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Pule Sibeko and Loveness Madziva overcame tough conditions, including rain and strong winds, to win the Nelson Mandela Bay Runified City 50km race in Gqeberha on Sunday. In the men’s race, Sibeko dug deep in the closing stages to chase down long-time leader Guillaume Ruel of France. While Ruel still held a significant lead with 10km …
Fans celebrated 100 days to go to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with tickets going on general sale as the ‘out of this world’ campaign was launched with larger-than-life cricket balls landing in the nine host locations including in Times Square in New York City and in Bridgetown in Barbados. Cricket stars Dwayne Bravo …
Just a few weeks after captivating the world with its breathtaking gardens and securing the esteemed Overseas Region Winner title in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Partner Garden of the Year Competition, Brahman Hills has opened bookings for an exclusive weekend in these magnificent surroundings. Boasting an enchanting blend of refined experiences, guests seeking an …
Dear Editor Police Minister, Bheki Cele, should be billed in his personal capacity for chartering a South African Police Service (SAPS) helicopter to the ANC’s manifesto launch at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. Cele’s helicopter stunt was a gross abuse of state resources and he should be made to pay for every flight minute that …
Presidential Working Group to accelerate resolution of issues impacting eThekwini
President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC for an engagement on the area’s pressing challenges.
The President, together with Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Police Bheki Cele, Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Minister Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala, met with the groups on Friday.
“The last Presidential engagement took place in May 2022. [Friday’s] session presented an opportunity for the President and the Durban business community to recap on measures that have been put in place to grow the provinces economy and address the current water, electricity and infrastructure challenges.
“During the interaction, the President and the Ministers briefed the business community on various initiatives that are currently underway in assisting eThekwini and the province through the various interventions led by the national government,” the Presidency said in a statement.
A Presidential eThekwini Working Group has also been set up.
“To accelerate the speedy resolution of issues impacting the eThekwini metro, President Ramaphosa has set up the Presidential eThekwini Working Group that will be made up of Ministers in the affected portfolios, working alongside the metro and business. The working group will present their progress reports to the President regularly,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the President also met with the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Provincial House of Traditional and Koi-San Leadership to address a variety of issues and “foster closer relations between government and institutions of traditional leadership”.
“Among the issues addressed by the President was the finalisation of the Traditional Leaders Handbook which contains all the support that will be provided to Amakhosi by the government. With KZN having grappled with the killing of Amakhosi, the President committed that the government was looking into the matter to decide on the best solution.
“President Ramaphosa pleaded with Amakhosi to collaborate with government to fight social ills, build rural economies and assist in facilitating development such as building bridges, roads and educational programmes.
“With general elections on the horizons, President Ramaphosa also appealed to Amakhosi to be tolerant to all political parties by allowing campaigning in their communities without fear and intimidation. He also encouraged political parties to respect traditional leaders as they carry on with their campaigns,” the Presidency said.
President Ramaphosa assured the traditional leaders that other issues related to land, rural development and agriculture will also be addressed. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Sun, 02/25/2024 - 08:18
Load shedding downgraded to Stage 2 and 3
Eskom has reduced load shedding to Stage 2 during the afternoon with Stage 3 to follow during the evening.
This after the power utility implemented Stage 4 load shedding last Thursday following challenges at power stations.
“Load shedding will be reduced to Stage 2 from 5am on Sunday until 4pm. Thereafter, Stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 4pm until 5am on Monday. This is as a result of the anticipated recovery of emergency reserves overnight and the two generating units expected to return to service by Sunday.
“Eskom will provide an update of the outlook for the week ahead on Sunday, or as soon as any significant changes occur,” the power utility said on social media platform, X.
Eskom explained why it had to implement Stage 4 load shedding last week.
“Last Thursday, generation capacity was lost from five generating units at Kendal and a unit at Duvha power stations. This resulted in the need to ramp up load shedding to Stage 4 from 4am until further notice.
“The events that led to the loss of generating capacity at Kendal Power Station units are as follows: Kendal Unit 1 was taken offline on Wednesday at 8pm due to leaking safety valves, which caused the capacity of the demineralised water storage tanks to run low. While recovering the storage water tanks, a contamination incident occurred in the water treatment plant, necessitating the isolation of the plant to investigate the root cause.
“During this period of investigation, the level of auxiliary cooling water, which also uses demineralised water, ran low. This led to capacity loss from four generating units at 2am in the morning,” the power utility said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Sun, 02/25/2024 - 08:42
Directive of professionalisation of public service issued
The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has released Volume 1 of the Directive on Human Resources Management and Development for Public Service Professionalisation.
