed the new constables to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and prepared them for the new environment of policing and protecting the residents of Limpopo.

The constables are graduates from colleges and universities with different qualifications obtained at diverse faculties.

In her address, Hadebe congratulated everyone and thanked them for choosing to share their expertise with SAPS, as they will contribute towards the growth of the organisation.

She praised 10 constables with Master's degrees from different faculties such as Physics, Animal Production and Chemistry.

Hadebe advised the new constables to be humble and disciplined when sharing their ideas with their superiors, saying they should not allow their qualifications to stop them from learning the SAPS's functioning methods.

“As they perform their duties, they must always be alert and keep in mind that criminals are not kind but they should still abide by their mandate when faced with such challenges,” SAPS said in a statement.

Hadebe warned them not to be involved in corruption and abuse their powers as police officers.

She encouraged them to excel in their legal obligations and be proud of their new responsibilities of ensuring safety and security of the people of Limpopo. – SAnews.gov.za

A Bloemfontein pastor has paid back some R1.9 million in funding fraudulently received from the Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSeta).

According to a joint statement by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lerato Mokoteli and accomplice Anthony Dywili applied for funding at AgriSeta under the guise of providing training and mentoring in food garden operations in Kimberley.

The corruption busting unit said the two claimed that the application was a joint venture between Business Against Crime and another AgriSeta-accredited service provider, Dipalemo – a joint venture which did not exist.

“Upon receiving the R1.9 million funding, Mokoteli and Dywili concluded a Memorandum of Understanding between Business Against Crime and Northern Cape Empowerment Academy led by Dipalemo, knowing very well that the academy exists only on paper.

“Mokotedi submitted to AgriSeta a close-up report on behalf of Dipalemo knowing very well that Dipalemo did not render any training. 50 learners were trained and received certificate of competency in food operation. They were paid a stipend of R219 000…

“R381 564.86 was claimed to have been used for the administration of training. Dywili did not disclose to AgriSeta that R600 000 of the funding was unspent, in violation of the terms of the agreement,” the statement read.

In July 2016, some R317 000 of the funding was then paid to a non-profit organisation chaired by Dywili.

The SIU has referred evidence of criminality to the National Prosecuting Authority for criminal prosecution.

“The duo, together with Jeremia Madiba, AgriSeta CEO between 2008 and 2017, were charged with various counts of fraud and money laundering. Madiba allegedly awarded the tender without the required decision by the Board of Directors of AgriSeta, therefore, in contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). He will be appearing in court on a PFMA charge on 28 August 2023.

“On 26 May 2023, Mokoteli entered into a guilty plea agreement with the State. In terms of the agreement, Mokoteli pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering and agreed to pay back R1.9 million to AgriSeta,” the statement read.

Mokoteli was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for fraud and a further five years for money laundering, wholly suspended for five years. – SAnews.gov.za

 

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has reiterated her call for parents and caregivers to take every necessary precaution to protect their children.

Khoza’s call comes after the tragic incident that occurred in Mandlanzini, Richards Bay, resulting in the loss of two young lives.

According to the reports, two-year-old Lwandoluhle Khetha and her eight-month-old sister Kwanelisiwe Khetha, lost their lives in a devastating house fire while left unattended by their father.

Khoza emphasised the importance of safeguarding children from various potential hazards, including drowning, poisoning and accidents within the home and community.

“We call upon parents and caregivers to assume responsibility for taking every necessary precaution to protect their children. We urge the public to redouble their efforts in creating a safe and nurturing environment for all children to thrive, grow and flourish.”

Khoza extended her deepest condolences to the Khetha family affected by the tragic incident.

She said the department remains committed to providing support, education and resources to parents, caregivers and communities to ensure the safety and well-being of all children.

A team of social workers has been dispatched by the department to provide psycho-social support to the grieving family.

The children were laid to rest on Sunday. – SAnews.gov.za