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Investment in teaching and learning infrastructure pays off

Location: News

Investment in teaching and learning infrastructure pays off

Gabi Khumalo

Government’s commitment to strengthening and developing the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector, has brought about change to the community of Msinga.

The community recently witnessed the opening of a new state-of-the-art campus of the uMgungundlovu Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College.

Officially opened by Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, the Msinga Campus which is located in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, is part of the response to the community, which has been calling for the building and upgrading of the college.

This commitment to strengthening the PSET sector was made through investing in infrastructure to provide quality teaching, learning and research, and innovation spaces.

The campus, which was built by the Department of Higher Education and Training, as part of its TVET Infrastructure Development Programme, is funded in part through the National Skills Fund (NSF) and the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA).

The R143 561 753.44 Msinga campus commenced with formal programme provision at the new site in January 2022. To date, the campus has three buildings.

These include the administration block that contains offices, a staff room, exam centre and the official reception site. The theory building consists of two computer laboratories that can accommodate up to 70 students each, and double sized classrooms. Included on the campus is an engineering block that consists of four workshops, as well as smaller skills venues on the upper floor.

Programmes offered

The campus offers National Accredited Technical Education Diploma (NATED) programmes, including Nated Public Management (N4-N6), Nated Business Management (N4 – N6) and Farming Management.

The campus also offers a new National Certificate Vocational programme in Mechatronics Level 2 – Level 4, which the Minister described as a cutting edge Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) programme.

The decision to offer this programme to the young people of Msinga according to Nzimande was because “we want this youth to be highly skilled and be able to compete at any level with the youth that is based in urban areas, including competing with the any youth at an international level.”

“Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field that refers to the skill sets needed in the contemporary, advanced automated manufacturing industry. Mechatronics specialists work with massive industrial robots, smaller robots in pick-and-place operations, control systems for bottling or packaging of food and drink products, drones, designing control systems for rides in amusement parks, [and] prototype development.

“Some mechatronics specialists are employed in firms where it is necessary to design and maintain automatic equipment [and] this includes industries such as manufacturing, mining, aviation, robotics, defence, and transport. Other mechatronic specialists are employed by large manufacturing companies involved in high-volume production,” Nzimande explained.

Nzimande also highlighted that mechatronics is a financially lucrative career with the average mechatronic engineer earning around R360 000 per year or R185 per hour in South Africa. He said the entry-level positions start at R300 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R4 050 000 per year and more.

Investment

The Department of Higher Education and Training has identified the expansion of the TVET sector as a national priority in the Post-School Education and Training system. This as 13 new campuses have been identified for development with three existing campuses identified for additional buildings.

“We have embarked on this intense expansion programme to ensure that our post school education and training sector produce[s] many technical and vocational skills and to also reinvigorate the South African construction industry and the economy in general,” Nzimande said.

The department has invested over R2.880 billion in the development and refurbishment of 16 new TVET campuses that will enable the expansion of the TVET system over the medium term.

Of the 16 sites, 10 campuses, including Thabazimbi, Umzimkhulu, Graaf-Reinet, Nongoma Msinga, Aliwal North, Kwagqikazi, Ngqungqushe, Nkandla A and Bhambanani are completed.

Nzimande said the three new campuses, including Greytown, Sterkspruit and Balfour are at their final stages of completion, while the remaining three sites of Vryheid, Giyani and Nkandla B will be completed by the end of the 2023/24 financial year with enrolments planned for 2024/25.

Skills

The Minister reiterated the vision and objective for the public TVET colleges sector, which is to expand and strengthen the TVET sub-system in order to provide quality technical and vocational education and training to prepare students for the world of work, self-employment and other forms of sustainable livelihoods.

However, Nzimande acknowledged the constraints caused by skills ‘mismatches,’ --as being real and perceived-- towards the attainment of the TVET colleges’ objective, particularly the ability to grow the country’s economy, which further perpetuates a barrier to social inclusion and poverty reduction.

In response to this mismatch, the department has since developed a one country one skills plan – the Master Skills Plan, which is an implementation plan of the Human Resource Development Strategy.

“In order for our sector to invest in relevant skills development, we are also using the National List of Occupations in High Demand (OIHD) in South Africa, which is one of the many instruments that guides government’s investment in skills development.

“This list has 345 occupations that are in high demand [and] tells us which occupations are likely to have what vacancies and which occupations are likely to grow due to new investments, by both government and the private sector,” he said.

The Minister is confident that the skills that students will acquire at Msinga College, will take them to greater heights with prospects of a successful career.

To further illustrate government’s commitment to massify skills development, in 2018 the department embarked on a campaign to launch 26 Centres of Specialisation located in 19 of 50 TVET colleges prioritising 13 occupational trades in high demand.

