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Justice department and Multichoice partner against piracy
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Multichoice Group have signed an anti-piracy memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The MoU will cover the following areas of collaboration:
The department’s Director-General, Advocate Doctor Mashabane, said: “[This] marks another milestone in the government’s efforts to fight broadcast and content piracy, which continue to drain the fiscus of billions of rands a year.
“Committing to signing this MOU shows our commitment to protect our creative industry so it can grow and attract investment – something that cannot happen without the Government’s intervention.”
MultiChoice South Africa CEO Mark Jury said: “As MultiChoice evolves from a traditional video entertainment business into a diversified platform business focused on technology, we are committed to promoting legitimate content consumption and supporting the creative industry.
“We look forward to strengthening partnerships with a number of stakeholders, including the department, to wage a coordinated war against piracy.”
The department explained that the MOU paves the way for enforcement and deterrence.
“This partnership will bolster enforcement actions against piracy, sending a strong deterrent message to perpetrators and significantly aiding in the revision of pertinent laws and the enhancement of training for judicial and enforcement agencies.
“The current legislative gaps means there is no incentive for hosting providers and other intermediaries, including financial, to work with legitimate role-players in the Audio-Visual (AV) content value chain or with the police to reduce piracy and block online pirate websites and the sharing of pirated content.
“Ideally such measures should form part of a broader policy and legislative response to deal with cybercrime, cyber piracy and cyberterrorism through blocking access to infringing domains/IP addresses, reducing harm through education of the public, disrupting payments and improving financial investigation and enforcement responses to these actions,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 03/08/2024 - 11:28
The Bhambatha Rebellion tells the story of the 1906 Zulu uprising against the cruel colonial poll tax which resulted in the imprisonment and death of thousands of Zulu warriors. This pivotal moment in history will be commemorated at KwaZulu-Natal South Coast’s Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre – supported by South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) …
Excitement is brewing as Horizon Shopping Centre gears up to host a one-of-a-kind event that promises to showcase the entrepreneurial spirit of our youth. On the 23rd of March 2024, budding business moguls aged 8 to 24 are invited to showcase their talents and products at the eagerly anticipated Kid-Prenuers Market. We are thrilled to …
A salon owner was shot dead on Wednesday apparently for refusing to pay protection money
Innovative businesses gain more access to global markets, study finds
Innovation-active South African businesses have more skilled labour and greater access to the global markets compared to non-innovation enterprises, according to results from the latest round of the South African Business Innovation Survey (BIS).
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey revealed that during the 2019 to 2021 period, 62% of South African businesses took scientific, technological, organisational, financial, or commercial steps aimed at realising an innovation.
According to the statement, training emerged as the most common innovation activity for 47% of innovation-active businesses, followed by software and database activities (29%), and marketing initiatives (25%).
Of the employees involved in these innovation activities, only 38 in 100 workers were female and 62 in 100 were African.
In addition, the computer sector had the highest proportions of businesses with innovation activities and innovation.
“There remains significant scope for businesses in South Africa to undertake innovation activities that result in novel innovations, and do so in an inclusive manner.
“In South Africa, where we face multiple challenges, a more innovative business sector can contribute to productivity and business resilience as well as job creation, improved working conditions and quality of life," said the HSRC’s Dr Amy Kahn, who led the BIS.
South Africa’s BIS, covering the period between 2019 and 2021, examined the innovation activities in about 5 500 enterprises — from small to very large, and across a range of industries.
Among these innovation-active enterprises, 37% introduced both product and process innovations, while 23% had only product innovations and another 23% only process innovations.
The remaining 17% of innovation-active businesses either did not have innovations or abandoned their innovation projects by the end of 2021.
Among advanced and emerging technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies were most widely used or developed by 80% of all innovative businesses.
The IoT describes devices with sensors, processing ability, software and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet or other communications networks.
The survey report, prepared for the Department of Science and Innovation by the HSRC’s Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII), provides new evidence for policymakers to foster business innovation and offers new insights for business leaders and industry associations regarding the innovation landscape in South Africa.
“The innovation situation for all South African businesses should concern us, including why firms do or do not innovate,” added CeSTII Research Director, Dr Moses Sithole.
Meanwhile, high costs were a significant barrier to innovation for 27% of all businesses, the survey found, as well as too much competition (25%) and lack of funds (24%).
“Product and process innovations tended toward quality improvements, including enhanced working conditions, product quality, and overall quality of life and well-being, rather than cost-related outcomes,” explained Sithole.
The BIS report also delves into the distinct innovation practices of a wide range of South African businesses.
