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South Africa is renowned for its rich wildlife and vast landscapes, making it a prime destination for hunting enthusiasts. Among the various types of hunting, bow hunting holds a special place due to its challenging nature and deep roots in traditional practices. This guide explores the exciting world of bow hunting in South Africa, offering …
OUTA supports a central register for dismissed public service employees, but after reviewing it, flags risks of abuse and lack of consequence management for non-compliance As a firm advocate for accountability-driven laws, OUTA has closely examined the proposed Public Administration Management Regulations for the Central Register (PAMR). This initiative aims to create a central register …
Scotland U20 centre Nicole Flynn will make her Glasgow Warriors debut tomorrow afternoon, after being named in the midfield for tomorrow’s clash with Brython Thunder at Scotstoun. The Stirling County product is one of four changes from last weekend’s lineup, as Lindsey Smith’s squad take to the field as part of Glasgow’s Club of Origin …
Montana weather event confirmed as a landspout
Analysis of the recent destructive weather event in Montana, north of Pretoria, has been confirmed as a landspout and not a tornado.
This as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) conducted a thorough analysis of the destructive weather event that took place on Tuesday, 18 February.
“Following the analysis, which included visits to the site of the event and a close study of high-resolution satellite images of the event, among other things, the SAWS has concluded that the event was, in fact, a landspout as opposed to a tornado,” the weather service said on Friday.
In its statement it explained that a landspout develops over land and is generally smaller and weaker. A tornado, on the other hand, is a violent rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm and measures less than a few hundred meters in diameter although some are larger than 1 km.
“Tornadoes and landspouts are two small-sized events that the SAWS is working tirelessly to nowcast for the benefit of the public. Unlike with other weather conditions, signs of the potential development of a tornado are very evasive, particularly for landspouts,” it explained.
However, there has been an instance where the SAWS issued a tornado warning before its formation (on Saturday, 30 December 2017) albeit four minutes before it struck.
“Both tornadoes and landspouts have a similar appearance, but their development mechanisms and strengths differ. It is for this reason that the SAWS conducted a thorough analysis across Montana after which it was concluded that the event was a landspout.”
The landspout developed shortly before 5pm local time and affected a short stretch to the busy Sefako Makgato Drive.
From there, it uprooted trees and remained on the one side of the main road. Eyewitnesses estimated that this landspout took less than five minutes before lifting and disappearing.
The trace of its weakened phase was noted towards Zambezi where only tree branches were broken off with a zigzagging motion to the right side and back to the left of the main road.
Here, carport awnings and more roof sheeting were broken, twisted and lofted into the air.
“It is miraculous that, to date, no reports of deaths or injuries have been received.
“The landspout was rated as an EF0 according to the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale for tornado intensity, which is in use internationally. An EF0 event is generally associated with light or minor damage and corresponds to estimated wind speeds of the order of 90 to 130 kmh,” SAWS said.
At the time of the incident, the SAWS had an Orange Level 5 Impact-Based weather warning in place over Gauteng and adjacent provinces for disruptive rainfall and/or localised flooding.
Action to be taken when either a landspout or tornado strike:
• Where possible, quickly get out of the zone to which two thunderclouds are moving. Within such zones, it is almost certain that the wind will be strong and potentially damaging with injurious debris. Community members at the sudden start of a tornado or landspout may be caught by surprise, but each next minute should be used effectively.
• Do not use a tree as shelter when it is positioned in the path of a tornado or landspout.
• Loud sounds associated with tornadic impacts should quickly be used to scan the direction of clouds some distance away from the tornado / landspout. Thereafter, move out of the path of this event before moving opposite the main direction of clouds. Then find refuge.
• When indoors in a formal house, remain in a small room such the bathroom.
• To minimise impact for the shack dwellers, use the inside of small-sized furniture such as a sided wardrobe.
The SAWS said such action validates the saying “save one life, safe the world”.
Situational awareness creates a smooth and continuous defence against potential weather hazards, and it forms part and parcel of the Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative.
