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In the digital age, the landscape of social media marketing is ever-evolving. With a plethora of platforms available, each with its unique features and audience demographics, it’s crucial for businesses to identify where their target audience spends most of their time. For those looking to tap into the South African market, understanding the most used …
The Film and Publication Board (FPB) welcomes the 12 life sentences handed to Mr Gerhard Ackerman on charges of possession of child pornography by the South Gauteng High Court today, 14 August 2023. The FPB played a crucial role in conducting analyses of the images found in possession of Mr Ackerman, which were crucial in his successful prosecution. The South Gauteng High Court accepted the FPB's content analysis report drafted by the Child Protection Team.
Both the State and the Defence Lawyer adopted the content analysis report and confirmed its accuracy without any amendments. The charges were brought against Mr Ackerman according to the Films and Publications Act 56 of 1996, as amended, which makes the creation, possession and distribution of child pornography as well as exploitation of children for this purpose, a criminal offence. 386 images found in his possession were confirmed to be Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
“We warmly welcome the heavy sentence and hope it sends a strong warning to other offenders out there that we, together with the Law Enforcement agencies and other partners, will sniff them out of the corners wherever they are hiding. We shall never rest until each one of them are behind bars. This is also a historic moment for the FPB as an online content regulator. We wish to congratulate our Child Protection team for working tirelessly in providing quality reports to court, resulting in this prosecution,”, says Chief Executive Officer of the FPB, Dr Mashilo Boloka.
He continues to say, “In our pursuit of eradicating the scourge of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), we employ internationally certified content analysts who are trained to ascertain whether people depicted in suspected content are in indeed children. FPB Child Protection Officers are trained on Safety and Risk Assessment in the field of Child Protection and are Certified Content Analysts. The rise of the digital space has made the work of the FPB and Law Enforcement in fighting CSAM particularly challenging. Sexual predators find an anonymous home on the internet where it is easy to build a persona that is very different from reality that can be used to exploit others”.
The FPB works in partnership with like-minded organisations in South Africa and around the world to close in on the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against children. Working through the International Association of Internet Hotlines (INHOPE) and their links to the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), the FPB is able to track CSAM that has been created or distributed through international syndicates and finds its way to South African online perpetrators. The problem of child sexual abuse and CSAM is insidious and requires the vigilance of everyone in society to curb it.
The long-term psychological damage to an abused child is multiplied when the images which have been circulated online are easily accessed. Members of the South African public are urged to report any suspected exploitation or grooming of children or instances of suspected CSAM in circulation to hotline@fpb.org.za
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.
Specially trained pharmacists will be allowed to manage and prescribe medicine to patients with HIV and/or tuberculosis
South Africa will be hosting the 15th Annual BRICS Summit from Tuesday, 22 August to Thursday, 24 August 2023. It is an international conference of BRICS heads of states providing a platform aimed at harnessing economic opportunities post the COVID-19 Pandemic. We do appreciate that the hosting of the 15th BRICS summit is coinciding with the celebration of National Women's Month in South Africa. “Although BRICS countries continue to play a critical role through their growing influence in the global economy, women continue to bear the brunt of poverty and inequality,” said the Director-General, Adv Mikateko Joyce Maluleke.
Hosting of the summit will continue to serve as a beacon of hope to many women who are calling for Accelerated Socio-Economic Opportunities, a clarion call for change and unlocking of both economic and social opportunities. This clear message from all South African women is in concurrence with the department's objectives of leading socio-economic transformation, and in fulfilling the constitutional mandate that advocates for non-discrimination against anyone on the grounds of race; sex, gender or sexual orientation. Evidence has shown that gender equality, particularly in education and employment, contributes to economic growth.
“As the BRICS Summit gets closer, we do believe that substantive issues and other policy matters will seek to bridge level of inequality through people to people exchange in the BRICS programme. This should be to the advantage of women and girls in rural areas, especially in accessing quality education, skills development and training, to bolster their opportunities in the employment sector. In order to achieve the ambitious commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities encourages mainstreaming of gender issues in all scheduled BRICS business activities during and post the annual summit that is taking place in a week's time here in South Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
Rwanda offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from exploring vibrant cities to trekking through lush jungles to see gorillas and other wildlife. The points highlighted cover a wide range of attractions and experiences that make Rwanda unique and appealing to travelers. With each visit to Rwanda, you’ll uncover new layers of its beauty, culture, and …
We have had a massive improvement in school attendance, with 1 074 649 learners, or 89% of all learners enrolled, present at our schools on Monday in the Western Cape.
