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In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining optimal health and fitness requires more than just regular exercise and a balanced diet. Nutritional supplements have become an integral part of many people’s daily routines, offering targeted support for various health and fitness goals. Let’s delve into some of the top categories of supplements that are shaping the wellness …
Media Invite: National Productivity Awards ceremony to honour top enterprises Companies that have improved their productivity and performed beyond expectations in South Africa are to receive the National Productivity Awards at the National Awards ceremony penciled for Friday 27th October in Midrand. The event follows a stringent adjudication process by the Department of Employment and Labour …
Some well-intentioned initiatives make the situation worse
Namibia is a beautiful and diverse country with a stable political and economic climate, making it a prime destination for property investment. South Africans are particularly drawn to Namibia due to its close proximity, similar culture, and affordable property prices. Schantal Teichmann, franchisee of Just Property Windhoek and Just Property Swakopmund, shares her insights into …
Liquor Amendment Bill under the spotlight
Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has acknowledged the message of the 7th Bi-Annual Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) to pass the Liqour Amendment Bill.
“I hear you and that is the message “Pass the Liqour Amendment Bill now.” From the department of Social Development and all other government people that are here, [we] take note of what has been brought to us here. This is a positive message and a message that says to us we must listen when you stand up to talk to us.
"Let us make the 7th Bi-Annual Global Alcohol Policy Conference remarkable by accomplishing the things we collectively pledged to achieve and for collective action to put the needs of the world’s most vulnerable citizens ahead of profit,” Minister Zulu said.
The Minister was delivering the keynote opening remarks on the occasion of the 7th GAPC held in Cape Town on Tuesday.
GAPC is the leading forum for the world’s alcohol policy makers, advocates, researchers, civil society activists and practitioners.
The official launch was hosted by the Minister and attended by congregants from over 50 countries around the globe. Some of the key concerns that stood out from some speeches from keynote speakers, were the fact that profits are being put ahead of lives.
Zulu emphasised that the country’s approach to alcohol policy has to shift from one where the objectives revolve around economic growth to the interest of public health, with specific focus on reducing alcohol-related harms.
“I hope the conference will be an important turning point that will provide impetus for the much-needed focus on the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.
Draft Policy on the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
The Minister said that the conference came at a perfect time after a month of government tabling the Draft Policy on the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Use Disorders to Cabinet for public consultation.
The policy provides a framework for decision-making within the whole sector about where the greatest drug-related harms are occurring, and identifying the best means to address those harms.
“We are pleased that Cabinet approved the Policy for public consultation and recommended the establishment of a special committee of Cabinet Ministers to ensure coordination, strategic alignment and decision making in harm prevention and reduction strategies across government.
“I am therefore confident that this policy conference under the theme ‘Investing in People Before Profits: Building momentum towards the Framework Convention on Alcohol Control,’ will provide the necessary political impetus and generate new research and evidence-based ideas in drug and alcohol policy,” the Minister said.
Addiction
The Minister highlighted that government is concerned that up to one in three teenagers are addicted to drugs and alcohol in South Africa.
This figure is based on the numbers of young people presenting themselves to treatment facilities.
‘While we are concerned about the harm that all drugs have on individuals, families and or society as a whole, there is a significant body of evidence from research institutions such as the South African Medical Research Council and Soul City that suggest that alcohol is one of the most abused substances that causes the most harm to the most people in our country,” Zulu said.
The Minister further highlighted to delegates that research further shows that alcohol fuels crime, mortality rates and fatal injuries, and contributes to the unacceptably high levels of vehicle crashes in South Africa.
At the same time, she said, alcohol significantly contributes to gender-based violence and risky sexual behaviours associated with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
The Minister added that time and again, the quarterly crime statistics show that alcohol abuse is one of the main contributors to crime around the country.
She said that government is concerned about the emerging trends among young people of mixing alcohol with energy drinks.
“In the face of these growing challenges, our people have demanded that government take necessary measures to address the harmful use of alcohol.
“I must acknowledge that this has not been the easiest of tasks. Any measures to prevent and reduce alcohol harm has been met with a monumental and well-resourced push back that seem to put commercial interests before people from the alcohol industry.”
