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Darkfest is on, and there is a whole lot of excitement as it all goes down at the Hellsend Dirt Compound at Vuurberg farm in Stellenbosch. With riders gathered from all over the world, this year’s Darkfest is turning into a huge event. It includes the largest dirt-to-dirt mountain bike jumps in the world, measuring …
Parliament introduces new rules for SONA proceedings
Parliament has introduced a set of new joint rules designed to regulate proceedings during the joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and which prohibit disruptions.
Addressing a media briefing on preparations to host SONA 2024, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the new joint rules are aimed at maintaining order, decorum in the Chamber, and promoting civility among members.
“These rules, set to be implemented for the first time during this State of the Nation Address, are an essential step in ensuring that the proceedings, including the SONA, and the opening of Parliament are conducted with the respect and seriousness they deserve.
“In terms of the new rules, no member is allowed to interrupt the President while delivering the State of the Nation Address. Similarly, interruptions are prohibited during the President’s speech at the opening of Parliament. Additionally these rules stipulate that no other business may be considered during a joint sitting other than the specific business for which the joint sitting is convened.
“These measures are critical in ensuring that these important national events are conducted in an orderly and respectful manner, reflecting the dignity of Parliament and the importance of these addresses in setting the nation’s legislative and development agenda,” she said on Tuesday in Cape Town.
Scheduled to take place on 8 February at 7pm at Cape Town City Hall, this will be the last SONA for the sixth administration.
The event will take place under the theme: “Following up on our commitments: making your future work better”.
SONA is a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament – the National Assembly and the NCOP - presided over jointly by the Speaker and the Chairperson of the NCOP. It brings together the three arms of the state under one roof.
Convened by the President as per the Constitution, SONA serves to update the nation on government commitments and to outline the government’s programme of action for the new financial year.
“The President’s speech is the sole agenda item. Following this, Members of Parliament will engage in a two-day joint debate on the address, with the President’s reply scheduled for the subsequent day.
“As of February 1, Cape Town City Hall has been designated as the parliamentary precinct, in accordance with Section 2 of the Powers, Privileges, and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act,” she said.
SONA will be broadcast live on radio and TV and streamed live on Parliament’s website, the DStv channel (408), and YouTube channel.
“The Cape Town City Hall will also host the two-day debate on the President’s address, featuring a joint sitting of the Houses, and the President’s reply to the debate.
“Additionally, it will be the venue for the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech, scheduled a few days later. All attendees, including Members of Parliament (MPs) and invited guests, will be attending physically,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
Approximately 490 Members of Parliament and representatives of the South African Local Government Association will be seated in the chamber.
“These SONA proceedings will maintain the full ceremonial format of previous years. The activities include a 21-gun salute, an aircraft flypast, a ceremonial guard, the step guard salute, the singing of the national anthem, a full military band, and ceremonial processions involving provincial Speakers, Premiers, the judiciary, the Deputy President, and the President.
“The President will take a salute on the platform in front of the Madiba statue, located on the City Hall balcony. This position offers an optimal view of the national anthem performance by the South African National Defence Force military band, synchronised with the 21-gun salute and fly-past,” the Speaker said.
The critical element of public participation of the involvement of the junior guard of honour and eminent persons has been reinstated. The Junior Guard of Honour consists of 100 learners, selected from four schools in the Western Cape.
“The praise singer tasked with ushering the President into the House is Senziwe Hatty Maliba, also known as Nkosatane Nziwe, a 24-year-old young woman from the Nkomazi Municipality in the Mpumalanga province. The choice of language for the Imbongi is determined through a rotational selection process, and SiSwati has been chosen as the language for this occasion,” Mapisa-Nqakula said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 02/06/2024 - 13:52
Task team to review municipalities’ water service delivery mechanisms
A national coordinated task team has been set up to review service delivery mechanisms for water and sanitation services by the Departments of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
This was one of the resolutions adopted during a recent water summit hosted by DWS with the 144 municipalities that are water services authorities (WSAs).
