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Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health cover, today expressed its enthusiastic support for the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, highlighting its commitment to collaborating with the government to implement a balanced health coverage system. Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health, praised the landmark legislation as a critical step towards universal health coverage (UHC), …
Condolences for the people of Iran following air disaster
President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the South African people and government, extended his condolences to the people of Iran following the death of President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi and well as that country’s Foreign Minister.
President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian as well as other personnel died when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in East Azerbaijan on their way back to Iran on Sunday.
President Ramaphosa said government joins that country “in this moment of mourning”.
“This is an extraordinary, unthinkable tragedy that has claimed a remarkable leader of a nation with whom South Africa enjoys strong bilateral relations and whom we were honoured to welcome to the BRICS fold in Johannesburg in 2023.
“Our hearts go out to the affected families and the administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
In a statement, the Presidency said: “On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the Supreme Leader of Iran, The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and the government and people of the Islamic Republic. President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the families of the late President and Foreign Minister as well as the relatives of the personnel and air crew who perished”. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 05/20/2024 - 09:19
Many South Africans with hepatitis go undiagnosed
Search for 11 missing Cape Town fishermen called off
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy, says she is saddened by the news that the search for 11 missing fishermen has been called off.
“I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the families of the 11 crew members who are now presumed deceased.
“I understand that the families of the bereaved fishermen have been informed that the search has been called off and that they are receiving professional counselling and support, and appropriate counselling will be given to the other fishermen who survived this incident,” said Creecy.
The MFV Lepanto, a vessel within Sea Harvest’s Viking Fishing Division, sank, causing the fishermen to go missing.
The vessel sank around 35 nautical miles offshore from Hout Bay on Friday afternoon, 17 May 2024.
Nine fishermen have been rescued, while 11 others are still missing at sea, according to officials.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town, working together with other stakeholders, led the search and rescue (SAR).
“A review of the search progression, the search efforts, and the continuous lack of sighting reports from the incident start, and the unfavourable weather, led the MRCC to conclude the SAR effort,” Creecy explained.
The Minister has since welcomed the appointment of the casualty investigation team by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
“The investigation will determine the cause of the sinking and ensure that all safety protocols were followed,” she said.
Sea Harvest reported that nine out of the 20 crew members, who were on board the vessel, were rescued and arrived safely on Friday night in Cape Town aboard the MFV Armana, another vessel from the group that was in the area at the time of the distress call.
The men were reunited with their families after a physical evaluation by a medical doctor and were provided with immediate trauma counselling.
Sea Harvest CEO, Felix Ratheb, said ensuring the safety of their staff at sea is a top priority and that the company is devastated by this tragedy.
“We have been in ongoing contact with the families, with a senior team and a counsellor visiting each family of the missing men today. We will continue to support them, as well as the rescued men and their families. We are also providing updates and counselling for our broader employee base, as this has been extremely upsetting and sad for all of us,” Ratheb said.
According to the CEO, the company is working closely with the relevant authorities, primarily SAMSA, to establish the cause of the accident as soon as possible.
“We wish to thank our employees and the rescue organisations for their active search and rescue operations since Friday,” he said in a statement.
Creecy has since asked fellow South Africans to keep the bereaved families in their thoughts and prayers. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 05/20/2024 - 11:03
Banks paid out hefty bonuses, though performance targets were not met
Kwanele Vuyani Mbonambi (born 20 Aug 1995), known professionally as Quenellx95, is a South African Hip-Hop artist, songwriter, record producer and record label X95WORLDMUSIX. He was raised in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. Quenellx95 Birth name : Kwanele Vuyani Mbonambi Also known as : Triple coma, Karly Minashly, Den xjey & Quenell Minashly Born : 20 Aug …
RS South Africa (https://Africa.RSdelivers.com/), a trading brand of RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a global provider of product and service solutions, is showcasing the significant updates to its Africa Export Solutions website that came into effect last year.
The updates have enhanced customer convenience by enabling purchases in various currencies, explains Sales Director Erick Wessels. “Essentially our ecommerce platform now allows clients to transact in a range of popular currencies.” This can be done easily by means of a simple dropdown menu.
“We initially only had U.S. dollars as it was the main forex reserve currency in Southern Africa,” explains Wessels. However, customer feedback from various key corporates indicated a preference to be able to transact in different currencies such as euros and pounds.
“We then decided to introduce this added functionality online as our offline SAP system has historically allowed customers to trade in any currencies. It meant it was not difficult to integrate and certainly did not require any major overhaul of our website, which is highly user-friendly and simple to navigate,” adds Wessels.
Many British businesses set up operations in lucrative African markets like Kenya and remit to their home office in the UK in pounds, so it made sense for RS to facilitate that process and assist such customers specifically.
