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Leadership and governance in crisis at our universities, Parliament told
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United Nations (UN) ready to assist people affected by deadly Johannesburg blaze
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has underlined support for South Africa in the wake of the deadly fire in Johannesburg on Thursday which killed at least 74 people, including 12 children.
The overnight blaze ripped through a five-storey rundown building in the city centre occupied by homeless people and squatters. Dozens were injured.
The building was among many in the downtown area that have been abandoned and “hijacked” by criminal gangs who rent them out to families.
Sadness and grief
The fire was among the worst in South Africa's history. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who visited the site, described it as a “tragedy” and “a wake-up call”, according to media reports.
The UN Secretary-General was deeply saddened by the news, his spokesperson said in a statement issued later on Thursday.
“In this moment of great sadness and grief, he conveys his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of South Africa,” it said.
Mr. Guterres also wished a prompt recovery to the injured.
He added that the UN Country Team in South Africa stands ready to work with the authorities to provide assistance to those affected by the fire, and to prevent further incidents of this nature.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.
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Joburg fire victims’ families can identify bodies at Diepkoof morgue
Joburg fire victims' families can identify bodies at Diepkoof morgue
Families who lost loved ones in the Johannesburg Usindiso Building fire can go and identify their family members at the Diepkloof mortuary from today.
At least 74 people died in the tragic incident when a fire broke out in the building they were living in on Thursday.
“A family member or relative who wishes to identify their loved one should have their original Identity Document (ID), ID of the deceased or birth certificate if the deceased is a child.
“If the deceased is a foreign national, a passport, asylum seeker certificate or a letter from [the] country of origin confirming who the deceased is and to whom the remains should be handed over to is needed. The Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) is located at 2 Collinder Road Berthsam, Diepkloof, Soweto.
“Identification of the deceased bodies at the Diepkloof FPS will take place on Friday. The facility will also open on Saturday and Sunday from 9am and 3pm. Counselling services will be offered to the bereaved families,” the Gauteng Provincial Health Department said in a statement.
Those who died include at least ten people whose gender could not be identified because of the extent of their burns.
In this regard, the department will use other means in an attempt to identify them.
“The Gauteng FPS will use the Digital Fingerprint System to identify unknown bodies who have visible fingerprints. The system uses biometric scanners and third-party access to the databases of Department of Home Affairs, South African Police Service and National Credit Bureau to identify deceased bodies.
“Bodies that been burnt beyond recognition and without fingerprints will be identified through DNA process,” the department said.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said: “As soon as we learned of the incident, we immediately activated our emergency protocols to ensure that we respond as speedily as possible to those that needed medical attention. The Gauteng Emergency Medical Services has been on the ground contributing to emergency and rescue efforts as part of the provincial disaster management response.
“We have further deployed counselling and other psycho-social support services to compliment interventions from the City of Joburg and provincial department of Social Development”.
Those family members who are looking to trace loved ones can call the toll-free hotline number on 0800 203 886 or direct line during office hours on 0113553048/0112415707.
“Those enquiring would need to provide their personal details including the name and last name of the family member they are tracing,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 08:48
512 views
Prof Jill Adler receives Lifetime Achiever Award
Prof Jill Adler receives Lifetime Achiever Award
The National Research Foundation (NRF) has awarded Witwatersrand University’s Distinguished Professor, Jill Adler, the Lifetime Achiever Award at the 2023 NRF Awards ceremony held on Thursday in Durban.
Introduced to the NRF Awards in 2004, the Lifetime Achiever Award recognises an individual who has demonstrably made extraordinary contributions to the development of science in and for South Africa.
These contributions, according to the NRF, must be of international standard and impact. The NRF is a government mandated research and science development agency.
Adler expressed her gratitude for the special recognition.
“This award for me gives recognition to the importance of educational research and educational research that is grounded in the realities of our mathematics classrooms. It gives meaning to the NRF vision for science and service of society,” she said.
Adler said the NRF has been one of the most important institutions throughout her academic journey.