This move aimed to curb the shortage of trade and occupational skills, while reducing unemployment and poverty.

The centres were provided with resources to upgrade their workshops and equipment to deliver effectively on much-needed skills.

“These Centres of Specialisation are well positioned to prepare students for the workplace, or for self-employment, through the maintenance of close working relationships with employers in their areas of study. We have also established entrepreneurship hubs at TVET Colleges to support students to move into self-employment after completion of their programmes.”

Artisans

Nzimande also believes that the country is well on track to produce 30 000 qualified artisans per year by 2030.

This follows the launch of the Decade of the Artisan campaign in 2013, which promotes artisanship as a career of choice for the youth.

Launched under the theme: “It’s cool to be a 21st Century Artisan”, the campaign ensures the development of the necessary artisans to successfully implement the country’s Strategic Infrastructure Projects, which include the construction of roads, schools, universities, harbours, power stations, and other social and economic infrastructure.

“The reality is that South Africa needs at least 60% of school leavers to pursue artisanal type training to meet the country’s demand for scarce skills. We honestly need to do more to encourage school leavers to pursue technical trades.

“Our Government’s National Development Plan (NDP) and our White Paper for Post-School Education and Training expects of us that by 2030, the country should be producing 30 000 qualified artisans per year. At present, our country is producing an average 20 000 qualified artisans per year,” Nzimande said.

He stressed the need to ensure that the number increase drastically leading up to 2030 for the country to realise the NDP target.

“We however do believe that we are well on track to attain this goal and even surpass it. The Msinga campus is very much part of this agenda and will help us greatly to produce more artisans.”

Nzimande said with the current challenges within different sectors in society, more artisans are needed than ever before and the work of artisans will always be guaranteed.

Progress made to date, shows that government is burning the candle at both ends. – SAnews.gov.za

Neo
Tue, 11/28/2023 - 15:37

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Franschhoek Pass closed for construction

Location: News

Franschhoek Pass closed for construction

The Western Cape Infrastructure Department has announced the closure of Franschhoek Pass, which connects Franschhoek and the towns of Grabouw and Villiersdorp, as construction work is underway following severe storms and flooding that hit the province in September.

Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers said the closure of Franschhoek Pass will take effect from Mondays to Fridays between 8am and 5pm from 28 November until 15 December 2023. 

The pass will then be open from 15 December 2023 (with the proceed-when-safe arrangement and weight restriction) until 7 January 2024 and closed again from 8 January 2024 till the end of February 2024.

Simmers said the pass was reopened to selected categories of light motor vehicles after it was closed following a severe weather system that hit the Western Cape, and the teams started working on temporary repairs, as soon as the engineering team was satisfied that the landslips had stabilised sufficiently to start work.
 
He said the works have reached a point where the pass must be closed daily to initiate the soil-nailing (a technique used to stabilise existing slopes) process of phase 1. 

“This soil reinforcement process uses metal tendons which are drilled and grouted into the soil to create something that represents a gravity wall. For this to be done, the pass needs to be closed due to the size of the equipment that is used and the size of the working area required.
 
“Light motor vehicles will be able to traverse the pass outside of the closure times. The use of the pass, even during times when the pass is open, by vehicles with a mass of more than five tons remains strictly prohibited,” Simmers said.
 
The MEC has expressed his concerns over the non-compliance of road users and advised them to continue using the alternative routes.
 
“The blatant disregard of road signs and restrictions, by some road users is a serious concern. We have received numerous reports of interlink heavy motor vehicles accessing the pass despite clear signage prohibiting such acts. 

“This reckless behaviour compromises the repair works and negatively impacts the entire repair process. What is a further concern is that should these trucks disregard the signage and get to the closure points during the closure periods, they will be stuck there until the road reopens because there isn’t any space to turn around,” Simmers said.
 
While acknowledging the inconvenience the closure has had on the local community and visitors, and the impact the weight limitation has, Simmers said, the safety of all road users remains a primary concern.
 
“Work on permanent repairs continues. The department foresees that it will still be a considerable period before the pass will allow two-way traffic,” Simmers said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Fri, 11/24/2023 - 12:33

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Nzimande to open current uMgungundlovu TVET college campus

Location: News

Nzimande to open new uMgungundlovu TVET college campus

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, will on Friday officially open a new campus of the uMgungundlovu Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. 

The uMgungundlovu TVET College was opened in 2002 after a merger of the then Edendale, Plessislaer, Midlands, Msunduzi and Northdale Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges. 

uMgungundlovu TVET is the only college that serves communities from in and around the uMgungundlovu District Municipality and the Natal Midlands. The college has seven teaching campuses and three skills centres.

The new campus, Msinga, was built by the Department of Higher Education and Training, as part of the department’s TVET Infrastructure Development Programme funded in part through the National Skills Fund (NSF) and the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA).