“It was mainly a question of enhancing our customer experience and responding to feedback, especially in the face of a dynamic and ever-shifting online trading environment, where responsiveness, user-friendliness and flexibility are key,” highlights Wessels.
This, in turn, also allows such companies to trade with each other in the currency of their respective head offices, especially in Germany and France, where many of RS's major suppliers are headquartered. “By differentiating our currency base on our ecommerce platform, we are able to accommodate these customers directly and thereby grow our market share and customer loyalty throughout the region,” says Wessels.
The Institute of Export & International Trade, comparing RS Export Solutions with an average exporter, has established that it can cut costs by 20% and increase processing efficiencies by 15%. “This reiterates that we are experts at export,” adds Wessels.
RS has the expertise to ensure the prompt delivery of trusted brands across the globe. Using direct export or via its third-party distributor network, RS can meet diverse customer requirements with a complete end-to-end solution or support with advice and paperwork, transforming processing times and guaranteeing compliancy.
Find out more about RS Africa Solutions (https://apo-opa.co/4bNUzN3) here.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of RS South Africa.
PR Contact Person – RS South Africa:
Princess Tlou
Communications & Content Specialist
Africa Exports
Princess.Tlou@rsgroup.com
+27 11 691 9366
Media Contact Person – NGAGE:
Thobile Ndlovu
PR Account Executive
thobile@ngage.co.za
+27 11 867 7763
Further information is available via these links:
Twitter : https://apo-opa.co/3T0ICwS
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3I5UIyE
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3T2j16J
RS Africa Exports: https://apo-opa.co/42GY3gZ
RS South Africa: https://apo-opa.co/48m0si7
DesignSpark: https://apo-opa.co/4bJaCwo
RS Group plc: https://apo-opa.co/49isz2Z
About RS:
RS is a trading brand of RS Group plc, providing product and service solutions that help our customers design, build, maintain, repair and operate industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. We stock more than 750,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to 1.1 million customers.
We support customers across the product lifecycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimising inventory in the maintenance, repair and operation phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money.
RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2023 reported revenue of £2,982 million.
South Africans in London urged to cast their vote
The Electoral Commission has called on South Africans living in London to make their voices heard by casting their vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.
“Today is your last chance to make your voice heard in the #SAelections24. Remember to bring your ID and share a pic of your inked thumb! The voting station is open from 7am-9pm,” said the Commission in a social media post on X on Sunday.
This as the Electoral Commission announced a smooth start to special voting abroad at nine South African missions on Friday, 17 May 2024.
The Commission had designated 17 May 2024 as a special voting day at nine foreign missions as follows: Algiers, Amman, Cairo, Damascus, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Ramallah, Riyad, and Teheran.
"We are pleased that South Africans living abroad have heeded the call to vote. It is appropriate at this time to also express gratitude to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Department of Home Affairs for their ongoing support,” said Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo.
“The Commission reminds voters that the 102 missions with a work week from Monday–Friday will vote tomorrow, Saturday, 18 May, between 7am and 7pm,” it said in a statement on Friday afternoon.
Due to the large voter population, the Commission determined two days of special voting for London.
“These are Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May 2024 from 7 am to 9pm. The additional voting day and extended voting hours are intended to enable proper arrangements for the 24 535 voters entitled to vote at the mission.”
Mamabolo reminded voters that, by law, South Africans abroad and those voting outside of their provinces of registration, will only vote on the national compensatory ballot.
The 2024 National compensatory ballot has 52 political parties arranged in two columns. Voters are reminded to make a mark against a single party on the ballot.
Voters out-of country on special voting days must present in person at a mission at which they are registered (or where they have successfully applied for a special vote by VEC 10 notice), and will vote as follows:
Meanwhile, with JUST days left to the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on voters to exercise their right to vote.
“Your vote is important. Your vote counts,” he said in a message to the nation. -SAnews.gov.za
Neo
Sun, 05/19/2024 - 11:41
Overseas special votes conclude
The Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed that overall, special voting abroad proceeded smoothly with no major incidents.
“This is a testament to the meticulous logistics, planning, and execution of those plans across all missions. The Commission expresses gratitude to South Africans who cast special votes in missions around the world,” the IEC said on Sunday.
Special votes are designed to ensure that special measures are put in place to make certain that citizens who would otherwise not be able to vote have opportunities to do so.
Such special measures have been implemented between 17 and 18 May 2024 in 111 South African missions across the world to facilitate voting by around 78 000 citizens.
“Appreciations are also due to voters who in some instances had to endure intemperate weather, wait in queues for extended periods, and travel significant distances. In many stations, a steady flow of voters was reported throughout the day with some missions only closing some two hours beyond their scheduled operating hours.