We thank all those parents who responded to our call to bring their children back to school.
We also had 52 271 staff members, or 93% of school staff members, at school on Monday.
While we are pleased at the increase in learner attendance, they are still a little short of normal levels, which should be closer to 92%.
Now that the minibus taxi strike is over, we appeal to parents to please work with us and ensure that children go back to school. We need our learners back in class, so that we can work on getting them #BackonTrack.
Unfortunately, we are once again battling fake news regarding schools closing and threats to schools.
As a result of a false claims about a resumption of the minibus taxi strike, which circulated on Monday, concerned parents at some schools collected their children early.
SANTACO-WC has confirmed that the claimed resumption of the strike was fake news.
Please do not share information that has not been verified, because it has the potential to cause fear and disruption.
We simply cannot afford to lose one more day of teaching and learning at our schools in the Western Cape.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Western Cape Education Department, South Africa.
Apple Music today announced Afro-pop singer-songwriter Platform is the latest artist to be featured in its new Up Next artist development program in East Africa. “I’m incredibly proud to be Apple Music’s Up Next artist for East Africa this month. It’s a unique opportunity for me and I can’t put it into words what it …
BRICS countries urged to support township economy
BRICS countries have been urged to continue to support and invest in the township economy in an effort to reshape the perception of townships, and foster a brighter and inclusive future for all.
The Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), Maropene Ramokgopa, led a first of its kind Township Economy in BRICS Dialogue in Orlando West, Soweto, on Tuesday.
Ramokgopa said that BRICS member countries have the capacity to leverage the combined resources, experiences and expertise to support each other in nurturing vibrant township economies.
She said joint ventures, investment partnerships, and knowledge-sharing initiatives can bring a transformative impact.
“As a BRICS nation, we must continue to support and invest in the township economy. By doing so we can rewrite the narrative of our township and create a brighter and more inclusive future for all.
“Let us seize this moment to foster innovation, promote entrepreneurship and build a thriving township economy that stands as a beacon of hope both in South Africa and across the globe in particular BRICS countries,” Ramokgopa said.
The inaugural dialogue was hosted by the Township Economic Commission of South Africa (TECSA) with the support of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) BRICS Directorate.
The dialogue is convened exactly a week before the commencement of the much-anticipated 15th BRICS Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Minister Ramokgopa emphasised the critical importance of implementing policies that promote and empower small enterprises in order to fully unlock the capabilities of the Township Economy.
She highlighted that currently, the Department of Small Business Development and the National Planning Commission are collaborating with The Presidency Red Tape team to develop a targeted agenda for regulatory SMME reform in South Africa aimed at improving the business-enabling environment.
“We are excited that this time around, we are involving the township economy in this particular summit, all this that we are doing here are going to culminate in what will be discussed in the summit,” she said.
In order to ensure the sustained growth of the township economy, Ramokgopa said a multi-pronged approach is essential. Firstly, she highlighted that education and skills development must be prioritized.
“Providing quality education and training equips township residents with the knowledge and skills necessary to build, expand and explore new economic sectors. By investing in a skilled workforce, we are in a better position to attract more investors to stimulate economic development,” the Minister said.
Secondly, she said partnerships between the government, the private sector, and civil society are critical.
She highlighted that through effective and targeted social compacts, government has the potential to remedy some of the challenges experienced by township entrepreneurs.
“Government policies should be tailored to encourage investment, while private sector entities can offer mentorship, funding, and market access. Thirdly, we must leverage on our country’s enabling legislation to capacitate, support and accelerate township economies,” she said.
Ramokgopa emphasised that townships remain the gateway to the economic participation of millions of our people adding that government must be deliberate about taking BRICS to townships and townships to BRICS. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 08/15/2023 - 14:43
President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a working visit to Luanda, in the Republic of Angola, on 16 and 17 August 2023, to participate in a summit of Southern African leaders who will focus on sustainable industrialisation of the region.
