These Matriculants Have Been Waiting for Their Matric Certificates for Three Years
The education department says there’s only one SETA official assisting all nine provinces
2024
Patients Lie on the Floor at Uitenhage Provincial Hospital
The health department has acknowledged there is pressure on available beds
Chaos as Joburg Water Tries to Remove Illegal Connections
Residents of Phumla Mqashi informal settlement chase away technicians
Former SAPS officer sentenced for accepting a bribe
Former SAPS officer sentenced for accepting a bribe
A former SAPS officer has been sentenced to eight years in prison for accepting a R5 000 bribe in exchange for facilitating an investigation in Alberton.
Former Colonel Gregory Beck was sentenced by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge for the crime committed while he was on active duty.
“The case against Beck stemmed from a complaint filed in December 2014 with the office of the Provincial Commissioner regarding the mishandling of a case by SAPS in Vereeniging. It was revealed that Beck, then an active officer, demanded a bribe of R5 000 to ensure the investigation was concluded properly.
“The complainant, who initially promised to provide the requested amount later, reported Beck’s corrupt demand to the SAPS Anti-Corruption Unit. In response, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Johannesburg approved an entrapment operation to catch the accused in the act,” the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said in a statement.
The NPA said the operation was conducted in March 2015 in which the complainant and police officials met with Beck, where “during this meeting, the complainant handed over the R5 000, after which Beck was immediately arrested, and the money was recovered from him”.
“Although Beck pleaded not guilty, Senior State Advocate Terrence Zitha presented compelling evidence that established the accused’s participation in this white-collar crime. Advocate Zitha argued for a stringent sentence, stating that a strong example should be set to discourage similar conduct in the future.
“In delivering the sentence, the court acknowledged Beck’s previously exceptional service record within the SAPS but emphasised that his criminal actions were motivated by greed.
“The court concluded that he should be punished accordingly for his betrayal of the trust placed in him as a public servant. This conviction underlines the NPA's ongoing commitment to combating corruption at all levels of society and reinforcing the importance of accountability in public service,” the NPA said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:55
381 views
SRD R370 Grant Beneficiaries Approved in October Still Waiting for Payment
SASSA says delays are due to additional fraud checks
Chikunga launches Disability Rights Awareness Month
Chikunga launches Disability Rights Awareness Month
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called on all South Africans to remain actively engaged in fostering the inclusion of people with disabilities.
She emphasised the importance of collective support across every sector of society to make disability inclusion a lasting priority.
The Minister was speaking at the launch of the 2024 Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) in Lenasia, on Monday.
“As we move through this month and beyond, let us all stay engaged, support these efforts, and encourage every sector of our society to make disability inclusion a permanent priority. Together, we are paving the way for a truly inclusive and accessible South Africa, where every person with a disability can thrive,” the Minister said.
This year’s DRAM which runs from 3 November to 3 December, is held under the theme “Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy: Creating a Disability-Inclusive Society for a Better Quality of Life and Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.
Chikunga extended her gratitude to the host, the Johannesburg Council for the Disabled, for the incredible work they have been dedicated to since 1995.
She said their commitment to providing a holistic, essential, and value-added approach to transform and uplift the social, economic, and professional lives of persons with disabilities has been exemplary.
“I was truly inspired when I was briefed on the range of services you provide, from social work and skills development to learnerships and enterprise development.
“We draw direct inspiration from the incredible amount of concrete measures that your institution has undertaken to champion the social, economic, spatial, and technological advancement of persons with disabilities,” Chikunga said.
Over the past 30 years, numerous policies, legislative instruments, and government programs have earned country recognition as a respected champion of the global disability inclusion movement.
The Minister said this was evident during the recent G7 Forum on Disability and Inclusion held in Italy.
“Disability inclusion is not merely a matter of advocacy; it is a constitutional imperative enshrined in our Bill of Rights. Over the past 30 years, we have embedded disability inclusion into various laws that comprise the country's legislative framework,” she said.
These include the recently gazetted Framework on Self-Representation, which has implications for the composition of Boards of State-Owned Enterprises; the National Strategic Framework on Reasonable Accommodation; and the Universal Access and Design Framework, with norms and standards for universal accessibility in the built environment.
All persons with disabilities have access to free basic education and any young person coming from a home with an income bracket of R600 000 receives free higher education through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
Further, persons with disabilities receive a monthly direct cash transfer to support their basic needs.
South African Sign Language is now recognised as the 12th official language in South Africa.
More recently, the President signed the Public Procurement Act, which mandates that a portion of government procurement be sourced from businesses owned and controlled by persons with disabilities.
During the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana revealed that “Public procurement accounts for about 19% of consolidated government spending, totalling R1.5 trillion over the next three years”.
“As a department that represents the interests and well-being of this community, we will ensure that as the Treasury develops the regulations, priority is given to the work of institutions like the Johannesburg Council for the Disabled and others who are engaged in facilitating income-earning and productive opportunities for the community of persons with disabilities,” the Minister said.
As government launches Disability Rights Awareness Month, the Minister called on individuals to reflect on the status of persons with disabilities globally, across the continent, and within our own borders.