The EW4All was introduced by the United Nations to ensure that everyone on earth is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through lifesaving Early Warning Systems by the end of 2027.
“The public can be rest assured that SAWS, as mandated by the SAWS Act (Act 8 of 2001), will continue to monitor and assess developing weather systems and endeavour to issue weather-related Impact Based Early Warnings in a timely manner,” it said.
Such early warnings are routinely disseminated via mainstream news platforms such as radio, television, printed media as well as the SAWS website www.weathersa.co.za .
Additionally, pertinent information regarding on-the-ground impacts and significant expected weather events are posted on major social media platforms such as X (previously Twitter) @SAWeatherServic, Facebook (South African Weather Service) as well as YouTube. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 11:11
241 views
Scotland international back-row Alex Stewart returns to the capital starting line-up for Saturday’s visit of the Irish Clovers at Hive Stadium (1 March, 1pm kick-off) – live on BBC iPlayer. Captain Stewart starts following national team rest protocols and is one of two changes made by Head Coach Claire Cruikshank for her side’s final home …
At the age of 35, Willie le Roux is proving he’s one old dog who certainly can learn new tricks. For more than a decade, the man from the Western Cape has been one of the finest full-backs in the game, starring for the Springboks in two World Cup triumphs. But now he’s adding another …
The Sandton Convention Centre was alive with energy as GWM South Africa hosted its highly anticipated Dealer Conference and Awards, an annual event that not only celebrated the company’s top-performing dealerships but also heralded the arrival of three groundbreaking new vehicles. More than 300 dealers, partners, and stakeholders gathered to witness the latest chapter in …
Dear Editor The DA has submitted a Parliamentary Ethics Complaint against Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni MP, after blocking myself and colleague, Chris Hattingh MP, from conducting an oversight visit to the Directorate for Conventional Arms Control (DCAC). The visit was necessitated in response to concerns raised in the Joint Standing Committee on Defence …
The captains of the 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams gathered outside the team hotel, overlooking the Cape Town harbour and Table Mountain, on Thursday ahead of the opening round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025, which takes place at the Athlone Stadium on 1-2 March, followed by the second round on 7-8 …
JOHANNESBURG, S.A – 28 February 2025 –The BirdLife SA “Flock to Marion” event, now in its fourth iteration, was held in January 2025 on the MSC cruise line from Durban to Marion Island, part of the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The event attracted over 1,800 passionate birding and photography enthusiasts – a significant increase from …
Minister Creecy outlines plans to reinvigorate logistics sector
The South African government is committed to reinvigorating the country’s logistics sector as an enabler of economic prosperity.
This is according to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy who delivered remarks at the launch of a new World Bank report titled: “Driving Inclusive Growth in South Africa: Quick Wins with Competitive Markets and Efficient Institutions".
“[Government has] established the National Logistics Crisis Committee [NLCC]…comprised of representatives from the Presidency, various government departments and the private sector.
“Its work includes securing strategic logistics corridors handling commodities that are essential to the export market and economic growth; addressing backlogs and congestion at strategic border crossings; combatting congestion in key national highway corridors such as the N1 and N3, as well as interventions to combat cable theft and maintenance backlogs at Transnet.
“This collaboration has seen modest improvements in our logistics performance,” she said on Friday.
The department and Transnet have set a target of moving at least 250 million tonnes of freight on the Transnet network by the year 2030 up from 150 million tonnes in the 2023/24 financial year.
Investment
Creecy highlighted that to achieve this, the rejuvenation of the rail sector is a key objective, which began with the Cabinet’s approval of the White Paper on National Rail Policy in March 2022.
“The Rail Policy introduces structural reforms in the sectors that are intended to enable private sector investment, optimal utilisation of the rail network, and effective economic regulation of rail that will facilitate equitable access to the rail network and ensure that it is properly managed.
“As part of this process a Private Sector Participation [PSP] Unit is being established by the department in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Once established, this unit will help direct and coordinate private sector investments in priority rail projects requiring capital investment.”
The Minister revealed that the department is currently in the process of issuing Requests for Information “regarding potential investment in the rail and port sector”.
