Ministry Confirms No Restriction on Amount of Sewage Cape Town May Pump Out to Sea
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Government simplifies the process to apply for spaza shop permits
Government simplifies the process to apply for spaza shop permits
Government has introduced a new standard draft by-law for township economies, which offers a simplified permitting and registration process.
The move is aimed at creating an enabling environment for small businesses in townships; supports economic inclusion, job creation and community empowerment.
The by-law was issued in accordance with the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act of 2000 by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, on 7 November 2024.
“We are excited about this by-law as it is more than just a regulatory tool. It reflects our vision for township economies as key contributors to South Africa’s growth.
“Through inclusive, streamlined, and supportive governance, this initiative lays a foundation for sustainable economic activity in historically underserved areas, empowering individuals to participate meaningfully in the economy,” the Minister said earlier this month.
The new by-law is a statement of the department’s commitment to transforming townships into vibrant economic hubs that provide sustainable opportunities for residents.
“This regulation is designed to harmonise township business ecosystems by providing standardised norms and facilitating easier entry and operation for both formal and informal businesses.
“It supports businesses with tailored resources, including permit registration processes and designated trading spaces, ensuring streamlined operations within municipal jurisdictions,” the department said.
Key features of the by-law include:
- Enhanced freedom for business activities. Any individual with a business license may now conduct business within designated areas, subject to local quotas that ensure equitable opportunities for South African citizens and residents. This regulation aligns with the Constitutional right to freedom of trade, supporting entrepreneurial efforts that contribute to township vitality.
- Designated business zones. Municipalities are empowered to establish business zones, creating spaces specifically tailored to retail, industrial, and mixed-use enterprises. This targeted approach ensures an efficient use of space, aligning township development with broader spatial planning goals to attract investment and infrastructure improvements.
- Business support and capacity building. To further support township businesses, municipalities will facilitate workshops, training, and access to essential resources such as infrastructure and markets. This proactive approach helps small business owners improve operational capacity, while also promoting compliance with relevant laws and standards.
- Simplified permitting and registration. The new standard draft by-law introduces an efficient permit and registration system that provides clear guidelines for businesses, including both physical and online access to application forms. Municipal officials will assist applicants in the process, ensuring timely approvals and smooth operations for new and existing businesses.
- Safety and compliance assurance. The by-law mandates that all business activities align with public health and safety regulations. Regular inspections and public awareness campaigns will ensure that township businesses uphold the highest standards, protecting both entrepreneurs and the communities they serve.
- Inclusive growth strategy. Recognising the economic significance of townships, the by-law places a strong emphasis on skills development, mentorship, and market access initiatives to support businesses and help them thrive within local and broader markets.
CoGTA said it remained dedicated to engaging communities and stakeholders in the implementation of the by-law, ensuring that its benefits reach every corner of South Africa’s townships.
To read the full gazette go to https://www.cogta.gov.za/index.php/docs/local-government-municipal-systems-act-2000/. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 11/20/2024 - 14:25
182 views
Guide to register spaza shops
Guide to register spaza shops
With the clock ticking for rural and township spaza owners and vendors to register their businesses, government has provided a guide for entrepreneurs on how to approach the process of applying for a traders' permit.
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa called for all spaza shops and food-handling facilities to register with their respective municipalities as part of decisive measures to address the recurring foodborne illnesses that have claimed the lives of at least 22 children across the country.
The interventions, the President explained, are aimed at getting hazardous pesticides off the street, protecting children from exposure to these substances, and preventing future outbreaks.
To ensure compliance, the President last Friday ordered that all spaza shops and food-handling facilities register with their respective municipalities within 21 days.
Small business owners can follow these guidelines to ensure that they are compliant with government regulations:
- Registration for trading permits for spaza shop owners and vendors is done in municipality offices or designated sites that the municipalities will communicate to residents.
- All spaza shop owners and vendors must register with their respective municipalities from 15 November to 13 December 2024.
- Application forms for registration or permits to conduct business can be accessed physically at the municipal offices or on the municipality website.
- The completed application form is to be received only by the municipal manager or a delegated official within a municipality.
- The completed permit application should contain the business owner's full name, surname, gender, and disability status.
- Other details that must be included in the application for a trading permit are:
- the identity number of the business owner;
- the physical and postal address of the business concerned;
- location where the business will be operated;
- the description of the goods or services that the business will be selling or providing to the community;
- the citizenship status of the applicants and
- the passport number, section 22 asylum seeker permit, section 24 refugee permit, and a valid visa allowing foreign nationals to be in the Republic to work or conduct business.
- The applicant must provide an affidavit stating that he/she is not engaged in the trade of illegal goods, as defined in this by-law and that his/her business will operate according to the applicable norms and standards.
- The municipality may conduct background checks on applicants, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, to verify the legality of their business activities.
- After the application has satisfied all the conditions stated by the municipality, the business owner will be issued a registration card or permit that must be always displayed and be available for inspection.
Reporting illegal business practices
Municipalities are also expected to communicate to residents a complaints procedure that can be used by residents and community members to report illegal business practices by the business establishment
This complaints procedure will also include details about the appeals process for the application process.
According to the Immigration Act of 2002, it is a criminal offense to assist or enable an illegal foreigner to conduct any business in the Republic of South Africa.
It is also a criminal offense to assist an illegal foreigner to obtain a licence for him/her to conduct any business. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 11/20/2024 - 15:57
452 views
Call for Entries: The Earthshot Prize 2025 – Seeking Groundbreaking Solutions to Restore Our Planet
Following a record-breaking year for nominations, and a historic first awards ceremony on the African continent, The Earthshot Prize (TEP) is officially open for entries for its 2025 cohort and MultiChoice (www.Multichoice.com) is proud to once again be an official Africa nominator for TEP.