“The analysis conducted in this round of the Business Innovation Survey takes us significantly closer to understanding the South African business innovation practices that shift the needle. This informs how we should design support for greater business innovation in our country,” said Executive Head of CeSTII, Dr Glenda Kruss.
For example, HSRC said the survey highlighted that businesses without formal innovation processes, such as research and development (R&D), patenting or not collaborating with external entities, were more likely to abandon their innovation projects.
On the other hand, companies with the capability to develop their innovations in-house and more novel product innovations had the highest turnover in 2021.
Also, businesses more connected to global markets and with higher product innovation novelty held greater intellectual property rights.
“A fine-grained understanding of the patterns of innovation exhibited in South African businesses enables us to build the capabilities suited to South Africa’s context and its challenges.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 03/07/2024 - 14:48
Desperate households resort to paying for water from unmarked trucks
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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Boasting the highest number of Blue Flag beaches in the province, as well as two world-class dive sites, adventure and extreme tourism offerings, Ugu District remains a top tourism destination. South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) continues to develop these tourism products, expanding the tourism economy which brings with it significant investment opportunities. “Our …
President Ramaphosa to interact with Mpumalanga communities
President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead government’s interaction with communities and stakeholders in the Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga during the District Development Model Presidential Imbizo on Thursday.
"Themed ‘Leave No One Behind’, the 12th Presidential Imbizo promotes participatory democracy and inclusive development by allowing community members and stakeholders to voice proposals and express any concerns or dissatisfaction they may have about conditions in the district or province,” said the Presidency in a statement on Tuesday.
The imbizo, which will get underway at 11 am, will take place at the Sy Mthimunye Stadium in Emalahleni.
The imbizo is 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.
Earlier in the week, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Thembi Nkadimeng urged communities in Mpumalanga to participate in the imbizo.
READ | Mpumalanga communities invited to attend imbizo
“As a constitutional democracy grounded in meaningful public participation and accountability, continuous engagement with communities is important. Therefore, the imbizo reaffirms the role of communities in shaping their development initiatives,” Nkadimeng said on Monday.
The visit to Emalahleni will allow the President 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 engagement with communities.
The imbizo highlights the successful implementation of the DDM, and the significance of collaboration with key stakeholders including traditional leaders, businesses and civil society.
The DDM Presidential Imbizo forms part of a holistic government service delivery and monitoring programme, using an integrated, district-based approach to address community needs.
It serves as an important platform for transparent and constructive exchanges between communities and government.
READ | Nkangala residents called to attend Presidential Imbizo
Since inception in March 2022, izimbizo have empowered millions of South Africans to directly engage with the President, contributing to policy discussions and acknowledging government efforts to better serve the people.
Government's commitment to serving the people and enhancing their well-being necessitates ongoing dialogue and collaboration. Through izimbizo, community input informs government priorities, facilitating accelerated public service delivery.
Community engagements through the DDM Presidential Imbizo also enhances visibility, understanding, empowerment, fostering stronger relationships between government and the public.
Feedback from these engagements informs decision-making processes and showcases the impact of community contributions.
Preceding Thursday's imbizo will be a series of build-up outreach activities led by Ministers, MECs, mayors across the Nkangala District Municipality and throughout the Mpumalanga province. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 03/06/2024 - 09:26
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The Limpopo Mirror is published in Louis Trichardt, a town in the north of South Africa’s Limpopo province. This week the Competition Commission is probing how online news is affected by AI chatbots, search and advertising technology. The outcome of the hearings is important for the future of news reporting in South Africa. In this …
Collaboration between government and business bearing fruit
The partnership between government and business is yielding positive outcomes, such as decreased load shedding, enhanced efficiency in rail and ports, and a decline in security incidents affecting energy and logistics infrastructure.
This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who convened a meeting with members of Cabinet and senior business leaders on Tuesday on the partnership between government and business to address key challenges in energy, transport and logistics, and crime and corruption.
The objective of the partnership is to achieve more rapid economic growth and generate a significant increase in sustainable employment by urgently delivering on priority interventions in each of the three focal areas.
“We are beginning to see the tangible results of this collaboration in reduced load shedding, improved performance of our rail network and ports, and a reduction in security incidents targeting energy and logistics infrastructure.
“We are confident that we are turning the corner on our most urgent challenges, and are absolutely committed to building on this partnership as we work to grow the economy,” President Ramaphosa said in a joint statement between Government and Business.
Adrian Gore, co-convenor of the business delegation, said they have achieved real progress over the last nine months, and the partnership is gaining excellent traction.