“This serves to share information with the public regarding possible PSP projects, but also to allow the department, and by extension Transnet, to gather information on projects with the potential for third party involvement.
“I want to emphasise again that throughout this process all rail and port infrastructure will remain under the government’s ownership. We are also in the process of consulting with organised labour regarding the details of our freight logistics roadmap.
“We cannot continue with the status quo, where derailments and port blockages cost our economy billions of rands, and thousands of jobs in all sectors of our economy are at risk,” Creecy said.
Port efficiency
Turning to inefficiencies at South African ports, the Minister said Transnet has launched a recovery plan aimed at “increasing and stabilising port and rail volumes”.
“The establishment of various war rooms for specific corridors and commodities has allowed Transnet and the private sector to collaborate and share expertise and address challenges such as derailments and unplanned maintenance.
“As part of Transnet’s Recovery Plan, replacement and refurbishment of crucial ports infrastructure such as cranes, gantries and straddles is planned in the short, medium and long term, and continued collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) has ensured that spare parts for essential machinery can be secured when necessary.
“This has resulted in improvements we are seeing in our ports which have cut down on ship waiting times and queuing times for trucks,” she said.
Creecy told stakeholders at the launch that collaborations have also assisted to address bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
She insisted that all the measures set out by government will “enable us to meet the targets that we set for the logistics sector, based on pre-pandemic figures”.
“Transnet and the department have set the goal of 250 million tonnes of freight per year, moving on the Transnet network by 2030. Transnet achieved 150 million tonnes of freight per year during the 2023/ 2024 financial year. At our ports, the target is to improve gross crane moves per hour from the 2024 average of 16 to 30 by 2030.
“These ambitious targets cannot be achieved within the existing Transnet system and will require significant private and public investments in infrastructure, rolling stock and digital systems.
“This can only be achieved through a partnership between government and the private sector, where technical knowledge, experience, [the] world’s best practice and funding can be shared,” Creecy concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 13:44
147 views
28 February 2025: A dazzling display of 100 world-class artworks from 71 Eastern Cape creatives is on show at the eighth Lithuba Lakho Competition and Exhibition at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum in Gqeberha. An initiative of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality through the …
Deadline won't be extended for spaza shops to register
With today marking the final deadline for spaza shops and other food-handling outlets to register their businesses with local municipalities, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has confirmed that no extension will be granted.
Spaza shop owners and vendors have until the end of the day to complete their registration, after which unregistered businesses may face penalties.
“Following several engagements within the IMC [Inter-Ministerial Committee] and in consultation with the President, a decision has been taken not to extend the deadline of the 28th February 2025, as ample time was given to business owners to comply with the Presidential directive,” NATJOINTS said on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on foodborne illnesses and illicit goods expressed satisfaction with the progress made in implementing government interventions ahead of today’s deadline.
On November 15, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 21-day period for the registration of food handling business. This was extended on 18 December 2024 to 28 February 2025.
The intervention follows a serious incident involving foodborne illnesses, which resulted in over 890 cases and nearly 30 deaths since September 2024.
In October last year, six primary school children from Naledi, Soweto, died after allegedly eating snacks from a foreign-owned local spaza shop.
The NATJOINTS statement stated that the Ministers of Health and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Aaron Motsoaledi and Velenkosini Hlabisa, as the co-Chairs of the IMC said that valuable lessons were learnt during this period. This is especially regarding the need for strengthened enforcement of regulation of the spaza shops and other food handling outlets.
The IMC has overseen the implementation of the action plan by the multi-disciplinary teams at the NATJOINTS drawn from the commitments made by the President.
“It is important to emphasise that the work of multi-disciplinary teams under the NATJOINTS will continue beyond this deadline. Enforcement of the law is not an event, and we are committed to continuing the work to formalise, regularise the sector and compliance with the law,” said the NATJOINTS.
This includes warehouses and other establishments that unlawfully stock hazardous chemicals, banned substances, and pesticides.
