Revised Schedule Unveiled As ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 Heads To South Africa
Event originally scheduled for Sri Lanka will now be held across five venues in South Africa from 19 January The...
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SA to celebrate Universal Health Coverage Day
SA to celebrate Universal Health Coverage Day
South Africa will on Tuesday, 12 December, join the global community in celecrating the progress made towards health for all.
According to the Department of Health, government will also observe the day by raising awareness of the necessity for resilient, equitable, and robust healthcare systems to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Department of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) South Africa and other health sector stakeholders, will host a seminar to reinvigorate pledges to accelerate UHC efforts in South Africa.
The 2023 UHC Day theme is ‘Health for All: Time to Act’.
“The theme emphasises the need for immediate and tangible steps to accelerate progress towards UHC, ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 deadline.”
The seminar will be attended by 300 delegates from different stakeholders in the health sector and the Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, is expected to deliver a keynote address.
The event comes after the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) adopted the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill on 6 December 2023, a turning point for the country’s journey to achieve equal access to quality and affordable health care for all.
Phaahla will later in the day join the Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, during a media briefing to release findings of the investigation reports emanating from complaints lodged against the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Motherwell NU 11 Clinic. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 13:30
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South Africa: 16 days are over, now the real work begins
The 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign has come to an end, but now the real work begins and must continue every day.
For the Western Cape Government (WCG), addressing gender-based violence is not limited to the period of 25 November to 10 December. It is a priority throughout the year.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has been leading the roll-out of the WCG GBV Implementation Plan. The plan has assisted us in the planning, coordination, and monitoring of efforts that aim to address GBV, directly and indirectly.
It fortifies current GBV services and interventions and allows us to explore new opportunities, like the geo-mapping system the DSD has developed to track the prevalence of GBV in the province and allocate resources accordingly.
“We are doing as much as we can to stem the tide of violence, and support survivors, but government is not the sole agent of change. We are already seeing the very real impact of the 2023 national wage agreement and national budget pressures. Due to the significant cuts from national government in the Adjusted Budget for 2023/24, the Department reduced and reprioritized funding allocations to several sub-programmes, including the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP),” says Provincial Minister of Social Development Sharna Fernandez.
“This unprecedented cut in the current financial year – and projected reductions in the new financial year – meant we had to halt the opening of a new GBV shelter in Murraysburg. While further cuts are speculative at this stage, I am deeply concerned about the NGO and NPO sector, as well as DSD staff who may have to deal with the increased demand for services. Now more than ever, we need our partners across society to take hands with NGOs in the GBV space that are providing crucial services to survivors and their children. Corporates and citizens who can support registered entities, I encourage you to do so.”
The Department remains committed to supporting all those impacted by violence and abuse, whether women, children, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, or men.
76 178 GBV survivors accessed psychosocial support services provided and funded by DSD in 2022/2023, a significant increase from 51 790 in 2020/21. DSD also funds 26 shelters across the province.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic Of South Africa: Western Cape Provincial Government.
SA’s APRM Country Review Report to be launched
SA’s APRM Country Review Report to be launched
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to attend the 20th anniversary celebration of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to be held in Johannesburg, on Tuesday evening.
“The APRM 20th Anniversary is being celebrated through a series of meetings and events from 10 to 14 December 2023 under the theme ‘Accelerating and Deepening Governance Reform, Measures, and Intervention,” the Presidency said in a statement.
The review mechanism is an institution of the African Union voluntarily acceded to by Member States.
The anniversary event includes the participation of current and former Heads of State and Government; the Chairperson of the African Union Commission; high-ranking officials from the African Union Commission; representatives of APRM governing structures, as well as delegates of African Union organs and entities, international organisations and civil society.
The event will also mark the launch of the South Africa Second Generation Country Review Report.
“The South African Second-Generation Country Review Report will give insights into the progress made by South Africa in various areas, highlighting its successes and identifying areas for improvement as per its recommendations.
“The review process involves an in-depth analysis of a country's policies, institutions, and practices, conducted by a team of African experts,” the statement read.