The 43rd Ordinary Summit of the Head of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community is themed “Human and financial capital: The key drivers for sustainable industrialisation of the SADC Region”.
The Summit will be preceded by the Troika Summit of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation on 16 August 2023.
President Ramaphosa, as the outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Organ, will also attend the Troika Summit.
The Organ Troika Summit, will discuss the political and security situation in the region with particular focus on the Kingdom of Lesotho, Kingdom of Eswatini, Mozambique (SADC Mission in Mozambique) and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Organ Troika Summit will also reflect on consolidation of democracy in SADC and deliberate the socio-economic outlook for the Community.
Other activities of the Summit include the announcement of the 2022 SADC Secondary School Essay Competition, the Media Awards and the presentation of the Medal of Honour to one of the SADC Founders – the late and first President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency, Sir Seretse Khama.
The two Summits will be preceded by the SADC Council of Ministers meeting on 13 – 14 August 2023, and a Ministerial Committee of the Organ on 16 August 2023.
President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise, and the Minister in Presidency responsible for State Security, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today had to adjourn its planned meeting to deliberate on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill after a walkout of three members left the committee without a quorum.
The meeting was scheduled to consider and adopt the draft report on the public hearings earlier this year on the BELA Bill. It was also scheduled to receive a presentation from the department on the financial implications of the Bill and to start clause-by-clause deliberations on the Bill.
Committee Chairperson Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba expressed her disappointed at the walkout of two Members of the Democratic Alliance – Mr Baxolile Nodada and Ms Marina van Zyl – and Ms Marie Sukers from the African Christian Democratic Party. However, Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba said the walkout was expected. “We noted the behaviour already during the public hearings in provinces and the misinformation that was spread. We noted the comments in our last meeting regarding the draft report on the countrywide hearings. The majority of Members present today indicated that the draft report was a fair reflection of what occurred in the public hearings across the country. That is also why we were able to adopt the report,” the Chairperson said.
Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba said it was at this stage, after the adoption of the report and before the deliberations on the Bill could begin that the three members staged a walkout. “It is concerning. As Members of Parliament and public representatives we can differ with each other. It is how we express that difference that is worrying. Members have all the right to raise objections and have it included in reports. It was clear that this was just another attempt of the group to stall the Bill. We saw it during the public hearings with the misinformation that was being spread. We will however not be deterred and will continue tomorrow with our work.”
The Bill proposes to amend the South African Schools Act (SASA) of 1996 and the Employment of Educators Act (EEA) of 1998 so as to align them with developments in the education landscape and to ensure that systems of learning are put in place in a manner that gives effect to the right to basic education enshrined in section 29(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
Among other things, the Bill seeks to amend certain definitions, to made attendance in Grade R compulsory and to provide for improvements in admissions systems for learners in public schools. It also provides for financial and public accountability frameworks for governing bodies and provincial departments. The Bill further provides the Minister with additional regulatory powers and enhances the decision-making and oversight powers of heads of departments and of members of executive councils.
The Bill further proposes technical and substantive adjustments, clarifies certain existing provisions, inserts provisions not provided for in existing legislation and strengthens enforcement mechanisms for offences and penalties. Some Members previously raised concerns about clauses in the Bill relating to the management of learner pregnancies and the regulation of home schooling.
The deliberations are scheduled to resume tomorrow.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
We at Bay Harbour Market are thrilled to share Dante Bazzea’s story! He is a local skateboarder and founder of Peaches Skateboarding who has been making waves in the Hout Bay community. Dante has been setting up shop at Bay Harbour Market over several weekends and we couldn’t resist an opportunity to find out why …
The field deepens as the darling of South African road running, Gerda Steyn, confirms her entry into the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K that will take place in the Jacaranda City on Sunday 27 August 2023. After a record-breaking year in which she shattered her own Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon record (becoming the …
Mbude is now Deputy Director-General for Special Projects including African language education, seen by many as a key to improving child literacy
Marikana anniversary a time to reflect
Founder of Africa’s largest independent humanitarian organisation, the Gift of the Givers Foundation, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman says it is time to build the country, build social cohesion and bring people together.