TEP seeks innovative solutions across five critical Earthshots: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix Our Climate.
This year's cycle saw an unprecedented surge in nominations, with over 2,000 entries received from 139 countries, demonstrating a growing global momentum for environmental innovation.
The star-studded awards ceremony, held in Cape Town, South Africa was broadcast live to millions of people across the continent by MultiChoice, the official African broadcast partner of TEP. The ceremony celebrated several African-led initiatives, including:
- Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) (Ghana): Winner of the Clean Our Air Earthshot, GAYO is tackling air pollution with its innovative “Zero Waste Model”.
- Keep IT Cool (Kenya): Winner of the Build a Waste-Free World Earthshot, Keep IT Cool is revolutionising food preservation for small-scale farmers and fishers with its sustainable refrigeration systems.
These winners, along with all other TEP recipients, exemplify the power of local solutions to address global challenges and contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Each winner receives £1 million in prize money to scale their impactful solutions.
TEP invites individuals, communities, businesses, and organisations across Africa and beyond to submit their groundbreaking ideas and technologies that can accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. The Prize seeks solutions that are:
- Impactful: Demonstrating tangible positive effects on the environment.
- Inspiring: Motivating others to act and join the global movement for change.
- Inclusive: Benefitting communities and promoting equitable access to resources.
TEP is a beacon of hope in the face of the climate crisis, searching for the next generation of environmental pioneers who are developing innovative solutions to repair the planet. Anyone with a bold idea is encouraged to apply here (https://apo-opa.co/3ZfDXdG).
At the heart of TEP's mission is a determination to bring environmental solutions to scale as fast as possible, to reach the goal of protecting and restoring the planet by 2030.
The deadline for entries is 4 December 2024.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.
For media queries contact:
Moipone Tsotetsi
Moipone.Tsotetsi@multichoice.co.za
For entry queries email:
Info@multichoiceafrica.com
About The Earthshot Prize:
Founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2020, The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental prize designed to discover, accelerate, and scale groundbreaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy's Moonshot, the Prize aims to catalyse an Earthshot challenge to encourage and scale innovative solutions that can help put the world on a trajectory towards a stable climate where communities, oceans, and biodiversity thrive in harmony by 2030.
For more information, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/3CAsjRP
Spaza shops: Register to benefit from government funding
Spaza shops: Register to benefit from government funding
As township and rural entrepreneurs throughout the country are getting their papers in order to ensure they are compliant with government regulations to run a spaza shop, the great news is that once they have a valid trading permit, they can apply for funding from government institutions.
Through programmes like the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP) or the Spaza Shop Support Scheme, entrepreneurs can access much-needed financial relief.
Earlier this month, government introduced a new standard draft by-law for township economies that offers a simplified permitting and registration process.
“To further support township businesses, municipalities will facilitate workshops, training, and access to essential resources such as infrastructure and markets. This proactive approach helps small business owners improve operational capacity, while also promoting compliance with relevant laws and standards.
“The new standard draft by-law introduces an efficient permit and registration system that provides clear guidelines for businesses, including both physical and online access to application forms,” the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) said earlier this month.
Municipal officials will assist applicants in the process, ensuring timely approvals and smooth operations for new and existing businesses.
“This by-law, issued in accordance with the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act of 2000, aims to create an enabling environment for small businesses in townships, supporting economic inclusion, job creation, and community empowerment,” the department said.
The full gazette can be accessed at https://www.cogta.gov.za/index.php/docs/local-government-municipal-systems-act-2000/.
President orders registration of spaza shops
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa called for all spaza shops and food-handling facilities to register with their respective municipalities as part of decisive measures to address the recurring food-borne illnesses that have claimed the lives of at least 22 children across the country.
The interventions, the President explained, included getting hazardous pesticides off the street, protection of children from exposure to these substances, and the prevention of future outbreaks.
To ensure compliance, the President ordered that all spaza shops and food-handling facilities must register with their respective municipalities within 21 days.
President Ramaphosa further announced the immediate closure of spaza shops implicated in the deaths and stricter regulations to protect communities.
READ I Spaza shops implicated in child deaths to be shut down
Township and rural entrepreneurs who are in need of funding are encouraged to consider applying for the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP) or the Spaza Shop Support Scheme. The National Youth Development Agency also has numerous programmes targeted at assisting young people in business.
The TREP targets township and rural-based enterprises which are owned by entrepreneurs who are based in the townships or rural areas.
The programme is aimed at assisting entrepreneurs overcome the legacy of economic exclusion by creating a conducive environment for entrepreneurial activity and providing dedicated business support to enterprises in rural and township areas including access to funding.
Township or rural-based entrepreneurs must apply for support including funding through the common application template from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa), National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
Owners of the business must be South African nationals.
How to apply:
• Register on https://smmesa.gov.za/ and complete the information required. Once complete, you will receive an email with your unique smmesa.gov.za reference number.
• The application form is available at https://www.eservices.gov.za
• Create a user profile (account) with the email address used to register on smmesa.gov.za, the email address and smmesa.gov.za reference number is linked to the eservices platform.
• Once registered and logged in, you are able to apply for the programmes available on the application window.
• On the option <<apply for finance>>, choose the common application template.
• Upload the required statutory documents: CIPC documentation, and proof of address as applicable.
• All statutory documents must be submitted before an application is considered.
• In case of application to purchase equipment/s and/or CAPEX, the applicants must submit quotations/proforma invoices for the equipment/CAPEX required.
• Applications can also be submitted to trep@sefa.org.za should there be difficulties with the portal.
• Application form can be accessed on the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) website: https://www.dsbd.gov.za/programme/township-and-rural-entrepreneurship-programme.
Spaza shop support programme
Sefa’s spaza-shop support programme is targeted at township and rural entrepreneurs who own spaza shops, general dealers or grocery stores.
