MyZA
News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff
A financial gap analysis is a strategic tool that you can utilize to assess the difference between your current financial status, gaps and all, and your desired financial goals or targets. This allows you to see where there are issues that need to be addressed, and should also offer you an actionable roadmap in order …
Proactive financial management is more than just good business practice, it’s a strategic approach that involves anticipating future financial challenges and opportunities, rather than merely reacting to them. Proactive financial management involves a comprehensive approach, encompassing everything from budgeting and cash flow forecasting to strategic planning and careful risk assessment. Unlike reactive management, which deals …
Agriculture in South Africa is growing. The primary agricultural sector has increased by an average of 7.5% per year since 2008, outpacing the total economy, which grew by 6.6% on average per year over the same period. Despite its relatively small share of the total GDP, primary agriculture is a significant provider of employment, and …
Traditionally, the Chief Financial Officer or CFO was seen primarily as guardians of the company’s finances, focusing on cost control, budgeting, and financial reporting. However, in today’s fast, digital business environment, the role of the CFO has expanded significantly, and they are expected to contribute to organisational growth, beyond just managing the financials. It involves …
When it comes to hotel development across Africa in 2024, just five words tell the story, “Egypt and the Big 5”. In this context, “the Big 5” does not refer to Africa's major wildlife attractions, (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo) but to the global hotel chains – Accor, Hilton, IHG, Marriott International and Radisson Hotel Group. This year's African Hotel Chain Development Pipeline report, widely acknowledged as the industry's most authoritative source, documenting and analysing the number of hotels being planned and built across the continent, reports a market share of 28% for Egypt and 71% for the Big 5 global chains.
The survey, conducted by Lagos-based W Hospitality Group, in association with the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), is based on responses from 47 global and regional (African) hotel chains, reporting on a pipeline of hotel development activity totalling around 92,000 rooms in 524 hotels, in 41 of Africa's 54 countries.
Significant trends to emerge in the past year include strong growth, over 9%, in both North and sub-Saharan Africa, an increase in very large hotels (the average size of the largest 10 hotels is 770 rooms, up from 723 rooms in 2023) and a rapid growth in resorts, up by 32% on 2023. In this respect, Zanzibar has performed particularly strongly. There, the pipeline has grown from seven resorts with 983 rooms in 2023 to 14 resorts and 2,048 rooms in 2024, a sure sign of confidence in these beautiful Indian Ocean islands.
The extent to which Egypt dominates the African hotel development pipeline each year, with almost 26,250 rooms in 109 hotels, is quite remarkable. The country's pipeline, up by 19 hotels and about 5,200 rooms in 2023, is larger than the next four countries put together. It has well over three times the number of rooms as second-placed Nigeria, which has 7,622 rooms in 50 hotels. Third-placed Morocco has 7,169 rooms in 52 hotels and Ethiopia, in fourth place, has 5,128 rooms spread across 31 properties.
There has been an extremely strong increase in the number of resort projects in the pipeline, growing from 24% of the total in 2023 to 30% in 2024. In addition, around half of the rooms in hotels and resorts that opened last year were in resorts. Both Boa Vista (Cape Verde) and Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) score highly because of the very large average size of the resorts there. The largest hotel in the entire pipeline is a Rixos resort being planned in Sharm El Sheikh, with over 1,800 rooms.
The Big 5 global chains – Marriott International, Hilton, Accor, Radisson Hotel Group and IHG Hotels & Resorts – account for 66% of hotels and 71% of rooms in the entire African pipeline.
Marriott International, the world's largest hotel chain, remains in the lead for the third consecutive year, in a seemingly unassailable position as number one, with almost twice the number of pipeline hotels and rooms as second placed Hilton, and it has the largest number of rooms added in the year.
Looking back at previous years, there used to be a neck and neck race between Accor and Marriott International but, for the second year running, Accor's pipeline has actually decreased, from a high of about 20,250 rooms in 2022 to 13,375 rooms today. Executives say that they are focused on having a “clean and achievable pipeline, rather than numbers for numbers sake”.
Accor's quote highlights a key issue in tracking hotel development in Africa, which is differentiating between hotel projects that are proposed from those that are under construction and from those that have been completed. Typically, the length of time between signing and opening is between four and five years. However, the report identifies 35 projects in the pipeline that are 10 or more years old, including one hotel that was signed 16 years ago.
When it comes to hotels under construction, Marriott International leads the way, with 138 hotels (15,011 rooms) currently being built. It is followed by Hilton (72 hotels, 5,955 rooms), Radisson Hotel Group (35 hotels, 5,748 rooms) and Accor (70 hotels, 3,346 rooms). TUI Hotels & Resorts has charged into the rankings in fifth place with 12 hotels (2,208 rooms) under construction.
