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Government services on hand at Mpumalanga Imbizo

Location: News

Government services on hand at Mpumalanga Imbizo

Government is bringing services even closer to the people of Mpumalanga, with departments and entities offering services on the sidelines of the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo held at Emalahleni on Thursday.

Today's imbizo allows President Cyril Ramaphosa and other leaders in government to assess progress made and to be briefed on challenges associated with the improvement of service delivery since the President’s previous imbizo held in Carolina in May 2022.

Now, residents in Emalahleni are encouraged to visit the government exhibition show at Sy Mthimunye Stadium where the imbizo is being held.

Exhibitors include the Department of Home Affairs, where residents can apply for and collect ID cards; the Post Office; the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), where residents can make enquiries on grants; the National Youth Development Agency, and the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), where enquiries can be made.

At the exhibition site, NYDA official Tebogo Matsoge said: “Customer services that we have here today [are for] people who have issues with their logins on our online platforms. Anyone who wants to know about business starting or grant funding, we are here. We are more than willing to assist anyone who’s in need because this is our main priority, to boost South Africans who want to start businesses and to kick-start the economy.”

SASSA official Khensani Nxumalo said: “We are here at the imbizo and we are going to be doing Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) R350 grant enquiries. We are doing enquiries on grant payments for those who didn’t receive their payments and we are screening for those who want to do applications.”

The Presidential izimbizo are directed at enabling the successful implementation of the 'One District, One Plan' District Development Model in which residents, traditional leaders, business formations, organised labour and faith- and community-based organisations work with government across all phases of planning, implementation and evaluation. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Thu, 03/07/2024 - 10:53

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Olivetti 4023MF A4 Copier – Streamline Your Office

Location: MyPR

As businesses evolve, the demand for efficient office printing solutions has grown exponentially, particularly within bustling office settings. The Olivetti 4023MF A4 copier, exclusive to mfpgroup.co.za, addresses this demand by ensuring seamless copying efficiency suitable for the most dynamic workgroups and the highest printing demands. Engineered to enhance productivity, this device is primed to become an integral component of your office infrastructure. Meet …

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RX AFRICA Sweeps Up Eight Awards at the Highly Anticipated AAXO ROAR Awards Ceremony

Location: MyPR

6 March 2024 – RX Africa is thrilled to announce that it continues to be a leading premier exhibition organiser after winning eight prestigious ROAR awards, hosted by the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO). The ROAR Awards, now in its 5th edition, was established to acknowledge innovation, excellence and professionalism within the African exhibition …

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Government welcomes slight GDP growth

Location: News

Government welcomes slight GDP growth

Government has welcomed the release of the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures by Statistics South Africa, which show a slight growth of 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023.

“This growth is particularly encouraging as it surpasses pre-pandemic levels. This indicates a resilient economy showing signs of recovery, and bettering previous strength,” Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Wednesday.

In the fourth quarter, real GDP reached R1 158 billion, marking continuous improvement from the pre-COVID-19 level of R1 150 billion, although still below the peak recorded in the third quarter of 2022.

READ | GDP increases by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023

“The increase, though slight, signifies continued progress in the country’s economic recovery. It signifies the resilience of our economy and the positive impact of government interventions. We are particularly pleased to see the transport, storage and communication industries leading the growth.

“This modest uptick in GDP is testament to the concerted efforts of various sectors and stakeholders in navigating the complexities that were posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other domestic and global challenges,” Ntshavheni said.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said the modest growth signifies a positive turning point.

“Government remains committed to implementing policies that foster a conducive environment for further economic expansion, and to continue to invest in infrastructure development, support small businesses, and create an environment that attracts investment. Working together, we can build a stronger and more inclusive South African economy for all,” GCIS said. – SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Wed, 03/06/2024 - 09:59

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Accomplishments and hurdles along the job creation journey

Location: News

Accomplishments and hurdles along the job creation journey

The Gauteng Department of Employment and Labour says creating employment and the management thereof has been a mixture of success and challenges in the province.

The department was presenting its provincial overview in terms of service delivery and the job creation mandate to the Employment Standard (ES) Board.

The ES Board is in the province to engage directly with the Department of Employment and Labour's management in Gauteng, the Sheltered Employment Enterprises (SEE) and Employment Solutions. The visit started on Tuesday and will conclude today.

Deputy Director: Public Employment Services in Gauteng, Vusi Mazibuko, told the meeting that the department has created more opportunities, including from foreign countries such as Ireland, which has hired some of the job seekers in the Employment Services System of South Africa (ESSA) database. 

Daniel Kgwele, the Deputy Director: Labour Market Information Systems (LMIS), told the board that there seems to be a stubborn gap in terms of labour absorption and labour participation affecting the 25 to 44-year-old age group. He suggested that public employment policies and strategy be employed to narrow the gap.