The Minister emphasised that government’s objective is to regulate the sale and supply of alcohol to the public, not motivated by revenue collection, but rather by purely by the interests of public health and wellbeing, with the particular purposes of protecting children and young people, reducing alcohol consumption, and preventing violent crime and other forms of alcohol related harm.
She said this objective arises from the overwhelming evidence of significant harm to individuals and society caused by the harmful use of alcohol. –SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 15:42
Cape Town, South Africa – October 24, 2023 – The Cape Town Arts Festival, formerly the Cape Town Festival (CTAF), is back and all set to celebrate the dynamic fusion between arts, culture, and community with showstopping talent, taking place on Saturday, December 9, and Sunday, December 10, against the backdrop of the Castle of …
Dear Editor The DA remains deeply concerned about the ongoing hostage situation at the Gold One Modder East mine in Springs. Reports now indicate that, allegedly, medics sent to assist the miners held hostage have also become victims of this crisis and are also being held with the miners. This is an unacceptable and deeply …
24 October 2023: Most cars are depreciating assets, this means that the value of your car is likely to decrease the longer you own it and the more you drive it. However, there are ways to prevent its value from decreasing more than absolutely necessary. While factors such as market conditions, demand and other factors …
Johannesburg, 24 October 2023- In the world of insurance call centres, success is more than just technical expertise but also the mental well-being of its agents. This thought leadership article delves into the crucial link between mental health and the customer-centric environment of call centres, emphasizing the importance of nurturing mental health within the workplace. …
Government committed to dealing with challenges facing traditional leaders
Government remains committed to swiftly addressing issues confronting traditional and Khoi-San leaders.
This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who was speaking at a gathering on Tuesday called by the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in Bloemfontein, Free State.
“We will continue to support initiatives that benefit our indigenous communities. We will also continue to provide sufficient funding for education, healthcare, and social services so that no one falls behind,” Mashatile told the leaders.
Mashatile, who was leading the meeting in his capacity as chairperson of the inter-ministerial task team on matters of traditional and Khoi-San leaders, called on the private sector to actively engage with traditional communities through investing in local businesses and projects.
“Through initiatives such as skills development programmes, entrepreneurship training and mentorship, we can collectively unlock the entrepreneurial spirit that resides within our traditional communities,” the Deputy President stressed.
As government works towards the promotion of development and social cohesion in traditional communities, Mashile reminded the leaders that the journey requires collective effort.
“Let us recognise the immense potential that lies within our traditional communities, waiting to be unleashed. Together, we can create a future where traditional and modern ways of being thrive side by side, where development and social cohesion go hand in hand.”
The Deputy President said he was inspired by the unwavering commitment to overcoming the complex developmental challenges that traditional communities face.
“It is important for all of us to come together and collaborate in order to achieve a future that is not only prosperous but also united in diversity and anchored on the prospects of a greater South African nation that has, at its core, the interests of improving and nurturing the lives of those in our rural communities.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa established the inter-ministerial task team in 2020 to consolidate all efforts and unblock issues that impede the resolution of matters.
“We are also committed to play our part in supporting this institution of traditional leadership, for the advancement of all our people.”
Providing support for traditional authorities and rural communities is, according to the Deputy President, of paramount importance.
He also vowed that the state will find ways to bridge the gap between traditional and modern practices to strike a delicate balance that preserves cultural heritage while propelling the nation forward.
“We must preserve our history and knowledge systems, such that these may also shape the future that we imagine, a future that is both inclusive and progressive.
“The South African government remains committed to protecting the rights of traditional authorities and their communities.”
He also spoke about dealing with discrepancies between the rural and urban, in terms of development, service delivery and overall well-being.
Mashatile acknowledged that rural communities still face several challenges.
These, he said, include limited access to information and communication technology services in rural communities, gender-based violence and femicide, teenage pregnancy, drugs and substance abuse, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and inadequate access to water and electricity.
In the same breath, however, he said the government has made some progress over the years.
According to Mashatile, government has provided water between 1996 and 2022, with the percentage of households with no access to piped water dropping from 19.7% to 8.7%.