The Professor was born and raised in Johannesburg and completed a BSc in Mathematics and Psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1972.
She pursued a teaching Diploma at the University of Cape Town in 1973 before taking up a teaching post at Harold Cressy High School in Cape Town.
In 1977, she returned to Johannesburg and joined the SACHED Trust, an educational non-government organisation (NGO) concerned with enriching the quality of education of those disadvantaged in apartheid South Africa.
She first taught mathematics to youth who were out of school following the Soweto uprising in 1976.
“Her work at the NGO over the next 10 years enabled her to further her social justice advocacy, seeking to address the educational inequalities in South Africa by improving mathematics education through the development and evaluation of distance education courses,” the NRF said.
At the same time, she studied for her Master of Education, graduating cum laude in 1985.
It was in 1987 that she moved into academia, lecturing in the Department of Professional Studies at the Johannesburg College of Education for two years before moving to Wits University’s Education Department as lecturer, Head of Department and Professor.
She was also a Chair of Mathematics Education at the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) between 2010 and 2019.
“Prof Adler completed her PhD in 1996 with a thesis that looked at the dynamics of teaching and learning mathematics in multilingual classrooms, specifically examining secondary teachers’ knowledge in this context,” said the NRF.
Her theoretical and practice-based innovations paved the way for new and transformative approaches in mathematics education, addressing two fundamental research problems.
“The complexities and challenges of teaching and learning mathematics in multilingual classrooms, and the enhancement of professional education for mathematics teachers. The latter came to the fore in the mid-1990s with the demand for ‘upgrading’ the qualifications and teaching quality of secondary mathematics teachers in post-apartheid South Africa.”
Working alongside a dedicated cohort of students, she spearheaded efforts to position mathematics education as a robust research domain within the university, and more broadly in the country.
In 2005, Adler led the renowned Marang Centre for Mathematics and Science Education at Wits University.
The centre quickly gained a reputation for excellence in postgraduate research and development, attracting students from across the African continent.
Between 2010 and 2019, as the DSI-NRF SARChI Research and Development Chair in Mathematics Education at Wits, she directed a large professional development project.
The programme reached over 200 secondary mathematics teachers and many learners across 80 schools in Gauteng and researching its impact together with a large research team of doctoral and postdoctoral fellows.
She is an Honorary Professor at Oxford University and University College London both in the United Kingdom.
She has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and four books, co-edited two special journal issues and contributed 50 book chapters, achieving more than 7 000 citations and has published 37 papers that have each been cited at least 37 times.
Over the course of her 45-year career in teaching and academia, she has garnered numerous accolades in recognition of her contributions to education. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 13:30
444 views
Government working to empower women
Government working to empower women
Women’s Month is not only a platform to commemorate the heroic contributions of women in South Africa’s liberation struggle but also serves as a mechanism to assess progress made to date.
“Our government focuses its attention on the rights of women and to assess how far we have come as a nation on the journey towards women empowerment and gender equality,” said Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nomasonto Motaung.
The Deputy Minister was speaking at the Marketing, Advertising and Communications (MAC) Charter B-BBEE Council Women’s Day event held in Sandton on Friday.
She said that government continues to pursue programmes, policies and activities that seek to create a better Africa and a better world.
“Government believes that democracy has registered significant progress in restoring the dignity of women through various measures introduced by government, and this has contributed towards the empowerment of women, including availing more opportunities and access to services for women.”
Government is painfully aware that the struggle for women emancipation is far from over.
“Women still bear a disproportionate burden of the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Poverty and unemployment in South Africa continue to paint and portray a black female face,” she said.
“We are proud to be a country that is renowned as a multi-ethnic society. At the same time, we must all work together to end inequalities, poverty and social fragmentation.”
In 2022, working with the private sector, government appointed and launched the Marketing, Advertising and Communication Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Charter Council.
“We have 14 women in the council and many of whom, are chairpersons and deputies of committees.
“... there is an opportunity to learn from experienced members to impart knowledge and experiences, since the advertising sector is largely youthful.