“This reflection is essential to evaluate where we have been, where we are, where we still need to go, and how we should measure progress in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. The answers to these questions are crucial for the inclusive formulation of policies and legislative instruments, as well as for the co-design of our priorities and interventions,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 12:58
187 views
Minister pleased with the rebounding construction sector
Minister pleased with the rebounding construction sector
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dr Dean Macpherson, says he is pleased to see the construction sector rebounding.
The sector saw the largest job increases out of all sectors between Quarter 2 and Quarter 3, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, released on Tuesday.
The construction sector added 176 000 jobs, with the country’s unemployment rate decreasing by 1.4%.
Macpherson said this shows that there are many green shoots within the construction industry, with additional reforms underway to increase investment and jobs.
According to Statistics South Africa, who released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, South Africa’s unemployment figures have now decreased to 32.1% in the third quarter.
“While the unemployment figures remain stubbornly high, I am encouraged by the job growth seen in the construction sector which has shown that there are many green shoots within the industry. As we implement continued reforms to turn South Africa into a construction site, I look forward to the industry creating many more jobs which will improve the lives of our people,” Macpherson said.
“After many years where the construction industry has seen subdued investment, it is also very encouraging to see that the industry is starting to turn around as additional projects get off the ground.
“This is also a sign of confidence in proceeding with fixed investment projects. We are truly starting to build a better South Africa through building confidence in our construction industry,” the minister said.
Among the many interventions the Minister is implementing to attract additional infrastructure investment include:
- Restructuring Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) to become a single port of entry for all major infrastructure projects in South Africa.
- Reforming regulations around Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to make it easier for the private sector to invest in construction projects.
- Expanding the role of the Infrastructure Fund (IF) to play a bigger role in attracting additional private sector funding and blended financing to construction projects.
- Introducing the first-of-its-kind project preparation financing which will see more construction projects being executed faster.
“Collectively, the measures we are implementing will see a significant increase in the number of construction projects in the country as we work to achieve our goal of turning South Africa into a construction site.
“In the weeks and months ahead, South Africans can look forward to seeing more cranes in the sky, and shovels in the ground. We are building South Africa,” Macpherson said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 14:40
72 views
HPAI virus suspected to have reached Marion Island
HPAI virus suspected to have reached Marion Island
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has announced that the High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus is suspected to have reached Marion Island, one of South Africa’s two sub-Antarctic islands in the southern Indian Ocean.
According to the department, the virus is possibly responsible for causing mortalities in at least three breeding seabird species.
“The situation is being closely monitored by the 11-field personnel overwintering on the island, who have been trained to recognise possible HPAI signs in birds and seals, and in the necessary monitoring and mitigation methods.
“They will be taking all precautions to ensure they do not spread the virus, and they are collecting information to assist with decisions about the appropriate response,” the department said on Tuesday.
After an initial suspected case in a Brown Skua in mid-September 2024, another five suspected cases were found in early November 2024, involving three Wandering Albatross chicks and two Southern Giant Petrel adults.
“The virus can be transported long distances by migrating birds, and this is likely how the virus arrived on Marion Island. Having spread across the globe since 2021, HPAI (H5N1) was detected in seabirds and marine mammals in South Georgia, southeast of South America, in October 2023.
“It reached Antarctica in February 2024 and suspected cases were reported from Southern Elephant Seals at Possession Island in the Crozet Archipelago, east of Marion Island, on 21 October 2024,” the department said.
The Prince Edward Islands, comprising of Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, are breeding and moulting sites for millions of seabirds, including almost half of the world’s Wandering Albatrosses and hundreds of thousands of penguins, and are home to large numbers of Southern Elephant Seals and Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic Fur Seals.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the management authority for the Prince Edward Islands, has developed a Protocol for the Management of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in Seabirds together with the Western Cape Veterinary Services, marine ornithologists, marine mammal biologists, disease experts and colleagues overseas with similar experience.
These departments and entities will continue to work to monitor and hopefully limit the spread of the virus on the island. -SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 15:15
45 views
Basic Education urges ECD operators to participate in the mass registration drive
Basic Education urges ECD operators to participate in the mass registration drive
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has urged Early Childhood Development (ECD) operators to participate in its mass registration drive - as it commences the registration process of ECD programmes that are operating outside the regulated system.
Nationally, the department said at least half of all ECD programmes are currently unregistered and are attended by tens of thousands of children.
“This means that more than 20 000 ECD programmes operate outside the regulatory framework and are not part of any formal oversight process, which disproportionately affects ECDs in low-income areas - meaning the poorest children are most likely to miss out on oversight and funding,” the department said.
The DBE’s Bana Pele ECD Mass Registration Drive puts “children first” and is an important initiative to register ECD programmes at scale to ensure every child is receiving quality early learning, development opportunities and a safe and nurturing environment.
The department emphasised that ECD is a critical period in a child’s life that lays the foundation for future learning, behaviour and health.
The goals of the drive are as follows:
• To enable government to have oversight of out-of-home settings where children are cared for.