“This is a significant milestone and has improved the lives of our communities, especially women and girls in rural areas,” he said, adding that the State was looking to fast-track development in rural areas.
On technology, he said it was crucial to strategically allocate investments towards the infrastructure networks in rural regions.
He believes that this will enable people to attain essential amenities, including water and sanitation facilities, reliable electricity supply and maintained road networks.
In addition, Mashatile said it would establish connectivity between their residences, workplaces, educational establishments, and healthcare facilities. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 14:19
Kubayi leads SA delegation to Ghana
Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, is leading a government and business delegation on an official visit to the Republic of Ghana to participate in government-to-business engagements focused on creating an environment for investment conducive for affordable housing development.
The high-level engagements between the Ghanaian and South African government, which get underway from 25-27 October 2023, will focus on policy and technical exchanges, including a bilateral between Kubayi and the host Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso- Boakye, to review areas of mutual interest.
“The visit will contribute to the strengthening of partnerships between South Africa and Ghana's business sector, while promoting South Africa’s capabilities and policy expertise in the development of human settlements and infrastructure development in general,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 12:48
JOHANNESBURG: The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers claimed victory at SuperSport Park this past weekend, defeating the Fidelity Titans...
Premier calls for faster assessment of rain-damaged schools in KZN
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube says the provincial Education Department must speed up its assessment of schools that were damaged by the recent heavy rains, which battered most parts of the province over the weekend.
Dube-Ncube made the call during her visit to the uMtubatuba Local Municipality in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal, where she conveyed her condolences to the victims and families, who lost their loved ones and belongings during the heavy rains.
“We’ve asked the Department of Public Works, working with the Department of Education, to ensure that we immediately attend to the schools because we don’t want learners to be disturbed, especially as they prepare for writing exams, and we know that the primary classes must write so that they can make space for matric exams to continue,” Dube-Ncube said.
She said in uMtubatuba alone, more than 120 households have been affected, with the majority of them partially damaged. More than 40 were completely damaged, leaving the families homeless.
According to the provincial Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) preliminary reports, at least five people have lost their lives in uMtubatuba due to thunderstorms, which blew roofs off houses, damaging infrastructure, including power cables, roads, bridges and cars.
The department said places, including community halls and churches, have been opened to the public, while others opted to find alternative accommodation with relatives.
Meanwhile, the Premier has convened an urgent meeting to discuss interventions to assist the families affected. The meeting was attended by COGTA MEC, Bongi Sithole-Moloi and Human Settlements MEC, Sipho Nkosi. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 11:43
EThekwini municipality to assess buildings’ conditions next week
Pandor to participate in Palestine, Women, Peace and Security debate
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has undertaken a working visit to New York to participate in two high-level debates at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
According to a Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) statement, the leaders will discuss the Middle East situation.
The debate, the department said, will also include the question of Palestine, and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Under the Presidency of Brazil, the UNSC has convened a high-level open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine.”
According to the department, the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, will preside over the meeting and has invited Pandor to participate in this open debate.
“The open debate has been elevated to a high-level ministerial meeting because of the prevailing situation in Israel and Palestine.”
On Wednesday, Pandor will partake in the UNSC high-level open debate on WPS.
The discussion will focus on women’s participation in international peace and security from theory to practice.
“October is considered by the UN as the WPS month because resolution 1325 on women in armed conflict was adopted in October 2000.
“Consequently, the Security Council always holds an annual open debate on WPS in October to commemorate resolution 1325 and evaluate its implementation,” the statement read.
Resolution 1325 was adopted to primarily highlight the impact of armed conflict on women and girls and to advocate for the full involvement of women in peace processes including conflict resolution, peace negotiations, peacekeeping, and post-conflict reconstruction.
Pandor will also use the opportunity of her visit to New York to hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts from other countries. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 08:59
As part of GE Vernova's (https://www.GEVernova.com/) commitment to support communities in areas it operates in, GE Vernova's Steam Power business, is proud to announce the handover of the Botleng Extension 6 Community Health Centre, a first-of-its-kind primary healthcare facility in Delmas, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The clinic was officially handed over to the Mpumalanga Department of Health and marked by an official opening ceremony in Nkangala District of Victor Khanye Local Municipality.
