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‘Mergers and acquisitions’ (M&A) is a broad term that covers any transaction in which one business is absorbed into another, or in which one party buys the controlling shares or business of another party. The transactions may be simple, or they may be complex, requiring a number of interlinked agreements. The terms “mergers” and “acquisitions” …
Dear Editor Government’s statements and actions concerning the controversial Karpowership create the impression that the ANC government is willing to throw all environmental concerns overboard. Part of the 2020 emergency power plan was that these floating power stations would be connected to the national power grid at Richards Bay, Coega and Saldanha Bay. The FF …
Dear Editor On insistence of the FF Plus, political parties submitted their respective legal opinions on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill by tabling it in the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health. In a vote on the matter, the DA followed the FF Plus’s example and rejected the Bill. The IFP and ANC voted in …
Dear Editor When a government is grey listed by the International Financial Action Task Force (FATF) it should serve as a wake-up call. But it made no impression on the ANC. Instead, government is misleading itself and the people about the detrimental impact of the country’s grey list status. The FATF keeps watch over international …
Dear Editor The ever-rising unemployment rate in South Africa is the direct result of the ANC’s miserable failure as government. According to the latest statistics, which were announced today, the unemployment rate currently stands at 32,9%. It was 32,7% in the fourth quarter of 2022. Racially driven legislation, like the Employment Equity Amendment Act, will …
By Dalien Steyn from the FF Plus The rand was the first victim of the latest debacle in which heavy freight containers were reportedly loaded onto the Lady R in the dead of night at Simon’s Town. Ever since, wild accusations have been made. No-one knows whether it was guns and bombs, or assegais and …
Municipality takes over drinking water project meant to have been completed last year
Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has apologised to Dr Mmereka Ntshani for saying she deposed an affidavit with the South African Police in 2019 and declared that her passport was stolen.
Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, says he wants the court application lodged by Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s attorneys to be struck off from the urgent court roll.
Our feet are the foundation of our daily lives, carrying us through countless steps, providing stability, and supporting our entire body weight. Yet, we often neglect their health and well-being, overlooking the vital role they play in our overall mobility and quality of life. That’s where podiatrists come in. In this blog, we will delve …
Water and Sanitation Minister, Mr Senzo Mchunu, has noted, with great concern, the outbreak of Cholera in Hammanskraal and conveys his condolences to families who have lost their loved ones due to the outbreak and wishes a speedy recovery to those who have tested positive and are currently receiving treatment in various medical facilities.
The Hammanskraal community under the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality has been experiencing unreliable and poor-quality potable water supply for an extended period, despite the upgrade of the Temba Water Treatment Plant, to a capacity of 120 megalitres a day (ML/d).
The poor water quality is caused by the failure of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works to meet the desirable final effluent quality for discharge to the Apies River, which in turn, flows into the Leeukraal Dam. The Wastewater Treatment Works is situated upstream of Hammanskraal and has affected the Leeukraal Dam, where the Temba Water Treatment Works abstracts water for treatment and distribution to residents as potable drinking water.
This has over the years, led to the Department of Water and Sanitation instituting a series of enforcement actions (directives) and compliance requirements against the City, for the City to address the pollution from the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works into the Apies River and Leeukraal Dam. After the City failed to respond to the Department's directives, a legal process was instituted against the City by the Department, with the aim of obtaining a court order to force the City to address the failure of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works. This legal process is currently underway and to date, the City has opposed the legal action.
The Department had also directed the City to stop supplying water from the Temba Water Treatment plant to residents of Hammanskraal for human consumption. The City is currently providing potable water to affected communities that were initially supplied by the Temba Water Treatment Plant, through deployment of water tankers.
In 2021 the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) produced a report: “Gauteng Provincial Inquiry into the Sewage Pollution of the City of Tshwane's Rivers and the Roodeplaat Dam”, which recommended, amongst others, that the National Government should take over the water and sanitation function of the City in terms of section 139 (7) of the Constitution, section 63 of the Water Services Act, 1997, and section 19 of the National Water Act ,1998.