• To support ECD programmes to comply with legal requirements.
• To ensure that more ECDs can apply for the subsidy for children from low-income households.
• To make registration administration processes quicker and less resource intensive for officials, ECD practitioners and social service professionals.
The threshold for system-entry is more realistic and attainable to reflect and accommodate the complex, varying and real-life contexts in which ECDs operate in South Africa.
Practitioners receive live support from a contact center agent to complete their applications on the new and robust Early Childhood Administrative and Reporting System (eCares).
The department said that the team has been working closely with the provinces to align on the new Registration Framework, processes and goals.
“We are also partnering with other ecosystem stakeholders and NGOs who are supporting the registration drive. We are currently live in Gauteng and Free State, and will soon rollout into the rest of the provinces.
“Through joint effort, active engagement and co-creation across the sector, we have, as a result of the drive, received over 3 000 applications and registered 800 new ECDs in the five months since applications opened in June of this year in Gauteng, and we currently have 1 479 applications in review,” the department said.
This impacts 27 114 children and 3 116 staff members.
"To put this in context, since the ECD function shifted from the DSD [Department of Social Development] to the DBE, Gauteng has had a total of 2 380 registered centres, and through the campaign, we have added 30% more registered ECDs to this number," the DBE said.
Nationally, the department said it currently has approximately 18 000 centres registered, as the drive rolls out across the country, and its target is to have registered 10 000 more ECDs by the end of 2025.
“We will continue to work hard and collaborate with all government, private and NGO stakeholders to ensure we do it right, so our children shine bright,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:35
69 views
Multichoice Group Maintains Strategic Momentum Despite Macroeconomic Challenges
- Unprecedented foreign exchange pressures and economic challenges in key African markets impacted earnings and dampens subscriber growth
- On track to right-size cost base and grow new revenue streams to drive future growth as streaming gains traction at the expense of traditional pay-tv
- Cost-cutting measures delivered R1.3bn in permanent savings, on track to reach increased full-year target of R2.5 billion
- Showmax customer base grew 50% YoY as a leading streaming service in sub-Saharan Africa
- Strong revenue growth in new products: DStv Steam +71%, DStv Internet +85%, DStv Insurance +31%, KingMakers +53%
- Strong liquidity of R10 billion provides solid financial base to support growth
- Negative equity position on track to be resolved in November 2024.
MultiChoice Group (MCG or The Group) (www.MultiChoice.com) continued to deliver exceptional video entertainment and execute on core strategic initiatives during the first six months ended 30 September 2024 (1H FY25). However, unprecedented foreign exchange volatility severely impacted the Group's interim financial results, while ongoing macroeconomic challenges weighed on customer growth and moderated overall performance.
Facing the most challenging operating conditions in almost 40 years and to generate desired returns, the Group has been proactive in its focus to ”right-size” the business for the current economic realities and industry changes. Although operating across Africa typically subjects the group to currency moves, abnormal currency weakness over the past 18 months have reduced the group's profits by close to R7 billion. Combined with the impact of a weak macro environment on consumers' disposable income and therefore on subscriber growth, it required the Group to fundamentally adjust its cost base - which is exactly what has been done. The normal cost savings program was accelerated, resulting in permanent savings of R1.3bn in over the past six months and an increased target of ZAR2.5bn for the full year.
“We are making good progress in addressing the technical insolvency that resulted from non-cash accounting entries at the end of the last financial year. We expect to return to a positive net equity position by the end of November this year, supported by a number of developments and initiatives. The Group's liquidity position remains strong, with over ZAR10bn in total available funds,” says Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO.
The Group is also adjusting to global pay-TV challenges as streaming services, the rise of social media and changing consumer preference impact the traditional broadcast business. Showmax, which reported 50% growth YoY in its paying customer base, strategically positions the business to actively participate in the streaming revolution as it gains momentum across Africa. To create sufficient capacity and drive growth, the group stepped-up its investment in this business by an incremental ZAR1.6 billion during the interim period.
“We have successfully been implementing our strategy over the past few years, achieving key milestones such as our investment in KingMakers, returning the Rest of Africa business to profitability in FY23 and FY24, concluding the Showmax partnership with Comcast and investing in Moment. While we've made huge inroads to reduce our cost base, there's still more work to be done”.
“However, our focus extends beyond cost efficiency—we are equally committed to grow the business. We remain committed to driving new revenue streams and see significant medium to long-term opportunities in video entertainment, particularly in streaming, and in our adjacent new businesses,” says Mawela
The Group reported strong momentum in its new products and services, which all delivered robust YoY revenue growth, i.e. DStv Stream +71%, DStv Internet +85% and DStv Insurance + 31%. KingMakers reported a healthy 27% increase in its online monthly active users in Nigeria and grew its revenue in Naira by 53%, while newly-launched SuperSportBet is showing good early traction in South Africa.
Financial Results Overview
Subscriber base: The pressure on the linear pay-TV subscriber base was lower than the previous six-months, reflecting a 5% decline (0.8m) compared to 6% reported (1.0m) in 2H FY24. This reflects an improving sequential trend. On a YoY basis, the linear subscriber base declined by 11% or 1.8m subscribers to 14.9m active subscribers, impacted by the challenging macroeconomic conditions that negatively impacted discretionary consumer spend.