He told the meeting that the department's efforts to present opportunities to different communities has at times been hampered by community leaders who want to dictate to the department who to employ.

“They stop us from recruiting in their areas and at times chase us away," he said.

According to the Chief Director: Public Employment Services, Esther Tloane, more countries are showing an interest in importing South African work seekers.

“We are currently busy with the National Labour Migration Policy, which will deal with the movement of human resources in and out of the country," she said. 

According to the Deputy Director of Labour Centre Operations: Germiston, Shereen Ceaser, one of the centre's challenges is employers who do not comply with their Unemployment Insurance Fund contributions.

ES Board Chairperson, Thembinkosi Josopu, told the gathering that they will give their observations and contributions, followed by their recommendation to the Minister. 

The ES Board will today visit Employment Solutions, an organisation for people with disabilities and later on conclude their tour at the Sheltered Employment Services in Silverton, Pretoria. – SAnews.gov.za 

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Wed, 03/06/2024 - 10:00

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Special votes: all you need to know

Location: News

Special votes: all you need to know

With the General Elections coming up on Wednesday, 29 May 2024, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has detailed how the electorate can apply for special votes.

A special vote allows a registered voter, who can't vote at their voting station on Election Day, to apply to vote on a predetermined day before Election Day.

To qualify for a special vote, you must be unable to visit your local voting station on voting day because you are pregnant, infirm or have another disability that prevents you from visiting a voting station on Election Day.

You may also be eligible for a special vote if for other reasons, such as work.

Special votes can either be cast at home (where IEC officials visit you at your residence) or at a voting station.

Special votes and home visits for this year's general elections will take place on 27 and 28 May. The IEC says the closing date to apply for special votes is 3 May.

How to apply

To begin the online application for a special vote, visit the IEC website on https://www.elections.org.za/. Then navigate to the “Voters” tab and under the tab, click on “Apply for a special vote” in the middle column.

You can apply if you:

  • Are a registered voter.
  • Have a valid South African identity document (green, barcoded ID book; smartcard ID or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate).

To check that you're registered and to find out where you're registered, you can:

  • Check your voter registration status.SMS your ID number to 32810, or
  • Call the IEC's contact centre on 012 622 5700.

By law, you can apply for a special vote if you:

  • Can’t travel to your voting station because you are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, or
  • Can’t vote at your voting station on Election Day.

How to apply for a special vote at your voting station

If you can’t vote at your voting station on Election Day, you can apply to cast a special vote at your voting station on the predetermined date only, as per the election timetable, in one of the following ways:

  • Using the IEC's secured online application form.
  • By SMSing your identity number to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS). (For special vote at a voting station only.)
  • By visiting your local IEC office (not the national or provincial offices) and submitting a MEC 35 form. Forms can only be hand-delivered (no emails or faxes accepted), but someone else can deliver your completed form on your behalf.

Make an appointment at your local IEC office

If you can’t apply for a special vote online, you can do it in person at your local IEC office. If you want to apply for a special vote at your home, you can send a relative or spouse to apply on your behalf.

You first need to make an appointment. You can do that by calling your local IEC office.

After you have made an appointment, you can visit your local IEC office during the operating hours of Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

A the local IEC office, you will need to present the MEC 35 form. You can download the form online or you can request this form at the IEC office.

How to check special vote application status

After you’ve submitted your special vote application, you can review the status of your application online via SMS or by calling the IEC call centre.

Check special vote application status online

Visit the IECs website. On the home page, click the “I want to” Tab and then click “Check the status of special vote application”.

From there, you will be directed to the special vote status check. You will need to select the election you’re applying for and enter your ID number.

You will then be redirected to a page that will display the status of your special vote application.

Check special vote application status via IEC

You can also call the IEC call centre on 0800 11 8000 and follow the prompts to get information about your special vote application status. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin
    Wed, 03/06/2024 - 13:51

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    African Polystyrene Alliance Launch Event: Paving The Way For A Sustainable And Circular PS Economy

    Location: MyPR

    The African Polystyrene Industry Alliance (APIA), a pioneering non-profit industry body, is thrilled to announce its official launch event scheduled for Thursday, 29 February 2024, at the Plastics SA office in Midrand. The event will mark a significant milestone in the polystyrene industry’s journey towards sustainability, circular economy practices, and responsible production. As an industry …

    Read moreAfrican Polystyrene Alliance Launch Event: Paving The Way For A Sustainable And Circular PS Economy

    Four questioned about missing Joslin Smith

    Location: News

    Four questioned about missing Joslin Smith

    Detectives in the Western Cape are currently questioning four individuals as part of an extensive investigation into the disappearance of six-year-old Joslin Smith from Diazville in Saldanha Bay.

    The investigation saw a team of detectives visiting several places within the West Coast town and interviewing several other persons.

    The search for Joslin brought individuals, NGOs, community activists, police officials, neighbourhood watches and representatives from different spheres of government together in the quest to find the missing girl. For days they searched identified vast areas in Saldanha Bay.

