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Leading African law firm Bowmans continues to enhance the breadth and depth of its offering in tax, this time with the appointment of Mark Linington as tax executive in its Johannesburg office. Linington is a chartered accountant with 28 years’ experience as a tax adviser. ‘Mark is a well-known and respected practitioner and will enhance …
“If the same findings are coming through, how effective are these enforcement powers of the Auditor-General?”
JOHANNESBURG: Dean Elgar and Donovan Ferreira’s record-breaking partnership led the Momentum Multiply Titans to a comfortable six-wicket victory against the Hollywoodbets...
Vendors desperate as garbage piles up
Pandor calls for urgent action to protect oceans, livelihoods
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has called on world leaders to urgently take action to protect the oceans and people who depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.
Pandor was speaking on Wednesday at the 23rd Council of Ministers (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held in Sri Lanka.
The IORA’s priorities, according to Pandor, are in recognition of the fact that 40% of the world’s population lives near coastal areas.
More than three billion people use the oceans for their livelihood, while 80% of world trade is achieved using the seas, the Minister said.
“The oceans, seas and coastal areas contribute to food security and poverty eradication.
“And yet, the oceans are under severe threat by human activities, where economic profits are at the expense of environmental degradation.”
Pandor highlighted acidification, pollution, ocean warming, eutrophication and fishery collapse as some of the issues facing the marine ecosystem.
“These threats are detrimental to the planet and are long-term repercussions that demand urgent action to protect the oceans and the people who depend on them.
“The Indian Ocean region, therefore, should remain our own peaceful zone from which we can enhance opportunities in trade and further develop our nations by advancing the protection that our oceans so dearly deserve.”
The Minister believes that the gatherings have succeeded in developing clear concepts around the IORA Development Initiative (IDI).
“I am also pleased that the High-Level Strategic Dialogue meeting, which was co-chaired by South Africa and the Secretariat, was a resounding success.”
The meeting, she said, reflected on the status quo and a vision of how the IORA should proceed.
“Several discussions were held on, amongst others, the achievements and challenges of the IORA’s first 25 years and what that meant for the IORA’s future work and the implementation of the IORA’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.”
Pandor is of the view that these issues are significant and will continue to help strengthen the association that is becoming increasingly important on the global stage.
“IORA member States and dialogue partners made it clear that they desire collaboration, regional cooperation, freedom of navigation, consensus building actions, partnerships, shared prosperity, rules-based norms in the Indo-Pacific and not disunity, hostility, divergence and increased military presences.”
South Africa, according to Pandor, looks forward to the completion of the zero-base document which she believes should be adopted and followed by implementation at the earliest opportunity.
“The document will provide a vision of future activities of the IORA and the role our various regions could play.”
In addition, Pandor announced that the IORA Business Forum’s South African Chapter has developed a concept note on the creation of an IORA Business Forum Digital Portal.
“This portal will connect us, reduce transactional costs, while creating a trading platform and make it easy to trade in our region and beyond.
“Working jointly at creating a region of peace means we can achieve operational optimisation within the region and achieve energy efficient technology acquisition – this would be a conducive environment that could ensure the continued sustainable development of the IORA region,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 09:25
Dean of St Georges Cathedral calls for peace vigil
FUTURELIFE®, South Africa’s fastest-growing cereal brand, is celebrating the launch of an exciting new addition to its product line-up, FUTURELIFE® Smart Food™ Peanut Butter Flavour. The introduction of the Peanut Butter flavour variant in the 500g Smart Food™ range comes in a limited-edition promotional pack, adding an extra layer of excitement to the launch. According …
Namibia, SA to explore business opportunities
Namibia and South Africa’s business executives will be exploring opportunities to increase trade and investment flows between the two countries at the Namibia-South African Business Forum and Exhibition on Friday.
The Business Forum and Exhibition, which will be held at the Windhoek Country Club, will focus on strategic priority sectors agreed to by both countries, namely, agriculture and agro-processing, automotive, clothing and textile, and green hydrogen, including exploring opportunities to strengthen cross-border value chains along with the integration of the requisite infrastructure and logistics supply chains.