As well as looking at deals, which may or may not materialise, W Hospitality Group also looked at who was opening hotels in Africa in 2023, and where. Of the total 29 chain hotels and resorts that opened in Africa in 2023, the split was 10 in North Africa and 19 in sub-Saharan Africa. Of those 19 openings, 11 were in East Africa, including six new hotels and resorts in Tanzania, which had the most openings of any African country. It is clear evidence of the attractiveness of both the mainland and Zanzibar to investors and operators.
Accor came out top of the list for openings last year, and it also tops the number of hotels and rooms opened over the past five years (2019-2023), with 34 hotels opening, comprising around 5,500 rooms.
In terms of “actualisation”, 2023 was an exceptionally slow year. However, that is likely to be offset by a strong 2024, during which the top 10 chains expect to open 139 hotels with 19,122 rooms.
Trevor Ward, Managing Director, W Hospitality Group, said: "Our report contains very positive data, with the pipeline expanding by more than 9 per cent in 2023. This is the largest increase since 2018 and, according to data produced by CoStar/STR, is one of the highest increases globally, surpassed only by the Americas. We look not just at signed deals and their status, but also at the historical actualisation of these deals. This year, we've placed greater emphasis than we have in the past on the actualisation, because if the deals don't become operating businesses, generating profits for the owners and paying fees to the hotel chains, no one's objectives are being met, are they?"
“We're looking forward to some 139 hotels and resorts opening in Africa in 2024, with expectations of a far greater actualisation rate than in recent years, as Africa strives to achieve its fair share of the global hotel industry”.
When one considers existing hotels, as well as hotels in the development pipeline, the continent's current king of the jungle is Accor, with 165 hotels, containing 29,041 rooms, open and trading. Marriott International is in second place, 25,451 rooms in 143 hotels, Hilton is third, 12,525 rooms in 47 hotels and Radisson Hotel Group is close behind with 12,179 rooms in 61 properties. However, if Marriott International delivers all the rooms in its pipeline, it is on course to overtake Accor and become pack leader, with 51,816 rooms in operation.
Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of The Bench, which organises the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), concluded: “The report reveals some very positive trends, including strong growth in new hotel projects, the emergence of high-quality white label hotel operators and governments successfully attracting investment into their tourism industries. All this bodes well for deal-making discussions at AHIF.”
An update to the pipeline development survey, along with in-depth insights, will be presented by Trevor Ward at AHIF, which takes place at the Mövenpick Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia, from 25th – 27th June 2024.
The event is the most influential gathering of hospitality executives in Africa, connecting business leaders and fuelling investment in tourism projects, infrastructure, and hotel development across the continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF).
Media contact:
For further information and high-resolution images, please contact:
David Tarsh
+44 (0) 20 7602 5262 / +44 (0) 7770 816 070
Email: David@Tarsh.com
About W Hospitality Group:
The W Hospitality Group, a member of Hotel Partners Africa, specialises in the provision of advisory services to the hotel, tourism and leisure industries, providing a full range of services to clients who have investments in the sector, or who are looking to enter them through development, acquisition or other means. In sub-Saharan Africa W Hospitality Group is regarded as the market leader due to the market and financial expertise of its staff, its worldwide knowledge, and its commitment to its clients. In Africa, W Hospitality Group has to date worked in 40 countries on the continent, from its Lagos and Addis Ababa offices.
About the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF):
AHIF is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, attracting many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers. It is organised by The Bench (www.TheBench.com), which has a long track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Bench's mission is enabling prosperity by facilitating growth, networking, and thought leadership in the hospitality industry worldwide.
Sponsors of AHIF are Host Sponsor: Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB); Host Partner: Kasada Capital Management; Platinum Sponsors: ClubMed, Radisson Hotel Group; Gold Sponsors: Accor, Aleph Hospitality, BWH Hotels, CHIC, CityBlue, hansgrohe, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Knight Frank, Kofisit, LEVA, Marriott International. Millennium Hotels and Resorts; Silver Sponsors: Gondwana Collection, HVS, STR, TIME Hotels, TV5Monde; Tuck Shop Sponsor: Profica; Bar Sponsor: Zia Travel Atelier; Exhibitor: MultiChoice Namibia; Networking Sponsor: Talinda; Official Carriers: Discover Airlines, FlyNamibia, South Africa Airways.
Labour inspectors to be trained in scientific methods
The Department of Employment and Labour has officially unveiled an Occupational Health and Hygiene laboratory as part of exploring new ways of conducting inspections and equipping the inspectorate to adopt a scientific approach to their work.
The laboratory, unveiled by the Chief Directorate: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) on Monday, is the first of its kind for the department and is located on the ground floor of the department’s head office in Laboria House, Pretoria.
The department’s Chief Inspector, Milly Ruiters, said the laboratory is part of a drive by the Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch to professionalise the work of the inspectorate and will be replicated in all provinces.
“The purpose of the laboratory is multifaceted, in that it will be used as a training facility in the field of occupational hygiene to prepare and provide technical support for OHS inspectors.
“Furthermore, this laboratory will also be used to support practical exposure for inspectors who wish to prepare themselves for professional certification in the field of occupational hygiene,” Ruiters said.