    It is expected that as the investigation unfolds, light will be shed on her whereabouts or what happened to her.

    “The four persons being interviewed by the team of investigators are two men and two women aged between 26 and 34. With the investigation gaining momentum arrests are on the cards,” said the police in a statement.

    Early this week, the South African Police Service (SAPS) assured the community where Joslin went missing that they remain committed to finding the little girl and reuniting her with her family.

    Police Minister General Bheki Cele on Saturday met with the family, as well as the residents of the broader Saldanha community.

    READ | Police committed to finding Joslin Smith

    Joslin has been missing since 19 February 2024 and the search to locate her is ongoing. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin
    Wed, 03/06/2024 - 11:55

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    Deregulation: Easing of regulation is driving African innovation across the continent’s energy sector

    Location: News
    Starsight Energy

    A deregulated power sector is an enormous opportunity for key markets in Africa, as individual countries start to contribute to an efficient, sustainable and competitive renewable energy ecosystem, says Paul van Zijl, Group CEO at Starsight Energy (https://StarsightEnergy.com). Here he shares some insight into the potential benefits of deregulation and how these changes can create a ripple effect across the African continent – becoming the blueprints that many African countries will use to overcome their own energy challenges.

    The deregulation of the energy sector has massive potential for the continent, but it must be approached in the right way to have a long-term and sustainable impact. Deregulation is already happening in various African countries at differing paces, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, as more and more Independent Power Producers (IPPs) collaborate with local regulators and stakeholders to assess and determine the best way to optimise natural resources and harness their limitless potential.

    While the application of deregulation in each country is different, the principal benefits remain the same. Each country stands to gain from a revitalised power sector that offers more opportunities to IPPs, attracts more local and international investment into the local energy landscape, and makes electricity and renewable energy more accessible to consumers at competitive prices.

    In Nigeria, for example, we are seeing the first exciting steps of deregulation as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) moves towards transforming the sector. A new federal law, the Electricity Act (2023) (https://apo-opa.co/3Ir5QpI), has been enacted which enables different states to pass their own laws and establish state electricity markets. Once a state establishes its electricity market, the federal government will cease regulation of electricity distribution within that state. This first step is a collaborative effort that will go a long way in creating a sustainable, privatised and deregulated market in Nigeria.

    In Kenya, the eagerly anticipated Open Access (wheeling) regulations have also recently been gazetted. The regulator fast-tracked Open Access to the grid, enabling IPPs to supply electricity directly to large customers through the national network, under regulation guidelines from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Further impetus will also derive from the recent announcement that the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) (https://EAPPool.org) is targeting to go live with a competitive power trading market by the end of December 2024 – taking the region from bilateral trade to trading amongst all countries. This will allow the EAPP's 13 member countries to sell excess electricity in cross-border transmission projects. Considering that countries in the EAPP are already trading over 3 400 GWh annually, this move is set to transform the region's interconnectivity even more. Kenya has already reaped the rewards of bilateral trading, including an energy exchange engagement with Uganda and the importation of 200 MW of renewable energy from Ethiopia.

    Meanwhile, in South Africa, deregulation has seen the introduction of innovations such as self-generation, electricity wheeling (https://apo-opa.co/3IuyKFm), and energy trading from IPPs. The rising popularity of utility-scale solar farms is a direct result of deregulation, which in turn has been accelerated by local funders deploying funds to grow IPPs. The funders invest in the construction of solar farms, allowing them to meet their mandate to fund the low-carbon transition. At the same time, the IPPs can leverage this financial backing to bring Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) on board to support the project until completion. These initiatives demonstrate the power of collaboration between the private and public sectors.

    The positive impact of deregulation on South Africa's power infrastructure runs even deeper than boosting generation capacity. In some cases, IPPs also provide a main transmission substation (MTS) to the national utility provider, Eskom, as part of their project to bolster connectivity to the transmission network. In other instances, IPPs are installing utility-scale battery storage alongside their farms to store the solar energy that is produced. These installations help the IPPs mitigate their risk to ensure their projects aren't hampered by the complexities associated with the local grid. Such widespread deregulation is not necessarily to be expected across the continent, but learnings can be taken from South Africa to apply on a country-by-country basis.

    Our South African operation, trading as SolarAfrica (https://SolarAfrica.com), is working closely with Eskom to bring projects like these to life in the country, while Starsight Energy (https://StarsightEnergy.com). and Starsight Premier Energy Group (https://SPEGea.com) are working with regulators, stakeholders and various industry players in Nigeria and Kenya to see how we can shape each region's changing energy landscape.

    The impact of deregulation has been – and will continue to be – transformative. We look forward to working with the industry and regulators to accelerate the process in our key markets as we ultimately believe a well-considered deregulated market will be to the benefit of the end consumer and allow economies to grow and thrive with the private and public sectors working hand in hand.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Starsight Energy.