The Forum will be held under the theme: “Forging a New Era of Mutually Beneficial and Reciprocal Trade and Investment Relations”.
The event will be hosted by Namibia’s Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade on the margins of the 3rd Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC), which is co-chaired by Namibian President Hage G. Geingob and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel and the Namibian Minister of Industrialisation, Lucia Lipumbu, are expected to address the business forum.
The programme of the forum will include presentations on opportunities available to strengthen value chain linkages between the two countries, exhibitions, business-to-business meetings, and breakaway sessions for in-depth discussions on value chains in agriculture, automotive, green hydrogen, and clothing and textile sectors.
The business forum will provide businesspeople from the two countries a platform to exchange concrete ideas on the new opportunities that can be explored with the assistance of both governments to increase trade.
It is anticipated that a joint Namibia–South Africa business forum will be created and institutionalised to become a major platform that further enhances and solidifies trade, industrial and investment linkages between the two countries. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 10:08
The momentum of business wins and growth keeps building with Boomtown Johannesburg winning its first Gold Loerie – a Campaign Craft Gold for South African Non-English Writing for ‘Tiny Truths’, radio work for A Million Girls Foundation. The campaign was conceptualised and written by Creative Director Thule Ngcese and crafted by himself and creative team …
Students encouraged to use Higher Health crisis helpline
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has encouraged South African students to use the HIGHER HEALTH 24-hour crisis helpline, which addresses the mental health needs of students and staff in the higher education community.
Nzimande made the call as the department joined the world in marking World Mental Health Day on Tuesday under the theme, ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.
The HIGHER HEALTH 24-hour crisis helpline can be accessed via a toll-free line on 0800 006 333.
In response to mental health within the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector, Nzimande said in the past two years, HIGHER HEALTH, the Higher Education and Training Department’s health and wellness agency, managed 53 619 reported mental health cases by students.
Nzimande said through HIGHER HEALTH Mental Health Prevention, the department provided mental health support to 321 004 students from January 2021 to June 2023, aimed towards fighting the stigma and taboos around mental health.
“HIGHER HEALTH is also working with students from the LGBTQ+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more] community, survivors of GBV [gender-based violence] and general student and staff, and supports them with their health and psycho-social needs.
“HIGHER HEALTH is equipped with mobile clinics, nurses, community health and wellness practitioners, psychologists and peer educators, to provide support to students, and arm them with knowledge to build their resilience against the scourge of mental health,” Nzimande said.
The HIGHER HEALTH Psychosocial Support Counselling Unit equipped with experienced psychologists and counsellors also supported 23 450 students through therapies and mental health treatment, from January 2021 to June 2023.
Through HIGHER HEALTH, in July 2023, Nzimande launched the National Civic Education and Health Skills Programme’s co-curriculum designed to address a number of personal and social challenges facing youth within the PSET sector.
The online programme covers six modules, including one Mental Health module. The co-curriculum is offered in all 12 official languages which includes the sign language.
Raising awareness
Meanwhile, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) said it continues to work with all relevant stakeholders to maximise awareness on mental disorders as a disability.
This includes health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in primary, secondary and tertiary care.
“The right to health must be informed by our human rights approach which calls for, among others, investment in community-based care, rehabilitation and prevention,” the department said.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the department, together with SA Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) and other government departments, will on 17 October 2023 co-host a webinar to discuss mental health issues. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 10:10
“I don’t see a clear way forward. What I see is yet another failed entity” says MP
Manhunt launched for escaped inmates
The Department of Correctional Services together with the South African Police Service (SAPS) have launched a manhunt for two escaped inmates in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to the department, the two were based at the Nkandla and Vryheid Correctional facilities in that province.
“The escapees are 34-year-old Siyabonga Sikhakhane, serving 16 years imprisonment of which 8 years is suspended for housebreaking and theft. He has been incarcerated at the Nkandla Correctional Centre since 23 March 2022.