It is offered in partnership with Nedbank through the Sefa Khula Credit Guarantee Scheme. Each application will be assessed in terms of the following criteria:
• The spaza shop/store must be owner-managed and -operated.
• The owner must have a valid South African identification document.
• S/he must register with the SMMESA (https://www.smmesa.gov.za/).
• Spaza shop owners must hold a licence to trade or a municipal permit – if they do not have one, they must obtain one before they can access support.
• Qualifying owners must go to their nearest Nedbank branch or the Nedbank desk at their nearest Boxer store for assistance in applying.
The following documents will be required:
• A valid South African ID document.
• A valid and original municipal trading licence/permit to trade, or business licence in the case of a general dealer. Copies are not acceptable, and only permits/licences issued by a municipality, not a counsellor, will be accepted.
• Qualifying spaza shop/general dealer owners must register with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), in cases where they are not already registered with these organisations.
Qualifying owners must:
• Undertake to comply with consumer and customer protection and national disaster management regulations and directions.
• Be willing to submit monthly management account.
• Employ 70% South Africans.
• Have been trading for a minimum of six months.
• Have a valid business bank account (including newly opened).
• Be willing to participate in the bulk-buying scheme as organised by the DSBD or any of its agencies.
• Operate in a township or rural area.
How to qualify for the scheme:
• The spaza shop, general dealer or grocery store owner must go to their nearest Seda office to physically submit the required permits and their ID, or they can submit these documents to Seda online.
• Seda will assist with compliance registration and due diligence.
• The owner will complete the application form, which will be submitted to the Department of Small Business Development for approval.
• If approved, the owner will be advised to collect his/her bank card from a bank (appointed bank).
• Clients can also apply directly to sefa by completing the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (soc) limited (Sefa) spaza shop support facility cardholder application form The application form must be accompanied by all supporting documents. To submit the application form directly to Sefa please send them to spaza@sefa.org.za. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 11/20/2024 - 14:39
13 views
Crucial Court Battle Over Future of “New” Trade Unions
The Labour Appeal Court will hear an appeal by the Registrar of Labour Relations. The court will decide whether the Simunye Workers Forum can be registered as a trade union.
Construction mafia disrupts projects worth R63bn
Construction mafia disrupts projects worth R63bn
Since 2019, construction site disruptions by criminal syndicates have disrupted over 180 projects worth R63 billion, using tactics such as extortion, intimidation, violence and sabotage.
“Their demands for up to 30% of contract value undermine the integrity of our procurement systems and delay critical infrastructure delivery,” the Deputy Minister of Finance, Ashor Sarupen, said on Tuesday in Durban.
Addressing the National Construction Summit on site disruption, the Deputy Minister said while the construction industry faces numerous challenges, none is more urgent than the persistent site disruptions by criminal syndicates and community protests.
South Africa’s construction industry is a vital cog in the economy as it contributes around 3% to gross domestic product (GDP), employs over 1.3 million South Africans, with 176 000 jobs added just in the third quarter of 2024.
This sector is a lifeline for low-skilled workers, who often struggle to find opportunities elsewhere, however the disruptions undermine the sector’s potential.
“Construction projects also have an unmatched multiplier effect. For every R1 million invested in construction, more than three jobs are created. This is the highest multiplier across all sectors in our economy.
“It is no surprise that the government has identified infrastructure development as a cornerstone of our economic recovery. The 2024 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) reaffirmed our commitment to shifting government spending from consumption to investment.
“This aligns with the President’s call to transform South Africa into a “construction site” to drive inclusive growth and job creation,” the Deputy Minister said.
Over the next three years, government plans to invest over R900 billion in the construction sector.
“Our reforms in procurement, infrastructure investment, and structural economic transformation are concrete commitments to changing the lived realities of millions of South Africans.
“However, to fulfill these ambitions, we must recognize that the construction mafia and site disruptions reveal deeper socio-economic fractures within our country.
“These disruptions are not merely an operational challenge. It is not only businesses that are being disrupted but the lives and livelihoods of our people,” the Deputy Minister said.
They also represent a critical stress test for the broader economic governance architecture, revealing the fragile interdependencies between formal institutional frameworks and reality on the ground.
“For now, these disruptions show how easily our carefully planned economic rules break down when they meet real-world challenges.
“They show just how difficult it is to conduct honest business in an environment of deepening unemployment, poverty, and the desperation it often leads to.
“To address this crisis, we need a holistic response—one that combines stricter law enforcement, improved governance, and community engagement to address the root causes of these disruptions,” Sarupen said.
Government’s intervention
To address these challenges, the government is pursuing a three-pronged strategy, which includes Reforming Public Procurement; Expanding Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Increasing Infrastructure Investment.
“The Public Procurement Act, signed into law earlier this year, lays the foundation for a more transparent, efficient, and inclusive procurement system.
“Under the new regulations, subcontracting will be allowed only where feasible and must follow due process to prevent abuse.
“Government entities will have the option to pay subcontractors directly, eliminating the delays and exploitation often experienced under the current system,” the Deputy Minister said.
He said these reforms are designed to empower small and emerging contractors while safeguarding the integrity of our procurement processes.
Government’s R900 billion in planned investments is supported by capital budgeting reforms to ensure that projects are well-planned and implemented on time, mobilising private sector funding to augment limited public resources and prioritising integrated urban development to create dynamic cities that enable economic activity.
“This is not just about bricks and mortar; it is about transforming lives by providing the infrastructure needed for housing, education, healthcare and transport.
“Our efforts to revitalize the construction sector are part of the broader reform agenda under Operation Vulindlela, a joint initiative between the National Treasury and the Presidency,” Sarupen said.
