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In a world that’s increasingly embracing renewable energy sources, solar panels have become a beacon of hope for those looking to harness the power of the sun. Among the vast array of solar panels available in the market, the BLUETTI PV350 Solar Panel stands out as a compelling choice, boasting impressive specifications and design features …
In an era where sustainable energy solutions are gaining increasing importance, the Shoto 5.12kWh Lithium-ion Battery emerges as a beacon of innovation and eco-friendliness. This powerful energy storage solution, designed by the reputable brand Shoto, is set to transform the way we harness and store electricity. Let’s delve into the details that make this battery …
The Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions held the torch for the South African franchises in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with hard-fought victories in Wales this weekend, as the DHL Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks found the going tough in Italy in the fourth round of the competition. The two sides from Gauteng won their matches …
Transport Minister to receive IMO Audit team
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga will on Monday officially welcome the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Audit Team, who are in South Africa to conduct a Mandatory Audit under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS).
This will be followed by a preliminary audit outcome report, expected to be submitted at the end of the week-long undertaking.
The IMO, which South Africa became a member of in 1995, is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating and promoting responsible shipping on a global scale.
South Africa, through the Department of Transport, actively engages with the IMO to ensure the implementation of international maritime regulations and standards within its maritime jurisdiction, specifically with compliance with International Conventions the country is party to.
The Republic undertook a Voluntary IMSAS in 2008. In February 2016, the IMO instituted mandatory audits, and a total of 113 audits have been completed to date with 28 African countries.
South Africa is one of the two African States, Benin being the other, scheduled for audits before end of 2023.
A number of State entities will be audited, including the department’s implementing agency responsible for maritime administration, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 11/12/2023 - 13:31
TUT celebrates fifth anniversary of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams will on Tuesday deliver a keynote address at the fifth anniversary celebration of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Centre for Entrepreneurship Development.
The celebration will highlight the achievements and growth of the TUT Centre for Entrepreneurship Development over the past five years.
“The Centre supports start-ups with entrepreneurial training, coaching and mentoring. It promotes the economic participation and inclusion of women, youth and people with disabilities through access to entrepreneurial education, business development and support,” said the Small Business Development.
Consistent with the strategic objectives of the department, the TUT Centre for Entrepreneurship Development strives to develop rural and township SMMEs and co-operatives to participate fully in the mainstream economy. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 11/12/2023 - 13:43
The following speech was delivered by the DA Federal Leader John Steenhuisen at the DA Western Cape Provincial Congress in Century City, Cape Town on Friday: Fellow Democrats, Dis lekker hier in die Kaap vanmôre! Ek kan aan niks beter dink as om vanoggend hier saam met julle te wees nie. Want vandag neem ons …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be writing to Public Protector, Koleka Gcaleka, requesting a full investigation into allegations of exorbitant and wasteful expenditure for catering aboard the Inkwazi presidential jet. On the 12-hour flight from London to South Africa alone, following the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last year, it is alleged that …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) can today reveal that the ANC government has introduced a new set of race quotas that will further devastate the South African economy. These latest quotas target agricultural export businesses by making it illegal for farmers and businesses that do not meet strict racial BEE quotas to export their …
Dear Editor The DA condemns the recent statements made by the ANC’s Fikile Mbalula, attempting to insinuate that South Africa’s chronic load-shedding crisis is a direct result of the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET). These reckless and misleading statements are not only baseless but also a disservice to the truth and the critical energy …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns the deeply distressing incident that occurred over the weekend at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), where a male student stabbed a female student. Our thoughts are with the victim and the wider student community, we wish her a swift and full recovery. This tragic event is …
Five suspects arrested for attacking police officers
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, has welcomed the arrest of five suspects for the attack of police officers.
The incident occurred on Thursday in Freedom Park near Phokeng, outside Rustenburg.
According to reports, two detectives from Phokeng police station were officially on duty and conducting investigations in Freedom Park.
The members found a 51-year-old suspect wanted for assault. They warned the suspect accordingly and requested him to accompany them to the police station.