The laboratory will also be used to support exposure monitoring by inspectors in high-profile inspections and investigations.
The facility is equipped with equipment capable of monitoring several occupational stressors (factors in the workplace that cause stress to employees) including noise, hazardous chemical agents, illumination, indoor air quality, and airflow.
Ruiters said the department has 700 OHS inspectors and the bulk of them are specialising in Occupational Health and Hygiene (OHH).
“We previously had OHS inspectors focused mainly on engineering. We are branching into other areas of OHH. This is a milestone for us.
“A lot of employers are not complying with OHH. With this facility, we will empower our inspectors to go and do spot checks and they will no longer be second-guessing,” she said.
Ruiters said the department views the laboratory launch as part of its capacity building and developing a cohort of specialists.
“We want to proactively prevent injuries and diseases. We are preparing to prevent rather than investigate incidents.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), work-related stress can be caused by poor work organisation; poor work design (lack of control over work processes); poor management; unsatisfactory working conditions, and lack of support from colleagues and supervisors.
The department’s IES branch Inspector General, Aggy Moiloa, said the unveiling of the laboratory is the start of "something big" that is coming and a legacy the branch wants to leave behind.
“While this is a humble beginning, it is a giant step,” Moiloa said.
Department of Employment and Labour Senior Specialist: OHH, Bulelwa Huna, said the launch of the “small” facility has been a long journey, which started in 2018 in partnership with the department’s stakeholders.
Huna warned that occupational hazards are silent killers.
“As a department, we will not accept the proposition that injury and death go with the job. When we talk about creating decent work, we cannot leave out OHH.
“We want to support inspectors when making decisions. We want to develop technical data that supports reports. The facility will also make our inspectors comfortable using the instruments,” Huna said.
The department has spent R956 000 to set up the facility, and the OHH Directorate will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the laboratory.
The department emphasised that the lab is not replacing the work of existing authorities. The Compensation Fund, an entity of the department, is expected to be one of the beneficiaries of the work of the lab. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 03/25/2024 - 14:37
SevenC, a leading IT infrastructure and network service provider striving to identify and make available the best possible ICT strategies for its clients’ unique needs, explores the unique offerings of specific cloud platforms and how businesses can choose the right one. “Chances are, if you’ve navigated the web or used an app recently, you’ve interacted …
Sports are a popular form of recreation and competition, providing entertainment and physical activity for millions of people around the world. While most sports are generally safe, accidents and injuries can occur, sometimes resulting in tragic outcomes. In this article, we will compare the number of people killed while participating in various sports, including Chess, …
Fight against TB gets $94 million boost
South Africa’s ongoing efforts to respond to Tuberculosis (TB) have been strengthened with funding of $94 million for the next five years.
“Just over R4 billion was budgeted in the 2024/2025 [financial year], meeting the projected needs for implementing the National Strategic Plan (NSP). Seventy-one percent of the TB budget is from domestic sources, 21% from Global Fund and 8% from United States government commitments,” Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla said on Sunday in Sedibeng.
The Minister was addressing South Africa’s commemorations for World TB Day, which is being observed under the theme: “Yes! You and I Can End TB”.
“We applaud the announcement by National Department of Health and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of the award of the Accelerate Tuberculosis Elimination and Program Resilience Activity (referred to as ACCELERATE) in the amount of $94 million for the next five years.
“As government, we welcome the generous support from Global Fund and the United States government and appreciate their continued support towards HIV, TB and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) response,” Phaahla said.
In addition, the TB Programme of the National Department of Health has developed a comprehensive TB Recovery Plan dashboard, which is used by provinces and districts to monitor the progress of the TB programme.
The department has also developed an HIV and TB dashboard in the Health Information Centre.
“The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) Situation Room is a state-of the-art data consolidation and visualisation hub built at the SANAC offices in Pretoria but can be accessed virtually from anywhere in the world.
“There is an enormous quantity of data that is generated in many parts and entities of South Africa. It exists in silos and that fragmentation is due to the lack of a central data repository and management point.
“This has made monitoring and evaluation of the country’s efforts against HIV, TB and STIs rather difficult. These new data visualisation dashboards have been set up precisely to address that challenge,” the Minister said.
Progress in fight against TB
Although South Africa remains among the TB high burden countries, there has been notable progress in the country’s fight against the disease.
“A steady decline has been noted in the number of people diagnosed with TB each year since 2007 where the figure was 644 000 compared to 280 000 in 2022. TB-related deaths are falling, but at a much slower rate,” the Minister said.
At last year’s commemoration South Africa launched the NSP for HIV, TB and STIs for the period 2023 to 2028 with ambitious targets for TB and the other two epidemics.
“The National Department of Health has further developed a TB Strategic Plan, which lifts our very pertinent actions that must be taken to address the TB specific challenges as we go towards the end date. This TB strategic plan is fully aligned with our NSP for HIV, TB and STIs and it will inform the content of the annual TB Recovery Plans for the period 2023 to 2027.