“We have strengthened our capacity and systems to monitor and database this sector. This will enhance our ability to support and encourage their growth and formalisation, while at the same time ensuring adherence to business registration and food safety laws including municipal by-laws.”
The IMC stressed that registration alone does not mean that a business is eligible to trade.
READ | Last day to register spaza shops
To obtain a licence or permit to trade, business owners must comply with all health regulations and municipal by-laws related to conducting business.
Where business owners are found to be non-compliant, the law will be enforced and this includes fines, arrests, and closures as applicable.
“We want to emphasise that our cardinal aim is to help businesses to comply with the law and to ensure the safety of our citizens and children. Working together we can build a safer, healthier, and more equitable food ecosystem for all South Africans,” said the co-Chairs. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 10:52
188 views
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) today announced the 12 teams and game schedule (https://apo-opa.co/43iFBgS) for the opening leg of the league's milestone fifth season, which will tip off with the Kalahari Conference group phase from Saturday, April 5 – Sunday April 13 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.
The 2025 BAL season, which will feature three regular-season group phases and culminate with the playoffs and finals at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa in June, will feature a record six first-time BAL participants, including the first BAL teams from Cape Verde (Kriol Star Basketball) and Kenya (Nairobi City Thunder), as well as defending champion Petro de Luanda (Angola) and 2022 champion US Monastir (Tunisia). Petro de Luanda and US Monastir are the only teams to have qualified for all five BAL seasons. Below is the complete list of participating teams by conference.
1. Kalahari Conference
2. Sahara Conference
3. Nile Conference
Each conference will play a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice. During group phase play, the home team in each country will play on every gameday.
In the season opener, Stade Malien (Mali) will face Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) at 4:00 p.m. GMT+1. In the second game, home team Fath Union Sport (FUS; Morocco) will take on Al Ittihad (Egypt) at 7:00 p.m. GMT+1. Single-game tickets for the games in Rabat are available online at Guichet.ma (https://apo-opa.co/4bkwuyc) and the following physical locations: Megarama Cinema in Casablanca (https://apo-opa.co/3DeI6Gv), Megarama Cinema in Fes (https://apo-opa.co/4h0Ix54) and the National Theatre in Rabat (https://apo-opa.co/3Xpawoa). Fans who purchase tickets will also have free access to the BAL Fan Zone at the arena.
Tickets for the games in Dakar, Senegal are also on sale now at www.BAL.NBA.com and BAL-TeewTickets.com.
Eight teams from across the three conferences will travel to Pretoria for four seeding games followed by an eight-game, single-elimination playoffs and finals from Friday, June 6 – Saturday, June 14.
Additional information about the 2025 BAL season will be announced in the coming weeks.
*First-time BAL participant
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
BAL Season 5 Hype Video: https://apo-opa.co/3XnHJjD
Contact:
Edwin Eselem
Basketball Africa League
+221 78 615 42 87
EEselem@theBAL.com
Fans can follow the BAL (@theBAL) on:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4ijfSsO
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3DoEnGe
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/41i0eY6
X: https://apo-opa.co/4kgmZnR
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3QzPMGq
Register their interest in receiving more information at www.BAL.NBA.com.
About the BAL:
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its fifth season in April 2025. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside North America.
KZN flood victims moved to temporary accommodation
Victims of the recent Durban floods have been moved to temporary emergency accommodation, the Ministry of Human Settlements said on Friday.
This as the province of KwaZulu-Natal has been experiencing inclement weather.
A joint operation by the three spheres of government, namely the national and provincial Departments of Human Settlements, and eThekwini Municipality saw 47 households being moved to a temporary emergency accommodation on Thursday.
In its statement, the department said residents were moved from a mass care centre.
Earlier in the week, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane deployed a team of officials with a clear mandate for an urgent temporary solution to be sought to assist the affected households.
READ | Call for urgency in assisting KZN flood victims
Meanwhile, the Minister has noted the scale of the disaster and commended NGOs such as the Red Cross for partnering with the government to assist those in need.
In the new week, (04-05 March 2025), Minister Simelane will evaluate the responses and interventions made thus far to alleviate the situation of the victims of the disaster.