“The private sector has contributed more than R170 million of support directly into this partnership, and has mobilised over 350 technical experts. We need to capitalise on the momentum and urgently implement the necessary reforms. This will help to improve societal and investor confidence in South Africa’s potential, and mobilize much needed investment to grow the economy inclusively,” Gore said.
As part of the support provided by business, the Resource Mobilisation Fund (RMF) was established to procure and donate resources to support the implementation of the Energy Action Plan. To date, the fund has raised approximately R100m, with R25m already having been drawn down to fund expertise to support the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM).
The joint statement said business is looking to scale this model to support the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) and the Joint Initiative on Crime and Corruption (JICC).
The meeting discussed the progress made over the last three months, as well as key priorities to accelerate progress in the next period.
Key updates since November 2023:
• Energy: Load shedding is roughly 61% less than the same period last year (80% less for stages 4 and above), and is starting to decouple from Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF), demonstrating the positive impact of alternative energy sources including rooftop solar.
• Transport and logistics: A 45% reduction in vessels anchored outside the Port of Durban and a 36% reduction in the waiting time to anchor for container vessels has been achieved. Capable executive leadership has been appointed in Transnet to ensure stability and focused delivery.
• Crime and corruption: Collaboration between Transnet and business, including the provision of security on the rail network, has resulted in a 65% reduction in criminal incidents on the Northern Corridor which is key to reducing the cancellation of trains.
Energy
The work underway within the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) and the implementation of the Energy Action Plan is starting to bear fruit.
“Load shedding is down by 61% compared to the same period last year, with the return of units at Kusile power station as well as new generation capacity from rooftop solar and private sector investment having a positive impact.
“Reform of the energy sector is progressing, with an independent board appointed for the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) and preparations underway for the new entity to commence trading,” the statement read.
On the downside, however, Eskom plant performance remains unreliable with an unacceptably high level of unplanned outages. Under the leadership of its new Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, Eskom is working to ensure full delivery on its recovery plan.
The joint statement highlighted that Eskom and business are finalising a Mutual Cooperation Agreement to establish a sustainable framework through which to deploy additional independent skilled experts to support Eskom in this regard.
“The aim for 2024 is to increase generation capacity from multiple sources by up to 11.5 GW, which will enable a significant reduction in the severity of load shedding by the end of the year.
“This includes improved plant performance as a result of Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan, additional private investment in rooftop solar and utility-scale projects as a result of policy and regulatory reforms, and projects from previous bid windows connecting to the grid,” the statement said.
Initiatives are also underway to unlock increased grid capacity, successfully conclude Bid Window 7 and open further bid windows for gas-to-power and battery storage will contribute to additional generation capacity in the medium term.
Finally, government is working to accelerate reforms in the energy sector, including the promulgation of the ERA Bill, the establishment of the NTCSA, the finalisation of a national wheeling framework, and the development of financing mechanisms for transmission infrastructure.
Transport and logistics
Government and business emphasised that challenges in the logistics system are receiving urgent attention, with the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) focused on stabilising and improving rail, port and road operations.
Business is supporting a number of the NLCC workstreams with technical, security and operational expertise.
“Green shoots include a 45% reduction in vessels anchored outside the Port of Durban and a 36% reduction in the waiting time to anchor for container vessels. A major success has been the provision of security by business on the rail network on an interim basis, which has resulted in a 65% reduction in criminal incidents on the Northern Corridor, reducing the number of trains cancelled. Work is currently underway to ramp up the deployment of SAPS resources to secure network infrastructure in the longer term,” the statement said.
It further highlighted that progress was achieved with the approval of the Freight Logistics Roadmap (FLRM) and the Private Sector Participation Framework, which together outline clear actions and timeframes to ensure a more efficient logistics network that encourages private investment and competition in operations.
Implementation of the roadmap is now underway, with key milestones included in conditions attached to the R47 billion guarantee recently extended to Transnet.
“Despite this progress, continued poor operational performance and inefficiency costs the economy R1 billion per day, with recent announcements of retrenchments in the mining industry illustrating the urgency of reform in the logistics sector.
“Transnet is focused on improving performance through clearly defined and agreed measures such as rebuilding internal capacity, implementing operational excellence centres for strategic corridors, and drawing on private sector technical resources.
"The recent appointment of permanent executive leadership at Transnet will assist with the necessary focus and delivery mindset, and the urgent implementation of the Transnet Recovery Plan,” the statement said.
Crime and corruption
Steady progress has also been made in the crime and corruption focal area, including the establishment of the Joint Initiative on Crime and Corruption.