“The successful implementation of the NSP relies on several critical enablers such as the proper implementation of the National TB Recovery Plan, which is one of the tools we have to mitigate against the impact of COVID-19 on the national TB programme.
“We must scale up the implementation, use, and rapid uptake of new tools and innovations – these include GeneXpert; shorter and oral regimens for drug-resistant TB, as well as routine testing of TB contacts and at-risk populations,” the Minister said.
He said the collective counter-response to TB must focus on strengthening early case detection through targeted testing initiatives, particularly among vulnerable populations like men.
“There has been demonstrable will and desire by this government to use all innovations and technology to confront this challenge. As we all know, South Africa has been and remains the world leader in the introduction of new tools to test TB and to treat TB.
“The introduction of the new World Health Organization (WHO) approved Rapid Diagnostic tests for TB has been done as early as 2010. To date we are looking forward to targeted new generation sequencing.
“The introduction of new and repurposed TB drugs has helped significantly improve the proportion of cured drug resistant (DR-TB) patients. We have rolled out shorter regimens with better drugs for the treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis, with the notable launch of the bedaquiline-pretomanid-linezolid-levofloxacin (BPAL-L) programme in September 2023, that has almost 2,000 patients on a six-month DR-TB regimen,” the Minister said.
South Africa has been part of a vaccine development programme, which is conducted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
“This gives us hope that indeed, we will end TB, by working with all role players, opinion makers, scientists, academics, politicians, and general population,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 03/24/2024 - 15:12
Conservationists mount legal challenge to environment minister’s decision to declare “biologically meaningless” closed fishing areas around breeding islands as part of her penguin conservation strategy
SA marks World Water Day
Today South Africa joins the globe in marking World Water Day which is celebrated annually on 22 March.
South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chairperson, Professor Bongani Ncube has underscored the need to improve access to productive water across South Africa’s disadvantaged communities.
“I’m talking about water for productivity, water for agriculture, [and] water that will take people out of poverty,” Professor Ncube said.
The SARChI was established in 2006 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).
The main goal of the Research Chairs initiative is to strengthen and improve research and innovation capacity of public universities for producing high quality postgraduate students and research and innovation outputs.
Ncube is based at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Centre for Water and Sanitation Research, under the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.
She is a Chairperson under the Department of Science and Innovation and the NRF (DSI-NRF) SARChI, established by the Science and Innovation and the National Research Foundation (NRF) in 2006.
Ncube said the country still has issues in these areas because the licensing process has not worked for many communities for a long time.
“The compulsory licensing, validation and verification processes, which were supposed to enable the release of excess water to communities, has not worked very well. The process has improved but we still have many communities that do not have access to productive water.
“At the household level, there are municipalities where access to basic water and sanitation services has become a challenge. That is why you see these water protests in South Africa,” Ncube said.
This year’s World Water Day is observed under the theme, 'Leveraging Water for Peace', which encourages communities and countries to use water as a tool for peace, when cooperating over this precious shared resource.
READ | DWS kick-starts National Water Month
Ncube said South Africa relates to the 2024 global theme at both household and broader community levels because of its historical past, and also in terms of economic advancement, which brings under the spotlight policy shifts required to redress past access patterns.
“South Africa has a very complicated history when it comes to access to resources, including water. The historical access [which] dates back centuries when water access mechanisms favoured the more privileged white communities, remains a challenged,” said Ncube.
After 1994, policies, legislation, and strategies were developed to make water equitably accessible to everyone.
Ncube noted that access to productive water in some communities has improved following the enactment of the National Water Act of 1998, which aims to reform the laws related to water, including redress of past racial and gender discrimination; promotion of equitable access to water; and facilitation of social and economic development.
Draft National Water Amendment Bill
Ncube commended the Draft National Water Amendment Bill, which was published in the Government Gazette for public comment on 17 November 2023.
“One of the intentions of that Bill is to redress the past inequity and to achieve equitable access for all communities. There are efforts that are taking place at the moment. The Bill is being revised to ensure that those water allocation issues that were not addressed by the National Water Act of 1998 are addressed.”
Provision of basic water to households has vastly improved since 1994.
According to Statistics South Africa data, 88.7% of the country’s households had access to water by 2021.
“Climate change and drought add a further layer of complication when it comes to water access. But it is important for government to realise that, while situations like that occur, it is the poor that are the most affected and it is important that measures are put in place in terms of providing access,” Ncube said.– SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:48
In today’s digital-first landscape, businesses across diverse sectors from B2B enterprises to healthcare, retail, and e-commerce are ardently seeking technological synergies that not only streamline operations but also carve a path for competitive superiority. Does that sound like a business? How intelligently any chain links together dictates its strength. There isn’t the space for weak …
Optimum Coal Mine pays back R6.9m
Optimum Coal Mine – formerly owned by the infamous Gupta brothers – has paid back some R6.9 million in outstanding motor licensing fees and penalties as part of its Acknowledgement of Debt (AoD) signed with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
The AoD stems from an SIU investigation into allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of the national and provincial Departments of Transport.