The suspect then allegedly blew a whistle and members of the community gathered at his place and locked the gate, tied up the police officers with ropes and assaulted them with knobkerries.
The police officers were also robbed of their cellphones, while the State motor vehicle was damaged.
Subsequently, Public Order Police (POP) and Tactical Response Team (TRT) members rescued the pair, who sustained serious injuries.
The suspects, aged between 24 and 51, were arrested for robbery, assault on police officers, aiding a suspect to escape and malicious damage to property. The suspects are expected to appear on Monday before the Bafokeng Magistrates' Court in Tlhabane.
Kwena condemned the incident, which he said is tantamount to undermining the authority of the State -- an act that "cannot be tolerated".
He urged members of the community to work together with the police in the fight against crime. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 11/12/2023 - 13:51
SA Navy starts a process to replace SAS Drakensberg vessel
The South African Navy says it will soon start a project to replace its combat support vessel, SAS Drakensberg, which is nearly 40 years old and has not been to sea for quite some time.
This is according to SA Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, who was speaking during the naming and acceptance ceremony of the second new multi-purpose inshore patrol vessel (MMIPV), SAS King Shaka Zulu, at Naval Base Durban.
Lobese said the SA Navy used to operate a number of different vessel types, namely submarines, offshore patrol vessels, frigates, a combat support vessel, a hydrographic survey vessel, anti-mine warfare vessels (mine hunters), deep diving support and torpedo recovery vessels.
The submarines and frigates were replaced during the Arms Deal about 20 years ago, whilst a new Hydrographic Survey Vessel is currently being built by Sandock Austral Shipyards in Durban.
The three new MMIPVs will take over the mine hunting, deep diving support and torpedo recovery roles of previous vessels and some patrol duties.
“The SA Navy is currently in the process to containerise the anti-mine warfare capability through Project Motso, so that it can be placed on these vessels.
“This capability is absolutely vital because even a threat of a sea mine can close a port like Durban for weeks on end. This will have devastating consequences for our economy. It requires specialised equipment and highly trained personnel, and is a vital capability for any Navy to have,” Lobese said.
According to Lobese, the SAS Drakensberg will be replaced with a new vessel, and this project will start soon.
“If we take our maritime security seriously, and if we want to protect our maritime economy, we need at least another 12 ships, of which six must be the larger offshore patrol vessels.
“I am absolutely convinced of the fact that over a 30-year period, the investment in these ships and the overall benefit to our economy in preventing theft of our marine resources, as well as criminality on our oceans, makes the procurement of an additional 12 vessels a very logical and rational choice,” Lobese said.
In addition to being used as a replenishment ship, SAS Drakensberg has also been used to patrol for pirates in the Mozambique Channel as part of Operation Copper. In April 2012, she helped European warships catch seven Somali pirates in the Channel.
SAS Drakensberg was launched in April 1986 by Sandock Austral and commissioned into service in November the following year.
She has a full load displacement of 12 500 tons and a length of 147 metres. She can carry 5 500 tons of fuel, 750 tons of ammunition and dry stores, and 210 tons of fresh water. In addition, 50 000 litres of fresh water can be made every day. Two Oryx helicopters, two landing craft and two RHIBs can be accommodated on board as well.
The Drakensberg is the largest ship built in South Africa to date and is reportedly the first naval vessel to be completely designed in the country. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 11/12/2023 - 11:13
White Paper set to overhaul migration system, says Motsoaledi
Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says the recently published White Paper On Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection contains radical proposals that are aimed at overhauling the migration system in South Africa.
Cabinet approved the White Paper on Wednesday, 1 November 2023 for public comment. It was published in the Government Gazette No. 49661 on 10 November 2023, after what Motsoaledi described as a “painstaking exercise of drafting”.
The draft policy aims to provide a framework to guide the granting of residency and citizenship to foreign nationals, as well as the protection of refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa, cognisant of the Republic’s national security interests and in compliance with international agreements and protocols on migration that South Africa is party to.
“There have been consistent loud voices calling for effective policy measures and legislative interventions dealing with migration in South Africa.