She will be joined by KZN MEC for Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma and Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Cyril Xaba, in visiting the impacted areas. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 12:16
81 views
GBV to come to the fore at CGE conference
A men’s engagement conference seeking to address gender-based violence and promote a shift towards healthy masculinity is set to be held next week.
The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) will hold the conference in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
The session will be held in collaboration with the men’s sector and other stakeholders to address gender-based violence (GBV) and promote collaborative solutions across communities.
“The conference, amongst others, seeks to facilitate an open and constructive dialogue on GBV and its root causes, promote a shift towards healthy masculinity, dismantle harmful cultural norms, promote men’s well-being, and protect human rights,” said the CGE in a statement.
The commission seeks to strengthen partnerships among stakeholders in the province to implement context-specific GBVF prevention strategies and generate actionable recommendations to inform future interventions and policy development.
Tuesday’s session at the Hilton Garden Inn in Umhlanga will get underway at 9 am. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 12:57
20 views
PIETERMARITZBURG: After four rounds of the Division 2 One Day Cup, it’s the ACDC Express Tuskers who have set the early...
Warrant officer nabbed for firearms, ammunition
A police officer arrested for the alleged illegal possession of two firearms and ammunition, is expected to appear in the Odendaalsrus Magistrates Court today, said the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (HAWKS).
According to the Hawks in the Free State, in January this year, Welkom-based Hawks detectives received information about a man who kept unpermitted firearms at his house. The said house was observed and confirmed as belonging to the 53-year-old suspect.
“After obtaining a search and seizure warrant, a multi-faceted team of the Hawks, Tactical Response Team (TRT), SAPS detectives, and Local Criminal Record Center (LCRC) was assembled. They descended on the house early hours of 27 February,” said the Hawks on Friday.
Free State Head of the Hawks, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, has praised members involved in the operation for their swiftness.
"No one is above the law. This arrest is evidence of our commitment to rooting out criminality, even within our ranks," she said.
Investigation to ascertain the involvement of these firearms in other crimes is underway. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 11:36
22 views
TVET sector issues placed under the spotlight
Critical issues affecting Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students were at the core of a meeting between Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane and the South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association (SATVETSA).
Held at Mpumalanga University, the meeting focused on adjustments in TVET student living allowances, payment of 2024 outstanding student allowances, and payment of 2025 student allowances among others.
On the issue of adjustments in TVET student living allowances, it was resolved that parity between TVET and university living allowances should be established while on the matter of the payment of 2024 outstanding student allowances, it was agreed that all outstanding 2024 student allowances will be processed by 25 February.
On the payment of 2025 student allowances, the Minister said allowances for the 2025 academic year will be processed next week, subject to receiving registration data from colleges.
At Monday’s meeting, the payment for student accommodation matter was under the microscope with the resolution being that all outstanding student accommodation fees will be processed by 25 February 2025.
On the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Appeals Process, it was resolved that the Appeals Committee will convene before Friday, 28 February 2025, to finalise all outstanding appeals.
On pending examinations results, the resolution was that the the mop-up process for all pending results will be completed by Wednesday, 26 February and that the process will be followed by Umalusi's approval of the results by Friday, 28 February.
Other issues discussed include the representation on the NSFAS board with the resolution being that SATVETSA will nominate a candidate to represent the TVET sector on the NSFAS board.
“The resolutions … represent a significant step towards addressing the systemic issues within the TVET sector,” said the Minister in a statement on Thursday adding that the Ministry, in collaboration with SATVETSA and other stakeholders, is committed to implementing these resolutions without delay.