The new infrastructure includes the administration block, theory building that consists of two computer laboratories, and the engineering block that consists of four workshops and skills centres.

During the launch, Nzimande will lead the Education and Science Imbizo in which the SETAs and the Department of Science and Innovation entities will share with the public the opportunities that are available in their sectors. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Thu, 11/23/2023 - 13:10

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Innovative Solutions in Pumping and Wastewater Management

Location: MyPR

In challenging environments around the globe, the need for advanced pumping and wastewater management solutions is paramount. Companies specialising in this field provide innovative and custom-built equipment to address the diverse requirements of various industries.   Comprehensive Product Range These companies offer a wide range of equipment, including centrifugal solids handling pumps, self-priming pumps, slurry …

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Global unity vital in pursuit of equal access to education for every – President

Location: News

Global unity vital in pursuit of equal access to education for all - President

President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the urgent need for global unity in ensuring equal access to education for all, particularly amidst ongoing instability. 

The President was speaking at the Education International 10th Africa Regional Conference held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Education International Africa Region is holding its 10th Regional Conference in Johannesburg. About 400 delegates, observers, and guests from across and beyond the region are attending the conference.

President Ramaphosa lauded the conference organisers for their commitment to advancing education, particularly in times of crisis, which is crucial for the future of the African continent and the world.

The President told delegates that as nations navigated the turbulent waters brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was confronted with political upheavals and conflicts. 

“These crises further strained our social fabric, affecting the livelihoods of countless individuals and denying many children their fundamental right to education. In these times of instability, it is even more critical for nations to stand united in pursuit of equal access to education for all. 

“Education is the cornerstone upon which societies build their future. Through education, we cultivate respect for human rights, the rule of law and the principles of democracy,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa said the work of the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, which demonstrates the adaptation of education systems to a rapidly changing world, is one of the most important tasks of the moment.

The panel draws expertise from diverse stakeholders, including Ministers of Education, labour representatives, teacher unions and civil society organisations, and includes South Africa's own Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga. It's main objectives underscore the importance of educators’ voices in finding solutions to educational challenges. 

“Educators play a fundamental and irreplaceable role in shaping our societies, and their insights are invaluable in our quest for sustainable solutions. Curriculum reform that responds to the changing world of work is another vital task. 

“In South Africa, we are on the brink of a significant educational reform with the implementation of the Coding and Robotics curriculum from Grade R to Grade 9. 

“This initiative is part of our broader strategy to integrate STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts and maths] subjects into our education system. By doing so, we aim to equip our learners with the digital skills necessary to thrive in a fast-paced world,” President Ramaphosa said. 

Decolonising education

The President said that the decolonisation of education has become increasingly important. 

He added that the discussions at this conference, focusing on tackling racism, decolonising education and promoting democracy, human rights and trade union rights, could not be more timely. 

“The project of decolonising education in Africa is not just a matter of academic interest. It is a pressing need. We must challenge colonial theories and practices to build resilient education systems that are centred on African perspectives and experiences.

“This requires a shift away from a Eurocentric worldview to embrace a more diverse and inclusive perspective. 

“We must acknowledge and value the knowledge systems of all peoples and integrate them into our curricula and knowledge selection processes,” the President said. 

He said the responsibility to nurture and defend the right to education extends to all parts of society. 

The President called on labour movements, civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations operating within the educational sphere to collaborate to protect this critical space. 

Through such partnerships, he said, the world can prepare learners to be active, informed citizens in democratic societies. 

“The role of organisations, such as Education International, are vital. As advocates for quality education, your mission is to ensure inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for all. 

“We know that quality education is not just a matter of access. What is also needed are safe, conducive environments where the rights of all learners are respected and upheld. 

“By improving access to education, we can alleviate poverty and empower marginalised communities, unlocking their potential and contributing to the development of nations,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Tue, 11/21/2023 - 14:15

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Eskom ramping up load shedding to replenish emergency reserves

Location: News

Eskom ramping up load shedding to replenish emergency reserves

Electricity Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, said on Sunday that Eskom was ramping up power cuts to replenish emergency reserves. 

This comes as the state-owned power entity announced it was implementing Stage 3 load shedding from 9:00 this morning until 5:00 on Monday to replenish emergency reserves in preparation for the week ahead. 

This is because Eskom lost a “cluster” of units from different power stations across the country, amounting to over 2 700 megawatts (MW), shy of three stages of load shedding. 

“And if we had not experienced that, of course, you would not be seeing the kind of intensity of load shedding that we are experiencing,” the Minister explained. 

Meanwhile, he said that the return of Units 1 and 3 in Kusile Power Station has been significant. 