The task team which was established to initiate and coordinate Municipal Systems Act Section 78 processes in certain municipalities, aims to address the decline of water and sanitation services, as outlined in the recent Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports released by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The drop reports indicated a general decline in performance.
Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, said the task team will focus on the 105 municipalities that are in the critical and poor performing categories in terms of the Blue and Green Drop reports.
Mavasa said the DWS, including CoGTA, Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency, Department of Human Settlements, and National Treasury, are providing extensive support to assist water services authorities with the provision of water and sanitation services.
“This includes providing water and sanitation infrastructure grants worth more than R20 billion per annum; providing technical and engineering support and assistance; capacity building and training, and financial management advice and support.
“However, despite all this support, the drop reports indicate that municipal water services have declined sharply. This indicates that there are limitations to which support from the national government can solve the problems, and that more fundamental reforms are required,” Mavasa said.
Routine maintenance and operations must be funded by revenue from the sale of water by municipalities to customers, and municipal councils must take the required decisions to prioritise budgets for this.
She emphasised that the Water Services Act states that the WSA can approve any legal entity to function as a water services provider (WSP) in the municipality, and “almost all WSAs in South Africa are currently both WSA and WSP”.
“The Water Services Act requires the WSA and WSP functions to be managed and accounted for separately by municipalities, but this is generally not happening. The Act states that the key role of the WSA is to ensure that the WSP provides services which meet minimum norms and standards – and this is also generally not happening, as borne out by the results of the Drop assessments,” Wisane said.
Other key decisions taken at the summit include that all WSAs must develop action plans to address their drop results and submit them to DWS by the end of February 2024; training institutions should prioritise the training of uncertified process controllers to enable them to become certified; and that all WSAs must issue advisory notices without fail when their drinking water fails to meet microbiological water standards. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 02/06/2024 - 11:57
Nearly 62% of global logistics professionals say their companies are planning additional or first-time investments in Africa, according to a closely watched yearly industry survey.
The survey of 830 logistics executives is part of the 15th annual Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index (https://apo-opa.co/4bD4lSW), a snapshot of industry sentiment and ranking of the world's 50 leading emerging markets.
The Index ranks countries for overall competitiveness based on their logistics strengths, business climates and digital readiness -- factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, air and ocean carriers, distributors and investors. In the 2024 Index, the rankings of most African economies changed little from a year earlier, but businesses indicate they are looking ahead at massive population growth and trade expansion spurred by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“This is the most optimism we've seen about Africa in the 15 years of the Index,” says Agility Vice Chairman Tarek Sultan. “Africa's population will double by 2050, when one in four people on the planet will be African. International businesses realize that the time is now for Africa -- they need to invest, establish their brands, and develop the next generation of African talent if they're going to ride the coming wave of growth.”
China and India were 1 and 2 in the 50-country Index rankings. In Africa, Egypt (20), Morocco (22), South Africa (24) and Kenya (25) were the top performers, followed by Ghana (31), Nigeria (36), Tunisia (37), Tanzania (41), Algeria (42), Uganda (43), Ethiopia (45), Mozambique (46), Angola (47), Libya (50).
Egypt has Africa's highest-ranked domestic logistics opportunities -- 13th in that category; South Africa (15) was tops in Africa for international logistics; Morocco (12) has Africa's best business fundamentals; Kenya (9) is Africa's most digitally ready – and the continent's highest-ranked country in any category.
More than 63% of survey respondents say their companies continue overhauling supply chains by spreading production to multiple locations or relocating it to home markets and nearby countries. China, the world's leading producer, stands to be most affected: 37.4% of industry professionals say they plan move production/sourcing out of China or reduce investment there.
Shipping and logistics costs that soared during the COVID pandemic and its aftermath are still climbing but at a slower rate, the survey found. One way shippers expect to cope is by increasing use of digital freight forwarding from 37.8% today to 52% in five years.