Since its launch in 2020, Operation Vulindlela has delivered significant progress in:
1. Stabilising the electricity supply.
2. Reducing the cost and improving the quality of digital communications.
3. Securing sustainable water supply.
4. Enhancing the efficiency of freight transport.
5. Reforming the visa regime to attract skills and grow tourism.
“Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela focuses on creating dynamic and integrated cities to support urbanization and economic growth. This will require substantial contributions from the construction sector to build the housing, schools, and transport infrastructure needed for our rapidly growing urban population,” the Deputy Minister said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 11/19/2024 - 11:08
6 views
Committee Chairperson welcomes pronouncement by President on registration of spaza shops
Committee Chairperson welcomes pronouncement by President on registration of spaza shops
The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries, Makhi Feni, has welcomed the pronouncement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that spaza shop owners have 21 days to register their businesses.
In a statement issued by the Parliamentary Communication Service, Feni said it was reassuring that those found to have sold poisonous foods that led to the deaths of children will be closed.
“This is not punishment for foreign nationals; this is getting officials to do what they are paid daily to do. The crisis did not have to get to the proportions it had reached. All that was needed was enforcement of the law,” he said.
President Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Friday, where he announced decisive measures to address the recurring foodborne illnesses that have claimed the lives of at least 22 children across the country.
These include the immediate closure of spaza shops implicated in the deaths and stricter regulations to protect communities.
The President outlined three critical interventions to be implemented with immediate effect, which are to get hazardous pesticides off the street, protect children from exposure to these substances, and prevent future outbreaks.
To ensure compliance, the President issued a directive that all spaza shops and food-handling facilities must register with their respective municipalities within 21 days.
READ | Spaza shops implicated in child deaths to be shut down
He emphasised that any shop that is not registered within 21 days and does not meet all health standards and requirements will be closed.
The President further said the investigations that have taken place do not suggest any deliberate campaign to poison children in the country.
Feni said the potential this crisis had to turn South Africans against foreign nationals was real and concerning.
“In some instances, shops were looted, and genuine community protests were hijacked by criminal elements. We are, however, concerned about seeing spaza shop owners dumping what looks like expired food,” Feni said.
He urged municipal officials to act on this presidential directive with integrity, avoiding bribes or any form of corruption.
Feni stressed that the aim is to permanently prevent the deaths of children caused by consuming unsafe snacks. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:36
392 views
Cape Town May Pump as Much Sewage Into the Sea as It Likes
Environment minister has lifted quantity restrictions on the city’s three marine outfalls
Extension granted for trustees to file in beneficial ownership register
Extension granted for trustees to file in beneficial ownership register
Trustees have been granted a 15-day grace period to file their details on the beneficial ownership register by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD).
This after amendments to the Trust Property Act of 1988 came into effect in April last year, in a bid to address shortcomings in beneficial ownership transparency in South Africa’s regulatory framework.
“South Africa, as a member of the Financial Action Task Force [FATF], is obliged to ensure that its regulatory environment is geared towards international standards in anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism,” the DJCOD said.
The department noted that there has been a “low level of compliance” by trustees.
“This low level of compliance will have a significant impact on SA exiting the grey list by the January 2025 deadline. All trustees are reminded that the law is already in operation and remains applicable, together with penalties for non-compliance.
“The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development made regulations that were published in Government Gazette No. 48351 on 31 March 2023, in order to facilitate the implementation of the Amendment Act.
“Prior to these amendments, the Trust Property Control Act, 1988, did not provide for reporting on beneficial ownership and hence, had no prescribed penalties for non-compliance,” the department said.
The DJCOD warned that non-compliance with the provisions of the act will lead to “harsher punishment”.
“According to the Amendment Act, a trustee commits an offence if they fail to disclose to an accountable institution that they engage with in the capacity of a trustee, that the relevant transaction or business relationship relates to trust property.
“The trustee also commits an offence if they fail to record the details of an accountable institution, as prescribed in regulation 3B; if they fail to establish and record the beneficial ownership information of a trust prescribed in regulation 3C and when they fail to keep an up to date record of the beneficial ownership information prescribed in regulation 3C or fails to lodge a register of the beneficial ownership information prescribed in regulation 3C with the Master of the High Court,” the department said.
The DJCOD said no further extension will be granted after 30 November. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:53
604 views
Court Intervenes in Gauteng Government’s Funding Blunders
Dozens of organisations have not been paid by the provincial social development department
Commission Confirms Probe Into Magistrate Blose’s Appointment
Blose was once an accused in a high profile corruption matter
MSF Slams Novo Nordisk for South Africa’s Insulin Pen Shortage
But the multinational pharmaceutical company says it offered government solutions
Spaza shops implicated in child deaths to be shut down
Spaza shops implicated in child deaths to be shut down
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced decisive measures to address the recurring food-borne illnesses that have claimed the lives of at least 22 children across the country.
These include the immediate closure of spaza shops implicated in the deaths and stricter regulations to protect communities.
Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, President Ramaphosa outlined three critical interventions to be implemented with immediate effect.
“Following the special meeting of Cabinet, we have decided to make the following interventions: The first intervention is to get hazardous pesticides off the street, the second critical intervention is to protect children from exposure to these substances, the third critical intervention is to prevent future outbreaks. The following measures will be implemented with immediate effect.
“The spaza shops which have been implicated in the deaths of children will be closed with immediate effect. Non-compliant businesses and shops linked to any poisoning incidents or found to unlawfully stock hazardous chemicals will be shut down,” the President said.
To ensure compliance, all spaza shops and food-handling facilities must register with their respective municipalities within 21 days.
“Any shop that is not registered within 21 days and does not meet all health standards and requirements will be closed,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President’s address comes in response to 890 reported cases of food-borne illnesses across the country, with Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Free State, and Mpumalanga the hardest hit.
In recent weeks, food-borne illnesses have claimed the lives of at least 22 children. Last month there was a major food-borne incident in Naledi, in Soweto in which six children died, the youngest of them being six years old.