“The assumption is that these young people, who are mainly women, derive invaluable experience from knowledge that will come from the sector.
“We are here to grow South Africa together and particularly, to grow our media, advertising and communication sector because this is a stream that shapes and is shaped by our national identity, cultures and ambitions.”
Economic growth
The Deputy Minister said South Africa through the MAC Charter Council must focus all its attention on economic growth and the key problems affecting the South African economy.
“One area of interest to us as government and to South Africans at large is that of advertising. It is an open secret that advertising is an integral part of everyday life and continues to be an important influence on people’s behaviour and attitudes, and on-demand creation in the consumer economy.”
Social cohesion
Meanwhile, Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Acting Director-General, Nomonde Mnukwa, said social cohesion, nation building and promoting national identity are all high on the list of South Africa's priorities.
“The pillars to eradicate poverty, unemployment and inequality are based on our quest to achieve a socially cohesive nation,” she told those attending the event.
She added that job creation, reducing unemployment and inequalities are key economic and social challenges facing South Africa.
“This is clearly articulated by the National Development Plan (NDP) vision of a more unified South Africa in which the life experiences of South Africans will progressively undermine and cut across the divisions of race, gender, disability, space and class.
Madoda Dhlamini, Municipal Development Director at JCDecaux, said challenges facing society cannot be addressed in silos.
“[The] empowerment of women must be accelerated, the time is now, tomorrow is too late,” he said.
The event was attended by representatives from various advertising and communications companies, including final year Journalism students from the Tshwane University of Technology.
The MAC Charter Council, is tasked with monitoring transformation of the sector by facilitating the implementation of the B-BBEE sector code.
In addition, the Council, which has representatives from government, women, youth and organised labour, measure transformation progress made by the MAC sector. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 14:42
28 views
Elderly Gugulethu women acclaimed at finish of Women’s Month
“Our own children don’t take care of us, they neglect us. These clubs help us feel accepted and loved” says pensioner.
eXp Realty celebrates milestone of exceeding 1,000 agents in South Africa by hosting a unique Rock The Comma Virtual event with guest speakers from around the globe
eXp Realty®, “the most agent-centric real estate brokerage on the planet™” and the core subsidiary of eXp World Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPI), recently announced it had exceeded 1,000 agents across South Africa, representing an over 74% increase from the 574 total agent count in July 2022. In celebration of the 1,000 South African agent count, …
Gauteng Dept of Transport making inroads
Gauteng Dept of Transport making inroads
Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has reflected on the strides the Department has made during the 2022/23 financial year.
Tabling of the 2022/23 annual report, the MEC said the Department has been bestowed with the most improved Department in the Province on Audit Outcomes for the year under review.
“Our fleet management entity g-Fleet was also recognised for improvements in audit outcomes, while our Gautrain Management Agency maintained its clean audit outcome. All this is the testament to our clear strategy and efforts by our officials to transform this department into a capable arm of the state that is fit to deliver services to the people of our province efficiently and without wastage,” Diale-Tlabela said on Thursday.
In the Department’s pursuit of economic revival, it embarked on significant infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of key roads such as P39/1 and P156/3.
These endeavours have not only contributed to economic resurgence but have also ignited the flames of job creation and community empowerment.
“We recognised the pressing need to address unemployment head-on, a consequence of the pandemic's impact. To this end, we harnessed the power of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), launching initiatives like the COVID-19 Transport Cadet Programme and the Departmental Internship Programme. Through these efforts, we have not only provided employment opportunities but have also nurtured skill development, particularly among our youth, women, and persons with disabilities,” the MEC said.
She affirmed that safety has remained paramount in the Department's endeavours.
“The establishment of impound facilities, the introduction of the Public Transport Arbitration Office, and the implementation of a new Vehicle Number Plate System showcase our resolute commitment to combating crime and ensuring the well-being of all who utilize our transportation systems.