2024 Index Highlights
SURVEY
COUNTRY RANKINGS
Transport Intelligence (https://apo-opa.co/4bp0Ijf) (Ti), a leading analysis and research firm for the logistics industry, has compiled the Index since it was launched in 2009.
John Manners-Bell, Chief Executive of Ti, said: “Supply chain managers are still coming to terms with the political and economic instability characterising the post-COVID global economy. Geopolitical relationships are changing rapidly, and this is having a major impact on international trade and risk profiles. Businesses need to be alive to the opportunities and threats that exist in emerging markets and use data, such as that the Agility Emerging Market Logistics Index, to inform agile decision-making.”
2024 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index: https://apo-opa.co/3SlOmzK
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Agility.
For more information:
Sabrina Mundy
Man Bites Dog
teamagility@manbitesdog.com
+44 1273 716 820
For more information about Agility, visit:
Website: www.Agility.com
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/40Ki6Kj
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/49GTqqq
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3MNqYJr
About Agility:
Agility is a global leader in supply chain services, infrastructure, and innovation with 45,000+ employees across six continents. A multi-business operator and investor, Agility specializes in growing and scaling operating businesses. Agility's companies include the world's largest aviation services company (Menzies Aviation); a global fuel logistics business (Tristar); the market leader in logistics parks across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa (Agility Logistics Parks); and a commercial real-estate company developing a mega-mall in the UAE (UPAC). Other Agility companies offer customs digitization services, remote-site infrastructure services, defense and government services, and ecommerce-enablement and digital logistics. Agility invests in supply chain innovation, sustainability, and resilience, and has minority holdings in a growing portfolio of listed and non-listed companies.
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Indaba to place spotlight on local mining industry
The 2024 Investing in African Mining Indaba will place the spotlight on the significant potential of the mining sector in fostering economic expansion and employment opportunities, said President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“This week’s Mining Indaba in Cape Town will showcase the enormous potential of the mining industry to drive economic growth and job creation. The actions underway to improve the logistics system will help us to unlock this potential, given that mining companies depend on the rail network and ports to compete in global markets.
“From the work already underway, we have shown that it is possible to overcome the barriers to growth by working together in partnership. We are building momentum and have begun to see the results,” the President said in his weekly newsletter on Monday.
He emphasised that “as more and more of our products leave the country’s shores, whether to the African continent or other parts of the world,” more companies will thrive, more investment will be made and more jobs will be created.
The President’s comments follow on last week’s launch of the first export shipment of goods produced by South African companies destined for other African countries under the preferential trade provisions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from the Durban port.
The AfCFTA intends to create a single market for goods and services, facilitated by movement of persons in order to deepen the economic integration of the African continent.
The President who officiated at last week’s shipment of goods said many more products and shipments can be expected to follow as South African companies sell South African made goods into the massive African free trade area.
Exports to AfCFTA countries already account for nearly a quarter of South Africa’s global exports. The President added that this figure will now increase dramatically.
“South African companies have a great opportunity to take advantage of the AfCFTA by exporting their goods into the rest of the African continent. In order to take this great opportunity up, as a country we need to ensure that our products make it from the factory gate onto the ship and head towards their destinations with the least possible delay and at the lowest possible cost,” he said.
Ports and rail
Turning to ports and rail, the President highlighted that for some years now the efficiency and competitiveness of South African ports and rail network have been in decline. He spoke of the need to fix the country’s logistics architecture.
Transnet, which operates ports and freight rail lines, has had to contend with severe challenges, including the effects of state capture, the impact of the COVID pandemic, natural disasters and the rising levels of theft and vandalism of its infrastructure.
As a result, the volume of goods transported on the rail network has decreased significantly, forcing more companies to use trucks and causing road congestion.