Multidisciplinary Response teams activated
Soon after the deaths, a multidisciplinary team in government was activated to address the incidents, with Cabinet having met on three occasions to receive reports on them.
These teams included detectives from the South African Police Service, health officials, environmental inspectors, Department of Agriculture officials and officials from the National Consumer Commission.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases was requested to conduct scientific tests and has established that the deaths of the six children in Naledi can be directly attributed to a highly hazardous chemical used as a pesticide known as Terbufos.
The President said few words can adequately convey the sadness and pain of the nation.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families as they go through the pain and the anguish of losing their children. Losing a child is something no parent should ever have to endure,” he said.
Nationwide Inspections and Crackdowns
President Ramaphosa said that the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies will be required to investigate, arrest and prosecute offenders. This will involve close cooperation with all registered manufacturers and suppliers.
“Integrated multidisciplinary inspection teams will undertake compliance inspections of food handling facilities, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers. This will include spaza shops and general dealers.
“A massive campaign of door-to-door inspections of all spaza shops, tuck shops and other informal traders will be undertaken, starting with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.
This will be undertaken by inter-disciplinary inspections teams consisting of the South African Military Health Services, environmental health practitioners, the South African Police Service, the National Consumer Council, labour inspectors and others.
The President emphasised that the initial phase of inspections will need be completed within a month.
Registered manufacturers and distributors of Terbufos will also be scrutinised to ensure compliance and prevent misuse. The supply chain for hazardous chemicals will face tighter regulations, including strengthened protocols for traceability, repackaging, and disposal.
“All registered manufacturers of Terbufos will be inspected to ensure that no products are diverted into the non-agricultural market. The supply chain process for distribution and sale of Terbufos will be investigated to ensure that controls are being adhered to and that there is accountability for who they sell to,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa emphasised that regulations and protocols on the traceability, repackaging, destruction and sale of pesticides, insecticides and foodstuffs will be strengthened.
Turning to the second intervention on the protection of children from exposure to harmful substances, the President announced that the Department of Basic Education will immediately issue a circular to Provincial Education Departments and all schools on best practice protocols for preventing and managing food-borne illnesses within schools.
The third intervention, which is aimed at preventing future outbreaks, is that the President has directed that joint operational and intelligence structures be established at a national and provincial level to deal with the crisis.
“Our local municipalities will be required to take urgent action to address the problem of rat infestations by cleaning cities and towns and removing waste. All municipal landfill sites will be required to comply with the National Environmental Management Waste Act. Failure to comply will result in strict sanctions that include directives, compliance notices and criminal enforcement,” he said.
The President said a Ministerial Health Advisory Committee was being established to develop medium- and long-term prevention measures. This committee will consist of experts such as toxicologists, paediatricians, chemical pathologists, epidemiologists, forensic pathologists and others.
“All deaths of patients 12 years and below will be made notifiable in the Notifiable Medical Condition Surveillance System. An electronic medical certification of death system will be established to allow the National Department of Health to access cause of death information immediately after a death is certified,” he said.
President Ramaphosa said the work of the Biosecurity Hub will be strengthened to better control the entry of products, organisms and harmful biological products at ports of entry.
The Department of Agriculture is in the process of reviewing and updating all relevant legislation with respect to the regulation and authorisation of agricultural pesticides for use in South Africa.
WATCH I President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses nation on food safety actions
The President announced a joint fund of R500 million to support small businesses, particularly township and rural convenience shops. The funding will cover refurbishment, technical training, and compliance support.
“A joint fund of R500 million will be established by the Departments of Trade, Industry and Competition and Small Business Development to support township and rural businesses, including community convenience shops.
“The funding will be for the refurbishment of businesses and non-financial support in terms of technical skills, regulatory compliance and capacity building,” he said.
The President said that as government undertakes these interventions and measures there is a lot that parents can do to protect their children. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Fri, 11/15/2024 - 21:41
195 views
Call for comments on prohibition activities for African lion
Call for comments on prohibition activities for African lion
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George has called for public comments on the draft notice prohibiting certain activities involving the African lion.
“With the world's largest captive lion population of around 8000, South Africa faces numerous issues such as misalignment with global conservation trends, questionable tourism practices, inadequate regulation, and persistent animal welfare and other issues,” the Minister said on Friday.
The industry's deficiency in social license and departure from international norms present massive problems to its sustainability.
“To understand these issues better with the view to find a solution, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Environmental Affairs convened a Colloquium on Captive Lion Breeding for Hunting in South Africa: Harming or Promoting the Conservation Image of the Country in 2018.
“One of the recommendations of the Portfolio Committee was that a policy and legislative review of captive breeding of lions for hunting and lion bone trade should be initiated as a matter of urgency, with a view to putting an end to this practice,” George said.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has given notice of its intention to prohibit certain activities involving African lion (Panthera leo), in terms of section 9A, read with sections 99 and 100 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) in the Government Gazette No. 51581 Notice No. 5555.
On 24 April 2024 the Policy Position on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros was published in the Government Gazette for implementation.
The Policy Objective with regards to captive lions is: “To end the captive keeping of lions for commercial purposes and close captive lion facilities, put a halt to the intensive breeding of lion in controlled environments, and end the commercial exploitation of captive and captive-bred lions."
The Minister said lions have a highly developed social organisation.
“Lions are gregarious and territorial, comprise a matriarchal society, with male coalitions, and exhibit communal care. Their complex social structure is manifested in their innate behavioural ecology.
“Providing opportunity for complex social interactions, such as the ability to interact naturally with other lions, for example, as groups of males, with groups of females or with their offspring, is critical,” he said.
This requires sufficient space for groups of lions to choose to be together in a group, or to move separately at sufficient distance to provide for a refuge from the group.