“I am immensely proud to highlight that despite challenges such as cash flow issues, community stoppages, and disruptions from external factors like load shedding, our Department has demonstrated strategic acumen, fostering engagements with stakeholders and forming partnerships within our communities. These interventions have enabled us to navigate these challenges effectively and emerge stronger,” the MEC said.
She said through efficient revenue collection, tariff reviews, and collaborative efforts with stakeholders, the department has achieved financial resilience and this has allowed the Department to maintain a robust revenue contribution to the provincial government.
“This, in turn, strengthens our capacity to continue uplifting our beloved province. The Department of Roads and Transport in Gauteng stands as a beacon of resilience, adaptability, and dedication. Our initiatives have aligned seamlessly with the province's priorities, resulting in tangible contributions to economic growth, job creation, and public safety.
“Our achievements in infrastructure development, smart mobility solutions, and revenue generation reflect our unyielding commitment to the well-being and prosperity of our citizens,” the MEC said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 11:23
253 views
Uncover diverse outdoor adventures on the KZN South Coast this spring!
It’s been a cold winter but with the spring sunshine now luring everyone outdoors, it’s time to start planning some new adventures out in nature – but what to do? Ziplining across a gorge? Riding a horse on a beach? Diving with sharks? Hiking to waterfalls? The KZN South Coast has these – and more! …
Call to educate communities on legislation
Call to educate communities on legislation
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has spoken of the need to educate communities on the recently amended Employment Equity Act.
The Minister was addressing the Chatsworth community and communities from adjacent areas in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Minister spoke to communities on the recently updated Employment Equity Act (EEA), workplace equity, affirmative action, and related topics. He said that there is still a long way to go towards emancipation, and acknowledged that the pace of transformation of workplaces remains at snail’s pace.
Nxesi noted that the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) Report released in June showed that employment equity (EE) in the workplaces is unfolding at a snail pace, with top management still occupied by Whites at 62.9%, followed by Africans at 16.9%.
This, according to CEE is despite the fact that Africans constitute 80% of the national economically active population (EAP), followed by Coloureds at 9.3%, Whites at 8%, and Indians at 2.7%.
He added that the representation of people with disability in the workplaces is an indictment on government.
The Minister also bemoaned the economic sectors that have abandoned their charter commitments to transform, noting that corruption has seemingly taken over and destroyed communities.
“We had to postpone the promulgation of [Employment Equity] EE Regulations to first hear the voices of people. Transformation is painful and not nice,” he said.
The EE Act is interpreted in compliance with the Constitution and in compliance with the international law obligations of the Republic, in particular those contained in the International Labour Organisation Convention, 1958 (No. 111) concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation.
The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO), Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, places an obligation on ILO member countries to elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation and the promotion of equality.
Nxesi emphasised that the Convention prohibits all discrimination exclusion on the basis, including race or colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national or social origin in employment, and requires states to enact legislation that is based on equal opportunities.
“On the other hand, the purpose of the Employment Equity Act is to achieve equity in the workplace by – promoting equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination and implementing affirmative action measures to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by designated groups, in order to ensure their equitable representation in all occupational categories and levels in the workforce.
“In the advancement of elimination of unfair discrimination, the EE Act places the responsibility on the employer to take steps to promote equal opportunity in the workplace by eliminating unfair discrimination in any employment policy or practice,” Nxesi explained.
In the prohibition of unfair discrimination, the Act prescribes that no person may unfairly discriminate, directly or indirectly, against an employee, in any employment policy or practice, on one or more grounds.
These include race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, HIV status, conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language and birth.
The next EE workshop will be held in Cape Town in the Western Cape on 13 September 2023.
The EE workshops target employers or heads of organisations, academics, assigned senior managers, consultative forum members, human resource practitioners, trade unions, employees and other interested stakeholders.
EE reporting season opens
Meanwhile, the department has announced that 2023 EE reporting season opens on 1 September 2023 for both manual and online reporting.