Group revenues: Revenues increased by 4% YoY to ZAR25.4bn on an organic basis, due to disciplined inflationary pricing and revenue growth of new products. On a reported basis, revenues declined by 10%, impacted by foreign exchange pressures on the Rest of Africa business and a stronger Rand against the US Dollar.
Group trading profit: The Group's ongoing cost optimisation drive delivered ZAR1.3bn in savings, and together with other improvements in the business, it resulted in a 33% increase in trading profit before incorporating the Showmax costs. A ZAR1.6bn step-up in the investment behind Showmax to create capacity for growth, trimmed the organic trading profit to ZAR5.0, a decline of only 1% YoY. Foreign exchange losses in the Rest of Africa business amounting to ZAR2.3bn reduced reported trading profit to ZAR2.7bn.
Adjusted core headline earnings, the board's measure of the underlying performance of the business, amounted to ZAR7m, impacted by foreign exchange losses and the investment in Showmax.
Cash flow and liquidity: The Group free cash flow remained positive at ZAR0.6bn, with ZAR5.7bn retained in cash and cash equivalents. Despite the increase in net interest costs and a higher average debt balance, the Group remains well-positioned to navigate current challenges with access to ZAR4.4bn in undrawn facilities.
Operational update
General entertainment and sport
Delivering content that customers love remains the Group's core focus— whether it is the best of local or international general entertainment or the most exciting sport events.
In the past six months, the Group produced 2,763 hours of local content, bringing its local content library to 86,215 hours.
SuperSport reinforced its reputation as a global leader in sport broadcasting with extensive coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, EURO 2024, and the ICC T20 Men's World Cup. Over the past six months, SuperSport has broadcast 10,240 live events and provided a total of 21,540 hours of live coverage, a 22% increase YoY.
SuperSport Schools doubled its user base and crossed a milestone of one million registered users on its app, delivering over 35,000 hours of content over the past six months.
Business segments
As a mature business, MultiChoice South Africa is focused on subscriber retention and reconnections, identifying remaining growth opportunities, as well as optimising processes and systems to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
In the Rest of Africa business, the Group is implementing several initiatives to support improved financials, including price adjustments to counter the impact of inflation, renegotiating content deals where feasible, restructuring select packages to enhance ARPU, optimising the DTT network, and intensifying anti-piracy initiatives.
In FY25, Showmax is focussed on enhancing its content line-up, bedding down distribution partnerships, expanding payment channel integrations and refining its go-to-market strategy.
Irdeto delivered encouraging revenue growth, after securing a major customer in Asian and expanding managed services with a key customer in Australasia.
KingMakers continued to gain strong momentum in Nigeria, where BetKing Nigeria has secured the second position in the online betting market. SuperSportBet, the South African business launched late last year, is showing early signs of success and reported a remarkable tenfold increase in net gaming revenue over the past nine months.
Moment, now live in 40 African countries, has shown rapid growth since its launch last year, with total payment volumes (TPV) growing to USD242m. It is already processing almost 30% of the Group's payments.
Looking Ahead
The Group continues to invest in its long-term future, focusing on the following strategic priorities:
- Improving profitability and cash generation in the South African business.
- Streamlining the cost base in the Rest of Africa to return this business to profitability.
- Investing in Showmax to establish it as the leading streaming platform on the continent.
- Supporting KingMakers, Moment and DStv Insurance to drive scale.
By executing well on these objectives, the Group will be well positioned to deliver future growth and create value as Africa's leading video entertainment platform and most-loved storyteller.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.
KZN commits to economic development, investment growth toward 2030
KZN commits to economic development, investment growth toward 2030
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, has underscored the commitment to economic development, trade, and investment growth toward 2030, aligned with the province's broader strategic priorities.
Ntuli reiterated the province’s commitment during the KwaZulu-Natal Trade and Investment Conference currently underway at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.
The two-day conference, which started on Monday, aims to promote, brand, and market KwaZulu-Natal as an investment destination, identify and develop investment opportunities, among others.
The conference brings together investors, government leaders, and industry captains to explore and amplify the province’s status as a top investment destination.
Delivering his keynote address on Monday, Ntuli highlighted that over the past decade, KwaZulu-Natal has attracted significant investments in key sectors, especially through developments at the Durban and Richards Bay Ports, two of Africa’s largest and busiest maritime hubs.
“Enhanced container capacity, automation, and infrastructure upgrades have strengthened KZN’s position as a regional logistics powerhouse. Similarly, the Dube Trade Port, adjacent to King Shaka International Airport, has drawn over R2 billion in investments, cementing its role in warehousing, logistics, and agriculture, including the Dube AgriZone, a major hub for export-focused agri-business,” Ntuli said.
Reflecting on the 2019 Provincial Trade and Investment Strategy’s achievements and areas for intensified effort, Ntuli said the strategy targeted R76 billion in new and expansionary investments by 2024. This is alongside the creation of approximately 68 000 jobs and an increase in the province’s national export value to R1.28 trillion.