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    Starsight Energy
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    Government working to address South Africa’s gas supply

    Location: News

    Government working to address South Africa's gas supply

    The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is expected to present a Gas Master Plan to Cabinet this month to address gas supply in the country.

    This is according to DMRE Minister Gwede Mantashe, who delivered the opening address at the Africa Energy Indaba held in Cape Town.

    Recent media reports have suggested that South Africa may run out of natural gas supply in 2026, which could have devastating consequences for jobs and manufacturing.

    In his written speech, the Minister said government has “noted concerns regarding the current and future gas supply in the South African market due to commercial disputes between Sasol and its customers”.

    “Our understanding is that this is in relation to the gas flow decline at source. It is a known fact that natural gas, like other natural resources, is a finite resource and therefore, Sasol reaching a cliff in its gas block in Mozambique is not an anomaly.

    “Having noted this eventuality, we, together with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), have established a task team that includes private sector players to develop a joint strategy that will ensure a seamless transition and business continuity, thus ameliorating potential job losses. The DMRE has also completed all the modelling and drafting work for the country’s Gas Master Plan, which we intend to present to Cabinet this month,” the Minister said.

    Mantashe emphasised the importance for African countries to invest in gas infrastructure also as a means of transitioning from high carbon emitting energy sources.

    “In its 72nd edition of the Statistical Review of World Energy, the Energy Institute states that fossil fuel consumption as a percentage of primary energy remains steady at 82%, whereas renewables’ share of primary energy consumption reached 7.5% in 2022.

    “In the same year, the European Union taxonomy declared both nuclear and gas as sustainable and part of transitional activities. It is, therefore, crucial for African nations to invest in gas infrastructure, including expansion of pipelines.

    “It is in this context that iGas, a subsidiary of the Central Energy Fund (CEF), acquired an additional 40% ownership of the ROMPCO [Republic of Mozambique Pipeline Investments Company] pipeline, resulting in both South Africa and Mozambique jointly owning 80% of the pipeline,” he said.

    To solidify gas supply further, South Africa has entered into a gas sales agreement with the Mozambican State-owned hydrocarbon company which has the potential to “deliver up to 200 petajoules of natural gas”.

    “To breathe life into this agreement, PetroSA, another subsidiary of CEF [Central Energy Fund], has applied for a gas trading licence with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa [NERSA]. We are convinced that the granting of this licence will ensure continuous gas supply,” the Minister said.

    According to the Minister, South Africa has also made “significant new finds of natural gas”.

    “The discovery of gas by TotalEnergies in the Outeniqua Basin, and the discovery of maiden gas reserves by Kinetiko Energy in Amersfoort, Mpumalanga, are strategically placed to strengthen South Africa’s energy security and propel the quest for industrialisation that will bring about growth and development,”  he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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    Tue, 03/05/2024 - 12:17

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    SA ranks number 1 in Africa for safety systems in aviation

    Location: News

    SA ranks number 1 in Africa for safety systems in aviation

    The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has rated South Africa’s safety oversight system at 91.11% thereby placing it at number one in Africa and number 18 in the world, alongside Norway.

    Addressing a media briefing on the state of the aviation sector on Tuesday, Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga said the ICAO also did not raise any significant safety and security concerns in both the safety and security audits, which happened within eight months of each other. 

    In the past two to three years, South Africa has participated in four key international safety and security audits and assessments by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United States safety and security regulators namely, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

    “I am elated to announce that South Africa performed very well in all these audits and assessments. The US-Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognised South Africa's safety oversight system as meeting ICAO’s safety standards and recommended practices and therefore confirmed that South Africa retains its Category 1 status with the standards of the United States International Oversight Safety Audit (IOSA) Programme. 

    “The Transport Security Administration granted South Africa’s cargo security system permanent recognition following an assessment of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).  South Africa still holds the European Union (EU) recognition for the States cargo security system,” Chikunga said in Pretoria.

    The Minister said these outcomes do not only validate the quality of South Africa’s global aviation footprint, but it also confirms that South Africa's systems are competing favourably with the best in the world of aviation.

    “South Africa is proud of the continued 0% fatal accident rate held in the commercial airlines sector for nearly four decades. Our target is to maintain this record for decades to come. One of the current administration’s strategic targets is to reduce accidents in the general aviation sector by 50%. 

    “At the end of the previous 2022/23 financial year, the number of accidents had decreased from 147 to 113 accidents, which translated into a 23% decrease from the 2021/22 period. The fatal accidents decreased from 12 to 9 fatal accidents, translating into a 25% decrease with the number of fatalities decreasing by 29.4%,” the Minister said.

    During the 2021/22 period at the height of COVID-19, South Africa recorded a spike in accidents in a non-scheduled private flying space. This has been attributed to pilots being “out of practice” caused by a lack of refresher training during the hard lock down periods of the pandemic.