The private sector is continuing its support to strengthen law enforcement through providing business information and resources to assist with the fight against infrastructure crime.
The statement said support has also been provided to modernise the 10111 helpline, with a pilot project initiated at the main call centre in Midrand.
“Passing the NPA Amendment Bill within the current Parliament will strengthen the independence and investigating capacity of the NPA and will enable the establishment of additional infrastructure to support the Investigating Directorate as a permanent entity, including a dedicated Forensics Laboratory.
“A key focus is to secure South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, with the aim of achieving this by June 2025,” the statement said.
Next steps
The next meeting will be held in May to assess progress on the three focal areas.
Government and business reaffirmed their commitment to communicating regularly on progress, and identifying areas where further work is required.
“We are finalising our targets for the end of 2024, and aligning on the critical paths to achieve these. These plans will be communicated publicly, and reported on regularly. This will build confidence in the process and will enforce accountability. As partners, we are absolutely focused on delivery,” Chair of the B4SA Steering Committee, Martin Kingston said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Wed, 03/06/2024 - 12:43
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
NeoB
Tue, 03/05/2024 - 12:17
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
nosihle
Tue, 03/05/2024 - 12:20
GDP increases by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has announced that South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
In the fourth quarter, six of the 10 industries kept the economy in the green, with the transport, storage and communication industry making the biggest positive impact, expanding by 2.9% and contributing 0.2 of a percentage point to the GDP growth.
“Increased economic activities were reported for land transport, air transport, transport support services and communications.
“The mining and quarrying industry increased by 2.4% in the fourth quarter, contributing 0.1 of a percentage point. Increased economic activities were reported for platinum group metals (PGMs), coal, chromium ore and diamonds,” Stats SA said on Tuesday.
Stats SA further announced that the personal services industry increased by 0.9% in the fourth quarter, contributing 0.1 of a percentage point, with increased economic activities reported for health and education.
The finance, real estate and business services industry increased by 0.6%, pushed higher by financial intermediation, auxiliary activities, real estate and business services, contributing 0.1 of a percentage point.
Meanwhile, the trade, catering and accommodation industry decreased by 2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2023, contributing -0.3 of a percentage point. Decreased economic activities were reported for wholesale trade, retail trade, motor trade, accommodation and food and beverages.
On the downside, trade, agriculture, construction and government were weaker. Agriculture, forestry and fishing had a notably tough quarter, shrinking by 9.7%.
“The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry decreased by 9.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023, contributing -0.2 of a percentage point to GDP growth. This was primarily due to decreased economic activities reported for field crops, animal products and horticulture products,” Stats SA said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 03/05/2024 - 12:51
In the past few years, Ugu District has attracted a significant number of tourists during the festive season – and according to local establishments, the 2023 figures indicate a similar pattern. This bodes well for the KZN South Coast with the Easter holidays around the corner! “The occupancy rates are a very positive indicator of …
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
GabiK
Tue, 03/05/2024 - 14:33
Mashatile welcomes finalisation of key Bills in Parliament
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has welcomed the finalisation of key Bills by the National Assembly during the first three months of this year.
These include the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill, the Public Service Amendment Bill, the Statistics Amendment Bill, the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill and the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill.
According to a statement by the Presidency, the public service Bills have now been referred to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for consideration.
“As Section 75 of the Constitution Bills, the other Bills have been referred to specific parliamentary portfolio committees for processing.”
The Constitution distinguishes between four categories of Bills involving those amending the Constitution; ordinary Bills not affecting the provinces; ordinary Bills affecting the provinces; and money Bills including those that deal with appropriations, taxes, levies or duties.”
Meanwhile, 16 Bills have been sent to the President for assent by the end of February.
Deputy President Mashatile, in his capacity as leader of Government Business in Parliament, described the development as significant progress, which takes the nation closer to the fulfilment of the mandate of the sixth democratic administration.
“The significance of the legislative programme is that it is a linear and revolving responsibility to both enact legislation and fine-tune existing laws.
“We are confident that at the end of this term, all priority legislation will have gone through the rigorous parliamentary process, passed the constitutional master and become laws of the Republic after the President has assented to the Bills,” he said.
As the leader of Government Business, the Deputy President promotes accountability by the Executive.
Among other things, he tracks the submission of responses to Parliamentary questions for oral and written replies and commitments made.
He also monitors the programming and attendance of Members of the Executive before Parliament and portfolio committees, the implementation of the legislative programme and the processing of priority Bills by Parliament. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 03/05/2024 - 14:59
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.
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