“Notwithstanding, voters still expressed gratitude on social media and other platforms for the seamless voting experience and level of service they received at stations,” the IEC said.
The mission in London in the United Kingdom is the only voting station that will remain open today, Sunday, 19 May 2024 until 9pm in order to cater for the more than 24 000 voters who are registered and approved to vote at that mission.
READ | South Africans in London urged to cast their vote
READ | Call to vote in upcoming elections
“At this stage, any reports on voter turnout should be treated as unconfirmed. Analysis of the reports would be speculative. The ballots may only be counted after the close of voting stations in the country on 29 May. Only then may the Commission communicate definitively on turnout for the election.
“All ballots cast as well as unused ballot papers from all the 111 missions, will now be transported via a secure channel back to the country. The necessary verifications and counting of the ballots will take place in the presence of representatives of contestants and observers,” the Commission said.
READ | Elections out of the country commence
The arrangements of special votes would not be possible without the support of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the dedication of the staff of the department and heads of missions around the world.
“With overseas voting completed, the Electoral Commission turns its attention to preparations for the in-country special voting which will take place two days before election day on May 27 and 28. There are 1.7 million approved special votes.
“About 653 000 of these are home visit special votes while just over 1 million are voting station special votes. In all, there is at least a single approved special vote in 22 626 of the total 23 292 network of voting stations,” the IEC said.
The IEC has re-emphasised to the general principle that voters may only vote at a voting station at which they are not registered if they have pre-notified the Commission.
The period of pre-notification closed on Friday 17 May 2024.
“With capturing yet to be completed, indications are that at least 387 000 voters have pre-notified the Commission of their intention to vote at another identified voting station. These voters will cast their ballots on 29 May 2024,” the IEC said.
Voters are urged to check their registration details and confirm the location of their correct voting stations ahead of election day by using the following channels:
-SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 05/19/2024 - 13:45
Government launches Child Protection Week
The Department of Social Development has launched the annual Child Protection Week campaign saying that while has much has been achieved in protecting the rights of children, challenges remain.
“We have come a long way and achieved much as a nation in protecting and promoting the rights of our children, although we still have a number of serious challenges that confront us,” said the department on Sunday.
This as Minister Lindiwe Zulu launched the campaign in Kimberley in the Northern Cape on Sunday.
This year’s Child Protection Week is being observed under the theme: “Protecting South African Children, 30 years on.”
“South Africa had to go through deliberate transformation and one of the key priorities for government was to ensure the protection and upholding of human rights including the rights of children,” the department said.
WATCH | Protecting children
Government has invested in children through various services like education, health, access to clean water, health, and electricity as well as the biggest social assistance programme aimed at protecting children.
“As Government, our vision is to make South Africa a place where all children and young people are loved, confident, happy and healthy, and are empowered to reach their full potential,” said the department on Sunday.
Speaking at the launch Minister Zulu said that the “one thing parents said they really want is for their children to take education seriously and that their children remain in school to improve their chance to build a brighter future for themselves and their country."
The Minister bemoaned the high levels of violence against children.
“One of the major concerns for me is the unacceptably high levels of violence against children in our country. We have all heard of the tragic story of the 6-year-old Joslin Smith who went missing from Saldanha Bay on 19 February and to this day has not been found. Hers is a sad story of many children in our country whose rights are violated and robbed of their childhood,” said the Minister.
READ | Cabinet concerned about safety of children
READ | Safeguarding the future
Teenage pregnancy was also another issue raised by the Minister.
“We are also deeply concerned about the alarming number of teenage pregnancies across the country, including here in the Northern Cape, with John Taolo Gaetsewe and Frances Baard as leading districts.
“We must act now to stop this! While we encourage teenage mothers and fathers to remain in school and complete their studies, we must work together to stop teenage pregnancy in the first place,” she said.
The department further stressed the importance of family as the “best first line of defence and support in the protection of children.”
“That is the reason why over the years we have taken deliberate and decisive action to implement child-and family-oriented programmes,” it said.-SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 05/19/2024 - 13:24
Communities warned against vandalising election posters
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has cautioned communities against vandalising, defacing and removing posters of political parties ahead of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.
“Anyone found to be tampering with these posters or vandalizing them will be arrested. Such cases have been reported and arrests have been made,” Deputy National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said on Sunday in Pretoria during a media briefing.
Led by the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the State Security Agency (SSA), the NATJOINTS reminded communities that the Constitution protects citizens’ rights to make political choices.
WATCH | NATJOINTS media briefing
These rights, includes the right to participate in the activities of, or recruit members for a political party and to campaign for a political party or cause.