“As big units return, when you see the kind of cluster of failures that we’ve seen, the intensity of load shedding is not as acute. Of course, we’re on Stage 3 [load shedding] and that’s the highest that we have experienced. But what Unit 1 and 3 have done is to create an additional buffer and why it’s important that Unit 2 and 5 also return.” 

On the other hand, he said this kind of failure of generating units has resulted in the continued burning of diesel and open-cycle gas turbines (OGGT) running on stream.

“That’s something that we haven’t done and avoided over the past four or five weeks before the last two weeks. We’ve been burning very little diesel and preserved that and ensured that we rely on the ability of the units on their own to give us the megawatts that are required. 

“That’s why the media statement that went out by Eskom today is to say to say we want to build that emergency reserve because we have depleted them.” 

Eskom, according to Ramokgopa, did not anticipate the extent of the current breakdown.  

“Failure will be given in any engineering component. But I think what has been the major issue here is the clustering of this failure.” 

However, he was optimistic that the five units would return by tonight. This includes units from Duvha, Majuba and Lethabo power stations. 

“This messaging is a function of our ability to keep to these timelines. And of course, you can see that some of them were already delayed but we are confident about their ability to bring these units back on stream to ensure that we’re able to address this situation.”

Unit 1 at Koeberg Power Station was successfully synchronised to the grid on Saturday, after almost a year. 

Eskom said this was the longest outage in the history of the power station during which the original three steam generators were successfully replaced by three new steam generators.

Once Unit 1 is considered stable, Unit 2 will be taken offline to have its steam generators replaced.

“The expectation is that it must return back to service on time. But if you had to draw from the experiences of Unit 1, it doesn't give us that degree of confidence and that's why there's that discussion that we have with the management. 

“We expect the second synchronisation to happen on the 2nd and 3rd of December. And then that's when I'm sure that we will be able to take out Unit 2 for the kind of attention that is required so that we're able to meet the licensing requirements.”

Meanwhile, he told the media that government was moving with speed in policy issues and giving certainty to what will constitute South Africa’s energy mix, transmission intervention and additional generation capacity expected end of December this year. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Gabisile
Sun, 11/19/2023 - 11:58

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Understanding Energy Law: An Overview of the Regulatory Landscape

Location: MyPR

Energy Law involves the regulation of, and transactions within, the energy sector from its procurement to its generation and distribution, and includes the ancillary commercial and financing-related agreements required for the smooth operation of the process. Who is the regulator of the energy industry in South Africa  In South Africa, the regulation of the electricity …

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Entering the next generation with Web3 wallet – Binance simplifies financial freedom!

Location: MyPR

Simple, convenient, and secure self-custodial wallet offers everyday users a seamless connection between Web3 and the Binance ecosystem South Africa , November 8, 2023 – Binance, the global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is excited to announce the launch of its Web3 Wallet. The product, which was officially unveiled …

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SEIFSA Welcomes The Policy Pronouncements In The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement

Location: MyPR

Johannesburg, November 2023 – The 2023 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTPBS) recognises, reflects and has been structured to respond to key headwinds facing the global and South African economy. The policy positions contained in this mini-budget are welcome for the fact that they communicate important reform signals. The only way to place the economy …

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Nzimande conferred with honorary professorship

Location: News

Nzimande conferred with honorary professorship

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has been awarded an honorary professorship by the Beijing Jiaotong University in China.

The awarding of the professorship is in recognition of his contributions to education, and is a symbol of strengthening ties between South Africa and China.

In his acceptance speech, Nzimande said he was deeply honoured and grateful for the honour bestowed upon him by such a prestigious institution.  

“Professor YU Zujun, President of Beijing Jiaotong University and dear colleagues, it is with the greatest humility, cognisant of the significance of the award, and with gratitude for China’s friendship and support throughout my career, that I am privileged to accept the honorary professorship.
 
“This award is further evidence of the enduring friendship between South Africa and China, a strategic partnership in which the Beijing Jiaotong University could play an even more important role that I am determined to help facilitate,” Nzimande said. 

The Minister said the university is a model of excellence in collaboration and innovation. This is demonstrated by the success in combining its capacities in transport systems, information and communication technologies, as well as the economics and management sciences, to support China’s progress in the development of one of the world’s leading rail networks for both passenger and freight transport.  
 
“I am also eager to learn about Beijing Jiaotong University’s success in combining advanced scientific research and post-graduate programmes, undergraduate studies, as well as vocational training in a holistic manner.”

Over the past 120 years, the Beijing Jiaotong University has developed a comprehensive and coordinated education system, with strength disciplines in information and management, characteristic disciplines in transportation, and other diversified disciplines, including engineering, management, economics, science, liberal arts, law and philosophy.
 