“Working together with the private sector, we are turning the situation around, guided by the Freight Logistics Roadmap that was crafted by Transnet, government and social partners. The roadmap outlines a clear set of actions to stabilise and improve Transnet’s performance in the short term and to fundamentally reform the logistics system in the long term,” he said.
To ensure this work receives dedicated attention, the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) has been established which is chaired by the Presidency and brings together all of the relevant government departments to drive a coordinated response to the logistics challenges.
Corridor Recovery Teams
Government has also established Corridor Recovery Teams which bring Transnet, the private sector and independent experts together to improve the performance of strategic rail and port corridors.
The President highlighted that this single-minded approach to improving performance is already showing results.
For example, the number of ships waiting to berth at the Port of Durban – which has experienced severe congestion in recent months – reduced from more than 60 ships in mid-November to just 12 ships at the end of January.
At the Port of Cape Town, which is preparing for the important fruit season, Transnet has deployed new leadership and is putting in place several measures to improve its capacity in the short term. Seven new cranes, which are used for moving and stacking containers, were delivered to the port last month, and the number of work shifts is being increased to improve vessel turnaround times.
In addition to these short-term measures, the Freight Logistics Roadmap includes far-reaching reforms to modernise the logistics system and enable much greater investment in infrastructure.
“These reforms will introduce private sector investment and competition in port and rail operations, improving efficiency and bringing down prices, while ensuring that infrastructure remains owned by the state.
“A key milestone in this reform journey will be the implementation of ‘open access’ to the freight rail network, which will allow private rail operators to invest alongside Transnet Freight Rail for the first time,” he said.
Another key step is the introduction of strategic partnerships in container terminals, which will enable new investment to expand port capacity and upgrade equipment.
Progress has already been made with the appointment by Transnet of an international container terminal operator for the Durban Pier 2 terminal. Transnet will retain 51% ownership of the terminal and no workers will lose their jobs once the partnership is established.
The private partner will have full management responsibility for the terminal and will contribute both capital and expertise to improve its performance.
“The process of reform takes time and there are no quick solutions to the challenges facing Transnet. However, the steps we are taking now will not only improve performance in the immediate term but will also create a truly competitive and efficient system into the future,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Mon, 02/05/2024 - 09:00
Congratulations Tyla for winning Grammy Award
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, has congratulated trailblazing South African musician Tyla for winning her first Grammy Award.
Tyla won the Grammy for the “Best African Performance” at the 66th annual Grammy Awards, which took place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday.
“Tyla’s Grammy Award win once again confirms her status as a music global superstar. Her meteoric success has been truly inspiring, and there is so much more to come. Tyla is a proud ambassador of South African arts and culture. I congratulate Tyla for a historic Grammy Award win, which comes before she has even released a full album. Continue to inspire and to raise the South African flag high,” the Minister said.
South Africa had a notable presence at the Grammys, with Trevor Noah hosting the awards for the fourth time, and nominated for “Best Comedy Album”.
Acapella group Just 6 were nominated in the “Best Arrangement, Instrumental or Acapella” category, while Musa Keys was nominated for “Best African Performance” for his collaboration with Nigerian artist Davido.
“I also congratulate all the South African artists who were nominated for the 66th Grammy Award. Trevor Noah, Just 6 and Musa Keys show the diverse South African artistic talent on display on the world stage. Continue to entertain and showcasing to the world the best of Mzansi,” Kodwa said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 02/05/2024 - 09:06
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Blessed by abundant natural resources, Africa’s mining sector has historically been a driving force behind the continent’s economic growth. However, the industry now faces a myriad of challenges. As we approach the 2024 Mining Indaba, the world’s largest African mining investment event, it is crucial to reflect on the trajectory of the industry and its …
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South African government hard at work to resolve challenges in mining
President Cyril Ramaphosa has told leading figures in African mining that government is working hard to address the challenges that the industry faces.
He was speaking during the opening of the 30th Investing in African Mining Indaba held in Cape Town on Monday.
The Indaba is expected to continue until Thursday.