He said this during the 4th Annual Marikana Memorial Lecture on Monday, ahead of the 11th anniversary of the Marikana tragedy.
On 16 August 2012, the South African Police Service (SAPS) opened fire on a crowd of striking mineworkers in Marikana, in the North West, killing 34 people.
The then President, Jacob Zuma, announced the establishment of the Marikana Commission of Inquiry, in terms of section 84(2)(F) of the Constitution.
“As a country, we have learnt from the Marikana tragedy,” Sooliman said, adding that it was not time to live in the past, but to reflect on the past.
He said his organisation was determined to double food parcels to the people of Marikana.
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said the Marikana tragedy was a painful chapter in the country’s history that brought immense sorrow, challenges and anguish to countless families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price.
“As we remember the fallen, we cannot but be moved by the harrowing journey the families of the victims had to endure on that fateful day,” he said.
Makgoba emphasised the importance of providing a supporting shoulder to the families of the victims of the Marikana tragedy. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 08/15/2023 - 11:12
In a significant stride towards strengthening public health capacities, the World Health Organization (WHO) played a pivotal role in a transformative initiative that underscores its commitment to global health security. The Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Training of Trainers program recently held in Cape Town, South Africa stands as a testament to WHO's dedication to enhancing disease surveillance capabilities and bolstering national health emergency preparedness.
Collaborating closely with the South Africa National Department of Health and other stakeholders, WHO orchestrated a comprehensive training endeavor that showcased the organization's expertise and dedication to advancing national and global health security. With the successful adaptation of the 3rd Edition Technical Guidelines and Training materials for the IDSR strategy in July 2023, the stage was set for the groundbreaking training event. The National Training-of-Trainers, held from August 7th to 11th, 2023, at the Blue Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town, Western Cape Province, gathered 150 participants from various professional backgrounds across all nine provinces of South Africa.
At the heart of the IDSR Training of Trainers program was the aspiration to build the capacity of identified training coordinators and facilitators. This initiative sought to empower these individuals with the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to cascade the IDSR training program to a broader spectrum of stakeholders at provincial, district, health facility, and community level. WHO, in collaboration with technical officers from the WHO country office in South Africa, the Brazzaville, the National Department of Health, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, curated an multidisciplinary educational experience to align with the IDSR training manual.
The training program was meticulously designed to meet a range of objectives that speak to WHO's commitment to effective emergency management and health systems strengthening:
As the training concluded, participants emerged with not only enhanced knowledge and skills in the IDSR strategy but also a profound understanding of how to apply these competencies in real-world scenarios. WHO's commitment to empowering health professionals extended beyond theory and into practical application, allowing participants to bridge the gap between theory and practice seamlessly.
This training-of-trainers initiative aligns with WHO's global mission of achieving better health outcomes for all. By equipping local stakeholders with the tools to improve surveillance and response mechanisms, WHO lays the foundation for a more resilient and prepared health system. The organization's dedication to promoting health security at all levels contributes significantly to national readiness to combat future pandemics and other public health events.
In collaboration with its esteemed partners and stakeholders, WHO continues to shine as a beacon of excellence in advancing global health security, disease surveillance, and response capacities. Through initiatives like the IDSR Training of Trainers program, WHO reaffirms its role as a driving force in fostering a healthier, safer world for all. The training was co-financed by the National Department of Health and Global Affairs Canada support to WHO.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - South Africa.
The unique sounds of maskandi music will once again attract crowds to the KZN South Coast with the 3rd annual Ugu Maskandi Music Festival set to take place on Saturday, 30 September at Ugu Sports & Leisure Centre in Gamalakhe. The event, which is supported by South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE), is a …
South Africa records employment gains in Quarter 2
At least 150 000 more people were employed in South Africa during the second quarter of the year as compared to the first – resulting in a minor decrease in the unemployment rate by some 0.3%.
This is according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) today.
Furthermore, the number of unemployed people fell by at least 11 000.
“Additionally…the discouraged work seekers decreased by 94 000 in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2023 resulting in a net decrease of 1 000 in the not economically active population.
“The above changes in employment and unemployment resulted in the official unemployment rate decreasing by 0.3 of a percentage point from 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023 to 32.6% in the second quarter of 2023.