In addition, the Electoral Act 73 of 1998 prohibits the unlawful removal and defacing of posters published by a registered party.
On 29 May 2024, South Africans will once again get an opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial elections, which marks the country's seventh democratic elections.
READ | NATJOINTS to ensure peaceful elections
Fake news
The NATJOINTS has urged members of the public to fact-check information first before sharing it on social media platforms.
“One of our biggest threats at the moment is fake news. We strongly condemn the spreading of fake news, unverified information, rumours or threats as this seeks to cause panic and confusion, and in some instances incite possible violence.
“Those who are found to be sharing inflammatory messages and inciting violence will be charged accordingly. We, therefore, urge prompt reporting of these incidents to ensure that law enforcement deals with such issues,” Mosikili said.
She called on political leaders to be responsible in the manner in which they communicate on public platforms.
“We have noted an increase in the number of service delivery related protests. To mitigate this, increased police visibility through the deployment of the public order policing unit has been made to potentially volatile areas to address large crowds.
“We will continue to work closely with key role players to monitor developments and attend to them. Law enforcement agencies are on the ground and will continue to apply fundamental policing principles, guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Every law enforcement officer has a responsibility and an obligation to execute their mandate, professionally, impartially and with integrity, and to do so within the confines of the laws of the country,” the Deputy National Commissioner said.
The NATJOINTS said measures that have been put in place to ensure that the country’s upcoming general elections proceed without any incidents of crime and disruptions.
“Having conducted a national security assessment with key role players in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, we are satisfied with the operational plan that is currently being implemented, and can assure South Africans that a conducive environment for a peaceful election has been prepared.
“While measures have been put in place, the ultimate responsibility of a safe and secure election lies with each one of us. It is a partnership that is required to create harmony, respect for self and others even as we make our way to the polls and back home,” Mosikili said. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 05/19/2024 - 12:28
NATJOINTS to ensure peaceful elections
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has assured South Africans that a conducive environment for a peaceful election has been prepared.
“As the NATJOINTS, we are confident that the measures that have been put in place are sufficient to ensure that the country’s upcoming general elections proceed without any incidents of crime and disruptions,” Deputy National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said on Sunday in Pretoria during a media briefing.
Led by the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the State Security Agency (SSA), the NATJOINTS has conducted a national security assessment with key role players in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster.
WATCH | NATJOINTS briefing
On 29 May 2024, South Africans will once again get an opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial elections, which marks the country's seventh democratic elections.
“The planning for the safety and security of the 2024 General Elections has been finalised. The operational phase will commence from Wednesday, 22 May 2024 with the activation of the NATJOINTS Coordination Centre, until 09 June 2024
“This NATJOINTS Coordination Centre (NCC) is operating around the clock, closely monitoring the situation in the country through proactive identification of threats and vulnerabilities. The centre serves as a central point of contact for coordination of information and the reporting of incidents to ensure a swift, prompt and coordinated response,” Mosikili said.
This is where all operations in relation to major events in the country including the National and Provincial General Elections will be coordinated.
The NCC structure is mirrored at provincial level through the Provincial Joint Operation and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS), which is activated through the provincial joint operation centres.
The NATJOINTS and PROVJOINTS five-pillar approach is being implemented to ensure that all areas of concern are covered through:
“While measures have been put in place, the ultimate responsibility of a safe and secure election lies with each one of us. It is a partnership that is required to create harmony, respect for self and others even as we make our way to the polls and back home,” she said.
Risk assessment
Working through the Operational Intelligence Co-ordination Committee (OICC), the NATJOINTS have identified a number of high-risk voting stations and potentially volatile areas, which are being monitored on an on-going basis.
“Deployments are subsequently proportional to the level of risk identified through intensified operations, informed by thorough analysis and intelligence-based reports.
“Threats identified such as community protests are already being attended to and those that are found to be in contravention of the law are being dealt with. Our Public Order Policing Units are on the ground and are ready to prevent and combat any such incidents,” Mosikili said.
The NATJOINTS is aware of social media posts calling for a shutdown by a group of truck drivers.
“As previously communicated, there will be zero tolerance towards threats, intimidation and closure of our roads. Law enforcement agencies are on high alert to ensure there are no criminal activities and that law abiding citizens are not inconvenienced. We call on the Road Freight Industry workers to communicate their grievances within the confines of the law. We reiterate our stance, that no lawlessness and any form of criminality will be tolerated,” she said.
The NATJOINTS is in the first phase of the elections.
“To this end, the NATJOINTS is satisfied that from a security point of view, the securing of voter registrations, policing of gatherings, celebrations and demonstrations, intensifying stabilization at hotspot areas across the country, enhancing visibility and ensuring crime prevention around election related matters, has been executed with precision.