The mining industry contributes a hefty 7.5% to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for some 60%, by value, of the country’s exports.
“We are all acutely aware that we face strong headwinds, and a number of persistent challenges are impeding mining performance. Globally, commodity price volatility, high energy prices, geopolitical tensions and a global cost of living crisis are playing a significant role in dampening the business operating environment.
“Domestically, the energy crisis and port and rail bottlenecks are putting serious pressure on miners’ operational costs. Illicit mining, cable theft and infrastructure vandalism place a further strain on mining output and returns. We are committed to work hard and work together to overcome these serious challenges,” he said.
Energy crisis
The President told the gathering that through the Energy Action Plan, government has taken “several critical measures to improve the performance of our existing generation fleet and to add new electricity capacity”.
“The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has secured 1384MW of new generation capacity that is currently in construction or already in operation. The department has released requests for proposals for the procurement of 5 000MW of renewable energy under Bid Window 7 and 2 000MW of gas-to-power and 615MW of battery storage.
“Transmission capacity remains a challenge especially in the Cape provinces. Eskom has therefore recently published a curtailment regime which unlocks 3 470 MW of additional capacity in these provinces, and which will be essential to the success of Bid Window 7,” he said.
Additional capacity has also been garnered following government’s removal of the licensing threshold for embedded generation.
At least 6 300MW has flowed through this initiative with a third of that supplying mining houses.
Illegal mining and logistics
The President addressed the impact that illegal mining and copper cable theft have on the industry.
On illegal mining, he said: “Since the establishment of a specialised police unit, working with the defence force, we have seen a number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of the perpetrators of this crime.”
Turning to cable theft and criminality, the President acknowledged that this has “serious impact on key rail freight corridors, including the supply of coal for export through Richard’s Bay”.
“Cooperation between the private sector, Transnet and the security services has resulted in an improvement in the security situation over recent months,” he said.
Delving deeper into the country’s logistics challenges, the President said the system itself is “undergoing a process of rapid and fundamental change to improve its efficiency and position it for the future”.
“By introducing competition in freight rail operations, while maintaining State ownership of the routes, we will unlock massive new investment in South Africa’s rail system. This will support jobs in every sector in the economy, from mining to manufacturing to agriculture.
“Similarly, by upgrading and expanding our port terminals through innovative public-private partnerships, we aim to position South Africa as a leading player in global markets.
“As government, we are alive to the reality that without bold, transformative reforms to the logistics sector, mining cannot flourish. We are working hard, in partnership with the industry, to ensure [the Freight Logistics Roadmap] is implemented without delay,” he said.
The President said mining has a “crucial role to play in building the economy of tomorrow”.
“We look forward to deepening our collaboration with industry as we write a new chapter in the history of South African mining. A story of inclusion, growth, transformation and innovation – and one in which no-one is left behind,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 02/05/2024 - 13:29
The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Mr Zizi Kodwa congratulates the trailblazing South African musician Tyla for winning her first Grammy Award. At the 66th annual Grammy Awards, Tyla won the Grammy for “Best African Performance”.
South Africa had a notable presence at the Grammys, with Trevor Noah hosting the awards for a fourth time and nominated for “Best Comedy Album”. Acapella group Just 6 were nominated in the “Best Arrangement, Instrumental or Acapella” category, while Musa Keys was nominated was nominated for “Best African Performance” for his collaboration with Nigerian artist Davido.
Minister Kodwa says, “Tyla's Grammy Award win once again confirms her status as a music global superstar. Her meteoric success has been truly inspiring, and there is so much more to come.”
Minister Kodwa adds, “Tyla is a proud ambassador of South African arts and culture. I congratulate Tyla for a historic Grammy Award win, which comes before she has even released a full album. Continue to inspire and to raise the South African flag high”.