READ | Optimum Coal Mine acknowledges R6m vehicle licensing debt
“The SIU's investigation focused on any conduct by officials or agents of the department or any other person which relates to the registration of motor vehicle ownership and licensing details and non-payments of motor vehicle licensing fees, arrears and penalties.
“The SIU analysed the information obtained from the Department of Transport and Road Traffic Management Centre, as well as the eNatis data. After sifting through the eNatis data, the SIU established that the Department is owed the sum of R6 914 304.52 in respect of the trucks and smaller vehicles owned by Optimum,” the SIU said in a statement.
The corruption-busting unit said the recovery of the funds from Optimum “does not exempt other legal processes from being actioned”.
“The SIU is empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name, to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration.
“In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,” the SIU said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 03/19/2024 - 11:43
Municipalities’ expenditure on infrastructure grants low
National Treasury has expressed concern at the low expenditure on infrastructure grants by municipalities during the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
“The performance of the infrastructure grants to municipalities during the second quarter was not satisfactory. Low expenditure on infrastructure grants is a source of concern because this slow performance may eventually lead to unspent conditional grants that have to revert to the National Revenue Fund (NRF),” National Treasury said on Monday.
National Treasury said the surrendering of unspent conditional grants to the NRF has negative consequences to the communities that must receive the services linked to the infrastructure to be built.
“The Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is the highest performing direct infrastructure grant to municipalities during the second quarter, with a performance of 49.3%, which is higher than the 37.6 % reported for the same period in the previous financial year.
“The Integrated Urban Development Grant Water (IUDG) is the second highest performing grant with a performance of 46.7%. The MIG grant has been the highest performing grant for the third consecutive time as at the end of the second quarter year-on-year,” National Treasury said.
National Treasury has released the local government revenue and expenditure report for the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year (1 July 2023 -31 December 2023).
This report covers the performance against the adopted budgets of local government for the second quarter of the municipal financial year ending on 31 December 2023 and includes spending against conditional grant allocations for the same period.
As of 31 December 2023, R27.8 billion, or 63.5%, of the R43.7 billion allocated to municipalities in direct conditional grants for 2023/24 has been transferred to municipalities.
“The Municipal Disaster Recovery Grant (MDRG) had the lowest spending grant during the second quarter, with a 12.7% expenditure, equivalent to R40.1 million expenditure against the R320 million allocation.
“The Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG) is the second lowest performing grant with expenditure performance of 25%. It should be noted that the PTNG is an infrastructure grant allocated to metropolitan municipalities only and it is an observation that metropolitan municipalities are increasingly struggling to implement this programme,” National Treasury said.
Aggregate trends
Aggregate municipal consumer debts amounted to R338.2 billion (compared to R306.7 billion reported in the first quarter of 2023/24) as at 31 December 2023.
“A total amount of R6.4 billion or 1.9% has been written off as bad debt. The largest component of this debt relates to households and represents 72.7% or R245.8 billion (71.9% or R220.4 billion in the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year). Debt owed to municipalities in the category of below 90 days, amounts to R43.1 billion,” National Treasury said.
The creditors’ age analysis shows that R104.3 billion is owed by municipalities as at 31 December 2023, an increase of R2.9 billion compared to the R101.4 billion reported in the first quarter of 2023/24.
“The analysis of the collection rates indicates that while municipalities’ year-to-date have budgeted for a 75.6% collection rate, aggregated actual collection performance against billed is only 58.4%. The underperformance of actual collections against billed revenue holds a significant risk for the liquidity position of most municipalities as the planned expenditure is based on a higher performance level,” National Treasury said.
As of 31 December 2023, aggregate municipal spending (for both operating and capital budgets) was 46.3% or R283.5 billion of the total adopted expenditure budget of R612 billion.
“Aggregated billing and other revenue was 50.3% or R310.9 billion of the total adopted revenue budget of R618.5 billion. Capital expenditure was R25.6 billion or 31.1% of the adopted capital budget of R82.5 billion.
“The adopted operating expenditure budget was R536 billion, of which R285.3 billion (53.2%) was spent by 31 December 2023. Municipalities adopted a budget of R154.5 billion for salaries and wages (including remuneration of councillors’ remuneration), representing a R7.9 billion or a 5.4% increase from the adopted budget of R146.6 billion for the 2022/23 municipal financial year,” National Treasury said.
As of 31 December 2023, R72.8 billion or 47.2% of the adopted salary budget, had been spent.
National Treasury said this information is published in terms of Sections 71 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003) (MFMA), and 30(3) of the Division of Revenue Act, 2023 (Act No. 5 of 2023) (DoRA).
The budgeted figures shown are based on the 2023/24 adopted budgets approved by municipal councils. This second quarter publication covers 257 municipalities on financial information and conditional grant information.