“The Ministry acknowledges students' frustrations and remains dedicated to fostering a functional, fair, and transparent TVET system. Regular progress updates will be provided to ensure that commitments made in this agreement translate into real, tangible improvements in the lives of TVET students,” it said. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 10:38
56 views
Police are investigating circumstances at Durban North Beach where an unidentified female succumbed to suspected fatal drowning and an unidentified person may be missing at sea. Roy Wienand, NSRI Durban station commander, said: At 00h01, Friday, 28 February, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from Police Search and Rescue, on …
Are your leaders ready to lead? Global surveys across nearly 9,000 emerging leaders and their direct reports show that approximately 1 in 5 direct reports contemplate quitting because of their new leader’s ineffectiveness. And roughly 1 in 4 emerging leaders regret accepting their new leadership role. “The last thing you need is to promote a …
G20 reiterates support for the FATF
The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors have reiterated support for the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in combatting money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
This according to a Chair’s Summary of the meeting of the G20 Presidency held in Cape Town this week.
The meeting took place on 26 and 27 February.
“[Members] reiterated the importance of stepping up global efforts to effectively implement the FATF’s revised Standards on the transparency of beneficial ownership of legal persons and arrangements, as well as on asset recovery and international cooperation, to prevent criminals from hiding the proceeds of crime and to facilitate the return of these illicit financial flows and illicit proceeds.
“[The members also] supported ongoing work to revise the FATF’s Standards on payment transparency as well as the implementation of its standards on virtual assets. [Members] welcomed the FATF’s commitment to ensure financial integrity without compromising financial inclusion, by promoting risk-based implementation of the FATF Standards. [They also] supported the FATF’s ongoing work to support low-capacity countries in the implementation of AML/CFT/CPF [Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism/Countering Proliferation Financing] Standards,” Thursday’s summary said.
The FATF is the international standard-setting body that oversees global compliance with anti-money laundering rules.
On global financial inclusion, the meeting noted progress made but reiterated the need to “swiftly integrate the remaining 1.5 billion unbanked individuals into the formal financial sector”.
“Focusing on SDG [Sustainable Development Goals] target populations remains an important objective, despite the progress made in financial inclusion.
“[Members] acknowledged the need to intensify efforts to expand the effective usage of financial services and products, particularly in developing countries. The Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion will discuss a comprehensive diagnostic study, including policy recommendations on “Moving from Access to Usage” of financial services and products.
“[Members also] supported implementing the G20’s 2023 Financial Inclusion Action Plan and ongoing efforts to lower remittance costs,” the summary stated. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 02/27/2025 - 18:39
184 views
Sandton, South Africa – Living with diabetes presents unique challenges, particularly when it comes to foot health. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common but serious complication that can significantly impact quality of life if left untreated. The good news is that with the right care and preventative measures, individuals with diabetes can protect their …
May the best furniture win
Innovation in the development of new, competitive furniture products will come to the fore at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (dtic) Furniture Design Competition Awards ceremony this afternoon.
Friday’s award ceremony will take place at the Kyalami Grand Prix and International Expo Centre in Sandton, Gauteng.
“The competition has been established to create an opportunity to promote innovation in the development of new, competitive furniture products and to contribute towards skills development initiatives. Participants include students from local academic institutions who are studying towards related fields and other emerging furniture designers,” the department said ahead of the ceremony.
The Acting Deputy Director-General at the dtic, Dr Tebogo Makube, said the annual competition complements the development of design courses and design workshops.
“The Furniture Industry Masterplan adopted in 2021 identifies the shortage of high-level skills in the furniture industry such as design and skilled artisans in furniture manufacturing as a major concern. This limits South African furniture manufacturers’ capacity to supply world-class products in line with both domestic and global market demand, and thus negatively affects the industry’s competitiveness,” Makube said.
He added that design can also be used as a creative instrument that will link industry players’ creativity and innovative products.
“It is thus possible to position the local industry as the producer of high-value niche furniture products that are globally competitive based on quality and/or differentiated designs. This requires a concerted effort on the part of the public and private sectors to develop programs that address the challenges that constrain the industry from achieving potential growth levels and significantly raise the levels of competitiveness,” he explained.
The competition is a partnership between the dtic, the South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI), Industrial Development Corporation, Proudly South African, Furntech, and other industry players such as Mecad Solidworks, PG Bison, Lewis Group, Zaptly, and Rubio Monocoat, will also sponsor competition prizes. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 09:59
66 views