Artificial behavioural enhancement may not be sufficient to substitute for these highly evolved needs.
ions are a highly territorial and competitive species, especially in respect of competition for access to mates and promoting the production and survival of their own progeny. The ability to escape when dominated as a result of intra-specific competition is a critical consideration.
As apex predators, hunting and killing, as well as the diverse diet associated with a generalist apex predator and access to prey, are central to the physiology and behaviour of lions.
“It has become critical to implement appropriate measures to prevent the establishment of new captive facilities and other controlled environments for lion whilst a process to facilitate the voluntary exit of captive lion facilities is currently underway,” the Minister said.
A draft Notice Prohibiting Certain Activities Involving African Lion (Panthera leo) was published in the Government Gazette on 29 September 2023 for public comment.
Due to substantial amendments to the afore-mentioned draft notice subsequent to the public consultation process, an amended draft prohibition notice has now been published in terms of section 9A of NEM: BA for public comment.
The proposed prohibition relates only to the establishment and registration of new captive breeding facilities, commercial exhibition facilities or rehabilitation facilities, or any other new controlled environments in respect of live specimens of African lion (Panthera leo).
The establishment and registration of new sanctuaries are excluded from the proposed prohibition in the circumstance specified in paragraph 3.
Persons who operate under existing permits are not affected by the proposed prohibition.
Members of the public are invited to submit, within 30 days from the date of publication of this Notice in the Government Gazette or newspapers, whichever date is the later date of publication, written comments to any of the following addresses:
By post to: The Director-General: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Attention: Ms Magdel Boshoff
Private Bag X447
PRETORIA
0001
By hand at: Reception, Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Road, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083
By e-mail: revisedlionprohibition@dffe.gov.za
The Government Notice and the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment can be accessed at these following links:
https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/legislations/nema_lionactivitiesprohibition_g51581gon5555.pdf.
Any inquiries in connection with this Notice can be directed to Ms Magdel Boshoff on +27 83 952 2334 or revisedlionprohibition@dffe.gov.za. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Fri, 11/15/2024 - 14:52
139 views
Minister visits Stilfontein mine shaft
Minister visits Stilfontein mine shaft
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has told local communities in Stilfontein in the North West where illegal miners are remain underground that the authorities are doing everything in their power to get them to resurface.
Mchunu said on Friday that 1187 people have come to the surface from the mine.
One illegal miner has passed away and police have registered an inquest to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
A significant number remain underground.
The Minister conducted a visit to the Stilfontein mine shaft and engaged with members of the South African Defence Force on the events that have unfolded at the mine shaft to date.
Addressing the local community after the visit, Mchunu said the police were aware of the illegal firearms the illegal miners have.
“These are people who are coming to South Africa illegally. What we are doing as the police is to ensure that there is law and order in the country,” Mchunu said.
Mchunu said police were intensifying their operations to get the illegal miners out of the mine.
“We are aware that some community members know what is happening down there, we are appealing to them to distance themselves from those activities, engaging in illegal mining is illegal,” the Minister said.
He appealed to the local communities to assist the police in combatting illegal mining.
“We are aware that what is happening there is dangerous. We are doing everything in our power to deal with the situation we are faced with,” Mchunu said.
On Tuesday, a total of 15 suspects including Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Basotho and South Africans surfaced from Magaret Shaft.
The suspects are being processed and are expected to appear before the Stilfontein Magistrates Court on charges of possession of gold dust, contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002 and illicit mining.
The Operation Vala Umgodi team - comprising members from the SAPS, SANDF and stakeholders - have seized illegal mining equipment and goods including alcohol, energy beverages, oxygen cylinders, an air compressor, scrap generator, a laptop, and bags containing gold bearing material as well as a jackhammer and generators. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 11/15/2024 - 15:35
79 views
JETOUR Joins Hands with DISCOVERY and Cheetah Conservation Fund in Wildlife Conservation, Practicing “Travel as ESG” Philosophy
Recently, at the JETOUR Global Travel+ Conference 2024 (www.JETOURGlobal.com) in Fuzhou, JETOUR emphasized the importance of wildlife conservation and reaffirmed its strong commitment to the pursuit of "Travel as ESG Practices". After releasing a teaser of Discovery's documentary "Return of the Cheetah", JETOUR invited the documentary's protagonist, Hazen Audel, a renowned biologist and artist, to jointly launch the charity auction for the protection of cheetahs. JETOUR announced that all proceeds from the auction will be donated to cheetah conservation, continuing its consistent support for ecological conservation.
JETOUR: Cheetah Protection will be Our Long-term Public Service
At the conference, more than 1,000 people watched the teaser of the documentary "Return of the Cheetah". The documentary, jointly produced by JETOUR, the Discovery Channel and the Cheetah Conservation Fund, uses the Namibian grasslands in Africa as a backdrop to illustrate the plight of the cheetah around the world, and to encourage more people to get involved in this public welfare activity and help protect the environment for the survival of wildlife, including the cheetah.
While discussing cheetah conservation with Dr. Laura Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and Hazen Audel, the main character in the documentary, Ke Chuandeng, Vice President of JETOUR Auto, said, "Public welfare is not just about giving. It is about encouraging more people to get involved. Through our cheetah conservation project, we hope to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and inspire more people to get involved. When we add up every small act of kindness, it creates energy that can help build a better and more harmonious world.”
On September 20, 2024, JETOUR officially announced its strategic partnership with CCF in South Africa. In support of CCF, JETOUR will sponsor the care of two orphan/non-releasable cheetahs and donate official vehicles to improve cheetah habitats. JETOUR has successfully adopted a wild cheetah and partnered with the Discovery Channel to produce the documentary "Return of the Cheetah" about the growth of the cheetah cub. Hazen Audel also brought his own hand-carved "Cheetah's Guardian" artwork for the auction. He said, "I am very fortunate to be able to participate in the ESG project of cheetah conservation, and during the filming of the documentary I was very touched by the actions of JETOUR and CCF to help cheetahs continue to live on earth. With the sculptures I created for cheetah conservation, I hope to attract new people to see what's happening in the world. I wanted the proceeds from the sculptures to go back into the efforts of wildlife conservation.