The Presidency explained that the APRM serves as an “African-owned and African-led platform for self-assessment, peer-learning, and experience sharing in democracy and good governance”.
The mechanism, the Presidency added, promotes transparency, accountability and the sharing of best practices among African Union Member States in the following thematic areas:
- democratic and political governance
- economic management and governance
- corporate governance
- socio-economic development
- state resilience
“Since its inception, the mechanism has recorded a number of achievements including deepening democracy and good governance through its unique process of peer reviews and assessments.
“The review processes have strengthened the participation of citizens in governance matters and fostered peer-to-peer engagements at the level of Heads of State and Government. In this way the Mechanism has become a means of realising the sacrosanct principle of African solutions to African problems.
“The Mechanism fosters the adoption of policies, standards and practices that enable political stability, high economic growth, sustainable and inclusive development and accelerated regional and continental economic integration. This is enabled through the sharing of experiences and data,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 13:37
92 views
The Essentials of Document Management Systems: A Comprehensive Guide
In today’s digital era, efficient management of documents is crucial for businesses and organizations of all sizes. A Document Management System (DMS) is not just a tool for organizing files; it’s a comprehensive solution that enhances productivity, security, and accessibility. This blog post aims to explore the key aspects of DMS, its benefits, and considerations …
Remembering President Mandela
Remembering President Mandela
Cabinet has joined the nation in reflecting on the life and legacy of the father of the nation and the first democratically elected President of South Africa, Tata Nelson Mandela.
The former President passed away on December 5, 2013, with this year marking a decade since his passing.
“As we look ahead to the milestone of 30 Years of Freedom in 2024, along with our seventh National and Provincial elections, we can proudly say that our democracy remains strong,” Cabinet said in a statement on Monday.
Tata Madiba, as he was affectionately known, died at the age of 95 at his Houghton home in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
In his address to the National Council of Provinces in Parliament last week, Deputy President Paul Mashatile honoured the former President and called on leaders to recommit themselves to the former statesman's vision of providing a better life for all South Africans.
“We do not only recall but rededicate ourselves to the vision of our founding President - that of building a better life for all,” said Deputy President Mashatile. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 12:23
86 views
Understanding Property Management Software
Property management software is a specialized application designed to assist in the management of residential, commercial, and rental properties. It streamlines various tasks such as tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance requests, and financial reporting. Key Features of Property Management Software: Tenant Management: Simplifies the process of tenant screening, leasing, and communication. Rent Collection and Financial …
When The Lights Recede Off, The Present Goes On…
Stage 3 till 4pm; Stage 6 from 8pm; Stage 4 tomorrow at 2am… for most of us, trying to keep tabs on the latest – and constantly shifting – loadshedding schedule seems like a job best suited to Napoleon waging war, or by making a Wish upon a star. But, what’s not complicated is deciding …
WSU registrars will be accredited
Dear Editor The DA welcomes assurances by the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) that they’ve had productive engagements with the Department of Health, who has assured the university that their Master of Medicine (MMed) degree specialisations would be accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the Council of Higher Education (CHE). This …
Deputy President on a working visit to Singapore
Deputy President on a working visit to Singapore
Deputy President Paul Mashatile arrived in Singapore on Sunday to begin the first leg of his three-day working visit to Southeast Asia.
According to the Presidency, the Deputy President began his visit with a tour of the Marina Barrage development, Singapore’s innovative water resource management project.
“As a resource-poor and water-scarce country, Singapore has invested significantly in research and development of water management and sustainability. Most impressively, the country has made big strides in the area of seawater desalination,” the statement read.
According to his Office, the Deputy President’s visit to the country is aimed at building and strengthening bilateral relations, particularly increasing trade, economic, knowledge and cultural exchange between the two States.
“Singapore is a global financial hub and is considered one of the premier asset management centres in Asia.”
The World Bank has ranked Singapore as the number one country in the world for ease of doing business since 2006, and the country is an important global aviation and maritime hub.