“The Section 71 report facilitates transparency in reporting, better in-year management and the oversight of the financial performance of municipalities against their adopted budgets. This report is, therefore, a management tool that serves as an early warning mechanism for councils, provincial legislatures, and municipal management to monitor and improve municipal performance timeously.
“Improving the credibility of the data strings is a priority for national and provincial treasuries and the submitted data strings are analysed monthly and errors are communicated to municipalities for correction,” National Treasury said.
Further details on this report can be accessed on the National Treasury’s website: www.treasury.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 03/18/2024 - 14:46
Mashatile reiterates commitment to accelerated service delivery in N West
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has reaffirmed government’s commitment to continue to provide basic services to its people and ensure that all South Africans have equal rights, as outlined in the Freedom Charter.
Mashatile said government recognises that accelerated service delivery is not just about efficiency and convenience; it is also about creating a society where every individual has equal access to basic services.
“Improving the delivery of basic services in South Africa is more than just a question of duty; it is also about social fairness, equality, and dignity. By ensuring that everyone has access to essential services, we can empower people, strengthen communities, and create a more successful and inclusive country,” he said.
The second-in-command was leading the Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery programme in Rusternburg, North West, on Friday.
Thuntsha Lerole is an initiative led by the North West provincial government aimed at confronting the critical issue of service delivery in communities through strengthened partnerships with government, the private sector as well as civil society organisations.
The programme is in accordance with the District Development Model (DDM), which aims to tackle service delivery issues by facilitating collaboration and coordination among all levels of government, from local municipalities to the national government.
It is currently in its third phase, which aims to launch and hand over service delivery projects in identified communities, running from March to May 2024.
READ | District Development Model: A game changer
The Deputy President said they support the 'Early Warning System' in the form of an electronic dashboard that will monitor municipal performance and reporting in a more coordinated manner.
The Thuntsha-Lerole mobile app, which has now gone live, will provide an interactive communication platform to connect government with citizens, allowing them to report service delivery challenges in real time in their localities.
Through this app, communities will have the ability to promptly escalate service delivery issues to the appropriate department and municipal officials.
“This will enable speedy responses to challenges such as water disruptions, sewer spillages, electricity outages, and more. Given the high cost of data in our country and the prevalence of poverty in our society, we anticipate that the application will soon become accessible without requiring data, hence enhancing access for individuals, especially those residing in rural areas and townships,” the Deputy President said.
READ | Mashatile calls for accelerated service delivery in communities across SA
Mashatile visited several sites in Tlhabane, including a newly-built school and the Tlhabane Community Health Centre, unveiling a state-of-the-art X-ray machine.
He handed over the R2.2 million modern technology X-Ray machine, which was donated to the Health Centre by Glencore Mine. The machine allows doctors and radiographers to view patient scans on display, reducing hospital referrals and wait times. It also stores X-ray records for up to five years, enhancing patient care.
“Let me express our deepest gratitude, as government, to Glencore Mine for this donation, which will go a long way towards improving the health of our people. It is through working together as social partners that we will attain our country’s developmental aspirations and a better life for all,” Mashatile said.
The Deputy President said these initiatives are just part of providing solutions to the service delivery challenges faced by the North West community.
“We are aware that a lot still needs to be done to meet the needs of our people. Greater and more focused endeavours are required, particularly in addressing the reversal of the governance collapse in the province,” he said.
He highlighted that the 6th administration of government faced difficulties related to the stability and collapse of administration and as a result, the President and Cabinet utilised Section 100 of the Constitution to intervene in the province.
“Nevertheless, I was pleased to hear Acting Premier Nono Maloyi's State of the Province Address, in which it was said that despite these difficulties, your determination remains unshaken and your commitment to serving the people of the North West has been fortified.
“We applaud your ability to successfully implement a sustainable turnaround strategy in all 22 municipalities in the province, using the District Development Model (DDM),” he said.
READ | Mashatile officiates launch of North West service delivery programme. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Sun, 03/17/2024 - 14:57
Spotlight on women empowerment at CSW68
National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Deputy Chairperson Sylvia Lucas has told delegates at the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) that advancing gender transformation necessitates parliaments to regularly assess prevailing gender norms in communities.
This, she stated, will ensure that policy interventions are targeted for each community to improve the efficiency of policies.
Lucas addressed the second session of the gathering on the theme, 'Gender-sensitive Institutions to Break the Poverty Cycle'.
In her address, she said parliaments’ capacity to craft gender responsive law-making and policy interventions is a critical area that needs attention.
Parliaments should also continue to build women’s capacity to advocate for gender-responsive oversight and law-making processes across important sectors like development and transformation.
The Deputy Chairperson is accompanying National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to the CSW68, which is organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and United Nations (UN) Women. It is taking place in New York until 22 March.
Lucas said parliaments have a critical role to play in reducing poverty through gender transformation by enacting laws that are gender-responsive and which are framed with dexterity to disrupt gender-regressive norms and behaviors across society at large.