The SAHRC recommendations were rejected by the City. The Department engaged with National Treasury for funding for the intervention recommended by the SAHRC, but National Treasury indicated that the City had already been provided with funding for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works, through its Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) allocations. Consequently, the Department is pursuing legal action against the City for a court order to force the City to use its USDG allocations to rehabilitate and upgrade the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works.
In response to the current Cholera outbreak, the Department has extended the scope of the prior existing technical team of experts in water services and regulations to work on an integrated model to address the current outbreak. The technical team from the Department will work directly with the national and provincial Departments of Health and the City of Tshwane, to assist with matters such as water quality investigations from source, taps, stationary tanks in some households and identifying the causes of the disease outbreak.
The technical team will further extend the intensive assessment of the various water supply systems from Magalies and Rand Water Boards to confirm the current drinking quality standards. The Department has recently, confirmed that the dual water systems supplied by Magalies and Rand Water meet the drinking water quality standards, as per the South African National Standards (SANS) 241.
Further, the Department has been continuously carrying out water quality tests at the Temba Water Treatment Works and at water distribution points in Hammanskraal; the latest tests indicate that the drinking water quality from the Temba Water Treatment work does not meet minimum drinking water quality. The water quality challenges are therefore, in central Hammanskraal, from water supplied by the City.
As immediate action, the Minister has deployed the Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala and senior managers of the Department to work with the Gauteng MEC for Health to ensure that work is being carried out effectively.
The Minister will be meeting with the Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Cilliers Brink before 26 May 2023, with the aim of agreeing on the action plan with timeframes, which the technical team would have developed over and above the current intervention support. Amongst others, the action plan will address how the City of Tshwane will rehabilitate and upgrade the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works to the required production of drinking water quality standards. A joint task team between the Department and the City will then be re-affirmed to oversee the works with continuous reporting to the Minister.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Water and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa.
HIV prevention in men through safe voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) has been implemented since 2007 and research now indicates it may help reduce women’s risk of STIs and cervical cancer. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation of male circumcision for HIV prevention has been effective in lowering HIV in both sexes in settings where …
Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has activated technical teams to work with the City of Tshwane and Health Department in response to a Cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria.
Entries for 2023 Championship Boerewors competition now open Shoprite and Checkers are calling all chefs, cooks and boerewors enthusiasts to enter their sizzling recipes into the 31st annual Championship Boerewors competition. Entries close on 16 June 2023 and the winner will walk away with the coveted title of South Africa’s Boerewors Champion and a brand-new …
The country – and KZN in particular – is in dire need of good news, with local challenges and global predictions not portraying a positive outlook. The launch of the community-driven Serenity Hills eco-estate in Margate on the KZN South Coast is exactly the beacon of hope citizens need right now, bringing significant job creation …
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says President Cyril Ramaphosa will no longer pursue a legal application to have the Section 89 panel’s report into his conduct during the Phala Phala incident reviewed and set aside.
Introduction: In today’s digital era, the effective management of documents is crucial for businesses of all sizes. Traditional paper-based document systems can be inefficient, time-consuming, and prone to errors. Fortunately, document management software offers a solution, revolutionising the way organisations handle their documents. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of using document …
Nestled on the renowned Corlett Drive, Nuevo Nailbar stands as a haven of luxury and sophistication in the world of nail care. With a commitment to exceptional customer service and a focus on chic and creative nail designs, it has established itself as a premier destination for those seeking an indulgent pampering experience. From personalised …
Thabo Bester finally added to Home Affairs’s data system after three decades as “an unidentifiable person”
The Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) has kicked off another probe into the affairs of the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) regarding an unaccounted expenditure of Shs139.3 million during a 2021 trip in Namibia.
This query arises from the Auditor General's report for Financial Year 2020/2021. It is noted by the Auditor General that in October 2021, the National Council of Sports (NCS) disbursed Shs186 million to UNF for preparation and participation of the She-Cranes, Uganda national netball team in the 2021 Pent Series and Africa Netball Championship respectively in Namibia held between 29 October and 17 November 2021.