“In terms of reporting timeframes, the manual reporting will close on 2 October 2023 and the online reporting closes on 15 January 2024. SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 12:02
237 views
The importance of the right funding and support to grow your business
By Monique Chinnah, Senior Manager: SimplyBiz at Nedbank For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), securing capital is a crucial step towards growth and success. However, navigating the world of funding can be challenging, with a wide selection of sources to consider, each with its own benefits and risks. While business loans or mainstream finance options …
Protect Farmers Against Loadshedding
Dear Editor Following a sustained public campaign by the DA in which we called for urgent action to cushion farmers against the debilitating impact of loadshedding, we cautiously welcome the announcement made by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, on a new Agro Energy Fund (AEF). The AEF is a …
Deputy President concludes working visit to South Sudan
Deputy President concludes working visit to South Sudan
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has concluded a successful working visit on Thursday to South Sudan.
The purpose of the visit was to assess the latest developments and progress in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
This is where they discussed challenges to the peace process, and discussed solutions with all stakeholders.
“A second, but critical objective of the Deputy President’s visit was to strengthen long-standing bilateral relations between South Africa and South Sudan,” the Deputy President’s Office said.
During his visit, the Deputy President, as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to South Sudan, met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
“President Salva Kiir raised concern regarding the implications that the ongoing conflict may have in neighbouring countries and the region at large.”
He outlined the challenges hindering the implementation of the R-ARCSS and reemphasised the need for South Africa to be more involved in the peace process by assisting the various parties to resolve their disputes.
Deputy President Mashatile also held talks with four of South Sudan’s five Vice Presidents.
“In the main, the Vice Presidents acknowledged remaining gaps and challenges to the full implementation of the R-ARCSS including lack of required financial resources, the arms embargo and sanctions imposed on the government of South Sudan by the United Nations (UN).”
Despite this, the Vice Presidents also appreciated that notable milestones had been achieved on the road to lasting peace.
“A key milestone to the achievement of peace in South Sudan is the holding of the country’s first democratic elections since its independence in 2011.
“Holding this founding election is a goal whose importance is acknowledged by all the participants in South Sudan’s ongoing national dialogue.”
The Deputy President had engagements with various Ministers in charge of critical portfolios and also spoke to Cabinet Affairs and the High-Level Standing Committee for the Implementation of the R-ARCSS.
The country’s second-in-command also held extensive consultations with regional and global multilateral formations with a role to play in resolving the conflict in the country.
Among these were the African diplomatic corps in Juba, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development-East Africa Regional Economic Community (IGAD), Troika- Ambassadors of the USA, United Kingdom and Norway, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
“Deputy President Mashatile commended South Sudan on the progress made thus far and reaffirmed South Africa’s support for the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU).”
Additionally, he called on strengthened commitment by the RTGoNU and all other relevant parties to the R-ARCSS to implement its outstanding provisions, particularly the security arrangements.
These include community disarmament, demobilisation of ex-combatants and their reintegration into peaceful civilian life, and the integration of remaining combatant forces into a national force with a single command structure.
“Failure to find common ground on these and other contentious points will keep South Sudan in limbo, and its economic development as well as the development of its people will be stillborn.”
During his three-day stay, the Deputy President also took time to lay a wreath at the Dr John Garang Mausoleum in honour of South Sudan’s founding leader, and bestowed medals on the South African Police Service (SAPS) contingent stationed in the country as part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission.
In his last act before departure, the Deputy President paid a courtesy call on two of South Sudan’s Elders and veterans of liberation.
“In conclusion, Deputy President Mashatile made a call to all parties to adhere to the revised deadlines of the roadmap to a peaceful and democratic end to the current transitional period and the holding of national elections by December 2024 as envisaged.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 09:27
117 views
South Africa – Fire in a Johannesburg building
We were deeply saddened to learn of the fire that broke out in a building in Johannesburg on August 31, killing a very large number of people.
France offers its heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and loved ones. We wish those injured a speedy recovery.
France stands shoulder to shoulder with the people and authorities of South Africa at this difficult time.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of France Diplomatie - Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères.