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City of Cape Town libraries revert to pre-pandemic borrowing policy
The City of Cape Town has announced that the original borrowing privileges at its libraries will revert to pre-pandemic arrangements from next month.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries extended the number of items that patrons could borrow, as well as the borrowing period.
However, from 1 February 2024 borrowing privileges will revert to pre-pandemic arrangements. In addition, printed newspapers and magazines will be discontinued as their subscriptions come to an end.
“During the pandemic, borrowing privileges were extended to a one month lending period and a maximum of 20 items for all borrowers. Those were extraordinary times and the city made the adjustment to benefit our patrons who couldn’t access the library or materials as readily.
“The longer borrowing period means other patrons wait longer to enjoy all the material our libraries offer. It also meant fines accumulated quickly due to the higher number of items that could be borrowed,” the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross said on Tuesday.
Prior to the pandemic, the frequency of access to available material was higher and could circulate as often as 24 times a year (twice per month), whereas at present it can only circulate 12 times.
“We want all our patrons to enjoy as much of our libraries’ offerings as possible. Therefore, the number of items that can be borrowed will go back to 12 for an adult and seven for children for a borrowing period of two weeks with an opportunity to renew the items for a longer period. This will help us provide a better and more efficient service,” said Van der Ross.
The change will also ease fines on patrons. Patrons with 20 overdue items quickly reached the maximum fine limit on the system, resulting in their accounts being blocked.
“This discouraged the return of overdue material and affected circulation, as patrons do not want to borrow material for fear of not being able to pay once the material becomes overdue; also for fear of being blocked on the system.
“It is anticipated that this change will also reduce annual losses, as staff will contact patrons sooner to return overdue material. It will also reduce the risk of accumulating fines. City libraries offer a reservation service, which allows patrons to reserve popular items that are always out on loan.
“By shortening the borrowing period, patrons are encouraged to prioritise the popular material they truly want to borrow and return them promptly for others to enjoy, thus reducing waiting times,” the City said.
Patrons are also advised that the provincial grant for printed newspapers and magazines will be cut from this year, which means libraries will only have electronic copies available via Pressreader, free of charge for all library members.
Patrons are able to access this resource from their desktops, as well as from smart mobile devices by visiting the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) at https://opac,capetown.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 01/09/2024 - 12:40
City of Cape Town workers are on site to fix burst pipe
Minister hands over outdoor gym in Mpumalanga
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa has handed over an outdoor gym and sporting clothes to a community in Mpumalanga.
“Government’s intervention to build outdoor gyms in Royal Great Places is a commitment to develop sport in rural communities. Further to this, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is also building multipurpose sports courts in rural and township communities,” the Minister said on Tuesday.
He said historically, rural communities have lacked these sport and recreational facilities.
“This has meant that there are not enough resources available in these communities for people, and the youth in particular, to exercise and play sport. By focusing on sport development in rural communities, we are inspiring communities to live active lifestyles.
“We are also addressing the issue of youths needing to go to towns and cities to play sport, where there are more resources. By prioritising sport development in rural communities, we are also working to ensure that sport talent is identified in these communities, and that sport talent is given opportunities to flourish. It is in communities such as KwaMhlanga where the next Trevor Nyakane or Caster Semenya will be discovered,” Kodwa said.
He said the outdoor gym, which is located in Royal Great Places, means that communities can exercise in a safe environment, and the gym equipment can be well looked after.
“This year, South Africa celebrates 30 years of freedom. One of the mandates of our government over the past 30 years has been to ensure social transformation in South African society through promoting social cohesion, social integration, and social inclusion.
“Sport plays a critical role in realising this goal. Just as President Nelson Mandela said, sport unifies people in ways little else can. Sport brings hope where there was once despair,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 01/09/2024 - 13:26
The Hollywood Foundation is thrilled to unveil the eagerly awaited return of its highly successful “Back to School” campaign. With a remarkable R8 million pledge, the campaign aims to support parents and empower learners from diverse communities across South Africa, at the beginning of the new school year by providing them with essential school supplies. …
SA can still expect loadshedding
Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has reiterated that while Eskom is working hard on improving its generation system, citizens can still expect load shedding.
Providing an outlook on Eskom’s generation capabilities during a media briefing on Tuesday in Pretoria, the Minister explained that the majority of units remain unreliable and this is being addressed through the planned maintenance that Eskom is conducting routinely.
Due to legacy issues including under investment at Eskom and the entity not having sufficiently planned for maintenance, South Africa’s grid is unreliable.
“We will have periods of days of no load shedding and there will be days of load shedding. Eskom has announced its summer outlook and it makes the point that we should not be at more than Stage 4 level of load shedding.
“While demand was low during the week 22- 29 December 2023, Eskom was working to address issues of its fleet and used the opportunity to carry out planned maintenance.
“We have been working during the festive season to ensure that we address issues of the fleet to continue to perform but also readying the fleet to ensure that once there is a ramp up of demand, the units are able to return back to service and remain in service while delivering efficient megawatts (MW),” Ramokgopa said.
The Minister pointed out that Eskom is beginning to decrease its planned maintenance, as they are expecting demand to increase.
While in December 2022 South Africa experienced load shedding, Eskom had three units back last December at Kusile, which ensured that there were periods of no load shedding.
“If you had to look at the work that has been done at Eskom, they have reduced repeat failures. We have additional buffer for instances of a cluster of units failing where you do not have to initiate load shedding or if you do, it is not at intense levels.
“Unit 1 at Kusile experienced significant delays in relation to the timeline to return to service, which was set for June last year but it returned five months later due to outage slips. We are confident that the work that has been done by the generation team has ensured that we will not have a repeat when we want to return unit 2, which is currently out,” he said.
The Minister reminded citizens that Koeberg unit 1 and 2 were extending the license of the only nuclear power station in the country.
“We had to do a significant amount of work to meet the regulatory requirements and compliance so we can get the license extensions… so these units were out. As part of this robust exercise, unit 1 in Koeberg is now on full load. It has passed the full load tests. There is a plethora of tests that need to be run and the test was passed on 30 December.
“Now unit 1 in Koeberg is unleashing the MWs that are required and we hope it will continue to do that for the next 20 years. Another development is the synchronisation of Kusile Power Station’s unit 5.
“That power is intermittent. It is doing a number of tests, and it will go into full commercial operation for an average period of six months so they continue to do the tests but as they continue to do the tests, it does give us MWs,” Ramokgopa said.
“Unit 5 is running at 60% and there are a lot of things that need to be done such as balancing and optimisation tests so that we are sure when the unit is in commercial operation so essentially giving us MWs uninterrupted.”
Integrated Resource Plan
The Minister called on the public to make submissions on the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2023 that was issued by Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, for public comment in Government Gazette no 49974 of 04 January 2024.
“I want to urge that your comments are not restricted to public commentary, engagements and with the media. That does not amount to a submission. A submission means you make a written response of ideas of what you think of the IRP and submit it as required.
“As it stands, the IRP represents the views of Cabinet and we want to know what the public thinks. I want to encourage you to make submissions and as and when the DMRE offers an opportunity to make oral representation, I encourage you to do that as well,” Ramokgopa said.
The IRP is an electricity generation plan that seeks to ensure security of electricity supply by balancing supply with demand, while taking into account the environment and total cost of supply.
The purpose of this publication is to solicit public comments on the assumptions, input parameters, scenarios, and observations made. Comments submitted will be considered when drafting the final policy adjusted plan, which will map out the future energy mix for the country. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 01/09/2024 - 12:22
Minister refutes allegations in OUTA report
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, has assured South Africans that he has never used any money from any of his department’s entities to fund the South African Communist Party (SACP), as suggested in a report by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).
Addressing a media briefing in Pretoria on Monday, the Minister refuted allegations that he received personal kickbacks from service providers to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or any of the other entities falling under his departments.
His assertions follow a report by OUTA alleging that service providers appointed to administer the NSFAS’ new direct payment system paid him millions of rands in kickbacks.
The report also alleges that payments were made to NSFAS board chair Ernest Khosa as well as at least R1 million to Nzimande’s party, the South African Communist Party (SACP).
“I therefore wish to dismiss this baseless insinuation by OUTA, some organisations, including some sections of the media, that I as Minister was involved in some form of corruption at NSFAS. These are all lies that emanate from a malicious fight back campaign. My conscience is clear, and I have nothing to hide or fear.
“As stated in my statement on 5 January, I reserve my rights to take the necessary legal action and I have voluntarily decided that I am going to subject myself to the relevant legal processes and ethics bodies of the African National Congress (ANC) and the SACP,” the Minister said.
The Minister highlighted his track record in fighting corruption at NSFAS and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
“My fight against corruption and maladministration dates back to the appointment of the Administrator at NSFAS where disciplinary processes were initiated against some employees following the discovery of some wrongdoing and financial misconduct by these employees.
“With the current NSFAS Board, I have supported their initiatives to deal with ghost students who were benefiting from the scheme irregularly. I also directed the Board to implement the recommendations of the Werksman Report, without fear not any favour. Part of these recommendations is the termination of the contracts of the direct payment service providers,” Nzimande said.
He noted that the SACP has already made its stance known on the false allegations contained in the OUTA statement and rejected them.
“I also wish to place it on record that I do a lot of party-political fundraising, especially for the South African Communist Party as is the case I am sure with leaders of all our political parties.
“However, with the strict guidance from the SACP, I am not permitted to raise funds from entities under our departments or knowingly from service providers in that space.
“As Minister, I also wish to remind the country that I have absolutely no role or direct influence in determining the allocation of training funds by any of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), including the Services SETA that is being mentioned in the aforementioned statement,” he said.
Nzimande emphasised that the allegations against him and the attacks on the chairperson of the NSFAS board are part of a nefarious fight-back campaign that is linked to success and measures to fight corruption and ensure clean governance at NSFAS.
“This campaign includes threats to the life and person of the NSFAS Chairperson. You would recall that a finding was made by Werksmans Attorneys that the appointment of four direct payment service providers was irregular and that in line with the recommendations of the Werksmans report, the contracts of these services were to be terminated and that in doing so, we had to ensure that the students are not affected negatively.
“It is our view therefore that the leaked recordings are part of a nefarious fight-back campaign that is meant to undermine and frustrate the decision of the NSFAS Board to start with the legal proceedings to terminate the contracts of these four direct payment solution service providers, as recommended by the Werksmans report,” the Minister said.
He said the publishing of this report and leaking of the recording is calculated to disrupt the smooth start to the academic year and have no regard for the plight and well-being of poor and working class students.
As part of his oversight responsibilities over NSFAS, the Minister will on Wednesday meet the Board of NSFAS to receive progress on the 2024 application process, the finalisation of the 2023 disbursements, the implementation of the accommodation pilot project and the phased implementation of the Comprehensive Funding Model, particularly the funding of the missing middle through the NSFAS Loan Scheme.
“I wish to assure the people of our country that I stand firm on my commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring clean governance at NSFAS and all the entities under my departments and will not allow any organisation or individual to distract me from this task.
“I further wish to assure the people of our country and in particular, the students and stakeholders in our Post School Education and Training sector that I remain committed to ensuring that we have a smooth start to the 2024 academic year. I will be having the first of two press conferences later this week to inform the country and our stakeholders on our preparedness and readiness for the start of the 2024 academic year,” Nzimande said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 01/09/2024 - 09:33
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Drugs seized at OR Tambo airport
Customs officers of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have seized 23kg of narcotics disguised as moulded artwork with an estimated street value of R37 million at the cargo sheds of the OR Tambo International Airport.
The customs officers were doing their inspection rounds last week when they came across a box headed for New Zealand.
The box contained items of moulded artwork, which looked suspicious. The officers used a narcotics test kit and some of the items tested positive for crystal meth, which weighed 10kg.
A test by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on other items tested positive for fentanyl, which weighed 13kg. The narcotics were handed over the SAPS for further investigation.
In a statement on Saturday, SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter praised the vigilance of the customs officers who detected the narcotics.
“SARS Customs will spare no effort in stopping the export or import of narcotics and any illegal substance which cause so much pain and hardship for families, particularly their youth.
“Drug smugglers must know that our Customs Division is fully committed to this objective, and will act without fear or favour against those criminals involved in the drugs trade. They must know that they will face the full might of the law,” Kieswetter said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 01/08/2024 - 09:27
Eastern Cape mother arrested for allegedly murdering baby
Police have arrested a 27-year-old woman for allegedly murdering her 11-month-old baby girl in the Eastern Cape.
“It is alleged that on Friday, 5 January 2024, a man went into the bushes at the Nonyevu locality in Port St Johns to urinate when he found the baby in a refuse bag. He alerted the members of the community, and the mother was traced,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Sunday.
According to police information, on 29 December 2023 the infant got sick and passed away at about 5am on 1 January 2024.
It is believed that the mother wrapped the child with a towel, put her in a plastic bag and threw her in the bushes at Nonyevu locality where she was living at the time.
“The mother was assaulted by the community and is hospitalised. She faces a charge for murder and will appear in the Port St Johns Magistrate Court. A post mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” SAPS said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 01/08/2024 - 09:36
City of Ekurhuleni warns public of jobs scam
The City of Ekurhuleni has warned the public to be aware of job scam messages that are being sent through social media purporting to be from the city.
The city said its job application process is not conducted through social media platforms or social media messaging.
“Our positions are strictly advertised on our website: www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/vacancies where permanent, temporal and fixed-term vacancies are advertised.
“The city strongly advises the public not to respond to unsolicited offers of employment or those who seek information claiming to work for or to be associated with the City of Ekurhuleni,” the city said in a statement.
The public is urged to note the following to avoid being scammed:
nosihle
Mon, 01/08/2024 - 09:41
2024 SADC Media Awards open for entries
Government has reminded media practitioners to submit their entries for the 2024 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Media Awards.
The SADC Media Awards are open to journalists from the SADC member states for four categories: photo, print, television and radio journalism.
“To promote regional integration and cooperation (cross-border issues), the awards aim to recognise excellence in journalism in the area of print, photo, television, radio as well as to encourage media practitioners in member states to cover issues pertaining to the region,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Monday.
The SADC Media Awards were established in 1996 to recognise best media work in disseminating information on SADC to support the process of regional co-operation and integration in the region.
The awards were established following a decision by the SADC Council of Ministers to establish a sector that deals with matters relating to, amongst others, information, culture and sport.
These awards are one of the mechanisms to ensure a link, coordination and synchronisation between formal structures of SADC governments, civil society, academia, labour and the media.
Journalists who wish to enter the competition can access more information about the competition from the www.sadc.int and www.gcis.gov.za websites.
The entry form and the 2024 competition rules can be found on the links below:
Entry Form: Entry form-English.docx_0.pdf (gcis.gov.za).
Rules of the Competition: https://www.gcis.gov.za/sites/default/files/2024%20Rules%20of%20Competition%20-ENGLISH.pdf
Entries need to be posted or delivered to Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) or any GCIS office nationwide marked:
MDDA Offices GCIS Offices
SADC Media Awards Entry or SADC Media Awards Entry
GSM Building Government Communications
SABC Auckland Park Campus 1035 Francis Baard Street
Johannesburg Hatfield, Pretoria
2006 0028
No entries must be submitted later than 29 February 2024. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 01/08/2024 - 13:38
Local business owners scupper latest effort by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to remove water
Four more suspects arrested for New Year’s killings in Soshanguve
Four more suspects have been arrested for the killing in Soshanguve that claimed the lives of four people, including a teenager on New Year's Day.
They were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation by the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Pretoria and the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS).
“The suspects, three males and one female, were arrested on the night of 06 January 2024 in various areas around Pretoria, which brings the total number of arrested suspects to six. Three firearms, an AK 47 and two pistols were confiscated.
“The suspects will appear in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s court on Tuesday 9 January 2024 on charges of murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Monday.
The two previously arrested suspects, Sipho Kgomo and Tshepo Mosemeni, will appear in court again on 12 January 2024. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 01/08/2024 - 10:45
Fake TikTok account impersonating Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana
The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) has cautioned members of the public and stakeholders of a fake TikTok account impersonating Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana.
The TikTok account “Pinky_Kekana3” has been fraudulently using the Deputy Minister’s name and photos while disseminating untrue promises of teaching clients to trade and quickly make amounts ranging from R56 000 to R67 000.
The department said this is false and “intended to swindle and scam innocent citizens”.
“For the record, Deputy Minister Kekana does not have a TikTok account and the Ministry and DPME do not offer any educational trading programmes about making money.
“Therefore, the public and stakeholders are urged to desist from following or communicating with the TikTok account “Pinky_Kekana3” to avoid falling victim to unscrupulous fraudsters,” the department said on Sunday.
The official social media accounts of the Deputy Minister are as follows:
-SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 01/08/2024 - 09:47
Alexandra woman defies the odds
A love for dance has helped Nkateko Emily Mabasa defy the odds to become a community builder.
And we all know just how important a role communities can play in shaping who we become tomorrow. However, like with most things in life, it has not been an easy path for Mabasa.
The now 33-year-old Mabasa was diagnosed with mild spastic diplegia/diparesis Cerebral Palsy. This form of disability is characterised by frequent spasms and muscle tensing which saw her undergo an operation when she was seven years old.
While she had to use a wheelchair as well as go for physiotherapy throughout her school years, Mabasa’s medical condition did not stop her and she learned to walk, using crutches.
“I had difficulty speaking, which required that I get speech therapy. At 12, I was given my first set of crutches, which I have continued to rely on. These crutches has served as an indispensable aid in my day-to-day activities, and I have come to regard them as an essential part of my life,” Mabasa explained.
Growing up in Alexandra township in Gauteng, Mabasa described herself as someone who loves life, and always pursues her goals with vigour.
Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design, Mabasa is a strong believer of an inclusive and secure society, which drives her to show everyone that there is so much “beauty in our differences”.
It is not surprising that with her background, Mabasa is the founder of Phoenix Alexandra - an organisation that provides a range of activities for children and young adults to participate in. These activities include dancing, singing, drama/acting, spelling bees, modelling, a reading club, poetry, and chess club.
The idea to set up the organisation came after her friend, Joseph Setlhake, asked her to arrange a dance group to entertain people at an event in November 2020.
“Knowing that I am a dancer, he thought it would be a good idea to have me handle it. At first, we only had three people, but the number of children quickly grew to 40 before the event. Despite having only six weeks to prepare, we managed to pull it off, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
The organisation’s programmes cater for children between the ages of six and 17, as well as young adults who are committed to their growth and eager to learn about a positive body image, kindness, and the value of hard work.
Challenges
Despite the challenges associated with running an organisation, Mabasa’s Phoenix Alexandra has emerged stronger and continues to work with children to help cultivate their interests.
“As a community leader with a disability, I face challenges in securing funding and space for rehearsals and activities. I have been funding Phoenix Alexandra since its inception, and we utilise a limited space in front of my house for our rehearsals and activities.
“Additionally, to raise funds, I take bookings for motivational talks at corporate events. We have received support from parents through small donations, enabling our organisation to go on educational trips and do local performances for the community in the three years since our establishment,” she said.
The organisation is always looking to form partnerships with companies or like-minded organisations.
By working together, “we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and create a more inclusive society,” she said.
Making a difference
Apart from having established the organisation, Mabasa is a Gold Award holder in South Africa for the President's Award for Youth Empowerment/Duke of Edinburgh International Award.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is the patron-in-chief of the President’s Award for Youth Empowerment. It is an initiative that encourages young South Africans to embark on a life changing journey that will mould them into responsible and committed individuals.
The Duke of Edinburgh award for its own part, dates back to 1956 and was initially intended for boys between the ages of 14 and 18 to assist in their development post World War 2. In 1958, the initiative was expanded to include girls.
In the 1980s, the scope of the award was broadened to include a skills section and the age limit extended to age 24. In 1994, the award programme was re-branded to cover the entire scope of youth empowerment. The award encourages young people from various backgrounds to become responsible, active citizens within communities.
Mabasa also served as a Director for The President's Award for Youth Empowerment/Duke of Edinburgh International Award Gauteng Youth Committee from 2018 to 2019.
“I am an entrepreneur, poet, dancer, choreographer, fashion designer, motivational speaker, and model. In 2017, I was recognised as a role model by the Valhalla Arts Tributes Awards, and in 2023, I was awarded the Sunday World Unsung Hero for the youth in Sports, Arts, and Culture award. These achievements have motivated me to continue making a difference in the lives of others,” she gushes.
Mabasa’s comments follow on the back of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s address to the Representative Council of Learners Conference last year, in which she said that in the 21st century, South African youth must play a critical role in shaping the country’s future.
“As the generation that will inherit and lead the nation, youth have the potential to drive positive change, overcome societal challenges, and build a more inclusive and prosperous South Africa,” said the Minister in June 2023.
Mabasa is also the author of “Celebrating our differences embracing my superpowers”, a children’s book on disability.
Asked what the future holds for her organisation, Mabasa envisions expanding the scope of the organisation's services to encompass a broader range of underprivileged communities.
“This strategic move is aimed at serving a broader base of individuals who are in dire need of our services. Pursuing this goal, we remain committed to our core values of excellence, compassion, and professionalism.”
Her advice to young people, especially those living in townships and with disabilities, is that “every decision you make can influence your life.”
“Choose wisely and never let uncertainty prevent you from moving forward - because everything starts in your mind. I embrace my disability, but I never let it define my life.” - SAnews.gov.za
Janine
Mon, 01/08/2024 - 10:57
New African magazine (www.NewAfricanMagazine.com) released its annual listing of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023. The list celebrates the achievements and contributions of Africans from various fields and sectors, who have made a positive impact on the continent and the world.
The list features a diverse and inspiring group of men and women, who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, leadership, resilience, and vision in their respective domains. They include politicians, entrepreneurs, industrialists, environmentalists, creatives, scientists, educators, sports personalities, and more.
The list also reflects the shifting trends and priorities in Africa, as the continent faces new challenges and opportunities in the post-pandemic era. Creatives dominate the ranking with 31 representatives, including singer Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weekend, filmmaker Alice Diop and writer Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah.
The second category with the highest number of entries was the Business section, with 25 entries. The section included two behemoths from DFIs, supporting a private sector approach to investing: Samaila Zubairu from Africa Finance Corporation and the President of Afreximbank, Benedict Oramah, undoubtedly Africa's juggernaut from the last few years leading Africa's transformation. Also on the list is the former CEO of Eskom and whistleblower who nearly paid with his life André de Ruyter.
Nigeria was the country most represented on the list, highlighting the country's dominance in the creative sector and business. William Ruto, the President of Kenya, and Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria, were the only heads of state to make it, along with the Guinean military leader Mamady Doumbouya. Doumbouya created quite a stir at this year's UN General Assembly and appears to have found a solution around the Simandou mining saga.
With Climate Change at the top of the agenda, the list features several players in the environmental space, such as James Mwangi, formerly from Dalberg Group who has set up his own venture fund investing in climate related businesses, and Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
In the media, we have two media leaders from Côte d'Ivoire, Fabrice Sawegnon, founder of communications agency Voodoo, and Daniel Ahaoussa, serial entrepreneur and founder of a number of websites in West and Central Africa. Also included are the journalist Alan Kasujja, the BBC journalist, and Branko Brkic, founder of Daily Maverick, arguably the most powerful media in South Africa today.
And in sports, record breakers Faith Kipyegon and Kelvin Kiptum make it, as well as the Springboks team, under the leadership of their captain Siya Kolisi. Patrice Motsepe, the President of CAF, a close friend of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and an increasingly influential voice in sports, is also included.
The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023 is a special edition of New African magazine, which offers a comprehensive and insightful overview of the lives and achievements of the selected individuals. The magazine also provides a platform for the readers to learn from their stories, and to be inspired by their examples.
Download the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023 special edition of New African: https://apo-opa.co/4aL1VB7
The 100 Most Influential Africans 2023 List:
Politics and Public Service
William Ruto
Ibrahima Cheikh Diong
Sidi Ould Tah
Akinwumi Adesina
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Bola Tinubu
Mamady Doumbouya
Ousmane Sonko
Nadia Fettah Alaoui
Tsitsi Masiyiwa
Tidjane Thiam
Business
Mohamed Kande
Sim Tshabalala
Karim Beguir
Didier Acouetey
Olugbenga Agboola
Samaila Zubairu
Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah
Ralph Mupita
Ibrahim Sagna
Simon Tiemtoré
Jules Ngankam
Riham ElGizy
André de Ruyter
Aliko Dangote
Ham Serunjogi
Serge Ekué
Bahija Jallal
Coura Sène
Bernard Koné Dossongui
Hassanein Hiridjee
Shola Akinlade
James Mwangi
Pascal Agboyibor
Science and Academia
Anna Adeola Makanju
Chao Tayiana Maina
Nemat Talaat Shafik
Ismahane Elouafi
Moungi Bawendi
Timnit Gebru
Environmental
James Irungu Mwangi
Ephraim Mwepya Shitima
Wanjira Mathai
Rashid Sumaila
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema
Dr Musonda Mumba
Creative
Kaouther Ben Hania
Danai Gurira
Ncuti Gatwa
Black Coffee
Tyla Laura Seethal
Temilade “Tems” Openiyi
Lesley Lokko
Mulenga Kapwepwe
Alice Diop
Wanuri Kahiu
Bassem Youssef
Malenga Mulendema
Jadesola Osiberu
Editi Effiong
Ali Said Alamin Mandhry
Abel "The Weekend" Tesfaye
Pretty Yende
Julie Mehretu
Pierre Thiam
Teju Cole
Thebe Magugu
David Diop
Burna Boy
Serge Attukwei Clottey
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
Aïda Muluneh
Omoyemi Akerele
Mariam Issoufou Kamara
Victor Ekpuk
DJ Snake
Gandhi “Maitre Gims” Djuna
Media
Claude Grunitzky
Chioma Nnadi
Edward Enninful
Alan Kasujja
Wode Maya
Anton Harber
Khabane “Khaby” Lame
Charity Ekezie
Moses “Uncle Mo” Kiboneka
Branko Brkic
Tomiwa Aladekomo
Marie Mbullu
Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard
Daniel Ahaoussa
Fabrice Sawegnon
Sports
Francis Ngannou
Faith Kipyegon
The Springboks, led by captain Siya Kolisi
Patrice Motsepe
Kelvin Kiptum
Victor Osmihen
Biniam Girmay
Yassine Bounou
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of New African Magazine.
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About New African Magazine:
Published continuously since 1966, the English language monthly has consistently brought an African point of view to international news. It is the essential magazine for government officials, businessmen, professionals and Africa-watchers. New African is distributed in over 100 countries, and consulted whenever Africa is mentioned. The leading commentator on African affairs and Africa's best selling magazine.
The December / January 2024 issue of New African is one of the biggest of the year, most of it crammed with scintillating profiles and high-quality portraits of the best and brightest Africans of 2023. This issue will once again be a sure-fire source of animated discussion within Africa and abroad as readers discuss our choice of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023.
As the opening of the 2024 academic year approaches, many prospective tertiary students find themselves without the means to afford their studies. As the last Nelson Mandela once said, “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, but how does one afford to educate themselves with the high price …
BAL's Expanded Fourth Season Will Feature Record 48 Games in Pretoria; Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal and Kigali, Rwanda; Fans Can Visit BAL.NBA.com to Register Their Interest in Tickets; 30 Aspiring Players from Africa, Europe, the U.S. and Around the World to Attend BAL Combine in Rabat, Morocco Jan. 5-7.
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today announced that the league's expanded fourth season will tip off on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2024 BAL season will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a record 48 games in Pretoria; Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; and Kigali, Rwanda over four months, marking the first BAL games in South Africa and the first time the league will play games in four different countries. Fans can register their interest in tickets to games in all four markets at BAL.NBA.com.
During the 2024 BAL season, the 12 teams will be divided into three conferences of four teams each. Each conference will play a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice. The inaugural Kalahari Conference group phase will take from Saturday, March 9 – Sunday, March 17 at the SunBet Arena. The Nile Conference group phase will take place from Friday, April 19 – Saturday, April 27 at Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex in Cairo. The Sahara Conference group phase will take place from Saturday, May 4 – Sunday, May 12 at the Dakar Arena in Dakar. The top two teams from each conference and the top two third-place teams from across the three conferences will travel to Kigali for four seeding games followed by an eight-game, single-elimination Playoffs and Finals from Friday, May 24 – Saturday, June 1.
The BAL also today announced that the league will host a Combine in Rabat, Morocco from Friday, Jan. 5 – Sunday, Jan. 7, marking the league's first Combine in Africa after previous editions in New York City and Paris. The three-day scouting event, which will be held at the Ibn Yassine Omnisports Hall, will feature 30 aspiring players from Africa, Europe, the U.S. and around the world taking part in anthropometric and athletic testing, positional skill development, and 5-on-5 games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts. Former NBA player Robert Pack will serve as Combine Camp Director.
“We are thrilled to play the first BAL games in Pretoria, South Africa and to return to Dakar, Cairo and Kigali, where we've seen tremendous fan engagement over the past three seasons,” said Fall. “As we get ready for the 2024 BAL season, we remain committed to continuing to improve the quality of our on-court product, and this Combine in Rabat will once again showcase top-flight players, including from across the African Diaspora, who can contribute significantly to BAL teams and further establish the BAL as a world-class professional basketball league.”
On Jan. 5 as part of the Combine, the BAL will host a U-23 “BAL4HER” identification camp that will bring together 20 female players and four female coaches from across Morocco to participate in on-court basketball development programming. The camp is part of a series to identify 20 of the top female players from across Africa who will participate in a five-day camp in Kigali in conjunction with the 2024 BAL Playoffs and Finals. The league will also host a coaching clinic for 200 local coaches. BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, FIBA Africa and BAL Board President Anibal Manave, and 2011 NBA champion and BAL Ambassador Ian Mahinmi will attend the Combine and interact with all of the participants.
During his 13-year NBA career, Pack played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Bullets, New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Hornets. He previously served as head coach of Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in the BAL and as an assistant coach for the LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards in the NBA.
Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand and Wilson will return as BAL Foundational Partners. The league's roster of world-class marketing partners also includes Afreximbank, Hennessy and RwandAir.
The 12 BAL teams, conferences, game schedule and additional information about the 2024 BAL season will be announced in the coming months.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Contact:
Edwin Eselem
Basketball Africa League
+221 78 615 42 87
EEselem@theBAL.com
About the BAL:
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its fourth season in March 2024. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside North America. Fans can follow the BAL (@theBAL) on Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3TQoHlc), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3TNa7e0), X (https://apo-opa.co/47j0yqo), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3twvshm) and register their interest in receiving more information at BAL.NBA.com.
Tourism department thanks local travellers
The Department of Tourism has thanked South Africans who have supported local establishments and boosted the tourism sector during the recent holiday period.
With the decrease in the fuel price that came into effect on 3 January 2024, the department has encouraged citizens to take a last-minute January break to mentally prepare for the year, while reducing stress and supporting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
“Our country has a wealth of diverse tourism and cultural offerings nestled in our small dorpies, townships and villages. This part of the domestic market is the backbone of the tourism sector, playing a crucial role in addressing the holiday and leisure needs of our visitors, while creating much needed employment for our citizenry,” department spokesperson Tasneem Carrim said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, motorists welcomed a decrease in the price of petrol, with 93 (ULP & LRP) decreasing by 62 cents a litre, while the price of 95 (ULP & LRP) decreased by 76 cents a litre. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy attributed the adjustment of fuel prices to current local and international factors.
The price of diesel (0.005% sulphur) came down by 126.32 cents a litre and the price of illuminating paraffin (wholesale) decreased by 93 cents per litre, and the Single Maximum National Retail Price (SMNRP) for illuminating paraffin came down by R1.24 per litre.
“We encourage everyone to take some time now to explore the fun and diverse tourism offerings across the country. Whether it is a Sho’t Left to a quaint picnic park, nature reserve or heritage attraction, the decrease in the fuel price will facilitate ease of access to our attractions and contribute to growing tourism communities,” Carrim said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Fri, 01/05/2024 - 10:29
Two arrested in missing Sibongile Portia Ngwana case
Two men have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Sibongile Portia Ngwana who was reported missing by her family at the Mangaung Police Station on Tuesday, 28 November 2023.
“Information led to the arrest of two African males aged 27 and 33 on Thursday, 04 January 2024. They were confirmed to be foreign nationals. Further investigation led to the discovery of remains on an open veld near M10 Road,” said the police in a statement.
“The remains were confirmed by an expert who also visited the scene to be the remains of a human being; nevertheless forensic tests still need to be done to ascertain the identity if its indeed the remains of the reported missing Sibongile Ngwana,” said the police.
Free State Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane said: “We are pleased with the progress made by the multi-disciplinary team charged with these investigations. We appeal to our communities and next of kin to be patient and allow formal tests to be conducted before we presume the identity of these human remains.”
The police said further investigations are continuing and more arrests are expected.
The two suspects are meanwhile detained and will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court soon. – SAnews.gov.za
Janine
Fri, 01/05/2024 - 11:09
Friday, 05 January 2024 JOHANNESBURG: The annual Cricket South Africa (CSA) Cubs Week will take place from 05-10 January 2024...