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Dust management is an essential aspect of maintaining a clean, healthy, and safe environment in both industrial and natural settings. Effective dust control helps prevent respiratory issues, reduces equipment wear, and protects natural landscapes from degradation. One of the most common methods for addressing dust in various industries is the use of Dust Control. This …
Government-funded Ncera farm has battled drought and price fluctuations
When it comes to skin care, sun protection is one of the most critical factors in maintaining healthy skin. Exposure to harmful UV rays can lead to premature ageing, sunburn, and in more severe cases, skin cancer. That’s why it’s essential to choose a sun protection product that suits your skin type and lifestyle. Products …
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden will welcome back one of South Africa’s most beloved singer-songwriters, Matthew Mole, for a captivating live performance on Sunday, 9 February 2025, as part of the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts. Known for his heartfelt lyrics, infectious melodies, and dynamic live performances, Mole promises an unforgettable afternoon filled with music, surprises, and …
Valentine’s Day always comes with a lot of pressure. For those celebrating with a significant other, there’s pressure to plan the perfect date and buy the perfect gift; while those who are single may feel pressure to find their Valentine. This Valentine’s Day, Laager Rooibos is encouraging South Africans to take the pressure off and …
The world is increasingly reliant on technology, and businesses are no exception. Software solutions and managed services have become crucial for companies looking to streamline operations, boost efficiency, and remain competitive. Let’s explore how these services contribute to modern business strategies. The Importance of Software Development Companies A software development company plays a key …
Dear Editor The DA will hold the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to account in ensuring that they are ready to assist all Scheme beneficiaries, including missing middle, at the start of the higher education academic year. Past years have seen students’ studies interrupted or derailed, as they suffered hunger, destitution, and unpaid studies …
But official statement after lekgotla makes no mention of it
Their second alignment camp ticked a couple of boxes for the Springbok Women coaching staff and players, with assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt emphasising some good outcomes from the planned objectives at the conclusion of the three-day camp in Pretoria. A squad of 33 players assembled on Sunday and attention to set pieces, general play and …
Two young swimmers, 18-year-old Callan Lotter and 20-year-old Connor Albertyn, will lead the South African challenge at this weekend’s aQuellé Midmar Mile, heading into the race as the top-seeded local swimmers. Albertyn finished as the first South African in last year’s men’s race, second behind Australian Nick Sloman. And while Lotter’s best result at Midmar …
The address below was delivered by the DA Leader, John Steenhuisen, during a media briefing in Cape Town this morning. Good morning The DA is Delivering I want to use this opportunity, before the President makes his State of the Nation address tomorrow, to set out what the DA is doing to turn South Africa …
Premier Alan Winde calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to put driving a thriving economy and enabling more jobs first when he delivers his State of the Nation Address this Thursday, 7 February 2025. “Faced with lingering stagnant economic growth, President Ramaphosa must be bold and unambiguous about putting our economy and job creation on an …
Dear Editor The DA will use every opportunity in this afternoon’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health to interrogate the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, on the unemployment crisis facing medical professionals in the country. Not only has it come to light that thousands of doctors and pharmacists are struggling to find employment, including Dr …
President Ramaphosa ready and focused for SONA
President Cyril Ramaphosa is fully prepared and focused ahead of his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, says Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
Addressing a media briefing in Cape Town on Wednesday, Magwenya emphasised that despite various pressing national matters, the President remains undistracted and committed to delivering his address.
“He's very ready for tomorrow. Typically, in our office, there's never a time when we are dealing with one issue. The sort of typical day, week or month in our office involves dealing with multiple issues at the same time.
“So, we are excited. We are not in any way distracted by all these other issues. We accept these issues to be par for the course, in the nature of the President's work, and like the issues that we have to deal with and resolve, we are not in crisis mode,” Magwenya said.
He said the President’s office was addressing issues as required and remained focused on preparations for tomorrow’s SONA.
He noted a great deal of excitement surrounding the event, as it will be the first SONA under the seventh administration and the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“Tomorrow's address will have received inputs from Ministers that come from other parties who are responsible for their respective portfolios, and so tomorrow's address will be very much reflective of the Government of National Unity, and we are finding a great deal of excitement,” he said.
President Ramaphosa will deliver the 2025 SONA on Thursday at 7 pm at Cape Town City Hall, before a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.
The first SONA of the seventh administration will be held under the theme “A nation that works, for all” and holds added significance as it coincides with South Africa’s 30 years of freedom and democracy as well as its Presidency of the G20.
“The annual address gives us an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a nation and recommits us to working together to build the country we envisioned at the start of our democracy.