    “As we head towards closing off this 2023/24 financial year, we have recorded 97 accidents to date. While we are projecting these numbers to marginally be lower than the previous reporting period, the number of fatal accidents has increased to 13, which is four more than data from the 2022/23 financial year.

    “To curb these accidents which happen in a non-scheduled private flying space, the SACAA has developed and implemented a General Aviation Safety Strategy in consultation with the industry where we are employing reputable safety strategies to attain a reduction in both categories - accidents and fatalities,” she said.

    SACAA has been on an automation journey migrating their internal business processes to ensure a paperless entity. 

    In the last year, the regulator has launched an eServices portal where operators can submit their certificate renewal applications online and also pay online. 

    “In August 2022, the South African National Blood Services was licensed to deliver blood and essential medical samples, using drones in what became a ground-breaking achievement for the country. The value of this initiative is understated, more so when we consider that 32% of South Africans live in rural, and in most cases, hard-to-reach destinations.

    “Blood delivery to local clinics that may not be accessible by road transport is now possible and has now been made easier and much faster to access. This is an innovative step in the history of blood transportation. Every second you gain in saving a life is critical,” the Minister said.

    International Air Service Licensing

    As of 1 February 2024, the regulator is administering the domestic and international air service licensing councils.

    “This means that all administrative support will include developing effective systems that will enable the smooth processing of air service license applications and Foreign Operator Permits (FOPs) and includes the issuance and storage of related information thereof.

    “The Department of Transport will still be responsible for the budget allocation to the respective Councils for each financial year, and such allocation shall be used towards the activities and functions of the Councils,” the Minister said.

    Since this decision took effect from 1 February 2024, SACAA launched an automated system, which is done in a phased approach.

    “The first phase, which commenced from 01 February, saw the processing of foreign operators permits through a newly developed system. The next phase, which is currently in progress, is to automate the submission and processing of domestic and international air service licences. In the interim, the SACAA has given clarity to the industry in how the applications for air service licence will be processed until automation is implemented,” Chikunga said. – SAnews.gov.za

     

     

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    KZN government engages businesses amid municipal strike

    Location: News

    KZN government engages businesses amid municipal strike

    The KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has assured the business community in eThekwini that the provincial government is dealing accordingly with the strike by eThekwini Municipality workers.

    READ | eThekwini Municipality obtains court interdict against striking workers

    Dube-Ncube and eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda met with the business community, led by the KZN Growth Coalition, the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and individual businesses to brief them on government’s interventions to deal with the strike which started on 27 February 2024.

    The meeting comes after a meeting held between the provincial government and the municipality to devise practical solutions to protect infrastructure and citizens from what the province has called “clear sabotage”.

    Highlighting the progress made to deal with the situation, Dube-Ncube said a technical task team, including officials from all spheres of government, has been established to implement coordinated interventions by the relevant departments.

    To address the challenge of intimidation and attacks on non-striking workers, Dube-Ncube said the Metro Police and private security have been sourced to escort staff to service delivery points, including the clearing of roads, electricity faults, water leaks, burst pipes and refuse removal. 

    “Both the municipal and provincial law enforcement agencies are on high alert and will act without any fear on the acts of impunity. We are confident that this intervention will allow staff to respond to reservoirs overflowing or running empty, valves being closed, burst pipes and water leaks.

    “As part of the business continuity plan, the municipality has made provision for some key employees to work remotely. Contractors have also been engaged to do some work, such as refuse collection and attending to water and electricity faults,” Dube-Ncube said.

    A team has also been set up to analyse all video footage of the destruction of property, including the abuse of State vehicles that were in the hands of municipality officials who participated in the illegal strike. 

    The Premier said this process is well underway, warning that “culprits are being identified through internal processes and they will be arrested soon”.

    She said the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has provided a four-person team to fast-track the disciplinary action of those who would be found to have been involved in untoward behaviour.

    “The eThekwini leadership will meet with the leadership of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) to explain to them that no amount of grievances should result in destruction of infrastructure and denying citizens their rights to basic services. 

    “Importantly, those who are involved in this anarchy will be liable for litigation for damages. Our legal units have been tasked to analyse that area,” Dube-Ncube said.

    The municipality has further engaged the Department of Water and Sanitation, COGTA and Umgeni-Uthukela Water to provide technical assistance and additional water tankers.

    Through Operation Sukuma Sakhe, the Premier said all field workers have been activated in the province to conduct clean-up operations throughout the city, as part of Operation Mbo (an integrated service delivery events within a particular area to ensure services are delivered to many community members at the same time).

    On the strike, Dube-Ncube said the municipality has not received a memorandum of grievances or petition from SAMWU, apart from the Ekurhuleni Municipality pay scale, which was submitted to the Office of the City Manager on 27 February 2024.