“In working towards achieving gender transformation, we must continue to be guided by existing international and national protocols and legal frameworks, including prescribed norms of gender transformation, which can be used to strategically shape policy-making and promote gender equality,” she said.
Lucas told the session that South Africa has recently adopted the 2021 Women’s Charter for Accelerated Development. This charter is based on international best practice and mandated by South African women. It outlines critical areas for parliamentary intervention in policy, legislation and programming. The charter’s goal is to meaningfully advance gender transformation and reduce poverty.
“To this end, critical policy areas highlighted through our Women’s Charter Review process include the recommendation for the amendment of budget policies, money bills, fiscal policies and tax laws, including macroeconomic policies, which we view as critical areas for sustained and high-level analysis and amendment.
“If amended to make them more gender-responsive in their shape, form and content, these policies and legislative instruments will serve as enabling instruments to achieve poverty reduction and gender transformation objectives,” Lucas said.
Lucas said some of the capacities and resources parliaments should continue to invest in include gender-responsive budget analysis capabilities and law-making, gender-responsive oversight and oversight agenda-setting, and increasing capacity to use gender-disaggregated data to shape budget decisions and commitments. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Sun, 03/17/2024 - 14:59
Amid high interest rates and inflationary pressures, many South Africans are struggling to manage their finances effectively and balance their limited income with rising expenses. In this environment, resilience requires more than just being able to weather this storm – it’s about finding ways to get the most out of the money you have. That’s …
Eliminate red tape to make it easier for African entrepreneurs to do business - Mashatile
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called for the elimination of red tape to facilitate cross-border trade for African entrepreneurs.
“Countries on our continent typically perform poorly in various categories related to corporate performance and competitiveness due to an unfriendly environment, particularly in terms of intra-continental trade,” the Deputy President said on Wednesday.
This is the reason he believes that countries should take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which seeks to eliminate barriers to trade in Africa.
READ | Africa is an oyster for young entrepreneurs
“The AfCFTA will significantly boost intra-African trade, particularly trade in value-added production and trade across all sectors of Africa’s economy,” Mashatile said.
The country’s second-in-command was delivering a keynote address at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC+ Africa) at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
GEC+ Africa is a gathering of entrepreneurs and leaders from more than 50 African nations committed to advancing entrepreneurial activity throughout their own countries in Africa.
Hosted by the Department of Small Business Development, the two-day event includes other international leaders who have become a part of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) movement that advances entrepreneurship as a means of building economies and expanding human welfare.
“As policymakers, we have to create an enabling environment for our entrepreneurs,” Mashatile said.
He told delegates that leaders should ensure that the core foundations of the digital economy are in place, including digital infrastructure, digital skills, cybersecurity capabilities, and affordable and accessible data.
Mashatile said nations need to do more to implement the African Union’s Digital Transformation Agenda, adopted at its Summit of Heads of State in 2019.
“We must ensure that by 2030, every individual, business, and government on the continent will be digitally enabled and ready to support a growing digital economy.”
He emphasised the need to enhance governance systems, such as combating corruption, improving macroeconomic management, and resolving disputes through negotiation rather than violent conflict.
“We must do more to shift the narrative that Africa is a difficult place to do business.”
SMMEs
Mashatile said it was crucial to address the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) and start-up credit gap.
“Africa has 18% of the world’s population but attracts only 2% of global capital, and even less global venture capital for start-ups.
“In South Africa, Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has proposed a SMME and Cooperative Funding Policy, which was recently gazetted for public comment,” he announced.
The policy requires that the Business Development Service providers in South Africa institutionalise the practice of assisting SMMEs and cooperatives with pre-funding support.
“Without funding, our best start-ups are leaving for tech hubs abroad,” Mashatile said.
Skilled labour force
The Deputy President believes it is crucial to retain skilled professionals within the continent’s borders.
“The loss of skilled professionals, also known as ‘brain-drain’ is one of the major reasons for the unsteady growth in our respective countries.
“To prevent this, we need to make it easier for skills to move across the continent and increase the number of people who can learn new skills, especially in areas that are important to the digital economy.”
However, he said South Africa was making inroads in reforming visa requirements, which allows high-tech expertise to work in the country and develop the economy.
“This move is supported by the underpinning principles of the AfCFTA, and propels us towards the integrated Africa that we want.”
In addition, the Deputy President called on the continent to work together to achieve socio-economic transformation that benefits everyone and one way to start is by assisting small businesses.
“Together, this and the AfCFTA are important steps towards the Africa we want. I am confident that this inaugural GEC+ Africa Congress will provide the appropriate policy advice and partnerships to take us there.”
Trade
The Deputy President has described Africa as a continent overflowing with untapped potential, a hub of innovation and invention waiting to be re-awakened.
“However, Africa still plays a subordinate role in global value chains, and is confronted by deeply established structural constraints that stem from our previous position as an exporter of unprocessed raw commodities.”
South Africa, like the rest of the continent, according to the Deputy President, needs to be strategic in increasing its competitiveness in higher-productivity trade-able commodities and services, as well as in becoming ready for a digital and environmentally friendly future.