Travel as ESG Practices: Enriching the "Travel+" Strategy
Currently, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) mission has become a significant trend in corporate development. JETOUR has incorporated ESG mission into its business and global development since its establishment.
In China, JETOUR launched the long-term charitable program of "Journey of Hope", focusing on the education and healthcare of left-behind children. Since 2020, JETOUR and its users have organized over 300 charitable activities. The company also established an ESG section on its app, encouraging users to participate in various charitable activities, with plans to hold 2,000 events over the next decade.
Internationally, JETOUR follows the "In somewhere. For somewhere" philosophy, conducting various charitable activities, such as traffic safety campaigns in Angola, sponsorship of vehicles for disabled athletes in Peru, support for rural road construction in Kazakhstan, and donations to children's education in Saudi Arabia. Through these initiatives, JETOUR continues to demonstrate that travel and ESG are deeply interconnected, creating social value for regions where it operates.
Li Xueyong, President of JETOUR Auto, said, “With the development of JETOUR's global business, we are increasingly aware of the harmonious symbiosis between economic development and the ecological environment. If we treat the earth well, the earth will treat us well. Cooperation with CCF is just the beginning. In the future, we will continue to support ecological conservation and contribute to global sustainable development.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of JETOUR.
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Social Development announces de-registration of non-compliant NPOs
Social Development announces de-registration of non-compliant NPOs
With the deadline to submit progress to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on the status of South Africa’s grey listing, the Department of Social Development has announced the commencement of the de-registration of non-compliant non-profit organisations (NPOs) in a phased approach.
The department revealed this to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development.
The FATF grey listed South Africa at its February 2023 plenary meeting held in Paris.
The FATF is the international standard-setting body that oversees global compliance with anti-money laundering rules.
It developed an Action Plan with 22 Action items linked to the eight strategic deficiencies identified in the country’s anti-money laundering and combating of financial terrorism regime.
The department noted that South Africa has made progress in five action items and has 17 outstanding items to which it must report progress by 2026.
“South Africa is required to address all 22 items in order to exit the grey-listing status. One of the action items relates to the risk of terror financing and money laundering by NPOs.
“FATF identified that NPOs can be used for terror financing and money laundering and recommended that South Africa develops an NPO Terror Funding Risk Assessment,” the department said in a statement on Thursday.
This assessment titled: “The Information on the South African Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment for the Non-Profit Organisations” found that there is a medium exposure to terror financing by the NPO sector in South Africa.
The risk assessment also identified some threats that NPOs can be exposed to relating to terror financing, such as:
• NPOs raising funds or other support for foreign terrorist groups
• NPOs facilitating foreign travel for terrorist causes, amongst others, and
• NPOs using the Internet and online media for fundraising, recruitment and propaganda
“The Department of Social Developing together with SARS [South African Revenue Service] and the FIC [Financial Intelligence Centre], are developing monitoring mechanisms to mitigate this risk.
“There are high, medium and low risk categories. The department has commenced with the deregistering non-complaint NPOs that do not fall in the high- risk category of NPOs as one of the mitigating monitoring mechanisms.
“Closer supervision and monitoring has been instituted by the department for NPOs identified to be at high risk of terror financing,” the department said.
As of October 2024, the department had 295 052 registered NPO and 167 103 of non-compliant NPOs.
Adequate standards of governance
The Department of Social Development through the Non-profit Organisations Act, 71 of 1997, as amended by General Laws Amendment Act (GLAA) provides for the registration of three types of NPOs, namely, Trust, non-profit company (NPC) and voluntary associations.
“Non-profit organisations play a crucial role in societal development and community welfare. However, some organisations fail to comply with regulatory frameworks, risking public trust and the integrity of the sector,” the department said.
The department said it has the responsibility to encourage NPOs to maintain adequate standards of governance, transparency, and accountability and to improve those standards.
The department explained that the need to deregister non-compliant NPOs is required by the need for the department to comply with the provisions of the NPO Act.
The FATF in the Mutual Evaluation Study indicated the need to implement the law in the form of the NPO Act as amended by the GLAA legislation.
“The risk of not deregistering/cancelling noncompliant NPOs is the likelihood of those NPOs being used by criminals for money laundering and terrorist financing.
Processes
“The department has a responsibility that NPOs that are not complying with provisions of the NPO Act are removed from the NPO Register as required in terms of section 21 (1) of the NPO Act deregistration or cancellation of NPOs is primarily about NPOs that fail to submit annual reports as required in terms of section 18 (1) of the NPO Act,” the department said.
Other instances that might lead to cancellation of registration status is when an organisation does not comply with the provisions of its own founding document. The department said the objective of the deregistration/cancellation is to identify NPOs that have failed to submit annual reports.
The department issues them with notices of compliance and subsequently remove them from the NPO register kept in terms of section 24 of the NPO Act.
The department will also provide deregistered/cancelled NPOs with an opportunity to appeal against the decision to remove them from the NPO Register.
The department will further raise its awareness program on the intention to deregister NPOs.
Steps taken:
• The process for deregistration/cancellation will start with the verification of compliance status.
• Once an organisation is found to be owing annual reports, it would be issued with a notice of compliance that would explain the annual reports that the organisation failed to submit.
• The organisation will be given 30 days to submit outstanding annual reports.
• Once an organisation fails to submit the required reports or fail to respond timeously to the issued noticed it would be cancelled or removed from the NPO Register.