“The second phase of the election, which is the period from the 27th [of May 2024] up until the announcement of the results, will see static deployments at voting stations, escorting of voter material and IEC staff, securing of election warehouses, transportation of voting material and the enforcement of the Electoral Act,” Mosikili explained.
During the third phase, which is the period after the election results have been officially announced, plans are already in place for police to monitor celebrations and gatherings.
Preparations for the inauguration of the President are also in full swing. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 05/19/2024 - 11:53
Special Official Funeral for retired ConCourt Justice Yvonne Mokgoro
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late retired Constitutional Justice Yvonne Mokgoro be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 1.
Justice Mokgoro, who was an esteemed member of the Order of the Baobab, passed away on 9 May 2024 at the age of 73.
“In recognition of her distinguished career and contribution to the nation, President Ramaphosa has declared, in terms of Chapter 1.3.2(a) of the State, Official and Provincial Funeral Policy Manual, that the late justice be accorded a Special Official Funeral Category 1.
“The distinguishing features of a special official funeral in this category include ceremonial elements by the South African National Defence Force,” the Presidency said on Saturday.
President Ramaphosa has also declared that the national flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations around the country from Sunday, 19 May 2024, until the evening of the funeral on Thursday, 23 May 2024.
Further details of the funeral, which will be held in Johannesburg, will be made known in due course.
“Justice Mokgoro, one of the first Justices to be appointed to the Constitutional Court when it was established in 1994, was also the first black woman judge of the apex court.
“During her legal career, she taught a number of law courses at universities in South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
“She was a member of the International Women's Association (Washington DC), the International Association of Women Judges, the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the South African Women Lawyers Association. In 2006, she was selected as an icon of the history of Women Lawyers in South Africa,” the Presidency said.
READ | President mourns passing of retired ConCourt Justice Yvonne Mokgoro
-SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 05/19/2024 - 10:15
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late retired Constitutional Justice Yvonne Mokgoro be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 1.
Justice Mokgoro, who was an Esteemed Member of the Order of the Baobab, passed away on 9 May 2024 at the age of 73.
In recognition of her distinguished career and contribution to the nation, President Ramaphosa has declared, in terms of Chapter 1.3.2(a) of the State, Official and Provincial Funeral Policy Manual, that the late justice be accorded a Special Official Funeral Category 1.
The distinguishing features of a special official funeral in this category include ceremonial elements by the South African National Defence Force.
President Ramaphosa has also declared that the national flag be flown at half mast at all flag stations around the country from tomorrow morning, Sunday, 19 May 2024, until the evening of the funeral on Thursday, 23 May 2024.
Further details of the funeral, which will be held in Johannesburg, will be made known in due course.
Justice Mokgoro, one of the first Justices to be appointed to the Constitutional Court when it was established in 1994, was also the first black woman judge of the apex court.
During her legal career, she taught a number of law courses at universities in South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
She was a member of the International Women's Association (Washington DC), the International Association of Women Judges, the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the South African Women Lawyers Association. In 2006, she was selected as an icon of the history of Women Lawyers in South Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
South Africa and the Western Cape in particular, is a destination of choice for many respected and market-leading global business process outsourcing (BPO) companies. Many of these businesses base some of their global operations here in the Western Cape, where they employ, train and upskill tens of thousands of local South Africans to provide world-class professional business services to clients across the world.
According to CapeBPO, the Western Cape's strategic business partner responsible for the growth and development of the BPO industry, for every offshore BPO job based in South Africa, R350 000 of foreign revenue is injected into our economy.
“This means that for the approximately 100 000 BPO jobs country wide, the majority of which (approximately 60 000) are right here in the Western Cape, R35 billion goes into our national economy. The value that our talented people contribute on the world's stage is impressive,” explained Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger.
“The growth of the BPO sector in the Western Cape is a testament to the hard work and perseverance put into the promotion and mobilisation of the industry by our private and public sector stakeholders. The investment in skills development has created a steady and world-class supply of talent to cater to the clear international demand, supported through our agile public/private partnership between our local and provincial government partners (the City of Cape Town and Western Cape Government) and our Operator community. Based on our shared vision to enable meaningful careers, we are tackling the challenge of unemployment head on, with each job created contributing to a solution we as proud South Africans want to see manifested,” added CEO of CapeBPO, Clayton Williams.
The Western Cape Government's (WCG) ambitious economic plan of action, ‘Growth for Jobs' is focused on enabling the private sector to grow and create jobs.