“The second escapee is 29-year-old Siphamandla Gift Simelane, serving two years for similar offences of housebreaking and theft. He was admitted at the Vryheid Correctional Centre on 03 October 2023.
“The Emergency Support Team of Correctional Services is working together with the South African Police Service in an effort to rearrest the two. The circumstances under which the two inmates escaped are being investigated as they were both out with the spans (work teams],” the department said.
The department has urged the public to report any sighting of the two to the police. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 10:15
Setting the stage for the next phase of the EPWP
Government’s flagship job creation programme, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), is set for a major shake-up in the months ahead.
The programme will be contributing to building better community infrastructure, empowering participants with training and skills to enter the job market and becoming entrepreneurs as part of their exit strategies.
This was announced by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala at the EPWP Phase 5 Indaba in Pretoria on Tuesday.
The announcement comes as government is reviewing the performance of the Expanded Public Works Programme and preparing for Phase 5, which will see over five million job opportunities being created.
The programme, currently in Phase 4, has delivered over four million job opportunities.
The EPWP Phase 5 Indaba is taking take stock of the current phase, which comes to an end in March next year.
Phase 4 learnings are being unpacked and new innovative ideas are being thrashed out for Phase 5 to accelerate the creation of job opportunities that have a long lasting impact on the unemployment of South African youth.
Zikalala said the repositioning and rebranding of the EPWP will be focused on delivering services and changing the lives of communities.
Zikalala said it should move beyond quantity to quality, high impact and be sustainable to the beneficiaries.
The programme will be massified to create more job opportunities while attempting to solve the country’s key challenges such as:
- Road maintenance (pothole patching, brick paving and ensuring pothole free road networks).
- Cleaning of neighbourhoods and waste management.
- Energy (retrofitting of government buildings and solar installations).
- Fixing lifts and plumbing.
“EPWP Phase 5 should be more than just combatting unemployment. It is about rewriting the story of our youth from one of despair to one of hope, from stagnation to growth and from dependency to self-reliance.
“Our core focus should gravitate towards not just creating employment opportunities, but crafting pathways of continuous growth, learning and empowerment. Our goal goes beyond employment generation. It is about nurturing a skilled, self-reliant populace that contributes constructively to our nation’s socio-economic fabric,” Zikalala said.
The Minister said one of the many strategies that will be used to escalate the EPWP’s national effort will be to re-open the government workshops.
The revitalisation of the existing workshops will be a cornerstone of empowering and absorbing some of the graduates from the National Youth Service (NYS) from the EPWP. The workshops will be the crucibles of innovation, skills development and practical exposure.
“By integrating NYS graduates into these workshops, we aim to foster a culture of continuous learning and hands-on experience, ensuring our youth are not just employable but are drivers of innovation and change,” the Minister said.
The Minister quoted a number of global public employment programmes whose lessons will be used extensively to craft programmes that will enhance the livelihoods security of people involved in EPWP programmes.
These programmes include India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act that guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
Rwanda’s Umuganda cleaning programme was also cited by the Minister. The programme is a public cleaning programme that contributes to income support while keeping public places clean and hygienic.
The EPWP will be escalated to encompass priority projects like road maintenance, energy, waste recycling and cleaning of government buildings as arenas of innovation, skills development and environmental stewardship.
It will have a strong emphasis on training, enterprise development and ensuring a transformational journey for participants. The exit pathways will ensure that the journey of participants leads to future employability, self-employment, and cooperatives or enterprises that can employ more people.
“Our vision of creating exit pathways is centred on ensuring that as participants transition out of the programme, they are not stepping back into the abyss of poverty and uncertainty, but are striding confidently into avenues of self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship and meaningful employment,” Zikalala said.