“South Africa has different pieces of legislation dealing with citizenship, immigration and refugee protection, namely the Citizenship Act, Immigration Act and Refugees Act, as amended.
“In practice, these pieces of legislation are not in harmony with each other. Piecemeal amendments were made without any policy framework whatsoever,” Motsoaledi said at a briefing in Pretoria on Sunday.
Key proposals
Motsoaledi said one of the chief proposals in the White Paper is that the government of the Republic of South Africa must review and/or withdraw from the 1951 United Nations Refugees Convention (“1951 Convention”) and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (“1967 Protocol”), with a view to accede to them with reservations like other countries.
“The refugee protection and immigration legislation must provide for reservations and exceptions, as contained in the 1951 Convention and the 1969 OAU [Organisation of African Unity -- now AU] Convention, particularly in that South Africa does not have the resources to grant the socio-economic rights envisaged in the 1951 Convention,” the Minister said.
He explained that the current citizenship legislation has its roots in the 1949 Citizenship Act (“1949 Act”) and other relevant successive laws governing citizenship.
He said the 1949 Act and other relevant laws were not only discriminatory on the basis of race and sex but the “natives” (black people) were totally excluded from the South African citizenship regime.
“The South African Citizenship Act provides for three main forms of citizenship, namely, citizenship by birth, citizenship by descent and citizenship by naturalisation,” Motsoaledi said.
The Minister said the Citizenship Act and Births and Deaths Registration Act must be repealed in their entirely and be included in the single legislation dealing with citizenship, immigration and refugee protection.
“This will remove contradictions and loopholes in the paths towards citizenship, as is now the case with the three pieces of legislation. The criteria for granting any form of citizenship must be strictly in accordance with the law.
“A proper register should be kept for all persons granted citizenship by naturalisation by the Minister. The register must be tabled every year in Parliament by the Minister,” Motsoaledi said.
Immigration
The Minister said South Africa is a great place to live in and many people in the world aspire to live, work or to be citizens of South Africa.
“[As a] result, many foreign nationals come to South Africa and stay in the country illegally. No one can account for all undocumented migrants. The Department of Home Affairs has no idea as to how many illegal immigrants are in South Africa.
“However, Immigration Services deports between 15 000 - 20 000 illegal foreigners every year at a huge cost. This number is on the increase.
“The establishment of the Border Management Authority (BMA) should significantly reduce the risk of foreigners entering the country illegally,” the Minister said.
Motsoaledi said the Border Management Authority Act must be reviewed to align it with Immigration and Citizenship new policy framework.
“The policy framework must provide for the establishment of the Advisory Board, which comprises representatives of the Departments of Trade, Industry and Competition, Labour and Employment, Tourism, South African Police Service, South African Revenue Service, Education, International Relations & Cooperation, Defence & Military Veterans and Director-General of the DHA [Department of Home Affairs].
“The Board must also comprise representatives of organised labour, including four individuals on the grounds of expertise in administration, regulatory matters or immigration law, control, adjudication and enforcement, appointed by the Minister.
“Policy and legislative interventions are required to tighten the procedures and strengthening the monitoring capacity by introducing integrated IT systems capable of flagging fraudulent activities in the issuing of visas, identity documents, marriage certificates and passports.
“This includes giving wide statutory powers to the existing Anti-Corruption Unit within the DHA,” the Minister said.
Motsoaledi said the new policy must provide that members of the Anti-Corruption Unit should be seconded from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“The rationale being that members of the SAPS enjoy wide statutory powers, including search and arrest without a warrant,” the Minister said.
New legislation, Motsoaledi said, must be introduced to strengthen the powers of immigration officers and Inspectorate, and make continuing training compulsory. The majority of members of the Inspectorate must have legal qualifications and policing experience. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 11/12/2023 - 13:02
ATNS scoops coveted Transformation Award
The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) has scooped the Transformation Award at the prestigious annual Civil Aviation Industry Awards (CAIA) 2023 held in Johannesburg on Friday night.