“In the address, the President will outline the task of the government of national unity in implementing the three strategic priorities of the Medium-Term Development Plan, namely, driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living and building a capable, ethical and developmental state,” he said.
Presidential Gold Challenge
Following the SONA, President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday tee off alongside a diverse stakeholder grouping to raise funds for charities during the annual Presidential Golf Challenge (PGC) which will be held at the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, Melkbosstrand.
The PGC is held every year following the SONA and is hosted by the Ministry of Public Service and Administration in partnership with the private sector as part of the activities around SONA.
Magwenya explained that the challenge raises funds for charities designated by the sitting President and provides an opportunity for networking between government and the private sector.
“The proceeds will be donated to the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, which will in turn distribute funds to deserving charities to improve education and promote skills development in the communities across the country.
“The President is honoured to partner with an 11-year-old golfer Shalom Madlala from Malelane in the Mpumalanga province. Shalom is a provincial player in the South African Golf Development Board’s (SAGDB) program,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Wed, 02/05/2025 - 12:42
Iqra Technology is IT Solutions and Services Company. We are salesforce and Microsoft partner company. We aim to provide cost-effective IT services within the customer’s budget range. We scrutinize, design, and develop solutions custom-made for the business necessities. We deliver services in various domains including CRM, ERP, e-commerce, CMS, business intelligence, web development, customized applications, …
Religious leaders in South Africa are carrying an increasing administrative burden from managing events and donations to engaging with their congregations. To support faith-based organizations in overcoming these challenges, Infinity Curve has created FaithAdmin, an all-in-one intuitive platform for churches, mosques, synagogues and temples. “With the digital transformation happening across sectors, religious organizations shouldn’t be …
President Ramaphosa to participate in joint SADC – EAC summit on the DRC
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to embark on a working visit to Dar Es Salaam in the United Republic of Tanzania on Saturday, to participate in the joint Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) – East Africa Community (EAC) Heads of State and Government Summit on the security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This was announced on Wednesday by Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, during a media briefing at the Imbizo Media Centre in Cape Town to update on the President’s programme and address recent developments of interest.
“The Heads of State and Government of SADC and the EAC agreed to meet urgently following their respective extraordinary summits held last month to deliberate on the way forward regarding the security situation in the DRC,” Magwenya said.
The joint SADC – EAC Summit will be preceded by Senior Officials and Foreign Ministers Meetings taking place on 6 and 7 February 2025.
The Extraordinary SADC Summit held last month mandated the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to engage all State and non-State parties to the conflict on a ceasefire process to protect lives and facilitate a smooth flow of humanitarian support to people and communities affected by the armed conflict.
It also urged Political and Diplomatic leaders who are parties to the conflict to engage in a coordinated effort of dialogue, including supporting the Luanda Process, United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and others, to restore peace and security in Eastern DRC.
READ | SADC Extraordinary Summit condemns escalating violence in DRC, calls for urgent action
SONA Debate Reply
President Ramaphosa will deliver his reply to the State of the Nation debate on 13 February 2025.
Magwenya said the President looks forward to a constructive and substantively enriching debate that will follow his SONA address.
38th AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government
President Ramaphosa is also expected to lead the South African delegation to the 38th African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“President Ramaphosa will lead the South African Delegation to the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the AU, which is taking place on 15 and 16 February 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He will be accompanied by several Ministers and senior officials,” Magwenya said.
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU will be held under the theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”.
It will review and assess what has been achieved in Africa’s efforts towards the attainment of long overdue justice and reparations after decades of colonialism and apartheid.
“The assembly is taking place two months after South Africa assumed its Presidency of the G20 in 2025. The Summit will be a unique opportunity for President Ramaphosa to brief his counterparts on the key priorities of South Africa’s G20 Presidency and their alignment to Agenda 2063. The high-level meeting on the G20 will take place on 15 February 2025, on the margins of the summit,” he said.
One of the main objectives of the forthcoming assembly is to elect the new senior leadership of the AU Commission, Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson of the Commission. There are three candidates vying for the Chairperson position, while four candidates are contesting the Deputy Chairperson position. It will also appoint the six Commissioners following the endorsement by the Executive Council.
“The summit is expected to discuss the status of Peace and Security on the continent. The discussion on peace and security on the continent will take place against the backdrop of great concerns regarding the state of peace and security on the continent, including the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The discussions on the peace and security situation in Sudan and South Sudan will also feature prominently during the summit,” Magwenya said.
The President, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, also known as the C-5, will convene an extended meeting on South Sudan to include key countries in the Eastern Region such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. The current President of South Sudan, President Silva Kiir will also be in attendance.
South Africa will participate in the exchange of views on issues such as AUDA-NEPAD, APRM and Climate Change on the margins of the AU Summit. There will also be a review and assessment of the implementation of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a critical flagship project of Agenda 2063.
G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting
President Ramaphosa will, on 20 February 2025, host the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting at the NASREC EXPO Centre, in Gauteng.
Issues for discussion include the current geopolitical dynamics, as well as the President's reflection on South Africa’s G20 Presidency High–Level Deliverables and the Review of the G20 @20.
South Africa’s G20 Presidency commenced on 1 December 2024 under the theme, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”.
Basic Education Sector Lekgotla
President Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address on 27 February 2025 at the Basic Education Lekgotla.
The Department of Basic Education will host the Basic Education Sector Lekgotla at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, Johannesburg.
The theme of the 2025 Lekgotla is “Strengthening foundations for Learning for a resilient future-fit education system”. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Wed, 02/05/2025 - 14:07
Serco’s latest innovation in trailer design is a double stacking Interlink Tautliner engineered for efficiency and performance. The cutting-edge curtain-sider interlink trailer offers a low-profile chassis and extended height upper structure for increased loading volume and efficiencies. Its double stacking system allows operators to load single height pallets, double stacked pallets or a combination of …
Fine weather conditions ahead for SONA
With less than a day until President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Cape Town, attendees of the joint sitting of Parliament can expect fine weather conditions.
“We are expecting fine weather conditions with a minimum of 17°C and a maximum of 24°C. For the Western Cape, there will be a 30% chance of showers and rain along the south coast but it will be a fine day with no precipitation in Cape Town,” South African Weather Service (SAWS) Meteorologist and Forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela told SAnews on Wednesday.
The joint sitting will see attendees, including Members of Parliament (MPs) and invited guests, walking the red carpet ahead of the President’s speech.
Winds can be expected on the southerly to south easterly direction at between 10 and 20 kilometres per hour (km/h). If there are any gusts, this will be at about 60 km/h.
Around the coastal areas between Cape Agulhas and Cape Columbine, there could be damaging winds and waves. These conditions could result in difficulty in navigation at sea.
The President will address the nation on Thursday, 6 February, at 7 pm, at the Cape Town City Hall.
SONA is convened by the President in terms of the Constitution to provide the nation with an update on government's commitments and programme of action for the new financial year.
It is a joint sitting of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), presided over by the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the NCOP. The President's address is the sole item on the agenda.
This will be the first SONA of the seventh administration. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 02/05/2025 - 14:36
Africa must take bold steps to own its resources, create jobs and build industries that sustain prosperity for generations, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has told African leaders, policymakers, mining industry leaders and global partners at the African Mining Indaba 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, on Sunday.
In a keynote address at the ministerial symposium of the Indaba, Mr. Denys Denya, Senior Executive Vice President of the Afreximbank Group, argued that the continent was standing at a crossroads and could either continue exporting its wealth and remain a marginal player in the global economy or take the bold steps to own its resources.
He noted that “While the global mining industry generated approximately US$1.7 trillion in revenue in 2023, Africa's share of this wealth remains disproportionately low. Our continent extracts the raw materials that power the world's industries, yet it is estimated that we retain as little as between four per cent and 20 per cent of the total value of our minerals due to minimal local processing and limited downstream development. The result? Lost economic opportunities, exposure to volatile commodity cycles and a persistent reliance on external markets for refined products derived from our own resources.” “The choice is ours. The time to act is now. Let us work together: governments, financial institutions, investors, and industry players to build an Africa where mining is not just about extraction but about transformation, innovation and wealth creation,” said Mr. Denya. “Africa has the resources, the market potential, and the policy frameworks to transition from a resource-dependent continent to an industrial powerhouse. However, success will depend on bold, decisive action from all stakeholders. Policymakers must implement clear, enforceable regulations that mandate local value addition and create investment-friendly environments. Private sector investors must step up with capital and technology to develop processing, refining, and manufacturing facilities.”
Reversing this trend demanded bold, coordinated action, he argued. “We must move beyond extraction and invest in refining, smelting and advanced manufacturing. African nations must increase local processing capacity for minerals such as bauxite, lithium, cobalt and iron ore.”
He added that regional collaboration was essential as no single country could build a mining value chain in isolation.
Mr. Denya highlighted the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in developing intra-African mineral value chains and strengthening cross-border collaboration and said that attracting capital for mining-related infrastructure, technology transfer and skills development were critical.
“Our mining policies must also prioritise environmental, social and governance standards, ensuring that mining benefits communities rather than displacing them,” he said, adding that the approach would create millions of skilled jobs for the youth and reduce reliance on volatile global markets while strengthening intra-African trade.
Reiterating Afreximbank's commitment to supporting Africa's mining sector and ensuring that mineral wealth drove economic growth rather than perpetuate resource dependency, Mr. Denya announced that, over the past three years, the Bank had approved more than US$1 billion in support of mining and mineral sector projects across the continent, including financing the development and construction of a bauxite processing plant in Guinea, supporting the expansion of a manganese processing plant in Gabon and providing working capital financing to a diamond company in Botswana.
Other major projects being supported by the Bank include a petrochemical fertilizer plant in Angola, a titanium dioxide pigment plant in South Africa and the feasibility study for the development of a limestone mine processing plant in Malawi, he added.
Mr. Denya said that the establishment of the US$10-billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, managed by FEDA, Afreximbank's impact investment subsidiary, would provide critical financial support to countries and businesses transitioning to the new trade regime, including those in the mining sector, and that the Bank's efforts to harmonise standards and implement the Africa Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme would also facilitate seamless movement of minerals and mining equipment across borders, reducing logistical bottlenecks.
Afreximbank was also leveraging digital platforms, such as the Africa Trade Gateway and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, to enable efficient transactions and market access, which would ensure that Africa's vast mineral wealth was utilised to drive industrialisation, value addition and economic resilience across the continent, he added.
Mr. Denya also noted that Afreximbank, in collaboration with development partners, was driving the development and expansion of industrial parks and special economic zones (SEZs) to address infrastructure challenges that hinder industrial growth.
One of the most transformative initiatives under that pillar was the DRC/Zambia Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing Special Economic Zones - a project that positions Africa at the centre of the global energy transition by the implementation of battery precursor SEZs aimed at making the two countries globally competitive investment destinations for the battery electric vehicle value chain.
The African Mining Indaba 2025, taking place from 3 to 6 February, is the premier gathering where Africa policymakers, industry leaders and global partners work to shape the future of the African mining sector.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.
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Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com
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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com
Learners encouraged to explore TVET colleges
Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, has encouraged learners to consider the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as a valuable and viable alternative for advancing their careers.
The Deputy Minister was speaking during an oversight visit to the post school education and training (PSET) institutions in the Western Cape this week.
Gondwe described the TVET colleges as crucial for job creation and youth skills development in the country.
The Deputy Minister visited the West Coast College Vredenburg Campus, and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Bellville Campus in Cape Town.
Gondwe’s visits aimed at assessing the state of readiness of higher education institutions across the country, ahead of the 2025 academic year.
During the visit at West Coast College, she encouraged learners to take pride in acquiring artisan skills as they offer great entrepreneurship opportunities.
“I am very encouraged by what I’m seeing at TVET colleges, I believe they are the future of this country. TVETs are producing artisans with much needed skills [and] also offer opportunities for learners to acquire future skills, such as robotics, AI [Artificial intelligence], and coding,” Gondwe said.
At the second part of the visit, students at CPUT expressed concerns about student residences and other facilities. The Deputy Minister directed the institution to work with the Student Representative Council (SRC), to speedily resolve the identified issues.
The Deputy Minister’s visit to the Western Cape, follows her recent visit to higher education institutions in the Free State where she visited Goldfields TVET College and the Central University of Technology (CUT), at the Welkom campus.
During the visits, the Deputy Minister has been accompanied by key senior officials from Higher Education and Training, and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The Deputy Minister’s dedicated Help Desk has also formed part of the delegation, assisting with all higher education related queries on each visit.
The issue of funding and administrative challenges faced by the NSFAS was in the spotlight during the Free State leg of the visits.
“NSFAS needs to get its act together, in order to ensure that student allowances are paid on time with no delays. Delays cause serious challenges for learners; learners need allowances to eat and to buy hygiene products. This is important for their sense of wellbeing and dignity,” Gondwe said.
Gondwe embarked on the state of readiness visits following a plan of action, announced by Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane at the special meeting of the Post Education and Training sector held in January 2025, to establish the state of readiness for the 2025 academic year.
The Deputy Minister’s oversight is expected to continue in other provinces, with North West higher education institutions being the next on the list. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 02/05/2025 - 14:56
5 February 2025 – Former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba was at a loss for words when South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan awarded him with an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bronze medal on Wednesday. The erstwhile South African senior men’s national team mentor is recuperating at a Johannesburg hospital […]
The post SAFA President awards an AFCON bronze medal to Shakes Mashaba first appeared on SAFA.net.
Nearly 2 000 guests expected to attend this year’s SONA
Nearly 2 000 guests from various sectors are expected to flock to Cape Town to attend tomorrow’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), during which President Cyril Ramaphosa will take the nation into his confidence.
These guests represent civil society, academia, as well as traditional, religious and cultural groups.
“Public participation has always been a cornerstone of SONA, and this tradition will continue,” National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza said on Wednesday.
Didiza and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, were addressing a media briefing on Parliament’s preparations for the 2025 SONA.
The President will deliver the SONA to the nation at 7pm on Thursday night.
Didiza described SONA as a significant event in the country’s national calendar and crucial for shaping national discourse and establishing the tone for the year ahead.
During this event, the Head of State will reflect on various important national issues and outline the progress made on government’s commitments.
“As such, SONA signifies the highest level of the State’s accountability to the citizens by providing updates on government’s programmes, developments in legislation and policies, profiling targets and a programme of action for the new financial year.”
According to Didiza, the R6 million event, set to take place at the Cape Town City Hall, is the result of months of careful preparation and coordination.
Some of the dignitaries expected to attend include former Presidents and Deputy Presidents of the Republic, former Speakers of the National Assembly, former Chairpersons of the National Council of Provinces, former Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly, the Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, the Queen of the Bapedi nation, and a member of the European Union who serves as the Chairperson of the delegation for relations with South Africa.
It has been confirmed that former Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma will also attend.
To promote civic awareness and public engagement, Didiza announced that SONA will include a Junior Guard of Honour.
This group will consist of 100 learners from four schools in the Western Cape, selected in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Education.
“The involvement of young learners is crucial in educating and exposing them to the workings, roles, and functions of state institutions, helping to shape them as the leaders of tomorrow,” Didiza said.
The event will also include a performance by the Wynberg Girls’ High School band alongside the official Parliament Choir.
Tomorrow’s SONA will be followed by a two-day debate, with a reply from the President hosted at the Dome in the Nieuwmeester Parking Site.
The SONA proceedings will follow a full ceremonial format. This will include a 21-gun salute, an aircraft fly-past, a ceremonial guard, the singing of the national anthem, a full military band, and processions featuring provincial Speakers, Premiers, the judiciary, the Deputy President, and the President.
Didiza clarified the difference between the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) that occurred last year, marking the beginning of the seventh administration.
“OPA occurs once every five years, after general elections, to announce medium and long-term plans. SONA is an annual address that specifies short-term priorities and provides insights on the progress of the long-term targets.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 02/05/2025 - 15:07
SIU welcomes disciplinary action against nine officials
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the outcomes of a disciplinary inquiry initiated against nine officials from the Gauteng Department of Health and the Department of Infrastructure Development.
The officials faced charges relating to alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for refurbishing the Anglo Ashanti Hospital in 2022.
Following the SIU's consequence management recommendations, the Office of the Premier took disciplinary action against the implicated officials employed by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) and the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID).
The SIU’s investigation uncovered evidence of financial misconduct involving several individuals from GDoH and GDID.
The Gauteng Government acted on the SIU's recommendations and charged the officials involved. The outcome is as follows:
- Head of Infrastructure Development: GDoH was dismissed.
- Acting Head of Department: GDID was dismissed.
- Acting Director, Health Infrastructure: GDID was dismissed.
- Acting Chief Financial Officer and Head of SCM: GDID was dismissed.
- Acting Deputy Director-General, Health Branch: GDID) was dismissed.
- Project Manager, Infrastructure Development: GDoH issued with a final written warning.
- Acting Chief Director, Health Infrastructure: GDID issued with a final written warning.
- Project Manager: GDID, their contract employment ended during the hearing.
- Acting Deputy Director-General, Hospital Services: GDoH was acquitted.
The evidence gathered by the SIU indicatds that around 19 March 2020, the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital (AGA Hospital) refurbishment project began under the GDID on behalf of the GDoH.
However, during this process, no supply chain management policies or procedures were followed when procuring service providers and contractors for the refurbishment.
Furthermore, the GDoH was misled into believing that only minor renovations were needed at the AGA Hospital.
This is a contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and National Treasury’s regulations, causing the GDoH to incur fruitless and wasteful for goods and services supplied.
The SIU was mandated through Proclamation No. R. 23 of 2020 to investigate the affairs of all State institutions regarding procurement or contracting for goods, works, and services during or in respect of the National State of Disaster by or on behalf of State institutions.
“The disciplinary actions show that state institutions are acting on the results of the SIU investigation and implementing the consequences to hold officials implicated to account, recover assets and financial losses incurred by these institutions, and prevent further losses,” said Special Investigating Unit Kaizer Kganyago.
“We urge all state institutions to take decisive action to clean up our government and state entities from the corruption that has plagued them,” Kganyago said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 02/05/2025 - 15:09