The university's position in international rankings of world-leading universities and disciplines is steadily on the rise, maintaining its position in the top 500 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
 
Currently, the university has 16 888 undergraduate students, 2 763 Doctoral students, 9 933 Master's students, and 3 389 adult college students. The total number of international exchange students amounts to 1 142.
 
The Departments of Higher Education and Training, and Science and Innovation have congratulated the Minister on his conferral of the honorary professorship. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 11/07/2023 - 10:08

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Clanwilliam Dam project revival brings wish to West Coast

Location: News

Clanwilliam Dam project revival brings hope to West Coast

The resuscitation of Clanwilliam Dam engineering work has sparked optimism among the West Coast corridor communities. 

This comes after Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu conducted an oversight visit to the construction work underway at the dam site on Thursday.

The R4 billion project, situated on the Olifants River near the town of Clanwilliam in Cederberg Local Municipality, is one of the biggest government infrastructure investments in the Western Cape. 

The project involves raising the dam wall by 13 metres. A total of R400 million has been allocated for the current financial year to implement the project.

The project includes extension of the dam wall on the downstream side, and raising it to a higher level by 13 metres. 

The additional yield of water will provide an opportunity to develop resource poor farmers to promote food security and decent employment through inclusive economic growth.

During the visit, Mchunu said, unlocking the bottlenecks that caused the collapse of the project and seeing it to its completion is the biggest priority for the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Mchunu said the yield from the extended infrastructure will bring a lifeline to many livelihoods in this region. 

“What we see happening here at the dam construction site is encouraging and there is no stopping until we finish. The dam currently yields about 123 million cubic meters of water and when the project is completed, it is expected to yield 343 million cubic meters of water, thus bringing into the system almost double the current yield,” Mchunu said.

Addressing stakeholders and residents that converged at the town’s local church hall, Mchunu said government is committing many resources to building projects across the country, and that through projects like Clanwilliam, the department strives for quality water to flow to South African households. 

“We have built a solid, tight management team for the Clanwilliam Dam project, and we will support them to see it through to the end. The revival of the project is a hit for the Western Cape province.” 

Mchunu said government is aware of the delays in the implementation of the Clanwillliam Dam project over the years, and assured that with the recent resuscitation of the project, the department remains committed to completing the work within the revised timeframes, budgets and specifications.

Among the direct benefits associated with the project, include more than 500 job opportunities for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers, and the development of skills and learning opportunities; and new business opportunities for the locals.

Western Cape Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers, who joined Mchunu during the visit, said the province welcomed the resuscitation of the dam project, noting there is a long history associated with the project. 

“We welcome that work has commenced and interventions by stakeholders to unbundle the hindrances. This will now further accelerate the hydro-energy projects planned for the West Coast corridor and bolster the agricultural sector. 

“As the spheres of government alongside the private sector, we remain committed to the successful delivery of this project,” Simmers said.

Francois Swaartbooi, a local businessperson, said the project has provided renewed hope for stakeholders of the West Coast, and they are happy it is being revived. 

Swartbooi said they have established a business forum to ensure that local small medium enterprises benefit from the project.

The current work at the construction site includes excavations to prepare platforms for the drilling and blasting operations; blast proposal and design by the Drill and Blasting sub-contractor, and geologists to inspect the vertical faces of the excavation to determine the rock anchor details. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Fri, 11/03/2023 - 15:03

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Excellent Communications From MAHLE SA’s CSR Draws International Attention

Location: MyPR

• MAHLE South Africa has received international recognition by winning the IPRA Golden World Awards for Excellence • The Award was handed over at a glittering Gala Dinner in Barcelona Spain. • MAHLE’s continues to be committed advancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects in underprivileged communities. MAHLE South Africa, a subsidiary of the MAHLE …

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Hollard gains East Africa foothold in deal with Kenya’s APA Insurance

Location: Business
Hollard

Hollard International (https://apo-opa.info/3tUpGWD) will extend its footprint in Africa through the finalisation, on 31 October 2023, of an agreement to acquire a significant interest in Apollo Investments Limited, the holding company of Kenya-headquartered insurer APA Insurance.

This strategic investment, subject to regulatory approvals, gives Hollard International a presence in the East African market, supplementing its existing operations in Southern and West Africa.

Hollard becomes the second international investor in the Kenyan group, following Swiss Re, which acquired a stake in 2014.

For APA, the partnership gives Kenya's second-largest insurer access to a larger market and expanded opportunities for growth, says Ashok Shah, Group CEO of Apollo Investments Limited.

“It's an exciting time for APA because the Hollard International partnership will open new doors and new avenues of growth for our business. We'll have access to substantial new expertise in classes of business such as Motor, Engineering, Marine and other specialist lines of insurance – which we believe will open up a number of profitable business opportunities.”