The Botleng Extension 6 Community Health Centre represents an approximated R75 million investment towards the turnkey construction and full equipment kitting of the clinic in efforts to uplift the local healthcare infrastructure. The clinic will play a critical role in meeting the growing healthcare demands of the community and its surrounding areas. Up to 100 000 local beneficiaries will have access to comprehensive primary healthcare services including 24-hour emergency care, maternity, dentistry, eyecare, medical dispensary, and mental healthcare services.
While Botleng Extension 6, part of a rapidly growing settlement in Victor Khanye Local Municipality was being serviced by a mobile clinic with restricted services that visits the area twice a week, the new clinic will alleviate the community's burden of travelling great distances to access quality healthcare services. The state-of-the-art facility boasts of a cutting-edge maternity ward equipped with premium GE Healthcare ultrasound/V-scan equipment, ensuring precision healthcare for expectant mothers and their babies. In addition to this, GE Healthcare will roll-out technical, clinical, and soft skills training programmes for nurses and midwives at the clinic, enhancing the quality of healthcare services.
Premier of Mpumalanga, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane expressed the provincial government's gratitude for this significant contribution to the healthcare infrastructure in the region. "This facility will be heralded and safeguarded by generations to come. Not only has it exceeded our standard infrastructural requirements but should be used as a benchmark for public service and infrastructural excellence," Mtshweni-Tsipane stated. "Thank you for leading by example and being a prime example of how private public partnerships can significantly aid our efforts and serve as catalysts for sustainable employment opportunity creation in our communities."
In line with its continuous strategy to empower local businesses, GE Vernova's Steam Power business supported local businesses and communities throughout the construction process where GVK-Siyazama Construction served as the principal contractor, overseeing construction activities. A minimum of 30% of the work was sub-contracted to local Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and the general workforce was sourced entirely from the local community and empowered through accredited trade and skills development trainings. It was critical for the clinic's design approach to incorporate ecologically conscious solutions like rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient fittings and low maintenance landscaping throughout the construction process.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Emmanuel Thouet, GE Vernova's Steam Power SSA Regional Leader, expressed the company's commitment to driving social change through public-private partnerships. " Over the years, large infrastructure projects have provided us opportunities to create jobs and develop the critical skills needed to drive continuous growth in the energy sector. We recognize that for us to make a sustainable impact, we must be deliberate in our efforts to support social change," he stated. "Through our expertise and innovation, we are able to address social challenges by creating shared value. We are proud to be part of this transformative project that will significantly improve the social and economic vitality of the Botleng Extension 6 community."
Zandile Shange, Eskom General Manager for Kusile Power Plant Project, expressed her enthusiasm for the community-centric partnership Eskom enjoys with GE Vernova's Steam Power business in delivering this essential healthcare facility. " Health and wellness are fundamental human rights for all South Africans," Shange said. "The Botleng Extension 6 Community Health Centre represents a crucial step in providing accessible healthcare services to the people of this region. We are proud to be part of this initiative, which aligns with our mission to support the well-being of our communities and in accordance with one of our core values, ‘Sinobuntu'."
The Botleng Extension 6 Community Health Centre stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between industry leaders, government agencies, and the community to address critical healthcare needs and uplift local communities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GE.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Kashumba Macombe
Middle East & Africa Content Creation & Communications Specialist
GE Vernova
+27 71 372 3110
Kashumba.Macombe@ge.com
About GE Vernova:
GE Vernova is a planned, purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses of Advanced Research, Consulting Services, and Financial Services. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world's challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with more than 80,000 employees across 140+ countries around the world. GE Vernova's Steam Power business provides a broad portfolio of technologies and services that help industrial and non-renewable energy power plants deliver reliable power as they transition to a lower carbon future.
GE Vernova's mission is embedded in its name –it retains its legacy, “GE,” as an enduring and hard-earned badge of quality and ingenuity. “Ver” / “verde” signal Earth's verdant and lush ecosystems. “Nova,” from the Latin “novus,” nods to a new, innovative era of lower carbon energy. Supported by the Company Purpose,The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova will help deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova (https://www.GEVernova.com/) and LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.info/3Qc09j6).