This is a fulfilment of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s long standing commitment to bolster the public service in response to the State Capture Report.
DPSA Director-General, Yoliswa Makhasi, said: “We are confident that this directive will play a crucial role in shaping a professional and efficient public service that meets the needs and expectations of South Africans.”
According to the DPSA, the issuance of the directive is a milestone marking “a step towards enhancing the efficacy, integrity, and accountability of the public service”.
“The directive, amongst others, provides guidance to the public service in how to roll out the implementation of the Professionalisation Framework as part of major reforms to improve productivity and efficiencies, especially considering the financial limitations that if not addressed may affect the accessibility of quality public services.
“An emphasis is placed in the pursuit of strategic practices in human resources management and development, including in recruitment and selection, performance management, ethics, integrity, and leadership and innovation. The directive transforms the public service into a continuous learning and professional development environment,” the department said.
The directive can be accessed at https://www.dpsa.gov.za/dpsa2g/documents/hrmd/2024/Circular_no_6_of_2024_21_02_2024.pdf.
The DPSA said the directive also seeks to address youth development and employment by:
“This is in line with the President’s SONA commitment to remove barriers to entry into the job market faced by the youth.
“Through the Minister for the Public Service and Administration [Thulas Nxesi] approved directive, departments will be able to fulfil the Constitutional imperative of addressing the injustices of the past, whilst promoting the realisation of socio-economic rights of South Africans,” the department said.
The directive is expected to take effect on 1 April. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Sun, 02/25/2024 - 09:40
Election Day officially gazetted
President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially proclaimed and gazetted the 29th of May as Election Day in South Africa.
“This follows consultation by the President with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The proclamation on the election date has been published in the Government Gazette of Friday, 23 February 2024,” the Presidency said in a statement.
The President has also proclaimed the day of the election, 29 May 2024, as a public holiday throughout the Republic.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (IEC) is expected to hold a media briefing on Monday on the state of readiness for the 2024 general elections.
“During the briefing, the commission will unpack key aspects of the elections timetable, which will include the certification of the voters’ roll, the publication of voting station details, submission of candidate nominations, notices to vote outside of the country, applications for special votes, and other election-related matters,” the electoral body said.
Meanwhile ahead of the close of the voters’ roll on Friday, the IEC reminded eligible voters of the general rule of elections.
“That is, a person must register where they live, and vote at the voting station where they are registered.
“The only exception to the rule is that a voter may vote outside of the voting district of registration after notifying the Electoral Commission by a date set in the Election Timetable, which is to be announced shortly,” the IEC said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Sun, 02/25/2024 - 09:22
eThekwini municipality blames delays to restore water to all affected communities this week on “unforeseen repairs”
Chair of the Unemployed People’s Movement was Makhanda’s most prominent activist
Minister Motsoaledi wanted leave to appeal a ruling that declared the termination of the Zimbabwean permit programme unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid
Power utility blames illegal connections by shack dwellers and unauthorised backroom extensions by homeowners
A High Court review in the criminal case involving a former PRASA acting CEO accused of stealing 42km of railway line in the Eastern Cape, has yet to be set down for hearing a year after it was filed
Transnet makes progress at Eastern Cape ports
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) says it is forging ahead with the implementation of the state-owned company’s Recovery Plan at its Eastern Cape ports.
The plan is aimed at enabling efficient utilisation of port infrastructure and improving operational efficiencies at its Central Region ports of East London, Ngqura and Port Elizabeth.
According to TNPA, the improvements are also geared at ensuring competitiveness of the central region ports “through robust port operations oversight, delivery of critical infrastructure and investing in reliable marine fleet”.
“Among the strategic initiatives for East London is the deepening and strengthening of the N-berth, the replacement of two Graving Dock Jib Cranes to enable the ship repair facility and the acquisition of two tugboats. These initiatives are aimed at boosting the river ports marine infrastructure and fleet availability to enable key sectors of the local economy.
“The N-Berth construction project has commenced and will be completed in October 2024. Within this project, TNPA seeks to increase the berth capacity of the automotive terminal of the Port of East London and allow for berthing of modern automotive carriers,” TNPA said in a statement on Thursday.
The authority said the project also includes an upgrade of a quay at the Port Elizabeth port.