Minister Kodwa further states, “I also congratulate all the South African artists who were nominated for the 66th Grammy Award. Trevor Noah, Just 6 and Musa Keys show the diverse South African artistic talent on display on the world stage. Continue to entertain and showcasing to the world the best of Mzansi”.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Arts and Culture, South Africa (DCA).
On 02 February 2024, Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, visited different SASSA offices in Cape Town.
These oversight visits follow last month's reports of at least 150 000 SASSA grant beneficiaries not receiving their payouts for January. SASSA is a national agency of the South African government, yet the Western Cape Department of Social Development (WCDSD) receives regular complaints and queries about SASSA from beneficiaries in the province and even from other parts of the country, and the department does everything it can to step into this service delivery gap left my national government.
The only course of action available to the provincial department is to refer the matter directly to SASSA's regional staff so that they may look into the matter.
While the operations of SASSA fall outside of the mandate of WCDSD, Provincial Minister Fernandez felt it was important to hear from residents directly on their experiences.
Speaking to Old Age Grant beneficiaries, they commented that they had been queueing at pay points in Mitchells Plain from as early as 4am. There were many who complained about the poor service they have experienced at their local SASSA office, from unhelpful staff to systems regularly being offline and only a limited number of people being helped at a time.
At the Mitchells Plain SASSA office, there was no one to engage with, as the manager was in a meeting. The Western Cape Department of Social Development staff share a building with SASSA and beneficiaries often seek help from them if they get turned away by SASSA or aren't helped. On certain days there are long queues of people standing outside the office waiting to be helped, with no shelter from inclement weather like extreme heat or rain.
In Wynberg, SASSA staff and management were open to engage with Provincial Minister Fernandez, sharing their challenges and wins. National Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu was at this office on 26 January 2024.
“My office has contacted Minister Zulu several times on previous occasions to meet about SASSA. The fact that the Minister was in Cape Town, meeting with a SASSA local office, without extending an invitation to my office is disheartening as I believe a collaborative approach is best to serve vulnerable citizens. We wish to work with Minister Zulu for the benefit of all those who are dependent on grants, for all those who wake up before the crack of dawn and walk far distances in the dark to withdraw their money. It seems however that the Minister is content to maintain the status quo of poor services to the most vulnerable,” says Provincial Minister Fernandez.
Provincial Minister Fernandez was impressed with the orderly way the Wynberg SASSA office was being run, although management said staff shortages and load shedding sometimes negatively impacted service delivery.
“I will be meeting with SASSA's provincial management next week. I hope to discuss these on the ground experiences and other issues beneficiaries and staff have raised with us. I trust that through teamwork and collaboration we can work together to ensure beneficiaries receive quality services and are treated with respect, with their dignity protected,” says Provincial Minister Fernandez.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic Of South Africa: Western Cape Provincial Government.
The Presiding Officers of Parliament deeply mourn the passing of His Excellency Dr. Hage Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the government and the people of the Republic of Namibia during this profoundly difficult period.
President Geingob was a prominent figure in the struggle for independence from apartheid-era South Africa who later became Namibia's first prime minister and subsequently served as its head of state. Our sympathies and prayers are with First Lady Madam Monica Geingos, the Geingob family, and the Namibian people as they navigate this period of profound sadness. This loss is not only deeply felt by Namibians but also reverberates throughout the entire SADC region and the African continent. We mourn the passing of an outstanding revolutionary and dedicated stateman who led with wisdom, integrity, diplomacy, and a deep passion for his people.
We are deeply grateful for the lasting legacy of President Geingob, who played a critical role in not only securing Namibia's liberation but also made significant contributions to the liberation of South Africa from apartheid oppression.
The Speaker of the National Assembly has formally conveyed the sympathies of the South African Parliament to the people of Namibia, their esteemed Parliament, and Government in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia, Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
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National minimum wage increases
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has announced a new National Minimum Wage (NMW) determination which will go up from R25,42 to R27,58 for each ordinary hour worked.
In a statement on Saturday, the Department of Employment and Labour said the new NMW will come into effect from 1 March 2024.