In addition, the island country is also considered an important gateway for the export of goods and services to Southeast Asia and a hub for joint venture partnerships throughout Asia.
“It is an important centre for South African businesses looking for opportunities or expand operations on the continent.”
As part of his programme, Deputy President Mashatile will visit the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
He will then deliver a public lecture on the 30 years of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Singapore titled ‘Celebrating a journey of mutual respect, strategic partnership and cooperation’.
He is accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Candith Mashego-Dlamini; Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina; and Higher Education, Science and Innovation Deputy Minister Buti Manamela.
The Communication and Digital Technologies Deputy Minister Philly Mapulane; Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Magdalene Sotyu, and senior government officials are also among those travelling with the Deputy President. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 10:12
155 views
No sign of accountability for Thabo Bester’s escape
Eight months since the highly publicised Parliamentary hearing, little action has been taken by Parliament or Correctional Services
Cost-effective and energy-efficient operations and maintenance in the chemical sector
“Anything that we can do to help manage inflationary pressures, and to ensure a manufacturer can get their products to market cost-effectively – so that their customers can affordably access what they need – is always a good thing,” says Associated Energy Services (AES) Commercial Director, Dennis Williams. “As one of South Africa’s leading operations …
10 000 current police officers to boost festive season safety position
10 000 new police officers to boost festive season safety plan
Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, has assured the nation that it will be all hands on deck by law enforcement officials this festive season, to ensure a safe holiday period in the country.
“The holiday season is a time where criminals sharpen and refine their operations, taking advantage of the festive mood,” Cele said, addressing the media in Pretoria on Sunday on the festive season safety plan by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Cele said the festive season is a period largely characterised by festivities and increased migration of people within and across the borders.
“We as the country’s law enforcement have and will continue to upscale our responses to crime this holiday season and beyond,” Cele said.
Through bold efforts and a decisive policing approach to fighting crime, police operations will continue to ensure that the police get a grip on serious and violent crime in the country.
“In the coming days, the bite of the SAPS will be stronger, as we welcome in the police service's 10 000 new officers.
“The 2023 Project 10K police recruitment drive is a direct response to the call from His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to strengthen our policing capacity and enhance police visibility. The SAPS recruitment office successfully processed 600 000 of these applications and embarked on a rigorous recruitment drive.
“We are now in the second phase of enlisting 10 000 police officers, who will be graduating from various police academies throughout the country in the coming week. This means there will be 10 000 more boots on the ground come the 15th of December, when the last passing out parade takes place in Tshwane,” the Minister said.
The police trainees have been stationed at police academies across the country for the past months.
“They have been hard at work in perfecting street survival courses, firearm, law and physical training during their completion of the Basic Police Development Learning Program. We have no doubt, the new members will provide a much needed boost to the current policing numbers and amplify our law enforcing efforts.
“These officers will be deployed to sanitise the streets and increase the footprint of the police in all nine provinces,” Cele said.
Their deployment will be prioritised in high crowd zones and areas of entertainment and leisure this holiday season.
With regard to Operation Shanela, Cele said the men and women in blue are doubling their efforts to tackle and squash the enemy of crime lurking in the streets and in communities.
“Police in all provinces are gaining ground on crime and organised criminality and this has been reflected in our last released crime statistics.
“The chunk of the arrests took place in the provinces of the Western Cape with 64 171 arrested suspects, followed by Gauteng with 48 917 arrests while SAPS in KZN arrested a total of 37 769 in the past six months,” he said.
Over 3 200 firearms including 2 500 handguns and 300 rifles have been taken off the streets through Operation Shanela.