Expressing the significance of the partnership, Shah notes, "In addition to expanding our operations in Kenya, this venture will also enable us to strengthen our foothold in Uganda and Tanzania. Moreover, it positions us favourably to seize opportunities in the Ethiopian market once it becomes accessible.”

Pravin Kalpagé, CEO of Hollard International, is equally upbeat about the transaction, heralding it as “a vote of confidence in the Kenyan and East African markets”.

He says, “Hollard International has been looking for an East African partner for some time, and APA ticked so many boxes – it has an established track record, an impressive value proposition with strong broker and customer relationships, and it shares our values around community, reliability and customer-centricity. All these elements resonated strongly with us.

“This investment continues Hollard International's African model of finding strong local businesses and management teams with whom to partner in-country, rather than parachuting expatriates into a new market.”

He adds that exploring options in Francophone West Africa is next on Hollard International's to-do list.

Kalpagé has also pledged to bring Hollard International's model of “impact beyond insurance” to the East African market – as demonstrated in Mozambique and Ghana, among other countries.

Hollard Mozambique has developed risk-mitigation insurance products to protect smallholder and subsistence farmers – whose livelihoods are totally reliant on their crops – from extreme weather events through a partnership with local seed providers.

In Ghana, the MeBanbo microinsurance product arose from a partnership between Hollard Life, Vodafone Ghana and Sasai Fintech, a business of Cassava Technologies. It offers accessible, affordable life insurance cover, via an end-to-end digital platform, to the underserved Ghanaian market.

“This focus on being a catalyst for social impact in Africa is in line with Hollard's business purpose, which is to enable more people to create and secure a better future,” concludes Kalpagé.

In South Africa, Hollard is the largest privately owned insurance group, offering both life and non-life product suites. Hollard International extends insurance solutions outside of South Africa through operations in Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and Ghana, with East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) being added to the list through the APA transaction. 

APA Insurance is owned by Apollo Investments Limited, which was founded in 1977 with a mission to provide “present and future peace of mind to the East African market and, in turn, enhance the quality of life for both our clients and loved ones”. Built on commitment, integrity and innovation, Apollo has since become one of the leading financial services groups in East Africa, with six companies under its belt.

Issued by Flow Communications on behalf of Hollard. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Hollard.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Khaya Thwala on khayat@flowsa.com or +27 78 349 0668.

About Hollard International:
In South Africa, Hollard is the largest privately owned insurance group, offering both Life and Non-Life product suites. Hollard International extends insurance solutions outside of South Africa through operations in Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and Ghana, with East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) being added to the list through the APA transaction. https://apo-opa.info/3tUpGWD

About APA Insurance:
APA Insurance is part of the Apollo Group, one of the leading insurance groups operating in East Africa, providing a broad array of insurance solutions across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. APA is one of Kenya's largest non-life insurers and provides access to Motor, Liability, Agriculture, Property and Health insurance as well as a unique range of micro-insurance products. APA Life Assurance is one the fastest growing life insurance companies in Kenya providing Individual Life, Savings, Investments and employee benefits solutions including Group Life, pensions and Annuities. Its other primary insurance business units include APA Life Insurance, APA Insurance in Uganda; an asset management company, Apollo Asset Management; and a property company, Gordon Court. The Apollo Associate in Tanzania is Reliance Insurance Company. https://www.APAInsurance.org/

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Women in engineering increasing in SA

Location: News

Women in engineering increasing in SA

While there is still a need to invest in the profession to develop women, South Africa has noticed a growth in females registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), Deputy President Paul Mashatile has said.

“We are now seeing an average of 35% year-on-year growth among registered female engineers in the database of the council,” the Deputy President told the National Council of Provinces on Thursday. 

He said there are 7 000 women engineers who are currently registered with the ECSA. 

“We agreed that there is a need to ensure that we deliberately target women to consider entering the engineering profession and encourage those who are not registered to register.” 

The country’s second-in-command was answering a question about whether the state has any measures to address the dire shortage of women in the engineering profession. 

“In our work leading the Human Resource Development Council, we have made a long-term commitment to invest in the skills revolution, especially among women, youth, and persons with disabilities, to build a productive and globally competitive society.” 

He also told Parliament that he interacted with the ECSA President Refilwe Buthelezi, CEO Dr Bridget Samula and many engineers in August this year at the UNESCO Africa Engineering gathering.

“We agreed that there is a need to ensure that we deliberately target women to consider entering the engineering profession and encourage those who are not registered to register. 

“Empowering female engineers is paramount in achieving sustained development and global competitiveness.” 

He said government is championing the implementation of several women empowerment programmes like the Women Economic Assembly (WECONA) launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2021. 

WECONA, he explained, is a catalyst platform for women-owned enterprises anchored on collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society. 