    “Based on the information submitted, it would seem that SAMWU is demanding pay parity to that of Ekurhuleni Municipality and/or implementation of Category 10 pay scales. The matter regarding the implementation of the Wage Curve is still under negotiation at national level, as it is a national competence,’’ Dube-Ncube said. 

    The municipality has since obtained an urgent interdict in the Labour Court, which prohibits the striking employees from intimidating, harassing, assaulting, threatening or perpetuating acts of violence against employees, service providers or those accessing offices or workstations.

    “We want to emphasise that all spheres of government are working together to resolve this challenge and we are in discussion with the national government to support the city and province through the provision of intelligence services and deployment of additional police officers in key hotspots to enhance safety and security capacity,” Dube-Ncube said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

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    Tue, 03/05/2024 - 14:33

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    Consumers Come Out Tops With Formation Of New One-Stop Ombud Scheme

    Location: MyPR

    1 March 2024, Johannesburg, South Africa –  The newly-formed National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) today announced the commencement of operations as a single, one-stop, all-in-one dispute resolution service made up of the four (4) former existing services – the Ombudsman for Banking Services (OBS); the Credit Ombud (CO); the Ombudsman for Long-Term Insurance (OLTI); and the Ombudsman …

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    Workshop aims to provide an overview of the AfCFTA

    Location: News

    Workshop aims to provide an overview of the AfCFTA

    South Africa’s Special Economic Zones operators and businesses are to be exposed to the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) during a workshop by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).

    The department will host the workshop in collaboration with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) at the IDC Auditorium in Sandton on Wednesday from 09:00 in the morning.

    The workshop aims to provide an overview of the AfCFTA and the status of negotiations and implementation, communicate the benefits and export opportunities offered under the AfCFTA to the SEZ managers, investors and tenants and share information on incentives, customs requirements, quality standards and export finance insurance solutions.

    The Special Economic Zones Programme has over the 10 years since its inception offered a conducive environment for businesses to enhance their operations. The South African government uses the SEZs as a way to attract investments in sectors with no obvious comparative advantage, or as a way of increasing value added in export activities.

    According to the Deputy Director-General of Trade at the dtic, Ambassador Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter, the AfCFTA workshop will offer an opportunity to collaborate with the SEZs and present the master plan and AfCFTA SEZ Ministerial Regulations.

    The six sector master plans targeted are steel and fabrication, agriculture and agro-processing, retail-clothing textile leather and footwear, automotive industry, sugar value chain and forestry.

    “The aim is to share export opportunities for the SEZs arising from the AfCFTA and to sensitise them on the benefits of exporting under the AfCFTA,” Mlumbi-Peter said.

    For South Africa, the AfCFTA provides an opportunity for the private sector, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), including youth and women owned companies to expand to new markets in East, Central, West and North Africa.

    “We wish to encourage companies to produce and export value added manufactured products to support sustainable jobs to new preferential markets in the African continent,” she said.

    Participants will also receive presentations from the dtic’s Export Desk, Proudly South African, Brand SA and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). – SAnews.gov.za

     

    Edwin
    Tue, 03/05/2024 - 15:12

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    eThekwini Municipality obtains court interdict against striking workers

    Location: News

    eThekwini Municipality obtains court interdict against striking workers

    The eThekwini Municipality has obtained an urgent Labour Court interdict against striking employees, including the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) members, who are taking part in the ongoing illegal and unprotected industrial action.

    The interdict prohibits any unlawful conduct, acts of violence and interference with the city's activities, services and operations.

    In a joint media briefing held on Monday to update the public on the ongoing strike, which started on 27 February 2024, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube issued a firm warning that lawlessness will not be allowed to prevail.

    Dube-Ncube noted that while one of the rights in the Constitution provides that everyone has the right to fair labour practice; right to form and join a trade union and to participate in the activities and programmes of a trade union and the right to strike, the Constitution is also clear on the limitations of rights. 

    “It does not give the right to infringe on the rights of other citizens or the right to destruction of infrastructure and property just because one is exercising their other right. That must be clear,” Dube-Ncube said.

    Dube-Ncube said the violent nature of the strike has resulted in essential municipal services being severely impacted, as some employees are fearing for their lives after seeing their colleagues being attacked and infrastructure being vandalised.

    She said the strike action came at a time when the municipality was making progress in repairing the infrastructure that was damaged by the consecutive severe disasters over the past five years, including COVID-19, July 2021 civil unrest, 2022 and 2023 floods.

    Noting some of the damage caused by the strike, the Premier said there has been continued intimidation and attacks on non-striking employees, resulting in the city’s failure to respond to faults and restore basic services, including water, refuse collection and electricity in the entire city.

    “Access to primary healthcare services has also been hampered by the intimidation of health workers in various municipal-run health facilities, putting the lives of ordinary citizens in danger. In the case where the public cannot access the city’s health facilities, we are redirecting them to the provincial clinics.