“As the WCG, we are immensely proud to partner, through our dedicated programmes, with the determined and dedicated people investing in the BPO sector. BPO is a thriving and growing industry that must be nurtured if we are to enable the private sector to establish, expand and – critically – employ many more hundreds of thousands of South Africans. At the end of the day, this is why we do what we do – to give more South Africans, and particularly our young people, the opportunities they need to live up to their full potential,” concluded Minister Wenger.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Western Cape Finance and Economic Opportunities, South Africa.
Kwanele Vuyani Mbonambi (born 20 Aug 1995), known professionally as Quenellx95, is a South African Hip-Hop artist, songwriter, record producer and record label X95WORLDMUSIX. He was raised in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. Quenellx95 Birth name : Kwanele Vuyani Mbonambi Also known as : Triple coma, Karly Minashly, Den xjey & Quenell Minashly Born : 20 Aug …
Elections out of the country commence
Today is the first of two days South African citizens abroad can cast their vote in the National and Provincial Elections 2024.
“South African citizens living in other countries will cast the first ballots on 17 May 2024. Nine countries will cast ballots on Friday while the rest of the 102 will cast ballots on Saturday, 18 May 2024,” Electoral Commission (IEC) Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said.
Given the high numbers of expected voters in London at 24 194, this station will operate on both the 18 and 19 May 2024.
The international segment of the voters roll for out-of-country voters has 56 698 voters, but the total number of people expected to vote is 76 580.
“This comes after the approval of 20 886 VEC10 notifications from voters who informed the Chief Electoral Officer of their intention to vote outside of the country due to temporary absence,” Mamabolo said.
The commissioner said the IEC was ready to ensure that voting goes smoothly in 111 foreign missions around the world.
“All missions have already received the election materials, which include ballot papers, voting booths, ballot boxes, envelopes and a voter list.”
Voting stations will be open from 07:00am to 19:00pm, allowing 76 580 voters to exercise their right to vote in South Africa’s 2024 National Elections.
“On both voting days abroad, the Electoral Commission will keep extended hours to assist voters with any enquiries,” he said.
WATCH | Full IEC briefing
SA citizens voting out-of-country in the 2024 National Election can only vote on one day at their mission:
- Missions with a work week from Sunday–Thursday vote on Friday, 17 May, from 7am to 7pm. The following countries are determined to vote on this Friday: Algiers, Amman, Cairo, Damascus, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Ramallah, Riyad and Teheran.
- Missions with a work week from Monday–Friday vote on Saturday, 18 May, from 7am to 7pm.
Two days of special votes have been determined for the UK based on the number of voters who will vote at that mission. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Fri, 05/17/2024 - 09:38
Safeguarding the future
As the country celebrates 30 years of freedom and democracy, the Department of Social Development will launch the country’s Child Protection Week on Sunday, 19 May 2024.
According to the department, South Africa has undergone a deliberate transformation, with one of the key priorities being to ensure the protection and upholding of the human rights of children.
The previous laws, according to the department, were informed by colonial and apartheid systems, which brought the provision of services based on race and colour.
These laws, amongst others, included the Group Areas Act, Bantu Local Authorities Act and the 1923 Native Areas Act, which segregated urban residential space and created “influx controls” to reduce access to cities by Blacks.
“All these and other pieces of legislation had a negative impact on the lives of Blacks, Coloureds, and Indian communities who were discriminated against because of their colour and were categorised as minority groups without access to basic services, including, clean water, quality education, and their right to dignity.
“The South African family was disintegrated and separated through migrant labour laws leaving children with one or no caregiver or parent,” the statement read.
In its efforts to advance the dignity and human rights of the people, the democratic government has since prioritised the development of the Constitution which was signed into law in 1996.
Section 28 of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution guarantees children their rights, including the right to a name, citizenship, education care and support.
According to the Constitution, children need food and shelter for their development and survival. They should also be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse, or degradation as well as from exploitative labour practices.
“When Nelson Mandela became President, he committed to creating and leading a people-centred society and spoke to the needs of caring for children and young people.
“The youth of our country are the valued possession of the nation. Without them, there can be no future. Their needs are immense and urgent. They are at the centre of our reconstruction and development plan.”
To demonstrate the commitment of the new government to the rights of children, in his first State of the Nation Address, President Mandela ordered the release of children who were incarcerated by the oppressive government.
The department said before 2005, the Child Care Act, which was later overhauled and replaced by the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, regulated children’s services.
“The introduction of the Children’s Act brought in a paradigm shift in the provision of child protection services and put the best interest of all children at the centre.”
As a result, the strengthened child protection measures saw the introduction of services that were geared towards care and protection of children, cushioning orphans, and vulnerable children as well as the protection of children in need of care and protection.
In celebrating the country’s 30 years of freedom and democracy, Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, will launch the Child Protection Week campaign to reflect on the gains of the country and to promote the rights of children.