While projections indicate that the targets may not be fully met by the year’s end, the Premier emphasised the need to redouble efforts in investment initiatives.
“The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) has fuelled growth in heavy industry and energy, particularly in metals like aluminium and steel, generating jobs and boosting export potential.
“Renewable energy investments, particularly in biomass and solar, have diversified KZN’s energy landscape, with biofuel production from the sugarcane industry enhancing the province’s green economy credentials.”
Growth in the agricultural sector
The Premier also highlighted the province’s strong agricultural sector, which has attracted investments in agro-processing, and supporting industries including sugar refining, dairy processing, and timber.
The Premier said this growth is further supported by a thriving food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical, and packaging sectors, benefiting from proximity to key ports and an expanding consumer base.
Tourism
He said tourism also remains central to KZN’s economy, supported by new hospitality investments, including the reopening of the international Hilton Hotel and the Durban Beach promenade renewal.
READ | Mayor welcomes re-opening of the Hilton Hotel in Durban
Noting KZN’s absence from many long-haul tourist packages, Premier Ntuli stressed the importance of positioning the province as a key destination for international tourism.
Ntuli highlighted several strategic assets crucial to the province’s competitive advantage, and these include expanded port capacities, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) like Richards Bay and Dube TradePort, and streamlined regulatory and tax incentives to attract foreign and local investments.
The Premier urged stakeholders to seize the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which offers KZN unprecedented access to a $3.4 trillion market.
Partnerships
The Premier also addressed issues in freight rail services and port bottlenecks, emphasising that public-private partnerships could unlock efficiencies.
He further called attention to KZN’s role in automotive manufacturing, underscoring opportunities in electric vehicle (EV) component production to tap into Africa’s growing EV market.
“Sustainable growth initiatives, including green hydrogen, biomass, and digital innovation, are essential for positioning KZN as a leader in the renewable and digital economies. Collaboration with local universities and technology firms is building a skilled workforce to support industries like IT, finance, and business outsourcing, further enhancing KZN’s role as a technology and logistics hub,” Ntuli said.
The Premier emphasised the importance of resilient infrastructure, including sustainable energy investments, and inclusive growth that extends to all municipalities, cities, and rural areas.
He issued a call to action for deeper engagement with rural and municipal stakeholders, ensuring these areas are active participants and beneficiaries in KZN’s economic growth. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:35
16 views
City of Johannesburg to implement water restrictions
City of Johannesburg to implement water restrictions
The City of Johannesburg is set to implement the throttling of water supply between 9pm and 4 am.
Set to come into effect on Thursday, the move aims to enable reservoir levels to recover overnight.
The announcement was made by Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, during a media briefing held in Johannesburg on Monday. This followed an urgent meeting held on Sunday to address the challenges of water in the City of Johannesburg.
Majodina reported that the Sunday meeting reached a unanimous agreement on the causes of the water supply interruptions and what needs to be done to restore a stable water supply to residents of Johannesburg.
The Minister noted that the 2023 No Drop report found that the average consumption of water in Gauteng to be 279 litres per person per day.
“This is 60% above the world average of 173 litres per person per day, which is an anomaly given that South Africa is a water-scarce country with limited sustainable water resources and amongst the top 30 driest countries globally.”
The 2023 No Drop report also found that water losses in Johannesburg were sitting at 35%, compared to the international norm of 15%.
The No Drop programme focuses on water conservation and demand management, aimed at ensuring that water distribution systems function effectively.
Majodina said reducing water losses requires a multi-pronged approach by the city.
This includes amongst others, improving billing and revenue collection to increase the funds available for maintenance and to provide better incentives for water to be used efficiently, improving pressure management and replacing ageing pipes which burst frequently.
The department, Rand Water, provincial government, and all Gauteng municipalities, are working together with civil society leaders, business leaders and experts to implement a large-scale communications and awareness campaign regarding the need to use water more sparingly.
“The meeting noted that an independent body called the Platform for a Water Secure Gauteng has been established to manage this campaign and that, as a first step, a dashboard has been created on the Department of Water and Sanitation website to provide the public with detailed information on the status of water supply in Gauteng,” Majodina said.
Meanwhile, measures currently being implemented by Johannesburg Water, in a bid to save water include:
• Throttling of water supply between 9pm and 4am, to enable reservoir levels to recover overnight. The city intends to implement this continuously from 14 November until the system has fully recovered.
• Procurement of a panel of contractors for emergency repairs of large diameter pipe water leaks as well as increasing the number of teams on standby during the week to address leaks and burst pipes.
• Increasing the number of repair and maintenance teams on duty during the weekend with the aim of improving leak repair response times from 48 hours to 24 hours.
• Increasing the number of trucks available to its leak repair and maintenance teams.
• Implementing cut-offs of illegal connections in key informal settlements.
• Implementing advanced pressure management systems, including the installation of 45 Smart Pressure Controllers (pressure reducing valves), in addition to the 15 which have been refurbished and retrofitted to date. This is aimed at reducing water losses at night when demand is low, which will substantially reduce water losses.