“In line with the Central Region’s focus on enabling the local fishing industry in Nelson Mandela Bay, the project pipeline for the Port of Port Elizabeth includes the completed upgrade of the 1200-ton slipway and the refurbishment of the Dom Pedro Quay which is planned to commence at the end of February 2024.
“The port will also benefit from eight of the 52 hydraulic tension units that TNPA has procured for its ports,” TNPA said.
Earlier this month, TNPA announced that the first batch of four hydraulic mooring units it has procured to improve operations and reduce shipping delays at ports have been delivered and operationalised at the Ports of Cape Town and Ngqura.
READ | Transnet steps up efforts to curb shipping delays . – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 02/23/2024 - 08:48
Last chance to register to vote
South Africans who are eligible to vote have just a few hours left to register or update their information before the voter’s roll closes.
Voter registration for the 2024 General Elections will close at midnight, which is the day of proclamation of the General Election 2024.
The President and the Provincial Premiers will proclaim Election Day, 29 May 2024, during the course of today.
“The 2024 general elections are historic in that they mark the 30th year of electoral democracy. We do not wish for any eligible citizen to miss out on this historic democratic process," said Electoral Commission Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo.
The online voter registration portal, registertovote.elections.org.za, is functional and has proven to be the most effective method, allowing everyone to update their details from the comfort of their own homes, work places and communities.
Citizens have until midnight to use the platform for voter registration and update their particulars. Citizens out of country can also use the same voter registration platform until midnight.
Citizens may also visit IEC offices in the all municipalities to register to vote. The offices will remain operational until 16:00.
Voters can also reach out to the Chat-bot on the 0600 88 00 00 WhatsApp line or call 0800118000.
Mamabolo assured South Africans that the Electoral Commission staff members are hand to assist voters at IEC offices in various municipalities during these last few hours.
The Electoral Commission reminded eligible voters of the general rule in elections. A person must register where they live, and vote at the voting station where they are registered.
The only exception to the rule is that a voter may vote outside of the voting district of registration after notifying the Electoral Commission by a date set in the Election Timetable. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/23/2024 - 09:03
A planned shutdown of the Eastern Cape town was thwarted by police
Infrastructure project funding under the spotlight
Partnership between the private sector and government, as well as its entities, with regard to the funding of infrastructure projects has taken centre stage at a Southern African Development Community (SADC) panel discussion.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), hosted a virtual discussion focusing on infrastructure.
“The participation of the private sector is key to the delivery of the infrastructure projects, [and] the issue of infrastructure funding is the key if we are to meet the goals set as South Africa and SADC, and the African continent,” Head of Infrastructure South Africa, Mameetsa Masemola, said during the discussion on Friday.
Masemola noted that the National Infrastructural Plan indicates that, just to close the current infrastructure investment gap, South Africa needs something in the region of R5.7 trillion, looking at the priority sectors, including water and sanitation, information and communications technology (ICT), energy, transport, and human settlements.
Masemola said the fiscus alone will not be able to carry and fund these projects, stressing a need to find mechanisms of bringing in the private sector to participate in the delivery of these infrastructure projects.
Highlighting the partnership between SADC and South Africa, the Water and Sanitation Deputy Director-General responsible for Provincial, Entity Governance and International Cooperation, Lindiwe Lusenga, described the collaborations with SADC in supporting the water projects as “excellent”.
Lusenga said partners are willing to put in the funds while also acknowledging the support the department has received from the institutions, including the Global Environmental Funds, and African Development Bank, who have funded feasibility studies for the Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project.
“There is [also] an appetite because of the commitment and the manner in which we intricately commit, and the instruments of governance that we have deployed to enable us to manage these projects, like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). At local level, the industry has come on board, particularly organised business like mining forums that has taken up and assisted the department in local projects,” Lusenga said.
While noting challenges when it comes to funding, SANRAL’s Head of Marketing and Communication, Vusi Mona said the entity has a wonderful working relationship with the region, working through the SANRAL platform.
“We have received a lot of support from the private sector,” Mona said.
Mona also stressed a need to have a matured conversations about how road infrastructure and infrastructure in general is funded.
He also stressed the need to have a serious discussion around the user pay principle, because “we are not going to develop infrastructure without a brazen principle”.
Infrastructure investment
Infrastructure investment is one of South Africa’s critical drivers of economic growth and it also promotes regional integration in the SADC region.
The investment is also a critical driver of future growth of the South African economy, and the provision of superior quality infrastructure allows an economy to be more efficient, improve productivity, and raise long-term growth and living standards.