This year, the campaign was brought forward due to the national elections and will be commemorated under the ‘Protecting South Africa’s Children 30 years on’ theme.
South Africa through the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child is obligated to look after every child within its borders.
The department said government has invested in children through various services like education, health, access to clean water, health, and electricity and currently has the biggest social assistance programme aimed at protecting children. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 05/17/2024 - 09:39
All eyes are on the RMB National Squad as the countdown begins for the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta (FOQR) set to unfold in Lucerne, Switzerland, from the 19th to the 21st of May 2024. This event marks the last chance for athletes to secure coveted spots at the upcoming Olympic Games, and the RMB Team …
SIU, Hawks raid Home Affairs offices in five provinces
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) with the assistance of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, on Friday conducted searches and seized evidence at Home Affairs offices in five provinces.
The SIU said in a statement that this is part of an ongoing investigation into the affairs of the department.
The SIU was granted a search warrant by the Special Tribunal, a judicial platform established to adjudicate on matters emanating from SIU investigations, on 10 May.
The searched offices and mirror imaging of a server took place at the head office of the Department of Home Affairs in the Pretoria CBD, at the Centurion office and at the Desmond Tutu Refugee Centre in Marabastad.
The other raids took place at the Refugee Reception Centres in Musina, Cape Town, Gqeberha and Durban.
“The searches follow a tip off from a whistleblower that suggested that Home Affairs officials in the identified centres work with syndicates to duplicate application status files applied for in other offices and process them for a fee.
“The whistleblower also stated that the officials bypass immigration systems to enable foreign nationals who have entered the country illegally to remain in the country and acquire permits illegally and unlawfully,” the statement read.
It was also alleged that Home Affairs officials were delaying the finalisation of the asylum seeker permits to facilitate bogus asylum seekers.
Using the permits, which were obtained illegally and unlawfully, the bogus asylum seekers remain in the country and later use the same permits to apply for Permanent Resident Permits and ultimately, obtain South African citizenship.
“After getting citizenship, they qualify to get a maroon passport, which allows them to travel all over the world except their country of origin.”
Members of the SIU and the Hawks seized computers, electronic pieces of equipment, and documents that will assist with their ongoing investigation.
Proclamation
President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the SIU to investigate serious maladministration and improper conduct at Home Affairs through Proclamation 154 of 2024.
The proclamation empowers the SIU to probe serious maladministration relating to the issuance of permanent residence permits, corporate visas, business visas, critical or exceptional skills work visas, study visas, retired persons’ visas, work visas, and citizenship by naturalisation, contrary to the Immigration Act, 2002; the South African Citizenship Act, 1995; manuals, guidelines, circulars, practice notes or instructions applicable to Home Affairs; or manuals, policies, procedures, prescripts, instructions or practices of or applicable to the department.
The proclamation also authorises the SIU to investigate any irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of Home Affairs or any other person or entity concerning the allegations being investigated.
It also covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 12 October 2004 and 16 February 2024, the date of the publication of the Proclamation, or before 12 October 2004 and after the date of the Proclamation that is relevant to, connected with, incidental to the matters, or involves the same persons, entities, or contracts investigated.
“In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU will identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future recurrence,” the SIU explained.
In line with the SIU and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the agency will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.
The SIU is empowered by the SIU Act to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 05/17/2024 - 11:48
George building collapse: Rescue and recovery operation concluded
The George building collapse rescue and recovery operation has concluded, Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell announced on Friday.
This follows an operation which lasted 260 hours, with personnel working on a 24-hour basis, with two shifts on rotation.
In a joint media statement released on Friday, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said the disaster will be remembered for the immense and tragic loss of life, but also for the incredibly brave and selfless work carried out by the more than 1 000 rescue, support, and volunteer workers who were involved since the incident occurred on 6 May 2024.
“The rescue operation saw more than 6 000 tons of rubble being carefully removed while rescue workers searched for survivors. This has been an exceptionally difficult time for us all. But through it all, our disaster management workers and volunteers persevered with the sole aim of saving the lives of as many people as possible,” Winde said.
Revised number of people on site
There were several revisions to the number of people who were reported to be on site when the collapse happened and during the rescue operation.
Rescue personnel had to work under extremely difficult conditions, with the information provided to them at the time based on information received from the contractor on site, the South African Police Service, and other emerging external sources.
“I am very happy that we could revise the number of people on site down from 81 to 62, as it means fewer families are grieving today,” Winde said.
According to the latest update issued by George Municipality on Friday at 9am, 62 people were on the building site when the building collapse occurred; 34 people were successfully rescued; 33 people passed away, including five people who were rescued, but later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Ten people are still in hospital and 19 people have either been discharged or received medical treatment on site.