• Accelerating leak detection (to date, 12 100km water pipelines have been surveyed and 2 396 burst pipes, 6 727 leaking meters, 442 leaking valves and 259 leaking hydrants were identified and repaired.) This intervention has provided an estimated water demand reduction of 9 457 million litres per annum.
• Working with National Treasury to put in place a Public Private Partnership for the reduction of non-revenue water, to mobilize private sector funding and expertise for reducing non-revenue water.
“The political leadership in the three spheres of government are confident that these measures will be implemented with the necessary urgency. It was agreed that similar meetings will be held every Sunday to monitor progress,” Majodina said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 12:11
119 views
How People in Namaqualand Are Keeping the Nama Language Alive
A radio station and a school teaching Nama hope to stop the language from going extinct
Official unemployment rate decreases
Official unemployment rate decreases
The official unemployment rate has decreased by 1.4 percentage points from 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024 to 32.1% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024.
This is according to the Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the third quarter of 2024.
“There was an increase of 294 000 in the number of employed persons to 16.9 million in Q3: 2024, while there was a decrease of 373 000 in the number of unemployed persons to 8.0 million. This resulted in a decrease of 79 000 (down by 0.3%) in the labour force during the same period.
“Discouraged work-seekers increased by 160 000 (up by 5.0%), and the number of persons who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement increased by 54 000 (up by 0.4%) between the second quarter and third quarter of 2024. This led to an increase of 214 000 in the number of the not economically active population to 16.5 million,” Stats SA said on Tuesday.
The above changes in employment and unemployment resulted in the official unemployment rate decreasing by 1.4 percentage points from 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024 to 32.1% in the third quarter of 2024.
“The expanded unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2024 decreased by 0.7 of a percentage point to 41.9% when compared with the second quarter of 2024.
“The number of persons employed in the formal sector increased by 122 000 in Q3: 2024, and the informal sector employment increased by 165 000 over the same period,” Stats SA said.
The largest increases in employment were recorded in community and social services (194 000), construction (176 000) and trade (109 000).
Decreases in employment were recorded in finance (189 000), private households (32 000), manufacturing (20 000) and transport (18 000).
“The results also indicate that the largest increases in employment were observed in the Eastern Cape (83 000), Western Cape (75 000), North West (69 000) and Mpumalanga (49 000), while decreases were only observed in Gauteng (66 000) and KwaZulu-Natal (2 000).
“The youth (15 to 34 years) remain vulnerable in the labour market. The third quarter of 2024 results show that the total number of unemployed youth decreased by 171 000 to 4.8 million, while employed youth recorded an increase of 66 000 to 5.8 million.
“As a result, youth unemployment rate decreased from 46.6% in the second quarter of 2024 to 45.5% in the third quarter of 2024,” Stats SA said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 12:40
56 views
SIU to probe at least three municipalities
SIU to probe at least three municipalities
At least three municipalities are to be placed under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed proclamations authorising the corruption busting unit to probe allegations of maladministration in the affairs of the Tshwane Metro Municipality, Mahikeng Local Municipality and Alfred Nzo Municipality.
The President also signed an amendment of the Chris Hani District Municipality proclamation.
SIU Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago explained that at the investigation into the Tshwane Metro will focus on the procurement of services for the upgrading and extension of a macro surveillance closed circuit television system in Tshwane.
It will also probe whether there was “unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure by the municipality and losses incurred by the municipality or the state”.
“The investigation’s focus will zoom into the payments and establish whether the contracting and procurement were conducted in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective.
“Additionally, these activities were contrary to applicable legislation; manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars, or instructions issued by the National Treasury or relevant Provincial Treasury; and policies, procedures, or practices of or applicable to the municipality.
“Furthermore, there was unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of the municipality, contractors, suppliers, service providers, or any other involved parties related to these allegations,” he said.
Mahikeng Local Municipality
The investigation into the Mahikeng Local Municipality will focus on two tenders, namely:
- Lease agreement SCM/MLM17(A)/12/2015 dated 15 December 2015, and
- Full Maintenance Lease Agreement SCM/MLM17(B)/12/2015 dated 23 February 2016.
“The SIU’s probe will assess whether the payments made were conducted in a manner that was neither fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, nor cost-effective. These actions were contrary to applicable legislation; manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars, or instructions issued by the National Treasury or relevant Provincial Treasury; and policies, procedures, or practices applicable to the Mahikeng Municipality.
“The SIU will seek to ascertain whether the process involved was unlawful, irregular, or improper intervention by employees or officials of the Mahikeng Municipality and, in some cases, was fraudulent and led to unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure by the Mahikeng Municipality or the State,” he said.
He added that the SIU will seek to ascertain whether there was “unlawful or improper conduct by employees or officials of the Mahikeng Municipality, the service provider, or any other individuals or entities involved”.