“The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition decreased by 0.3 of a percentage point to 42.1% in Q2:2023 compared to Q1:2023,” the institution said.
Employment in the formal sector increased by some 143 000 during the same period with informal sector employment decreasing by 33 000.
“Construction [104 000], trade [92 000], and community and social services [63 000] recorded the largest employment gains. While employment losses were recorded in manufacturing [96 000], finance [68 000], transport [7 000] and utilities [6 000],” Stats SA said.
Despite an increase in the number of youth employed during that period, the institution said youth remain “vulnerable” to unemployment.
“The youth remain vulnerable in the labour market, with the second quarter of 2023 results showing that the total number of unemployed youth [between 15 and 34 years old] decreased by 131 000 to 4.7 million while there was an increase of 105 000 in the number of employed youth to 5.7 million during the same period.
“This resulted in a decrease in youth unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points to 45.3% in Q2:2023,” Stats SA said.
The institution highlighted the sectors where the most gains were made in the provinces.
“Limpopo [up by 80 000], Western Cape [up by 54 000] and KwaZulu-Natal [up by 48 000] recorded the largest employment increases in Q2:2023.
“Employment losses were recorded in Free State [down by 59 000] and Northern Cape [down by 17 000] during the same period,” Stats SA said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 08/15/2023 - 12:22
It is all systems go for the start of the 15th BRICS Summit
By Michael Currin
It is Women’s Month and Government is delighted to be hosting an important group of leading emerging markets and developing countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa for the 15th edition of the BRICS Summit. Together BRICS has around 42% of the world's population, 27% of global GDP and around 20% of international trade.
It is our third time hosting this important event as a country and South Africa is privileged to be the chair of BRICS this year.
Our theme is "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism." This theme reflects our vision of BRICS providing global leadership in addressing the needs and concerns of the majority of the world, namely beneficial economic growth, sustainable development and inclusion of the global South in multilateral systems.
This theme also reflects our belief in the benefits a partnership with Africa can bring to BRICS, with our partners eager to explore opportunities to support, and benefit from, operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Since January 2023, we have held a large number of meetings across all three pillars of cooperation, namely:
1. Political and security,
2. Economic and financial; and
3. Social and people-to-people cooperation.
GCIS has supported various Ministerial meetings held to precede BRICS across all provinces. Our Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni hosted a Friends of BRICS National Security Advisors Meeting with her BRICS Security counterparts, in Sandton, on 24 July 2023.
The Friends of BRICS is a combination of countries who have expressed an interest in joining BRICS, those who chair prominent institutions of the Global South and those invited as per the Chair’s prerogative and henceforth invited as per the consensus reached between the host and fellow BRICS members. The Friends of BRICS countries who attended this meeting are Belarus, Burundi, Cuba, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Various other meetings took place headed by various Ministers such as the BRICS Foreign Ministers, the BRICS Civil Forum, BRICS Ministers of Communication, the BRICS Youth Forum, the BRICS Urbanisation, BRICS Ministers of Health, and BRICS Ministers of Science and Innovation have all concluded their meetings.
Cabinet has encouraged BRICS meetings to be held in different towns and cities so that our guests have a wide range of experience of our beautiful country. It is also important that the tangible economic benefits of hosting our BRICS partners are experienced in a variety of communities.
All these activities build up to the XVth BRICS Summit which will provide an opportunity for BRICS Leaders to reflect on all the elements of BRICS cooperation. The XVth BRICS Summit will also provide an opportunity to amplify the voices of our friends in Africa and the global South with the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogues.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed South Africa’s readiness to host the XVth BRICS Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg and we are running a countdown to hype the upcoming activities of the Summit. South Africa Chairs BRICS in a dynamic global environment where the eyes of the world are on us.
Leading up to the Summit, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the BRICS Business Council will be hosting a content-rich BRICS Business Programme from 19 to 23 August which seeks to foster economic growth, promote collaboration, attract investment, and showcase opportunities within South Africa, Africa and BRICS countries.
All the BRICS Business Councils are bringing large business delegations to South Africa. As an outcome of South Africa's Chairing of BRICS in 2013, the BRICS Business Council celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2023 and we look forward to the celebrations as well as the outcomes of the review of the work of the Council in its first ten years.