The Minister said the EPWP programme will be characterised by the Khawuleza Model, where service delivery is accelerated and meaningful interventions are unleashed to ameliorate the living conditions of the vulnerable poor. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 14:41
In a significant step toward enhancing the productivity and quality standards in South Africa’s plastics industry, Plastics SA is thrilled to announce its pivotal role in managing the Quality and Productivity Improvement (KAIZEN™) Project. This milestone project is a result of a collaboration between the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Trade, …
The organisation argues the state has a statutory and constitutional duty to devolve rail to the City of Cape Town
JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Advocate Ncumisa Mayosi to the Board as Independent Non-Executive...
Mashatile to attend Tshivhase Day Celebration in Limpopo
Deputy President Paul Mashatile will visit Limpopo over the weekend to deliver a keynote address at the Tshivhase Day Celebration.
The Deputy President will be attending the event in his capacity as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on matters of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders.
The event will take place on Saturday, 14 October 2023 at the Prince Thikhathali Stadium in Tshikombani, Venda.
This year’s event will focus on and celebrate the life of Chief Frans Rasimphi Tshivhase’s contribution to the struggle for a free, just and democratic South Africa.
According to Chief Tshivhase’s profile on the Presidency website, he was born in 1900 in Mukumbani in the former Transvaal.
He took over the chieftaincy of the Tshivhase people in April 1930 after the death of his father two months earlier.
“At a time when the Land Act, which sought to dispossess black South Africans of their land, was being implemented across the country, Chief Tshivhase was resolute in his opposition to the expropriation of the land of his subjects and strident in his defence of the rights of his people.”
Throughout his life, the Presidency said he refused to have his people impoverished and waged a monumental struggle in defence of the inheritance of his people.
“Realising that the serious and difficult challenges faced by his mostly rural constituents required a political response, he was among the first traditional leaders of the period to forge strong organisational links with more urban political organisations such as the South African Communist Party, of which he was a member,” the profile reads.
Despite opposition from the apartheid government, Chief Tshivhase continued to defy the authorities by mobilising the local inhabitants against the government.
"He was forcibly removed yet again in 1952, this time to even more distant Ermelo in the eastern part of the former Transvaal, where he was reputedly slow-poisoned.”
He died at Mills Hospital in Johannesburg. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 11:05
PNA, South Africa’s top retailer of stationery, art supplies, and educational books, has partnered with Breadline Africa, a well-known non-profit organisation, to enhance Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in vulnerable communities across South Africa. Together, they aim to invest in the country’s young children and promote education. Their joint efforts have raised over R1.5 million, …
“When people see you on stage it’s not like: ‘Aw that’s so cute!’ But they see the actual performance. And then [you] steal the show.”
Local government called to drive tourism investment
KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC, Siboniso Duma, has challenged local government to drive tourism through investment in socio-economic infrastructure.
“Our view is that local government is where tourism happens, and this is why local government is best placed to create a memorable experience for tourists,” Duma said.
Duma was speaking at the Provincial Tourism and Investment Committee (PTIC) meeting, held at Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre on Tuesday.
The PTIC, which includes representatives of KZN metropolitan, district and local municipalities; CEOs of public entities and private sector organisations, seeks to deliberate on radical industry transformation matters.
The meeting aimed to assess progress in relation to investments in socio-economic infrastructure in various municipalities across the province.
In his opening remarks, Duma said local government aims to ensure that KZN is amongst the top tourist destinations.
“Each one of us here has a special role to play in making this a reality-in one way or another, we have a direct impact on the future of tourism," Duma said.
Duma said the province is lobbying and bidding to host the national and international events, as part of the stimulation of tourism.
“We hosted, successfully, the MTN 8 Finals over the weekend. We will be hosting the South African Music Awards around 17 to 18 November at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
“KZN will be put firmly on the map as we host the jewel of the creative industry. We will be doing destination marketing and activations in various parts of the province,” Duma said.
To achieve this, he said all municipalities must play a role and maximise the considerable job creating potential of the tourism sector.