Alfred Nzo District Municipality
At least seven contracts are expected to be placed under scrutiny at the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. These are:
- Implementation of Water Services Infrastructure Grant projects in Ntabankulu (Appointment of a panel of service providers, Consulting Engineers and Contractors, for the Planning, Design and Construction of Water Services Infrastructure Grant funded projects in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality - Ntabankulu Local Municipality)
- Mount Ayliff Bulk Peri-Urban Water Supply (Implementation of Pump station and a reservoir)
- Servicing Mbizana Town Area with 2ML Waste Water Treatment Works and Outfall Sewer (Construction of 2ML Waste Water Treatment Works and Outfall Sewer Pipeline) Mbizana Sewer
- Kwabhaca Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme at Mount Frere (Construction of Water Treatment Works and other water schemes at Mount Frere Peri-Urban)
- Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/131/13/06/18: Greater Mbizana Water Supply Project
- Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/41/23/09/19: Greater Mbizana Water Supply Project Phase 33: Implementation of Ward 4 & 27: Zone 0 Main Pipeline Contract 3B; and
- Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/133/31/01/20: Matatiele Ward 5 Water Supply Project Phase 3 Contract 3 Matolweni Secondary Mains and Reticulation
“The SIU probe will look at unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality. Additionally, if there was irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of the municipality, contractors, suppliers, or service providers associated with the municipality, or any other involved person or entity,” Kganyago said.
Chris Hani District Municipality
A proclamation on the probe into the Chris Hani District Municipality on the appointment of the Chris Hani Co-operative Development Centre NPC for the conversion of the community service providers and operators into functional co-operatives has been amended.
The investigation period has been extended to start from 01 December 2011 to 08 November 2024 and the amendment authorises the SIU to add the procurement of goods, works or services in terms of Tender No. 33/2015/MD (TN) – Cluster 9 Backlog Eradication: Tsomo Water Treatment and River Abstraction Works.
“The amendment results from the SIU’s investigations which revealed that the SIU needs to investigate further areas that the existing proclamations did not cover. The SIU requested a proclamation amendment in terms of time and focus areas,” Kganyago said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 11:25
79 views
SASRIA, Venda University of Technology and Gauteng Health face SIU probes
SASRIA, Venda University of Technology and Gauteng Health face SIU probes
The Special Investigating Unit is expected to launch separate investigations into several government institutions.
This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed proclamations authorising the corruption-busting unit to probe allegations of maladministration in the affairs of:
- South African Special Risk Insurance Association (SASRIA) payments relating to the July 2021 unrest.
- Two contracts at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT).
- Two contracts in the Gauteng Department of Health.
At SASRIA, the SIU explained that it will investigate allegations related to the “receipt, capturing, processing, verification, assessment, authorisation and payment of claims related to the July 2021 civil unrest”.
“The SIU’s probe will seek to establish whether the claims made were in line with applicable legislation manuals, guidelines, policies, procedures, practice notes, instructions, prescripts or practices of the National Treasury. Furthermore, the probe will ascertain if there is unlawful or improper conduct of SASRIA employees, officials and any other person or entity to corruptly or unduly benefit themselves or others.
“The investigation will probe to see if there was fraudulent conduct, including the causes of such maladministration and any losses, damages or prejudice actually or potentially suffered by SASRIA or the State and any irregular, improper or unlawful conduct by employees or officials of SASRIA or any other person or entity,” SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said in a statement.
The probe into two contracts at the VUT follows allegations of maladministration in the procurement of services for the refurbishment of student residences during 2018 and campus security and protection-related services in the same year.
“The SIU investigation will examine whether the contracting of these goods and services was done in a manner that was fair, competitive, transparent, equitable or cost-effective; [compliant with] applicable legislation manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars or instructions issued by the National Treasury, and any related unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the University or State or losses suffered,” Kganyago explained.
In relation to the Gauteng Department of Health, the investigation will hone in on the contract for the supply and delivery of three-division plastic containers with lids, small tubs with lids and dual-surface polyester film, and the contract for the supply and delivery of orthopaedic implants, fracture treatment and arthroscopy items.
“The SIU seeks to examine whether there was any conduct that is contrary to the applicable legislation, manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars, or instructions issued by the National Treasury or the relevant Provincial Treasury, as well as policies, procedures, and instructions applicable to the department and its controlled entities.
“Such conduct may include manipulation of the department’s supply chain management processes by service providers, suppliers, officials, or other third parties, often in collusion with departmental employees or those in entities under its control, to secure undue benefits for themselves or others. This can result in unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the department, its entities or the State,” Kganyago said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 11:27
24 views
Electricity and Energy Minister steps in to resolve Eskom, City Power impasse
Electricity and Energy Minister steps in to resolve Eskom, City Power impasse
A high-level engagement convened by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Mayor Dada Morero with Eskom executives and City Power has resulted in an agreement aimed at averting a potential electricity crisis in the city.
This follows an Eskom statement last week announcing that it had served the city and City Power with a notice of intention to interrupt power supply at certain pre-determined times of the day due to non-payment of debt.
According to Eskom, the CoJ and City Power owe nearly R5 billion in unpaid bulk electricity supply, plus a further R1.4 billion, which Eskom said will become due and payable at the end of this month.