The BRICS Summit programme
The first event on the BRICS Leaders' programme is the BRICS Business Forum Leaders Dialogue on the afternoon of Tuesday 22 August. The Leaders will get a report on the outcomes of the deliberations during the BRICS Business Forum and will deliver statements reflecting on BRICS economic relations.
Following the Business Forum, the Leaders move to a quieter venue for the BRICS Leaders Retreat. This is a signature event of South Africa as BRICS Chair. Leaders meet in a comfortable setting in a private venue for an unscripted discussion of contemporary issues of importance. There is no set agenda and Leaders can initiate a discussion on issues of choice such as BRICS membership expansion, reform of global governance, or use of local currencies.
On 23 August, the XVth BRICS Summit continues with a closed plenary followed by an open plenary session.
The BRICS Leaders will deliver national statements which will be followed by reports by the President of the New Development Bank, the South African Chair of the BRICS Business Council and the South African Chair of the BRICS Women's Business Alliance.
It is befitting during Women’s month to re-emphasise my focus on the BRICS Women's Business (WBA) Alliance. This will be the first in-person engagement with BRICS Leaders as it was established in 2020 under the Chairship of Russia during the height of the pandemic. This Alliance aims to empower and advance women entrepreneurs in BRICS to create a vibrant network in partnership with others that facilitates knowledge-sharing, skills development, and business opportunities for women across diverse sectors and industries.
Their flagship meeting is the BRICS-Africa WBA Trade Conference to be held in Durban from 20 to 21 August which brings together over 500 women-owned businesses, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, from BRICS and Africa. The conference will include the first in-person joint meeting of BRICS WBA national chapters and develop recommendations to be presented to BRICS Leaders at the Summit.
Following the reports from the New Development Bank, BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women's Business Alliance, the Summit is expected to adopt the eGoli Declaration as the main outcome document of the 2023 BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
South Africa is also pleased to welcome the first meeting of Ministers responsible for Women Affairs as an important step in mainstreaming women's issues across all areas of BRICS cooperation.
This is also a concrete step forward in addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. As a partnership, BRICS operates on the principles of openness, solidarity, mutual respect and understanding as well as mutually beneficial cooperation that is seen to deliver tangible benefits.
The XVth BRICS Summit is the venue and occasion for the voices of BRICS, Africa and the global South to converge and be heard. We meet to reflect on the status of cooperation, to consider regional and global developments and to assess the status of global governance reform.
The Summit is not the final event of South Africa as Chair of BRICS. We continue our programme of mutually beneficial cooperation until the end of 2023.
We look forward to further meetings including the Ministers for Disaster Management, Ministers of Tourism, possible Ministers of Transport meeting, the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, the Foreign Policy Dialogue, Young Diplomats and the first workshop on incident management later in the year. We particularly look forward to the return of the BRICS Games in October.
We are confident that we will leave 2023 having strengthened the BRICS partnership and having delivered benefits to the people of South Africa, BRICS, Africa and the global South.
Government calls on South Africans to continue to extend the warmest of South African welcomes to the many official delegates, businesspeople, media and civil society who will arrive from various parts of the continent and the world shortly for the Summit.
*Michael Currin is the Deputy Director-General of Intergovernmental Coordination and Stakeholder Management (ICSM) at Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).
Janine
Tue, 08/15/2023 - 09:39
PRASA has snubbed City of Cape Town’s attempts to take over management of Metrorail
Held this year under the theme of ‘Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World’, globally trusted infrastructure consulting firm AECOM is celebrating International Youth Day on Saturday 12 August by showcasing the important role played by some of its young candidate engineers in sustainable transport. Document Downloads. Chris Britz, Transport Operations Leader and Market …
In celebration of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series’ Tshwane debut on Sunday 27 August 2023, event organizer Stillwater Sports is excited to introduce an innovative “Schools Challenge” that is bound to spark exciting competition amongst the leading athletics schools in the region. “The Schools Challenge is an exciting opportunity for schools and learners to …
[Cape Town, 14 August 2023] – Uku Inbound, a leading HubSpot Partner in South Africa, and power2Cloud, a leader in digital transformation from Italy with a robust technology ecosystem, are thrilled to announce their partnership, a significant milestone for both companies. The partnership positions Uku Inbound as a formidable player in the digital transformation landscape, …
Dtic gears up for BRICS Trade Fair
The Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand will be a hive of activity when the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) and the South African BRICS Business Council host the BRICS Trade Fair.