“The tourism sector is a national priority sector with enormous potential to promote economic development, thus requiring of municipalities to promote it and support it. We must pride ourselves on a responsible, sustainable and transforming sector,” the MEC said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 10/10/2023 - 15:22
The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Mmemme Mogotsi to lead the Communications and Marketing unit of the BMA with effect from 01 October 2023. Ms Mogotsi is appointed as Deputy Assistant Commissioner who also assumes the role of Spokesperson for the BMA.
Ms Mogotsi is a seasoned communicator, having worked in various organisations including Standard Bank, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Government Unit and at GCIS responsible for international media relations. She boasts an enviable experience of more than 20 years in the domestic and international communications environment. She also served as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) National Media Coordinator for South Africa as well as Presidential media support for the World Economic Forum events, amongst others.
“I wish to welcome Ms Mogotsi in this important role and confident that she has high capabilities of driving the communication and marketing programme to profile the BMA's efforts in ensuring secure borders for development. She was seconded to the BMA immediately after her appointment and demonstrated multiskilled techniques in promoting the BMA brand. I believe that Ms Mogotsi will add tremendous value to our cross-border communications initiatives”, Commissioner Masiapato said.
Ms Mogotsi has strong, proven management experience with qualifications in Journalism, Marketing and Graphic Design acquired from South African universities and has attended a number of courses abroad.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Border Management Authority, South Africa.
Zikalala outlines vision to advance EPWP outcomes
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala has called for the restructuring of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to make it more responsive to the country’s development needs.
The Minister was addressing the two-day EPWP Phase 5 Indaba in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Zikalala emphasised that youth unemployment is still the most pressing issue across the globe, and was worsened by the devastation emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The South African youth is disproportionately affected, constituting a huge portion of the unemployed youth that feels left out,” Zikalala said.
In the same vein, the Minister said the challenges that have compromised the EPWP must be dealt with.
“…The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure cannot afford to relegate its mandate to be limited to merely reporting on targets than being actively involved itself in creating job opportunities,” Zikalala said.
The Minister said ultimately, the EPWP must lead to enhanced future employability, self-employment, and cooperatives or enterprises that can employ more people.
“Our goal goes beyond employment generation. It is about nurturing a skilled, self-reliant populace that contributes constructively to our nation’s socio-economic fabric.
“By integrating NYS [National Youth Service] graduates into these workshops, we aim to foster a culture of continuous learning and hands-on experience, ensuring our youth are not just employable, but are drivers of innovation and change.
“Our initiative to absorb some of the NYS graduates from the EPWP into the DPWI workshops is thus a cornerstone of this vision,” Zikalala said.
Breaking unemployment barriers
The Minister said some young adults, now in their 40s, have never had the opportunity to work.
“Youth unemployment is still the most pressing issue across the globe, and this was worsened by the devastation emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate remains stubbornly high at 32.6% in South Africa.
“Last month, the United Nations joined many others to describe our unemployment picture as a ticking time bomb,” the Minister said.
He said the country’s fiscal standing must be used as a “call to arms” for fostering a culture of effective coordination across all spheres of government.
“It is also an invitation to collectively devise funding mechanisms that are not just effective, but sustainable.”
EPWP of the Future
According to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the two-day indaba will be an interactive session aimed at the reconceptualisation and redesigning of the EPWP of the Future.
The indaba has brought together a host of stakeholders from all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector to brainstorm on the formulation of the EPWP Phase 5 business plan, which will be presented to Cabinet before the end of the year.
Last year, the DPWI developed the EPWP Policy and it was approved by Cabinet on 31 August 2022 for public consultation.
The EPWP is one of government’s strategies to alleviate poverty through the creation of work opportunities using labour-intensive methods.
It is implemented in four sectors, namely: infrastructure, social, environment and culture, and non-State. All spheres of government and State-owned entities are expected to implement the programme. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 10/10/2023 - 13:26
6 October 2023, Johannesburg – On 14 October 2023, Nontsikelelo Biko, the wife of the late Steve Biko, will be honoured at an event hosted by the Black Nurses Forum. The Black Nurses Forum was launched in November 2015 as a means to restore the reputation of the nursing profession and to strengthen relations between …