SADC has made significant progress in regional infrastructure development, including reginal transport and communications systems, which are fundamental to cooperation in the SADC region.
The provision of superior quality infrastructure allows an economy to be more efficient, improves productivity, and raises long-term growth and living standards. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 02/23/2024 - 14:41
Two to appear in Khayelitsha Court
Two people have been arrested after a 25-year-old kidnapped woman was rescued in the Western Cape.
This followed a collaboration between various specialised units in the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Strand.
On Thursday, a multi-disciplinary Anti-Kidnapping Investigation task team, supported by the Provincial Operations Command Center Combat Unit, detectives, and crime intelligence among others, embarked on a takedown operation.
This followed further investigation into the kidnapping incident of 05 February that is linked to house robbery that occurred in Strand on 26 January.
The investigation led the team to premises situated in Site B off Mew Way in Khayelitsha yesterday, where they search and found two firearms and 200 rounds of different calibres of ammunition.
“Subsequent to the discovery, the members arrested a 29-year-old suspect and seized the firearms, ammunition and two tortoises which were kept in custody without a permit. The members also found small amounts of drugs which were seized,” said the SAPS in a statement on Friday.
The members proceeded to another house where they found the kidnapped woman who was rescued while another 22-year-old female suspect was arrested.
The suspects face charges related to unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, the possession of presumed stolen property, illegal possession of drugs and keeping of wild animals in captivity without a permit.
The two are expected to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court once charged. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 02/23/2024 - 14:57
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Johannesburg: Business must consider pitching in to ensure community water security, said Malcolm Curror, Chief Executive of United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK). The company said water preservation and equitable distribution is critical in the near, medium and long term. Access to water and sanitation is a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. Large metros, like Johannesburg, …
Concern over HIV patients who are not receiving treatment
Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says he remains concerned by those who are not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) despite knowing their HIV status.
“We are doing extremely well on the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) who know their status. However, we have been struggling to reach a great milestone on the number of people that are on ARTs,” he said on Thursday.
Speaking at the high-level meeting convened in Cape Town by the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), Phaahla said a majority of these patients do come for treatment, but they disengage from care due to various factors.
However, he assured delegates that his department is currently addressing the matter, working together with all key role players, notably the PLHIV sector.
Phaahla reported that their interventions have resulted in tracing and linking treatment for just over 1.1 million patients in December 2023, down from 1.4 million in March 2023.
Meanwhile, he said the number of PLHIV virally suppressed has increased by 510 469.
“Through this stakeholder collaboration and backed by the deployment of the community health workers, we hope to bring the many patients back to care.”
He mentioned that the State is making progress towards achieving a new set of ambitious targets.
These targets include ensuring that 95% of all individuals living with HIV are aware of their HIV status, 95% of all individuals diagnosed with HIV infection receive continuous treatment, and 95% of all those on treatment achieve viral suppression by 2025.
The number of estimated new HIV infections in the country has decreased from 164 000 in 2022 to 146 784 in 2023, indicating the effectiveness of interventions in reducing new infections.
According to the latest data, deaths due to HIV are also declining, with an estimation of approximately 44 534 HIV-related deaths in South Africa in 2023.
This marks a reduction of over 50% compared to the last decade’s 92 129 AIDS-related deaths, said Phaahla.
The Minister also touched on the men and children who are living with HIV who are not on treatment.
“While we have seen this steady, though still low progress, we continue to worry because we see fewer men and children being linked to care.
“We need to find 586 192 men and 71 763 children living with HIV and put them on treatment. Whilst for adult women we need to find and treat 530 737.”
He expressed gratitude to the United States government for playing a pivotal role since 1994 and being South Africa's strategic partner.
To end the global HIV/AIDS public health threat by 2030, the United States has made significant progress towards HIV epidemic control with Pepfar support.
The Minister said in April 2022, the Director-General, signed the Country Operational Plan (COP22) to the tune of $455 753 517 for South Africa.
“After the signing of COP22, I and the US Ambassador later signed a mutually beneficial Memorandum of Understanding which provides the overarching leadership on a broad range of health collaborations in June 2022.”
The collaboration based on this memorandum encompasses a wide range of programmes and partnerships including HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
“In the end, I would like to express, unreservedly, the appreciation for the work that is our coordinating body SANAC, UN agencies and other development partners and many others that play a significant role in the HIV/AIDS response in the country.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 02/23/2024 - 15:34
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The tribunal will hear one more witness and argument then consider written and oral arguments before making a ruling