“We are on the right track as an entity to meet the National Development Plan objectives as an aviation industry player,” ATNS Chief Executive Officer, Nozipho Mdawe, said.
The ATNS, an entity of the Department of Transport, recently developed a Transformation Policy that revised its strategies on Employment Equity, Supply Chain Management, Corporate Social Investment, and Enterprise and Supplier Development in its bid to become an inclusive organisation.
“It is certainly our efforts in establishing a consolidated approach to address transformation in all areas of the ATNS Business that earned us the CAIA 2023 Transformation Award,” Mdawe said.
The ATNS was also voted the first runner-up for the Aviation Research and Development Award for its progress in aeronautical innovation and air traffic management over the past 30 years.
This comes after the ATNS’s Aviation Training Academy was voted the International Air Transport Association’s best training academy for three consecutive years.
The other accolade went to ATNS Aviation Psychologist, Mr. Matita Tshabalala, who was nominated for the Aviation Professional Award category and voted second runner-up.
Matita is a registered Aviation Psychologist with the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP). This makes him the first and only African in South Africa to be called an Aviation Psychologist.
“I must congratulate the ATNS team who worked tirelessly to secure all these accolades. As we celebrate 30 years of providing globally competitive air traffic and navigation services management this year, we are indeed on a mission to remain a leader in our field with the best people in place, just like Mr. Matita and many others in our ATNS team,” Mdawe said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sun, 11/12/2023 - 10:27
Large commercial and industrial premises invariably offer three phase Eskom or Municipal electric power as standard to business. There is a growing move to sub let sections of a larger commercial and industrial premises to tenants which necessitates the need to measure and charge for electricity consumed by the tenant. In the case of a […]
Cape Town, 10 Nov 2023 – the dynamic Damian Willemse, lit up the newly opened FUTURELIFE® store at Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town where excited fans had the opportunity to meet and interact with one of South Africa’s sporting heroes. The concept store, which opened its doors on 18 October 2023, served as …
There was once a time when we didn’t really concern ourselves with the cost of water – a leak in the system was seen as a neat way of watering the plants, water was cheap and plentiful. As the grip of climate change, a renewed sense of caring for our scarce resources evolved. A growing […]
Call for Western Cape government to stand with Palestine as it has with Ukraine
If your prepaid meter stops accepting new tokens on or after 24 November 2023 then the problem is most likely a Token Identifier (TID) fault and you will need to update your prepaid meter (electricity, water or gas) by purchasing more units and following the instructions printed on your receipt. Currently installed prepaid meters will […]
Cine Prestige theatres offer the ultimate business class cinema experience The two luxurious Cine Prestige cinemas at Ster-Kinekor’s Cavendish complex in Cape Town have enjoyed a full-body makeover in time for the festive season. Movie lovers are invited to come and enjoy the refreshed cinemas and lounge area to experience the ultimate in business-class movie …
RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ, chronicles the artist’s intention and hard work as creative and producer. The film follows Beyoncé’s process in mastering her craft to execute the 56-performance, 39-city, record-breaking RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, and opens in movie theatres all over the world beginning December 1 Tickets are available at www.sterkinekor.com and BeyonceFilm.com for the …
Ostrich feathers have long been celebrated for their beauty and versatility. From fashion to home décor, these feathers add a touch of elegance and luxury. Whether you’re a designer, a craft enthusiast, or just looking for something unique, the world of ostrich feathers offers endless possibilities. Flexible Ostrich Feathers: For projects that require a softer, more …
Pillar pages and topic clusters are an increasingly crucial component of SEO strategy, especially as we move into 2024. They offer a structured way of organising content that not only enhances the user experience but also boosts a site’s visibility on search engines. Here’s a comprehensive look into how they work and why they are …
A multimillion rand project set to establish two Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) hardware mass production facilities and 13 distribution satellite warehouses is to be rolled out nationwide. The project will be administered and managed by Madinda Utilities, a Pretoria-based AMI hardware manufacturer and utilities diagnostics specialist company that has over 25 years of industrial experience […]