Out of the Shs186 million disbursed, Shs139.3 million was meant for accommodation of the 27-member contingency, while Shs9.6 million was meant for Visa fees, Shs6.7 million for COVID-19 tests, Shs1.7 million for medical tests, Shs5.3 million for participation fees, Shs13.5 million for players' allowances and Shs10 million for team kits.
However, according to the Auditor General's report, a review of the invitation letter from Netball Namibia, the country's netball association revealed that accommodation costs while in Namibia were to be fully covered by the hosts [Namibia].
During the committee probe on Monday, 22 May 2023, the MPs noted that it was fraudulent for the netball federation to present receipts worth Shs139.3 million in respect to accommodation from Safari Hotels Namibia yet the item was reportedly paid for by the host country.
“According to what is on record, accommodation was supposed to be provided by the host. UNF and NCS have presented accountability indicating that they had receipts for accommodation. So we need to know was accommodation provided by the host or not? If so, where are the documents?” committee deputy chairperson, Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, asked.
The NCS General Secretary, Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel, said that the disbursement of the funds for the Namibia trip was based on a requisition formally communicated to them by the UNF President, Sarah Kityo.
“The requisition had the relevant documents which included an invoice from Safari Hotels Namibia of US$39,033 equivalent to Shs139 million… Accountability documents including vouchers were submitted by UNF and we received it and forwarded to relevant committees,” Dr Ogwel said, adding that Council did not know that the Namibian government had taken care of part of the costs until they received a petition from some UNF officials who were suspended by the federation president.
“People who were suspended by the president [Kityo] provided additional information and we noted that the original letter sent from Namibia was actually not forwarded to us and what was forwarded to us did not provide the sponsorship by the Namibian government,” Dr Ogwel added.
To support his argument, Ogwel tabled to the committee all the accountability documents from the federation particularly the invoices, vouchers and receipts on the Shs139 million expenditure.
In response, Kityo refuted reports that the Namibian government fully or partially covered costs and challenged NCS to provide evidence.
“I want NCS to present any proof that African champion paid even for a single bottle of water. This is a 2021 audit query and by now someone from NCS or Ministry of Education should have travelled to Namibia on a fact-finding mission,” she said.
Kityo also denied most of the documents submitted by Dr Ogwel saying “there is a lot of witch hunt when it comes to accountability of Uganda Netball Federation.”
Hon. Basalirwa said the contested documents will be subjected to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and handwriting experts to rule out any cases of forgery.
On 11 May 2023, the committee whilst probing the NCS discovered loopholes in the accountability of Shs100 million allocated to UNF in the Financial Year 2021/2022 for the International Male Netball Championship in South Africa to facilitate the preparation of Uganda's men netball team, the Rock, to participate in the championship in South Africa in September 2021.
Following the discovery, the committee handed the Kityo, Richard Muhumuza (Vice President) and Aidah Nambusi (Treasurer) to the Parliament Police Criminal Investigation Department for further management.
Both Muhumuza and Nambusi pointed fingers at their president for allegedly diverting a huge chunk of the money for her personal use at the expense of the planned activities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
In today’s digital world, traditional pen-and-paper signatures can be time-consuming, inefficient, and impractical for businesses that rely on remote collaborations and streamlined processes. Enter electronic signatures, a secure and legally recognised method of signing documents electronically. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of electronic signatures and how they simplify document workflows, enhance …
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to take a working visit to Lesotho to launch Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
South Africa is seeing renewed interest in a form of property investment: Fractional Ownership. This time in wildlife estates, specifically those close to the Kruger National Park, offering local & global investors the chance to own a piece of a pristine sanctuary in the bush. Many are predicting that this will be one of the …
Danfoss, a multi-national Danish engineering company, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in South Africa, marking three decades of growth and expansion in the region. Founded in 1933 by Danish engineer Mads Clausen, Danfoss has evolved into a global enterprise employing over 42,000 individuals worldwide. The company has recently focused on integrating its local presence in …
