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EAST LONDON: Chamari Athapaththu’s destructive half-century, combined with Harshitha Samarawickrama’s unbeaten fifty, propelled Sri Lanka to a momentous four-wicket victory, securing...
Join a Free Workshop for SMEs in the CTFL Sector The journey for most South African Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is fraught with challenges, with a staggering 75% failure rate* – one of the highest in the world. Even the most promising ventures struggle to survive beyond their first five years. Kyle Ballard, Head of …
Autumn is the perfect time to book a golfing getaway with your golfing buddies or your partner if they enjoy golf. The weather is cooler, and rain is less likely but the fairways remain lush and inviting. Shaun Lamont, Managing Director of First Group Hotels and Resorts, and avid golfer, shares some great tips to …
More than 200 people still live in tented shelter set up during Covid lockdown
One person said they slept outside the Khayelitsha office on Monday night. Despite being among the first in line, they were only helped at 3pm on Tuesday.
House, vehicles of former Eskom official to be auctioned
The luxury home and two vehicles belonging to former Eskom official, Duduzile Moyo, and her husband Mmoloki, are set to be auctioned off to recover losses suffered by Eskom after she allegedly received kickbacks from a supplier amounting to at least R24 million.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), through the Asset Forfeiture Unit, obtained a forfeiture order for the assets in the Pretoria High Court.
According to the SIU, the order is in addition to a preservation order to freeze Moyo’s pension benefits after she resigned at Eskom.
“She had allegedly received almost R25 million from an Eskom vendor, Tamukelo Business Enterprise, which was appointed to transport raw materials and water from Kendal Power Stations to Kusile Power Station.
“In her position as Eskom Contracts Manager, Moyo signed 23 interim payment certificates in respect of Tamukelo’s services for the period December 2011 to July 2014, totalling approximately R138 million.
“Furthermore, the SIU probe revealed that Tamukelo and its representatives paid entities linked or associated with Moyo while she negotiated and managed Eskom’s contract with Tamukelo. Moyo’s modus operandi was to create structures of entities owned by members of her family and friends to receive these funds,” the SIU said.
The unit added that Moyo’s conduct created an “apparent conflict of interest in that she received these funds in circumstances where part of her duties and functions were as a Middle Manager”.
“Moyo was also part of a team that presented the negotiation strategy of the Tamukelo tender worth over R300 million to the tender and procurement committee. She also deceived Eskom and repeatedly made fraudulent misrepresentations, declaring that there was no conflict of interest when dealing with Tamukelo and other role players for five years when signing Eskom’s Annual Declaration of Conflict Interest Policy.
“This forfeiture order is part of implementing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which sees law enforcement agencies working together to eradicate corruption in South Africa,” the SIU said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 04/03/2024 - 12:46
President Cyril Ramaphosa has assented to the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill, the Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Bill, 2023 and the Correctional Services Amendment Act.
National Veldfire Act
The amended National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998, will amongst other key provisions;
The Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Act, 2023
The amended Act, will amongst other provisions, empower the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to designate a person, an entity, undertaking, body, institution, association or board, who or which, as the case may be, has particular knowledge of the product concerned, or particular knowledge of the relevant management control systems, with no direct or indirect personal or financial interest, as an assignee to inspect the commodity for quality control and audit management control system.
The Correctional Services Amendment Act
The amended Act complies with the 2020 Sonke judgement of the Constitutional Court, in providing for an adequate level of independence of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS).
The amendments include changes to section 30(7) to provide for an inmate that is subjected to solitary confinement, to be informed of their right to appeal.
The amended section further provides that the Head of the Correctional or Remand Detention Facility must, upon request provide all relevant information relating to an appeal to the Inspecting Judge within 24 hours of receiving such information.
The amended act further provides for;
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Nine suspects shot dead in KZN
Nine suspects were shot and fatally wounded during a shootout with KwaZulu-Natal police at Desai in Mariannhill in the early hours of Wednesday.
Police officers, who are members of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Stabilisation Team, operationalised intelligence about a group of 11 suspects, who have been terrorising the residents of Mariannhill and the surrounding areas.
The suspects were also sought in connection with a case of rape, where they allegedly gang raped a girl during a house robbery. They were also on the police's radar for serious and violent crimes in the area.
When police caught up with the suspects, intelligence had uncovered that the suspects were plotting to execute a hit on someone.
Four firearms, one of them a rifle, have so far been found in the possession of the suspects. A manhunt for two outstanding suspects is underway.
Although the police were ambushed when they erroneously knocked at the wrong house, the tactically astute officers managed to retaliate and neutralise the threat with none of them suffering any injuries. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 04/03/2024 - 12:54
We sent questions to the ANC, DA, EFF, IFP, FF Plus, ActionSA, PA, MK Party and RISE Mzansi
Industry seeks better enforcement of conservation regulations
Industry associations in the captive lion industry have called for better enforcement by government to ensure that the industry conducts its business in an ethical manner and is compliant with regulations for conservation.
“The industry is large and complex, with a long history that is not aligned with both current international trends and domestic policy changes on conservation,” chairperson of the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on voluntary exit options and pathways from the captive lion industry, Kam Chetty, said on Wednesday in Cape Town.
Chetty said levels of compliance are low and can be expected to remain as such, with high profile reports of incidents of animal abuse that are affecting the reputation of the country as a premier wild-life destination.
He was outlining the key findings and recommendations of a report by the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on voluntary exit options and pathways from the captive lion industry.
The task team was appointed by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, in December 2022, following a recommendation by the High Level Panel on matters relating to the management, breeding, hunting, trade and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.
The panel recommended the closure of the captive breeding sector, including the keeping of lions in captivity, or the use of captive lions or their derivatives commercially.
According to the report, South Africa has the largest captive lion population in the world, with increasing diversification into other carnivore species.
The report identified 7 838 lions, 626 tigers and at least 2 315 other captive carnivores, including tigers, cheetahs and servals.
Industry associations are also calling for the government to reintroduce the lion bone export quota.
“Conservation and animal welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have argued strongly that the industry should be shut down, as recommended by the High Level Panel (HPL) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE). They, however, concede that it is a complex process and that voluntary exit should be the first steps in the process, while ensuring that the industry’s growth is halted through sterilisation of lions,” Chetty said.
Facility owners across six provinces, representing a diverse range of facility sizes and types, expressed their interest to consider voluntarily exit from the industry, pending government’s approval of the exit options.
“Some facilities are experiencing financial constraints raising concerns about their ability to comply with the well-being of lions. Most employees are not exclusively focused on tasks related to captive lions; they are also engaged in other agricultural or related activities on behalf of the facility owner,” he said
In general, stakeholders in the report back sessions supported the voluntary exit pathways. With preference being expressed for a “phase out” option, rehoming of lions in lion safe havens, and transition to more sustainable businesses.
“Conservation and animal welfare NGOs have committed to provide financial and non-financial support for Phases 1 and 2. Lion safe havens have expressed willingness to increase their capacity where possible – based on land availability and financial resources. They have also agreed to train existing facilities that want to repurpose into lion safe havens,” Chetty said.
Cabinet has approved the release of the report and its recommendations for implementation.
“South Africa is a country, with diverse cultures, remarkable geological wealth, and exceptional biodiversity, much of which is unique, and with high levels of endemism. With this rich endowment comes the responsibility and challenge of ensuring our species and ecosystems are conserved and used sustainably for the benefit of all South Africans and future generations.
“Section 24 of the Constitution requires reasonable legislative and other measures be put in place to ensure that the environment is protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, including through promoting conservation and securing ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources,” Creecy said.
The Minister said the report should be understood in the broader policy context of the White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable use and the Policy Position on the conservation and sustainable use of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros that was approved last week by Cabinet for implementation.
In summary, the Key Recommendations of the Task Team were that Government approve:
To access the report, click on the link below:
https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/reports/ministerialtaskteamMTTreport_captivelionindustry.pdf. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 04/03/2024 - 13:17
PRASA announces return of five Metrorail services
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has successfully restored five crucial Metrorail services across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
The services were restored as of the end of March 2024. They include Cape Town to Stellenbosch (Western Cape); Merebank to Chatsglen (KwaZulu-Natal); Johannesburg to Florida (Gauteng); Johannesburg to Nancefield (Gauteng) and Germiston to Elsburg (Gauteng).
“We have successfully brought 31 of our 40 lines back into partial operation and are focused on achieving full operational status for these corridors, with work to extend the abovementioned lines continuing. This milestone demonstrates our commitment to revitalising passenger rail services, providing an efficient and cost-effective public transport option for South Africans.
"Significant progress is being made on the Central Line, with ongoing efforts to rehabilitate rail infrastructure from Phillippi to Nolungile and onwards to Chris Hani. This work has been facilitated by the temporary relocation of 891 households from the Phillippi station area, enabling us to proceed with necessary recovery work,” PRASA said on Wednesday.
This work builds on the recovery of the Cape Town to Nyanga services, which marked an important milestone on what is one of the most important passenger rail routes in the country.
“Recognizing the growing demand for our services, we are actively working to repair vandalised signalling equipment. These repairs are essential not only for the safe operation of our trains but also to increase the frequency of our services to meet our commuters' needs.
“The recovery of these lines has been made possible by dedicated staff across various regions, who have spared no effort and commitment in reaching these achievements, despite facing considerable challenges. We remain steadfast in our mission to restore passenger rail as the backbone of public transport in South Africa,” the agency said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 04/03/2024 - 13:31
Judicial Matters Amendment Act signed into law
President Cyril Ramaphosa has assented to the Judicial Matters Amendment Act of 2023.
According to the Presidency, the amendment bill aims to “amend numerous Acts which are administered by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and are intended to address mostly practical and technical changes in various pieces of legislation”.
Some of the notable amendments to the act include:
The Presidency explained that following the Minister’s determination, “persons who already have received a criminal record for the identified categories of offences will have their offences expunged”.
Other areas that the Amendment Act speak to include:
“Whilst the amendments may appear to be minor and technical in nature, they will significantly improve service delivery and the efficiency and responsiveness of the justice system in the related matters,” the Presidency said. - SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 04/03/2024 - 14:01
The South African Government wishes to convey its condolences to the families of the victims as well as the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran following the attack on the consular section building of its Embassy in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Republic.
The South African Government views any attack on a diplomatic or consular establishment as a flagrant violation of international law that offers protection to diplomatic as well as consular representatives in a host state.
The principle of protection of diplomatic and consular premises and staff constitutes a basic principle of International Law, which is required for the orderly conduct of relations between states.
An attack of this nature, therefore, should be a matter of concern for the whole international community.
South Africa calls on the United Nations, including the United Nations Security Council, to hold to account those who are responsible under the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter as well as the 1961 Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the 1963 Convention on Consular Relations and Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons of 1973.
Further, the attack was a violation of Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity which must be respected and upheld.
South Africa urges all parties to exercise restraint and not to exacerbate regional tensions.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
Fintech Wave: Navigating fintech challenges amid growth. By Mpho Matsitse, Executive: Business & Digital Advisory Fintech’s impact on the financial services industry is multi-faceted, reshaping how financial services are delivered, accessed, and experienced. It encourages innovation, promotes competition, and drives efficiency, benefiting consumers and businesses by providing more options, lower costs, and improved fiscal management …
Dear Editor The DA welcomes the resignation of Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula from her position as the Speaker of the National Assembly. We have long called for this resignation when allegations of corruption and money laundering were levelled against her. We believe that anyone who holds this high office should be beyond reproach; and Ms Mapisa-Nqakula …
On 2nd and 3rd May, 2024 – Zimbabwe Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Hon. Prof. Mthuli Ncube and Mr Tafadzwa Chinamo, the CEO of Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) will host an investment summit at the Radisson Hotel, Kempton Park, near OR Tambo International. The summit theme “People you can invest in” …
Cape Town commuters march from Heideveld train station to the station in Nyanga
The Sportmans Warehouse Premier Interschools 2024 season kicks of this weekend, 6 April, in what is set to be another epic chapter of this traditional KZN rivalry between two schoolboy rugby powerhouses. Glenwood High School hosts Maritzburg College on their home turf. The first match between the two schools was played in 1921 at Glenwood, …
Dear Editor On the 13th of March 2024, the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services held interviews for the vacant position of Deputy Public Protector (DPP). The DA objected to the interviews proceeding due to the glaring bias and conflict of interest caused by Ms Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who failed to declare her conflicts timeously …
Dear Editor In a ruling handed down this morning by the Johannesburg High Court, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has won a seminal case finding the governing party of South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) and its secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, guilty of contempt of court. The ruling confirms beyond all doubt that the ANC is …
President assents to Correctional Services, Forestry and Agriculture Bills
The Correctional Services Amendment Act, National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill and the Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Bill, 2023 have been signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Correctional Services Amendment Act
According to the Presidency, the Correctional Services Amendment Act “complies with the 2020 Sonke judgment of the Constitutional Court, in providing for an adequate level of independence of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS)”.
“The amendments include changes to section 30(7) to provide for an inmate that is subjected to solitary confinement, to be informed of their right to appeal.
“The amended section further provides that the Head of the Correctional or Remand Detention Facility must, upon request, provide all relevant information relating to an appeal to the Inspecting Judge within 24 hours of receiving such information,” the Presidency said.
The amended act further provides for:
National Veldfire Act
The amended act provides for provisions, including:
Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Act
“The Agricultural Product Standards Amendment Act, will, amongst other provisions, empower the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to designate a person, an entity, undertaking, body, institution, association or board, who or which, as the case may be, has particular knowledge of the product concerned, or particular knowledge of the relevant management control systems, with no direct or indirect personal or financial interest, as an assignee to inspect the commodity for quality control and audit management control system,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 04/03/2024 - 14:20
Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, 3 April 2024: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has made a commitment to provide small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) with adequate engineering tools to gain access into the construction sector. The roads agency recently hosted an information session for SMMEs at the Lusikisiki Resource Centre in the …
On Tuesday, 2 April 2024, the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, and the Overstrand Executive Mayor, Annelie Rabie, handed over the first batch of houses in the latest housing development in Stanford. The handover marked a significant milestone in the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) efforts to ensure that residents have access to …
Much has been made of the fact that the Springbok Sevens, despite winning 40 HSBC SVNS tournaments on all continents, have not cracked gold at Hong Kong Stadium, and with the iconic tournament moving to a new venue next year, they will have one last shot at breaking that bogey. One would expect some emotional …