The fair will run from 19 - 23 August 2023 ahead of the highly-anticipated 15th BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] Summit in Sandton.
The fair will be officially opened by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, together with his BRICS counterparts on 19 August.
The exhibition will serve as a platform for showcasing products and services from the BRICS countries, as well as business-to-business interaction aimed at increasing intra-BRICS trade and investment.
The fair and the BRICS Business Council Programme will include a series of sectoral sessions that will include, among others:
• Energy Cooperation Forum;
• Accelerating Infrastructure Development through Government Business/Private Partnerships;
• Embracing the Digital Economy for Transformation and Advancement;
• BRICS Dialogue on Airlift Strategy;
• Importance of Skills for Emerging and Future Jobs;
• DFI Funding Instruments;
• The BRICS Manufacturing Forum;
• Oceans Economy High Level Dialogue;
• BRICS Dialogue on Airlift Strategy;
• Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response (PPPR) - Side Event and
• Africa’s Economic Place in the BRICS Alliance, which will be hosted by the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA).
The fair will be a platform to showcase proudly South African products and services from companies and institutions from South Africa and the rest of Africa, as well as Brazil, Russia, India and China.
These companies and institutions are from sectors such as agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, automotives, pharmaceuticals, energy and energy infrastructure.
South Africa, as Chair of BRICS, will host the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 22 - 24 August 2023, under the theme, 'BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism'.
The summit will be preceded by the Inward Buying and Investment Missions from Brazil, Russia, India and China, which will take place in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal from 13 - 23 August 2023, and the BRICS Business Forum at the Sandton Convention Centre on 22 August 2023. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 08/14/2023 - 13:25
Mr Keith Featherstone, acting Chief Nuclear Officer at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), was Premier Alan Winde's guest this week at his 20th Energy Digicon.
The power station's contribution to the Western Cape and South Africa's energy needs was the primary focus of this week's digicon. “The importance of Koeberg to the Western Cape has significantly increased. Without Koeberg it is not possible for transmission lines to actually supply the Western Cape's load on their own. Our aim is always to ensure higher reliability of the plant - which we are able to achieve - as well as to minimise the chance of both units being shut down at the same time,” stressed Mr Featherstone.
From the outset, he addressed the delays experienced in the refurbishment process, currently under way at the plant. Describing it as a “major service”, he explained that Eskom has submitted its application to the National Nuclear Regulator, along with what is called a “safety case”, requesting permission for the facility to be allowed to operate for another 20 years. As part of the submission, management at the power station identified 3 pieces of equipment that need to be replaced:
Mr Featherstone said, “I am pleased to say that at long last the three steam generators at unit 1 have been replaced. All the mechanical work is completed. Once the unit is synchronised to the grid there is still a lot of testing we need to do. Only when all those tests are completed will we consider the unit to be commercially available.” The unit will be back in operation by 3 November 2023.
Mr Featherstone added, “The unit 2 outage has now been scheduled for 7 November 2023. We have estimated that we will need longer than what we originally planned based on the experience from unit 1, and we will be taking all the lessons we have learned from this outage into the unit 2 outage to make sure that we can do it as speedily as possible. There have not been significant periods where there has been a risk to the Western Cape for both units being down. We are actively working day and night to bring this unit back as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it has taken a lot longer than what we were originally anticipating.”
On whether it is viable to expand nuclear power in South Africa to help meet the growing demand for energy, Mr Featherstone detailed how that with the international drive to reduce carbon emissions nuclear energy is finding a resurgence globally, particularly for baseload supply. “We do have the experience; we know how to manage nuclear power stations. Within Eskom, we have a lot of experience in doing that. The technology is viable. With the number of projects starting all over the world there must be a case to show that it can be done viably. I believe it is possible. I believe we do need it because we have to transition away from coal.” He also offered the assurance that there is no risk of nuclear fallout at KNPP.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Western Cape Government: Department of the Premier.