In response, the City of Johannesburg subsequently called the move by Eskom “unjust, counterproductive, and potentially harmful to… residents and businesses”.
In a statement following the meeting between the Minister and the parties, the Department of Energy and Electricity said the following principles of engagement had been agreed upon by all:
- The respect for inter-governmental framework characterised by an honest and concerted effort to exhaust all internal process.
- The User Pay Principle, where in an event of a dispute, the user is still obligated to pay whilst a resolution process is underway, decoupling the obligation to pay from and a billing query.
- The service provider has an obligation to ensure accurate billing.
- An appreciation that there can be no unilateral implementation of an action or more than one version of what the facts are.
Furthermore, resolutions were reached by the parties in order to resolve the impasse between the two.
“The first resolution is on the appointment of independent technical capacity to evaluate and validate the credibility of the bill levied by Eskom to City Power. In this regard, both parties have agreed that The South African Energy Development Institute will undertake this process.
“The second resolution is on a 14 days turnaround timeframe for the assessment report to be presented to all parties, the set date being 25 November 2024.
"The third resolution is that City Power will pay the current account in order for the notice of intention to interrupt power supply to the City of Johannesburg, issued by Eskom, to be withdrawn.
“Lastly, is the agreement on the importance of the Minister and the Executive Mayor to assure business and households that there is no crisis. The Minister and the Executive Mayor further expressed their appreciation of the willingness of the two parties to work together to ensure the uninterrupted provision of services to the country's economic nerve centre and its residents,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:48
19 views
VFS Global appointed to offer new Indonesia e-Visa on Arrival service to South Africans, 96 other nationalities
- New Indonesia Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) service to commence in the first half of December 2024.
- Group booking facility to be available for the benefit of travel trade and conventions.
Indonesia has set an ambitious target of welcoming 14 million visitors in 2024 and achieved 9.92 million arrivals from January to August 2024. The user-friendly eVoA solution aligns with Indonesia's ongoing efforts to enhance its tourism infrastructure and services. In the African region, South Africa accounts for the highest number of tourist visitors who travel to Indonesia.
Travellers will soon be able to enjoy a quicker and smoother visa application journey through VFS Global by completing the entire process online before departure and receiving a pre-approved e-VoA. The e-VoA can be easily obtained by visiting VFS Global website, submitting all the required documents, and paying the necessary fees online prior to travel. Once the application is submitted, travellers can receive their visas on their email before departure. With the payment having been made online, travellers can enjoy a smoother and faster entry experience through E-gates or immigration counters.
Mr. Silmy Karim, Director General of Immigration of Indonesia, said, “The Directorate General of Immigration offers the latest digital solutions that enhance the experience for foreign nationals who wish to visit Indonesia. In our collaboration with VFS Global, we aim to effectively contribute to increasing the arrival of foreigners, taking into account the network and digital platform owned by our partners.”
Mr. Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group said, “Indonesia is a very popular destination for travellers across the globe, and we are excited to unveil a service that will make their visa application process quicker, simpler and much more convenient. This user-friendly and highly secure digital e-Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) service will considerably enhance the visa application experience, thereby facilitate increase in tourism to the country. We are honoured to partner with the Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia for this service."
Travellers applying for Indonesia e-VoA via VFS Global will get a dedicated email and live support in seven languages - English, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, German, and French – to help them with their queries. VFS Global will add more language support in due course of time for key markets.
VFS Global's new e-VoA platform will ensure all the documents applicants submit are complete and error-free. It also offers OCR technology which will enable applicant details to be auto populated, thereby saving time and effort for applicants. The new platform will also provide group booking facility which could be beneficials for travel trade and conventions. To further support this initiative, VFS Global has tied up with Emirates to make Indonesia e-Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) application service seamless for Emirates passengers.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VFS Global.
Media Contact:
georgec@vfsglobal.com
Corporate Communications
communications@vfsglobal.com
About VFS Global:
As the world's leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, VFS Global embraces technological innovation including Generative AI to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.
With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 69 client governments. Operating over 3,400 Application Centres in 153 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 297 million applications since 2001.
Headquartered in Zurich and majority owned through investment funds managed by Blackstone Inc, along with the Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, VFS Global is committed to creating value for all stakeholders and leading in responsible, innovative solutions making government services more effective and efficient.
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Government activities for the week 11 – 15 November 2024
Government activities for the week 11 - 15 November 2024
On Monday, 11 November, the Department of Basic Education has invited members of the media to the Partnerships for Education Business Breakfast, hosted by the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube at Wanderers Club, 21 North Street, Illovo, Johannesburg.
Also on Monday, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe will deliver a keynote address at the Mintek 90 Conference to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 11 and 12 November 2024.
On Tuesday, 12 November, Statistics South Africa will release the Quarterly Labour Force Survey results for the third quarter of 2024 at a media briefing in Tshwane.
On Wednesday, 13 November, the 2024 Border Management Conference and Expo takes place and the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria.
On Thursday, 14 November and on Friday, 15 November, there are no confirmed events.
Janine
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:40
295 views