• Deregistered/cancelled organisations will be afforded an opportunity to appeal against the decision of the Director to cancel the organisation’s registration status.
• The organisation would be required to submit a notice of appeal together with supporting documents.
• The notice of appeal together with relevant documents will be sent to the chairperson of the panel of arbitrators for distribution to the appointed arbitration tribunal for the adjudication of the appeal.
• The arbitration tribunal works independently and is appointed by the Minister in terms of section 9 (1) of the NPO Act.
• A lodged appeal must be considered with 3 months of receipt of the appeal.
• An appeal can either be denied or upheld. Once an appeal is upheld the department must reinstate the appellant and the organisation should be considered never to have been deregistered.
The department said that a denied appeal may take the matter on review with a competent court of law.
“The deregistration of non-compliant non-profit organizations is essential for maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector.
“By implementing a structured process, we can ensure that only organisations that meet compliance standards continue to operate, thereby protecting the interests of beneficiaries and the public at large,” the department said.
The department will deregister organisations according to the different financial years and it will be over a period of six to 12 months.
This is done with an intention not to cause alarm to the sector and give other NPOs time to respond to the call to submit annual reports.
The department said it will continue to support NPOs by creating an enabling environment for them to operate effectively and efficiently. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Thu, 11/14/2024 - 10:58
162 views
Durban Police Brutality Case Heads to Trial After Years of Delays
The trial of 14 SAPS officers for the death-in-custody of Regan Naidoo in 2018 has been set down for June 2025
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Cabinet welcomes historic issuing of Muslim marriage certificates
Cabinet welcomes historic issuing of Muslim marriage certificates
Cabinet has welcomed the historic issuing of the first batch of 33 Muslim marriage certificates by the Department of Home Affairs.
The marriage certificates were issued after the signing of the Divorce Amendment Bill into law in May this year by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Bill amended the Divorce Act, 1979 (Act 70 of 1979) to recognise Muslim marriages and safeguard the interests of Muslim women and children if those marriages are dissolved.
“These long-overdue changes signal our country’s commitment to ensure that Muslim women and children’s rights to equality, dignity, access to justice as well as the best interests of the minor child, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, are upheld.
“They also give effect to fostering greater social cohesion, nation-building and a shared national identity, as well as honouring various cultural and religious traditions,” Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni ,said on Wednesday in Cape Town.
Ntshavheni was briefing members of the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 November 2024.
READ | Home Affairs issues first-ever certificates recognising Muslim marriages
-SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 11/13/2024 - 14:09
294 views
Cabinet updated on SA’s water challenges
Cabinet updated on SA’s water challenges
Government has urged the residents of Hammanskraal in Gauteng to exercise patience while work is underway to install a new water treatment plant at the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works.
The call was made by Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during a post-Cabinet media briefing held in Cape Town on Wednesday.
“In 2023, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation directed Magalies Water to urgently intervene in terms of the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act 108 of 1997) and to design and install a new water-treatment plant at its Klipdrift Water Treatment Works near Hammanskraal.
“This will help ease the water challenges and provide long-term solutions. This additional water treatment plant will supply water to certain reservoirs in the city’s water distribution system to increase the supply of clean drinking water to Hammanskraal.
“Government urges the people of Hammanskraal and surrounding areas to be patient while this work is underway. The first phase is expected to be completed by 15 November 2024. This will allow the City of Tshwane to deliver potable water to some areas of Hammanskraal,” she said.
Ntshavheni acknowledged that the water challenges facing the community continue to negatively affect the lives of the people, including the provision of healthcare services at local facilities such as the Jubilee Hospital.
She moved to assure residents that Cabinet had received and considered a report from the Water and Sanitation Department on Hammanskraal.
“The City of Tshwane is currently implementing a R278 million project to repair the previously dysfunctional Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW).
“It is expected that increasing the capacity of the Rooiwal WWTW will cost about R2 billion. Cabinet was informed that the City of Tshwane will have to fund this project through revenue, borrowing or its Urban Settlements Development Grant allocations from the Department of Human Settlements,” she said.
Water restrictions
Meanwhile, the Minister said Cabinet was given an update on the level 1 water restrictions in Johannesburg which are due to begin on Thursday.
The restrictions were announced earlier this week and will see water supply throttled from 9am to 4pm daily.
READ | City of Johannesburg to implement water restrictions
“Cabinet was appraised of the level 1 water restrictions that are in place in Gauteng due to continued water demand as a result of high consumption caused by population growth, illegal connections, leaks and [the] misuse of water.
“The average consumption in Gauteng is 279 litres per capita per day compared to the international average of 173 litres per capita per day. Whilst the metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng have level 1 water restrictions in place, very little enforcement is undertaken by the municipalities.
“The Minister of Water and Sanitation and the Premier of Gauteng have requested the municipalities to impose level 2 water restrictions which will come with fines if consumers do not adhere to the restrictions,” Ntshavheni said.
She added that a National Water Crisis Committee is in the works to bolster water-related work nationally.
“Cabinet supported the decision by the President to augment the work that is currently spearheaded by the Deputy President [Paul Mashatile] by elevating the water matters as a crisis and establish a National Water Crisis committee that will develop a water action plan and bring in water experts in order to intervene to the nation-wide water challenges in the local government space,” she said.
Municipal water debt
Ntshavheni warned that the R23 billion collectively owed by municipalities to water boards was rising and unsustainable
She said Cabinet had been appraised on this debt.
“The debt threatens the financial viability of the water boards and the entire water sector. Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, recently met with several of the affected municipalities and received commitments to pay from most non-paying municipalities.
“Cabinet had previously approved the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to address municipal turnaround. The IMC will also prioritise measures to address municipal debt payments to water boards, particularly those facing imminent bankruptcy,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 11/13/2024 - 14:54
397 views