“Through Operation Shanela, over 1 717 hijacked or stolen vehicles have been recovered from May to date,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 09:51
34 views
Busy NSRI Rescue Weekend
After attending to multiple incidents around the coast – South Coast KZN, Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay, Stilbaai, St Lucia, Saldanha Bay – the NSRI have also issued a Safety Alert which cautions bathers, boaters, paddlers, sailors, anglers and coastal hikers to be cautious around the coastline as the new moon Spring tide increases toward the peak …
Women’s football stars shine at the Hollywoodbets Super League Awards
The third season of the Hollywoodbets Super League has proven to be amazing as it continues to build on the foundations that have been laid in previous years. This season stands as a testament to the league’s exceptional quality, evident in an evening dedicated to honouring the outstanding South African female footballers who showcased extraordinary …
Africa’s Top 100 Business Opportunities to Watch in 2024
Despite rising food and fuel costs, weakening currencies, climate change effects, security threats, political instability, rolling power cuts, infrastructure limitations, and several economic and social challenges, Africa will be one of the fastest-growing regions in 2024.
That's one of the key findings in the 2024 edition of the Top 100 Business Opportunities in Africa to Watch (https://apo-opa.co/47PmhYd), an annual selection of the continent's most lucrative business ideas and investment opportunities curated by Activator HQ.
Following two years of slow post-COVID recovery, 2024 presents several interesting opportunities for business startup and growth in Africa. While Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and countries across the continent offer unique opportunities and challenges for new business and investment, economies like Senegal, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cote d'Ivoire, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, The Gambia and Benin could grow by more than 6% in 2024, twice higher than the global growth of 2.9% projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Africa Top 100, now in its 7th year, identifies specific business ideas and investment opportunities in over 30 growth markets, industries, value chains, and underserved niches across Africa. Each opportunity in the Top 100 is selected based on their relevance to local market needs, lucrativeness, competitive superiority, export potential, and innovation.
“The new edition, which is the outcome of months of research and analyses that considered dozens of value propositions, market trends, demand-supply gaps, and business models across Africa, only consists of opportunities that have a minimum total addressable market value of $100 million,” said John-Paul T. Iwuoha, Founder and CEO of Activator HQ. “It is interesting to see from our 2024 selection that more business ideas and investment opportunities in Africa are actually borne from unmet market needs, difficult but highly-rewarding problems, and the megatrends we have identified that are currently shaping the continent (https://apo-opa.co/46Sd4gb).”
As a developing region, Africa's deficits in food security, housing, finance, education, energy and other critical areas are inspiring innovative solutions, products, and services from a growing number of startups and growth-stage businesses on the continent. In essence, for entrepreneurs in Africa, problems are actually opportunities to unlock market value and create compelling value propositions.
“Our mission at Activator HQ (www.ActivatorHQ.com) is to make it easier and faster for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in Africa. That's why our selection of business ideas features inspiring examples of real entrepreneurs, startups, and companies in Africa that are getting results and making impact on the ground,” Iwuoha said. “To reduce the barriers to startup, we have also developed bespoke and professionally-crafted business plans (https://apo-opa.co/470U6Ew) that can be downloaded and used to raise funding or guide the execution of a specific business idea.”
Highlights from Activator HQ's 2024 Africa Top 100 Guide:
- The food sector remains a multi-billion-dollar growth opportunity for the continent. The Africa Top 100 features several business ideas across the food value chain, from agricultural production to processing, marketing, and services in local and export markets.
- The digital economy presents a $180 billion opportunity for Africa by 2025. With the world's youngest population, digital skills training and outsourcing is a strategic but underexplored market gap that brims with innovative ideas for new businesses and investments in Africa, particularly for high-demand skills like cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, and software development.
- The circular economy: recycling of waste, such as generating electric power from landfill waste, recovering scrap metals for reuse, and processing municipal wastewater into potable freshwater, hold interesting business and investment opportunities that could, conservatively, inject an additional $8 billion into the African economy according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- The energy value chain is rich with opportunities for Africa. The combination of climate change effects, rising renewable energy penetration, and soaring energy prices precipitated by the Russia-Ukraine war has created market gaps and opportunities for more African gas supplies to Europe. There are also opportunities for local substitution of cooking fuels like firewood and charcoal with natural gas, and solar power applications for cold chain solutions.
- Financial services remain one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative sectors in Africa to watch in 2024. While payments and consumer finance usually get most of the attention, niche opportunities like diaspora investment funds and female-focused finance are spotlighted in the latest Africa Top 100 guide.