“The National Minimum Wage determination also includes the vulnerable sectors of farm workers and the domestic workers – whom since 2022 were aligned with the NMW rates.
“However, the workers employed on an expanded public works programme are entitled to a minimum wage of R15,16 per hour [up] from R13,97. Workers who have concluded learnership agreements contemplated in section 17 of the Skills Development Act, 1998, are entitled to the allowances as determined in the latest government schedule,” the department said.
The schedule of learnerships, sectoral determinations of Contract Cleaning, Wholesale and Retail sector employees will be published on the department’s website – www.labour.gov.za
The Act applies to all workers and their employers except members of the South African National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency, and the South African Secret Service.
The act does not apply to a volunteer, who is a person who performs work for another person and who does not receive or is not entitled to receive, any remuneration for his or her service.
The NMW is the minimum amount of pay that an employer is legally required to remunerate employees for work done. The amount does not include payment of allowances (such as transport, tools, food or accommodation) payments in kind (board or lodging), tips, bonuses and gifts among others.
The National Minimum Wage is the floor level below which no employee should be paid. The NMW first came into implementation in 2019 at a minimum of R20 per hour. The NMW is enforced by law and violations are subject to fines. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Sun, 02/04/2024 - 11:36
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Johannesburg, South Africa's most populous city, is set to host the 2nd Edition of the African Heritage Awards (AHA) 2024, which aims to honour African greats who have impacted immensely to the advancement of humanity.
According to a statement issued on Friday in Johannesburg by the organizers, Heritage Times HT, the event is slated to hold on April 13, 2024, at the Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The 'City of Gold' will host the prestigious pan-African event which is a sequel to the inaugural edition held on April 1, 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda. The African Heritage Awards is a gathering strategically organized to celebrate and recognize outstanding global accomplishments of Africans within the continent and in the Diaspora, in areas of Business, Politics, Philanthropy, Entertainment & Arts, Culture, Science & Technology, and Social Innovation.
This year's Awards is headlined by African-American billionaire Philanthropist, Robert. F. Smith, Chairman/CEO of Vista Equity Partners, Texas, United States; His Excellency, Dr. George Weah, former President of Liberia; His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, former President of Ghana; Her Excellency, Mama Rachael Ruto, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya & Founder of Mama Doing Good Organization; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
Others are: Mr & Mrs Strive Masiyiwa, Founder & Executive Chairman of International Technology Groups, Econet Global and Cassava Technologies; Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman/Managing Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners; Professor Thulisile Nomkhosi Madonsela, Founder of the Thuli Madonsela Foundation; Victoire Tomegah Dogbe, Prime Minister of Togo; Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Managing Director of the Rose of Sharon Group and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited; Othman Benjelloun, Co-chair of BMCE Bank Foundation and Madam Graca Machel, Founder of Graca Machel Trust and many others.
According to Heritage Times HT, the organizers of the African Heritage Awards 2024, it's expected that this year's edition will be more remarkable and historic, as it will be chaired by His Excellency, Sir Seretse Khama Ian Khama, former President of Botswana, and will be attended by former Heads of States and Captains of Industries across the African continent.
The recognition and awards, according to the organizers, have become imperative to sustainably foster the African culture of excellence, promote Afrocentrism, and create an ecosystem that will further retell the true African story towards the advancement of the continent's full potentials.
This year, the organizers are moving the African Heritage Awards to the southern divide of Africa, the home of Kwaito music and the cacophonous sounds of Amapiano, to specially honour distinguished African personalities, who have dignified themselves through remarkable achievements across the globe, whilst creating sustainable impact to uplift others.
Besides conferring international prestige and recognition on these deserving Africans, the Awards will focus on the critical importance of culture and leadership, which according to the organizers, lies at the core of any shared advancement of socio-economic and political development in Africa.
The Awards is also primed to cast a spotlight on individuals who, under challenging circumstances, have empowered Africans and impacted their sphere of influence to pave the way for sustainable and equitable development.