Consumers can now file complaints with NCC online
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has announced that consumers can now file their complaints online using the e-Service portal.
Acting National Consumer Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza, said consumers often complain about the manual process when they file complaints with the NCC.
“As South Africans are now accustomed to online transactions, we want to make it easier and more convenient for them to file complaints from the comfort of their homes or on the spot. The portal also makes it easy and possible for consumers to log in and view the status of their complaints without contacting the NCC,” she said on Monday.
The NCC is rolling out its first phase of the digitised complaint handling process.
The https://eservice.thencc.org.za portal is live and is replacing the manual complaint form.
The Commission said the portal is a seamless consumer complaint-handling process empowered by workflows in the back end and instant notifications to the consumers.
Consumer registration is verified through the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and as such, consumers are urged to use correct names and ID numbers as they appear in their ID books.
“Consumers may experience intermittent connectivity during the verification process due to interface with DHA and are therefore advised to be patient with the process. The NCC is on the other hand enhancing the registration process to take the burden of ID verification from the consumer,” the Commission said.
Consumers can follow these easy steps to create a profile online:
The Commission has arranged to accommodate consumers who do not have access to the Internet or an email address.
Mabuza said these consumers can still contact the Commission.
“To ensure that consumers enjoy their right to be heard, we encourage consumers who do not have access to the internet to utilise our contact centre for assistance. Our agents will create a profile on behalf of the consumer and file the complaint,” she said.
The complaints handling process is explained further on the website: www.thencc.org.za/complaints or contact our contact centre at 012 428 7000. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 09:00
The Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers and the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities Mireille Wenger launched the Western Cape Government’s electricity wheeling toolkit. The toolkit will support municipalities to help fast-track the implementation of third-party electricity wheeling. The toolkit was developed by the Western Cape Government in consultation with industry bodies, municipalities, …
Johannesburg, 23 October 2023 – Volkswagen, in partnership with its Advanced Driving academy, have developed ‘Night School’, the first open-source night driving safety course. The course was launched on the 19th of October 2023 in Pretoria and opens to the public from the 1st of November 2023. South Africa has one of the highest road …
If you find yourself anywhere near Voortrekker Road in Bellville then make sure to stop and take in The Greater Tygerberg Partnership’s (GTP) captivating new mural, “Saved the Bees.” Located at 198 Voortrekker Road, this unique piece of art has been created by local artist Wayne Beukes and aims to raise awareness about the crucial …
Chery South Africa is proud to announce a significant three-year sponsorship agreement with the Lions Rugby Team, strengthening its commitment to supporting local sports and fostering a culture of excellence and performance in South Africa. This remarkable partnership marks the beginning of a promising and exciting journey as Chery South Africa takes pride in becoming …
But the people who work at the libraries in Hanover Park and Bellville are determined to continue creating safe spaces for their communities
Climate change may bring more variable weather but we can reduce the risk of disasters
Over 100 suspects netted in Gauteng police operation
Gauteng police started Operation Safer Festive Season on a high note when they recorded arrests of more than 140 suspects and recovered rifles, including an AK-47, from a man suspected to be a kingpin of illegal mining in the West Rand.
“Police received information about a suspect who is in possession of unlicensed firearms in Bekkersdal, West Rand District. The information was operationalised on the day of Operation Safer Festive Season, 21 October 2023. Upon searching the premises, police from Crime intelligence and Bekkersdal Visible Policing found two unlicensed firearms (R5 rifle and AK47 rifle) and dagga,” said the Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) in a statement on Sunday.
The incident saw a 36-year-old suspect being arrested for unlawful possession of firearms and dealing in dagga.
Furthermore, detectives went on to trace wanted suspects and arrested 56 of them for crimes ranging from rape to fraud.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Police General Bheki Cele, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service General Fannie Masemola and Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela joined the police at a roadblock and illegal mining disruptive operation in Roodepoort.
The operation resulted in more than 85 suspects being arrested for offences that include possession of suspected stolen goods and contravening the Immigration Act.
Generators and drilling machines used by the illegal miners were seized as the police dismantled and disrupted their operation. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 10/23/2023 - 08:46