“I am very proud of the meticulous work the team has put into the 2024 edition of the Africa Top 100,” Iwuoha continued. “In contrast to the mainstream stereotype of Africa as a ‘poor continent', the impressive ideas in this guide show the sheer abundance of opportunities in Africa for new businesses and investments. The spirit of entrepreneurship is bursting with energy on the continent and I am optimistic that many of the ideas in our 2024 edition will inspire new businesses, products, projects, investments, and income streams in the new year.”
The Top 100 Business Ideas in Africa to Watch in 2024 is available on the Activator HQ website at https://apo-opa.co/41hkLvm.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Activator HQ.
Media contact:
John-Paul Iwuoha
jp@activatorhq.com
For more information about Activator HQ, visit:
Website: www.ActivatorHQ.com
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/46Np8iY
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3uRABAT
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3NowFxL
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3NqTmkT
About Activator HQ:
Founded in 2013 as Smallstarter Africa and relaunched on its 10-year anniversary, Activator HQ is a market intelligence and capacity development firm that supports Africa-focused entrepreneurs with the insights, training, and guidance they need to succeed in the continent's promising but difficult markets. In the last decade, Activator HQ has trained over 30,000 entrepreneurs and business owners on startup and market entry strategy, fundraising, sales and growth strategy, business modelling, and turnarounds. Its list of clients and partners includes the Staff Cooperative Societies of Nigeria LNG and Total Exploration & Production (Nigeria), the SUN Business Network, the Roddenberry Foundation, and the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF), among others.
Time to Start Planning for Next Year’s Budget
11 December 2023: South African consumers have undoubtedly experienced financial strain over the past few years, facing repeated fuel price increases and rising living costs. As the holiday season approaches and people prepare to spend time with loved ones, it is crucial to exercise caution and avoid excessive spending. Overspending during the festive period can …
Clarence Drive Reopens For One-Way Traffic
Clarence Drive is set to reopen today, 11 December 2023. While the road will be opened as soon as it is safe, road users are urged to plan and delay trips till late afternoon to allow teams to fully vacate the site. The road will be open, with traffic accommodation, in time for afternoon traffic …
Cape Town – Happy Hunting Ground for Australia and Argentina
Australia held-off a huge French fight-back to claim back-to-back titles with 29-26 win in epic women’s final, while Argentina produce dominant display to beat Australia 45-12 in men’s final Australia claimed a first-ever Cape Town title, and their second HSBC SVNS 2024 victory in a row, with a gutsy 29-26 win over France in an …
Microscope on Bheki Cele’s World Cup holiday
Dear Editor Earlier this week, the DA revealed that the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, attended the Rugby World Cup in France with an undisclosed amount of funding obtained from an unnamed “private company”. To make matters worse, it was also confirmed that South African taxpayers covered his assistant’s bill to join him in Paris …
Shosholoza Meyl’s troubled return a reflection of government incompetence
Dear Editor The DA expresses deep concern over the interruption of the Shosholoza Meyl long-distance rail service due to cable theft, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and the Department of Transport (DoT). Passengers en route from Johannesburg to Cape Town were forced to conclude their journey …
WCG adjustments budget votes offer hope despite national government’s fiscal mess
Western Cape Government (WCG) departments have this past week tabled their Adjustments Budget votes in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP). This year’s adjustments votes were unprecedented because provincial governments across South Africa are being forced to make drastic current financial year cuts. The adjustments lay the foundation for the next phase of the budget …
Dazel optimistic about rest of HSBC SVNS season
Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel said that despite their HSBC SVNS Cape Town performances over the weekend, he is still confident that the team will achieve their season goal of finishing in the top eight of the series. Dazel spoke after a disappointing home event, where they lost all five games and finished 12th …
Ngcobo: Bad day at the office
The Blitzboks are a team that are best when they have ball in hand and that showed a week ago when they triumphed in Dubai, but disappointingly for Springbok Sevens supporters, they could not do the same this weekend in Cape Town, and paid the price. That was the blunt assessment of Blitzbok head coach, …