Taking cognizance of the reality that Africa is root to a plethora of people all over the world who continue to thrive and evolve despite the limitations and challenges stemming from stereotypes, the organizers of the AHA strongly affirm that the event will contribute immensely to changing the global perception of Africans, and also spur the needed critical mass for the attainment of cultural evolution and revolution in sustainable development.
For participation and reservation, kindly click on the link to register https://apo-opa.co/42qRL55
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Heritage Times HT.
Western Cape government revising its plan and budget
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, has welcomed the declaration of De Berg Nature Reserve as South Africa's 30th Ramsar site under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.
“The conservation and restoration of wetlands is crucial to achieving many of our national and global sustainable development goals. Estuaries, marshes and vleis, rivers and lakes, and the biodiversity that they preserve, matter for our health, food supply, tourism, and jobs. Wetlands are vital for humans, ecosystems and our climate, providing essential ecosystem services such as water regulation, including flood control and water purification,” said Minister Creecy.
“Through the Working for Wetlands Programme, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has invested over R1.4 billion in the rehabilitation of 1,873 wetlands and created 43,662 jobs. The Working for Wetlands Programme, which commenced in the year 2000, is being implemented in all 9 provinces of South Africa by a dedicated team of experts working closely with communities,” added Minister Creecy.
De Berg Nature Reserve is located along the headwaters of the Dwars River in the highest part of Mpumalanga approximately, 20 kilometres north of the town of Dullstroom, and lies adjacent to the Verloren Valei Ramsar Site. At an elevation of just over 2300 meters above sea level, the Ramsar site contains the highest altitude wetlands in Mpumalanga, consisting of numerous valley bottom, seep wetlands and mountain streams and represents some of the most pristine and habitat diverse watercourses in the South African grassland biome.
The Ramsar site, which is a biodiversity hotspot, not only supports numerous pristine headwater wetlands but also supports numerous threatened, critically endangered, and vulnerable species of plants and animals. The site falls within the Lydenburg and Sekhukhune centres of plant endemism and has a total of 878 indigenous plant species, which includes 30 plant species that are threatened and near threatened and includes a new species of Bulbine, (B decastroi) which can be found in the valleys of the Reserve.
This site also has 18 species of frogs, 71 reptile species, 432 bird species and a 120 mammal species, including Vandam's girdled lizard (Smaug vandami), various crane species such as blue crane and grey-crowned crane and mountain reedbuck. Many of these species are also rare and vulnerable species and include flocks of up to 30 of the vulnerable Southern Bald Ibis which roosts on the cliffs above Ibis Falls, one of 10 iconic waterfalls which can be found at the site.
Although wetlands cover less than 3% of South Africa's land area, they offer diverse benefits that enrich human well-being. Wetlands are increasingly regarded in South Africa as socio-ecological systems as opposed to only ecological systems. Many of our wetlands are in urban areas and are often the last remaining open areas for recreational use by the public.
“The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) – an entity of DFFE - is also actively contributing to wetland conservation through its comprehensive approach to mapping and understanding this critical ecological infrastructure, emphasizing that informed action today can make a significant difference for the future of wetlands, human well-being and biodiversity. Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) are crucial to South Africa's water security, and various SANBI projects provide insight into land use and protection levels in these strategically important national assets,” said Minister Creecy.
“Through the development of partnerships to monitor, protect and rehabilitate wetlands, by ensuring our wetlands are kept free of litter and invasive alien plant species and by ensuring that we follow best practices to ensure that wetlands are sustainably used for their services we show our appreciation for and acknowledge the value of wetlands and ensure that they remain in place to provide future generations with the same services,” added Minister Creecy.
The designation of De Berg Nature Reserve as South Africa's 30th Ramsar Site under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance coincides with World Wetlands Day (2 February) which is commemorated under the theme “wetlands and human wellbeing”.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.