    “We have observed with great concern the attacks of city employees at service delivery sites. Some have been shot while attending to service delivery complaints and a number of water and sanitation, electricity infrastructure, including vehicles, have been damaged or completely destroyed,” Dube-Ncube said.

    The Premier condemned the cruel actions inflicted by strikers on patients and ordinary citizens, which has seen blockages of access to State buildings, including several clinics, potentially endangering the lives of innocent patients.

    Dube-Ncube warned that the provincial government will no longer tolerate the atmosphere of fear, trespassing on premises and forceful removal of staff from their work posts, denial of patients' rights to gain access to healthcare facilities, including vandalism of critical infrastructure such as water and electricity.

    “Communities who have been without water and electricity for several days are bearing the brunt of this unlawful strike action. Scenes witnessed over the past few days are pure criminality, economic sabotage and tantamount to treason.

    “Government is extremely concerned and upset about the violence accompanied by intimidation and extensive damage to property caused in the name of striking workers. The municipality is currently conducting an assessment on the impact and financial implications of the strike,” Dube-Ncube said. – SAnews.gov.za

    GabiK
    Tue, 03/05/2024 - 13:45

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    Read moreeThekwini Municipality obtains court interdict against striking workers

    SANDF deployment not done without planning

    Location: News

    SANDF deployment not done without planning

    By Siphiwe Dlamini

    The deployment of a contingent of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of the SADC Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) and the subsequent tragic deaths of Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono have provided plenty of grist to the opinion mill.

    It should. We are a democracy and this is a people’s defence force – and its role and its use should be debated.

    There are major and justifiable concerns about budget implications. The lack of sufficient air cover for the mission and that this deployment might be fatally overstretching the SANDF’s capacity has been raised by some as a concern.

    None of these are new concerns; successive chiefs of the SANDF have raised these precise issues in the past, along with their chiefs of service.

    But these concerns ignore the reality that this deployment was not done in haste, nor without the requisite planning. There have been numerous discussions at the highest echelons of government about the need to support the SANDF in all its needs, including funding. There is a real commitment to do this.

    We should also not forget three critical points in the current discourse, well intentioned or otherwise, about the SANDF.

    The first is that the mission in the DRC is not solely a South African tasking but a request from the greater Southern African Development Community to ensure the stability of the region as the United Nations began its well-publicised drawdown of Monusco, its 20 year-long mission to stabilise the DRC, in December last year.

    Secondly, there are other countries that will be also contributing to this mission, some of whom will be able to directly address the issue of air cover through the capabilities of their own air forces.

    Thirdly, the SANDF has been part of Monusco since its inception, commanding the mission and regularly providing commanders for the smaller three-battalion strong multinational Force Intervention Brigade, the only UN force mandated to use force offensively.

    The biggest issue of all though is peacekeeping. SA is a continental leader and has never shied away from the often onerous responsibility to lead these processes, participating from the front, if necessary, putting its money and its troops where its mouth is.

    This is not an easy decision and it is not without risks, all of which weigh very heavily upon our commander-in-chief, President Cyril Ramaphosa; the political head; Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise; and chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, before deploying these national assets.

    These soldiers are not conscripts, they are volunteers, but all of us know the risks that they will face in the field – and the sacrifices they may well be asked to make – to keep this peace.

    It is easy for the keyboard warriors to argue that our horizons should be limited to our land, sea and air borders, but the reality is that the beating of a butterfly’s wings in Kivu or Goma could very well create an unstoppable tsunami in Johannesburg or Cape Town.

    It’s too late to deal with an insurgency not just on your doorstep but within your borders. This is part of the rationale for the SANDF’s participation in the SADC Mission in Mozambique (Samim) to keep the insurgency in Cabo Delgado at bay.

    That is the apex threat – of war and terror in our cities and countryside, but there are other threats, too, of even more refugees seeking a better life in SA, potential economic and criminal risks which put further strain on our law enforcement agencies, the home affairs department, the department of social security and, indeed, our fiscus.

    It is said that a stitch in time saves nine. It doesn’t help to just create nonporous borders, where the SANDF is already performing a yeoman and unheralded service as part of the ongoing Operation Corona.

    We have to try to resolve issues and create the conditions that are crucial to allowing a sustainable and enduring state of peace on the continent that could otherwise threaten the way of life we aspire to, even though they are not our direct neighbours.

    It is this philosophy that has guided the SANDF ever since the days of our first commander-in-chief Nelson Mandela, when he worked tirelessly to bring peace to the Great Lakes Region.

    *Siphiwe Dlamini is Head of Communications at the Department of Defence.