“This is an ongoing initiative to encourage women to be economically active to bring together the private sector, government and civil society to drive change in the economic landscape.” 

Meanwhile, he said the AgriSETA has identified several priority interventions from the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan that speak to empowering women in agricultural engineering and agricultural scientists in the sector. 

Together with the Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs), he said government aims to simplify funding application processes to avoid delays in processing funding for third parties. 

This, he noted, slows the government’s efforts to address challenges plaguing women in the sector. 

“While government continues to implement programmes to empower women in the engineering sector, there is a need to address the structural challenges of social and gender inequalities hindering their progress. 

“As government, we provide social, political, and economic conditions for women to thrive, especially in critical engineering sectors, with our social partners and businesses.” 

Agricultural economy

The Deputy President also noted the report issued by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, which highlighted an increase of 4.2% in the second quarter of 2023, contributing 0.1 of a percentage point to gross domestic product (GDP) growth. 

“Increases in the production of field crops and horticulture products mainly drove this rise in output. Favourable weather conditions, increased cultivation, and increased export demand provided further support,” he explained. 

Port of Mossel Bay, he said, has been identified as one of the key strategic points in the market-oriented agricultural economy. 

“The improvement of the operational capacity of Mossel Bay Harbour also forms part of the implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, which is aimed at, among other things, modernising and reforming network industries and associated state-owned enterprises.” 

He announced there are also plans to boost exports, create employment opportunities, and improve innovation. 

“According to the Ministry of Public Enterprises, the improvement of the operational capacity of Mossel Bay Harbour is a long-term project. Therefore, concepts and designs are continuously being refined.” 

The first phase, he said, is planned for completion by the end of the 2026/27 financial year, while the final step is scheduled for completion by the 2029/30 financial year. 

The country’s second-in-command was responding to the question about the role in leading government efforts to fast-track land reform and the coordination of programmes to accelerate agricultural support to farmers to access international markets and concrete steps in place to improve the operational capacity of Mossel Bay Harbour. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Gabisile
Fri, 10/27/2023 - 10:51

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Africa Tech Festival Announces Top 10 Finalists for Start-Up World Cup

Location: News

Africa Tech Festival
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The results are in and today, organisers of the annual Africa Tech Festival (https://apo-opa.info/3myppVu), taking place in Cape Town 14 – 16 November, announced the top ten finalists of the AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition who will battle it out to win the opportunity to represent the African continent in the Startup World Cup (https://www.StartupWorldCup.io/) on 1 December this year.

Making the announcement, James Williams, Senior Director, Events | Connecting Africa | Informa Tech, remarked: “Congratulations to everyone who entered. We called for the continent's brightest, most inspiring founders to apply to help build the African innovation ecosystem and they certainly delivered. 

“I know I speak for my colleagues, the investors and judges who will be closely monitoring the pitch competition, when I say that Africa's talent, ingenuity, and unmatched potential is abundant and diverse, and this is clearly represented in this broad array of finalists. It is therefore going to be no small task to select just one winner who will represent the continent at the Startup World Cup Final, held by Pegasus in San Francisco on 1st December.”

Providing insight as to what she will be looking for in the winning pitch, investor, and AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition judge, Keshni Morar of Investable (https://www.Investable.Business/), warns contenders to come prepared. Morar will be looking for the granular detail in the presentations, with a demonstrable understanding of the market in which the start-up is looking to play or is already active. Depth of the go to market strategy too for those start-ups at pre-seed capital, is a vital consideration.

But in short, Morar says: “Like every other serious investor out there, I look for the coherence between the pitch story and the data points. If it's not there, there's no chance of us getting involved.”

The top ten looking to win the AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition Final are:

AsaanaPay (https://apo-opa.info/46O2WGc)- a payments and rewards platform for minority owned businesses enabling offline and online payments and unrestricted cash back rewards to attract and retain customers. Asaana facilitates local and global payments through a variety of channels from mobile wallets and traditional banks to everything in between. Headquartered in Kenya, Asaana services the world.

Tausi App (https://TausiApp.com/)– beauty is freedom and beauty is also big business in Africa, which is how Tausi came about. An app that connects beauticians to clients and provides professional hair and make-up and other services to make clients feel fabulous, with a rating system and in-depth onboarding process that is simple to use. Headquartered in Kenya with more than 6000 registered beauticians on their books and having helped more than 20 000 clients.

Bus54 (https://Bus-54.com/)– Based in Nigeria, Bus54 is a mobility technology company providing a platform to aggregate intercity bus transportation in Africa, allowing passengers to search, compare, book, and manage their journeys online. The platform enables transport operators to manage their end-to-end operations from a secure portal with no need for additional investment in IT software or hardware, and an additional channel to sell their tickets.