“We must recognise that there is a link between the environment, economy, and agriculture. All economic activities either affect or are affected by natural and environmental resources.”
He also called on farmers to adapt to current farming methods that increase production efficiency.
“African innovators and entrepreneurs have the power to transform our economy, which will eventually allow us to participate in the global economy as players with equal status.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 03/13/2024 - 15:05
SA, UK explore use of data to boost local economies
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and National Treasury have invited the United Kingdom’s National Statistics (ONS) to participate in launching a community of practice to explore how local data can be used to support local economies.
The community of practice aims to generate new knowledge and facilitate the exchange of ideas about strengthening the economic performance of South African cities.
“The purpose is to widen the circle of researchers, policymakers and practitioners interested in the economy of cities by building a vibrant network of enthusiasts and experts,” the HSRC explained in a statement.
Following the launch of the Spatial Economic Activity Data – South Africa (SEAD-SA) in June 2023, there have been discussions between SEAD-SA and the HSRC’s Policy Action Network (PAN) project about sustaining and expanding the impact of this work among the policy and data community.
The two-day workshop, which is being held today and tomorrow, has since identified strategic objectives, which will be fleshed out during discussions.
The group will also discuss and share the best practices to effectively deliver local data insights, including administrative data.
They will look at alternative methods and techniques to measure local economies, especially where economic shocks are more likely, including the experiences and approach to using private sector data sources.
The event will also discuss options for training and skills transfer such as an online data masterclass to improve data awareness and literacy among senior leaders, exchange insights to identify user requirements, and deepen and widen the production of local economic data from tax data through the SEAD-SA portal.
The HSRC said the workshop is the culmination of a lengthy engagement between the South African government, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) based in South Africa and the ONS, which began in 2023 to explore opportunities to share expertise and provide technical assistance to the South African government.
The HSRC will host the workshop with the National Treasury, UK-FCDO, and their partners. These include the South African Revenue Service, the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research, Statistics South Africa, the South African Local Government Association, South African Cities Network, and the University of the Free State.
The HRSC explained that the SEAD-SA project aims to address the gaps that exist between the local economy of cities and the wider economic geography of the country by leveraging tax and other administrative data sources.
The data provide the government, business, and civil society with reliable evidence on which to base crucial developmental decisions.
The Minister of Finance formally launched SEAD-SA and the Spatial Tax Portal last year. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 03/12/2024 - 10:50
Child of SA woman in Senegalese prison comes home
The Department of Social Development has successfully repariated a toddler who was being held in a Dakar prison in Senegal.
The department’s social workers arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday with a two-year-old baby who was born in Senegal and has been in the care of the mother who was arrested last year for drug trafficking.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) through its International Social Services (ISS) Directorate notified the Department of Social Development in August 2023 that the biological mother of the child had been arrested last year in February.
“It is reported that within days of her incarceration, she gave birth to the child. Due to the mother’s incarceration, the child is considered to be in distress since prison is not a conducive environment for the upbringing of the child.”
The South African government through the DIRCO initiated the process of repatriating the child by first visiting the mother to ascertain her wishes about her child.
“The mother nominated the grandmother of the child as the guardian in the country while she serves her sentence in Senegal,” said the Department of Social Development (DSD) in a statement.
The National DSD then requested the Eastern Cape provincial department to investigate the circumstances of the nominated foster parent to assess suitability to care for the child.
“The child will be integrated with the mother’s family in the Eastern Cape and the department will continue providing child protection services and provide support to the family.”
The department said it was obligated by Section 7, subsection (1), (f), (ii), of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 that a child needs to maintain a connection with their family, extended family, culture, or tradition and all decisions must be made in the best interest of the child.
Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, said the department will always put the best interest of the child first.
“However, we remain concerned about the issue of drugs and what it can do to children. This unborn baby ended up in distress in a foreign country because the mother was arrested for trafficking drugs. We cannot stress more the importance of young people to make the right decisions about their lives,” the Minister added.
Since 2015, the department has repatriated 21 children in distress in foreign countries.
According to the data, seven were repatriated in Zimbabwe; three in Brazil; two each in Malawi, Mozambique, Canada and Tanzania; and one each in Ghana, the United Kingdom, Peru, Mauritius and Senegal. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 03/10/2024 - 15:18
CAPE TOWN – The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our daily lives isn’t just a fleeting trend; it’s a fundamental shift in our interaction with technology, reshaping our everyday experiences. Embracing AI and all it has to offer, FUTURELIFE®, a leading health and wellness brand, is launching the FUTURELIFE® ASPIRE2B DIGITAL AI WELLNESS EXPERIENCE …
What is Intellectual property? Intellectual property (IP) is a legal concept that protects the creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, and names. It grants creators exclusive rights to their creations, similar to physical property rights. IP law encompasses various categories, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, each …
About 16 local citizen scientists, led by members of Planact, have mapped the temperatures in several parts of Pretoria
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