    **This article first appeared in The Citizen on 1 March 2024.

     

    Janine
    Tue, 03/05/2024 - 09:54

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    Read moreSANDF deployment not done without planning

    In the race to digital wallets, don’t forget cash (By Juan Seco)

    Location: News

    Mukuru
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    Success in the digital payment space will hinge on the ability of new players and incumbents to converge the physical and digital experience into a seamless continuum for the customer. Extending the digital solution to a cash-based customer requires a “phygital” approach, writes Juan Seco, Chief Growth Officer at Mukuru (www.Mukuru.com).

    Digital wallet use, especially in Africa, makes sense when so many people live in rural areas where there isn't easy access to another way of accessing money, such as through ATMs. Bank of America predicts that (https://apo-opa.co/49Y1X7z) by 2026, digital wallets will be used by more than 5.3-billion people, which is more than 50% of the world's population. Other estimates suggest this number may even be as high as two-thirds of the world's population, growth that is being driven by emerging markets, particularly African economies.

    Globally, the main driver for digital products was COVID-19, which forced people indoors and encouraged the use of digital products. This, says Bank of America, was particularly prevalent globally among older customers and those who had previously stuck to traditional ways of purchasing goods or banking.

    In Africa, the local e-payments market is likely to see revenues gain by around 20% percent a year, according to McKinsey (https://apo-opa.co/49PsfJ8). This means that the market will be worth about $40-billion by 2025. By comparison, the global market is expected to grow at 7% a year over the same time.

    However, cash is still king. McKinsey (https://apo-opa.co/49PsfJ8) says that while digital is growing rapidly as a payment form, cash is still used for 90% of all transactions on the continent, adding that because cash still dominates, offline channels and large cash network points such as Mukuru's 320,000 access points where people can interact with cash at a booth or through an agent are still vital.

    It is also important to recognise that not having a smartphone or access to 4G shouldn't be a limiting factor for financial inclusion, which is why making use of USSD and WhatsApp (which consumes less data) is often a critical factor determining whether a financial service provider will be relevant in many African markets.

    Convergence and continuum from cash to digital

    As eWallets have evolved, they have moved on from being a cash-in and cash-out system to a system that enables and unlocks financial inclusion digitally. The transition happened organically because trust was built over time on the ability to move and store cash seamlessly, making life easier for cash-based customers. As trust grew, more digital financial products have been offered to customers. As customers transact, they build a financial record that can unlock multiple products, as well as access to credit.

    At Mukuru, we have remained focused on this layering of services, underpinned by trust and market education. As customers have become more digitally savvy, we were able to offer insurance and then loans, leveraging the customer's transaction history to assess their credit capacity.

    McKinsey calls this Wallet 2.0 and points out that there is now a move to Wallet 3.0, which is an offering that adds in-app shopping.

    Mukuru customers can access multiple billers through digital channels, such as airtime, utilities or DSTV, and more services will be added in the future. The objective is to enable the other side of the equation, so to speak, by empowering merchants whose customers have more solutions and options to use their digitally stored money.

    In practice, we have found that most merchants still prefer cash due to its immediacy and perceived lower cost of business — they have to pay to accept card or mobile money and sometimes that payment is not received until several days after the transaction.

    The International Monetary Fund (https://apo-opa.co/49D6NaB) says that the informal economy is a large part of most economies in sub-Saharan Africa. This sector accounts for between 25% and 65% of GDP, and between 30% and 90% percent of all non-agricultural employment. This situation is not likely to change any time soon and so merchants would do well to offer both digital and cash options, in other words take a phygital approach, to take advantage of the growth opportunity in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Transforming a cash-based economy into a digital one requires multiple actors in the economy to act in unison, but when done deliberately, it becomes an extension of people's natural behaviour, taking them from cashing out transfers to the realisation they can store money digitally, transfer it to another person or seamlessly pay for any goods or services.

    However, without understanding that cash still plays an important role in this process, those who only operate in the digital space will be confined to a niche market and be left behind in Africa's fast-paced digital revolution.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mukuru.

    About Mukuru:
    Mukuru is a leading next generation financial services platform in Southern Africa that offers affordable and reliable financial services to a customer base of over 13 million across Africa, Asia and Europe.

    With over 100 million transactions to date, our core was built providing international money transfers and from this base, we've developed a set of services to address the broader financial needs of our customers. We now operate in over 50 countries and across over 300 remittance corridors.

    We are a business that puts the customer at the centre of everything we do, and for that reason, we serve clients across physical and digital channels, by various payment methods (cash, card, wallet) as well as a range of engagement platforms including WhatsApp, USSD, contact centre, App, website, agents and a branch and booth network.

    Mukuru has, for the fourth consecutive year, been listed as one of the top 100 Cross Border Payments businesses in the world in the 2023 FXC Intelligence Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Companies (https://apo-opa.co/48HwI0k), one of only six African companies to receive this accolade.

    In April 2023, Mukuru officially ranked sixth on the 2023 LinkedIn Top Companies List in South Africa.

    Further information can be found at www.Mukuru.com.

    Read moreIn the race to digital wallets, don’t forget cash (By Juan Seco)