Winde expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of deceased.
“We share your pain and will do everything we can to hold those responsible for this tragedy accountable,” he said.
The Premier reiterated the attention is now focused on the investigation launched by the provincial government after the incident.
“This was a devastating tragedy. We need to understand what happened and what steps need to be taken to ensure that we do whatever we can to hold those who need to be held to account,” Winde said.
Winde also commended the rescue team for every life saved, while they were on the ground during the operation.
“I know what it did for all of us when our teams pulled Gabriel from the rubble early on Saturday morning. And I must again recognise all the residents of this province who pulled together and showed immense compassion and support, thank you,” Winde said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 05/17/2024 - 13:05
Ethel Kuuya, a dynamic force in the realms of leadership and entrepreneurship, is igniting a transformative movement across Africa with her visionary leadership philosophy. In her profound book, “Leading Beyond Now,” Ethel Kuuya presents a new standard—a new way of being for Africa. At its heart, “Leading Beyond Now” embodies the essential commitments required to …
The South African Bar & Beverage Awards is now accepting nominations for the most anticipated bar categories of 2024. This year’s awards will also highlight the vital supporting industries that drive service excellence in the bar sector. The aim is to establish the Bar & Beverage Awards among the top international drinks accolades and the …
The second annual Invest in African Energy Forum was held in Paris from May 14-15, uniting over 750 African officials and global investors with the aim of increasing investment in African energy projects. The event served as a clarion call to accelerate sustainable energy in Africa, with discussions centered on financing African renewable energy projects, advancing clean gas projects and mapping a just energy transition in Africa.
Despite the rallying support by Europe and the U.S. to make energy poverty history in Africa, environmental organization Friends of the Earth chose to disrupt proceedings at the end of the two-day event, causing panic by deploying fake grenades and driving delegates and officials out of the venue. This blatant attack on the companies and authorities that are making great strides towards developing Africa is a blatant attack on the continent itself, and shows the biased and anti-African agenda of the organization.
This is not the first time that Friends of the Earth has taken direct action towards keeping Africa undeveloped and in the dark. In Mozambique, the organization has been fighting against the development of the country's natural gas projects – a clean, widely available and affordable energy resource for the country. The group sued the UK government over its financial support for Mozambique LNG – a 43 million ton per annum offshore project developed by France's TotalEnergies. It is worth noting that since the start of production at the Eni-led Coral Sul FLNG project in 2022, Mozambique's GDP grew 6% in just one year, highlighting the role just one gas project can play in the country. Fortunately for Mozambique, the UK Supreme Court rejected the organization's application to appeal its case against a decision by the UK government to fund the gas project.
The organization's legal battles and obstruction doesn't stop there. In South Africa, their actions extend to opposing projects by companies like Shell, impeding financial support for these ventures, and therefore, deepening the country's energy crisis. Shell is trying to explore for oil and gas offshore South Africa, in a basin where major discoveries have been made in Namibia. Organizations such as Friends of the Earth continue to disrupt this, instigating legal battles that stand to deepen the country's energy crisis even further. Is eight to ten hours of loadshedding not enough for the organization?
Meanwhile, the organization continues to disrupt the development of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda – a project which stands to transform both the country and neighboring Tanzania. In 2020, the organization issued a legal case against TotalEnergies for the development of the project, a battle which it continues to wage despite the support by the countries themselves for the project.
However, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) remains undeterred. Representing the voice of the African energy sector, the AEC remains committed to engaging with communities, investors and like-minded individuals who support Africa's right to choose its energy sources.
“The AEC advocates for a pragmatic approach that embraces all forms of energy, including coal, natural gas, renewables and oil. We stress the importance of constructive engagement with all parties involved and oppose actions that hinder Africa's energy progress,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “We believe that companies like TotalEnergies and Perenco, along with other international firms, are contributing positively by creating jobs and opportunities. Attacking or demonizing these companies, does not address the climate crisis.” According to Friends of the Earth's website, the vision of the organization is a “peaceful and sustainable world based on societies living in harmony with nature.” The irony here is that the organization continuously shows aggressive acts towards people, companies and events advocating for equality, justice and progress. If the organization has bothered to take part in the Paris event, listen to the discussions and witness the topics, they would realize that the very companies and projects they are attacking are the ones promoting a sustainable and clean energy future. Friends of the Earth Africa – its African-based group – calls on world governments to adopt their plan to achieve 100% renewable energy in Africa by 2050. Yet, this group's parent organization attacked an energy event that sought to promote investments in African energy – specifically, clean energy.
Friends of the Earth has proven time and time again that they are not friends of Africa. They would rather see the continent remain in the dark than developed through sustainable energy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.