Delta Scan (https://DeltaScan.global/)– a specialist engineering inspection, digitisation and BIM company based in South Africa that digitize the world around us to create powerful analytical 3D models to extract engineering value. The company, based in South Africa, strives to improve efficiency, bring down costs, and provide comprehensive information to make better informed decisions. Combining cutting edge aerial platforms and scanning technology together with 3D digitization, artificial intelligence and engineering analysis principles.

Oneway Connect (https://www.OnewayConnect.co.za/)- a cutting-edge job matching and recruitment software prioritizing cultural alignment that is shaping the future of hiring. Beyond traditional CVs, the platform evaluates capabilities and traits, fostering purposeful performers for businesses. At the heart of their mission is creating a fair candidate experience. With a simple click, jobseekers are seamlessly connected to their ideal roles while assessments empower employers to truly understand candidates' potential beyond mere keywords.                                  

Ukwenza VR (https://UkwenzaVR.com/)- a social enterprise based in Kenya that focuses on creating educational Virtual Reality (VR) content to complement classroom learning and offer additional learning on social and environmental issues e.g. conservation and plastic pollution.

We work with schools & educators to create and deliver the content to ensure it meets learning standards that serve the community.

Hippocampus Education (https://HippocampusEducation.io/)- Hippocampus is an adaptive tutoring Facebook Messenger bot that provides differentiated instruction and instant feedback that is customized to meet each individual's learning needs. It acts as a liaison between the lecturer and the student or between the tutor and the student, supporting in assessment activities, facilitating a learning environment that meets each student's learning needs, and provides positive and constructive feedback on the progress and performance of the student.

BenaCare (https://BenaCare.or.ke/)– a Kenyan based social enterprise that delivers affordable clinical and supportive care to patients with life limiting illnesses at the comfort of their own homes.  They also reduce and re-distrinbute unpaid care performed by women family caregivers in rural Kenya, by training them on the basics of caregiving like wound care, vitals taking, grooming, ambulation, pressure are care and toileting.  IN this way Benacare improves the outcome of the patients taken care of and equip these women with caregiving skills which can then earn them a living.

Gradlinc (https://Gradlinc.co.za/)– more than a matchmaker between graduate and employer and vice versa, Gradlinc helps prepare graduates for the workplace from helping with CVs to creating personal brands and is free to graduates.  It is a vital two-way bridge between ‘people', not jobs and workers, as matching values, and individuality in people – whether the graduate or the employer – builds long-term successful relationships with mutual benefits.

Kyanda Africa (https://Kyanda.co.ke/)– seamless payment solutions with easy financial reach, Nairobi-based Kyanda Africa provide safe and easy access to financial and related services simultaneously in an affordable, efficient, and transparent manner for all at all times.  They are on a mission to drive down the number of unbanked and underbanked people across Africa.

The AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition Final takes place at Africa Tech Festival in the Auditorium 2 of the CTICC on 16th November from 2pm to 3.30pm. An open-to-all feature, the Final will bring a great crowd of founders, tech leaders and investors to witness who will be crowned winner. Free entry to start-ups and visitors is available – please see below for further details about registration.

For more information about Africa Tech Festival, please see website here: https://apo-opa.info/3myppVu 

For more information about the AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition, please visit: https://apo-opa.info/46I88va

For more information about the Startup World Cup, powered by Pegasus, please visit: https://www.StartupWorldCup.io/

View all ticket options for Africa Tech Festival, including start-up passes, here (https://apo-opa.info/3Q04o2r)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.

For media enquiries, interviews and/or images please contact: 
Kaz Henderson kaz@networxpr.co.za or call on +27 (0) 82 339 1199

Social Media Handles:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.info/3S47ALC
Twitter: https://apo-opa.info/3EZ7RYB
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.info/3EcywR6

About Startup World Cup:
Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition with the goal of bridging start-up ecosystems worldwide. The competition gives start-up companies from all over the world a chance to win a US $1,000,000 prize in the form of an investment. This year, there will be 50+ regional events across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, leading up to the Grand Finale in San Francisco in September. Startup World Cup is organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm.

About Africa Tech Festival 2023:
Africa Tech Festival, including anchor events AfricaCom, AfricaTech and AfricaIgnite is part of the Informa Tech Connecting Africa event series. A vibrant celebration of Africa's diverse community of tech champions, Africa Tech Festival is the largest tech and digital connectivity conference and exhibition in Africa, attracting hundreds of exhibitors, more than 400 speakers and more than 15000 delegates.

Key themes for 2023 continue to explore the creation and sustainability of a connected Africa and the impact this can have for the people of the continent but also the commercial prospects for local and global businesses and governments.  Topics will include Telcos of Tomorrow, Connecting the Next Billion, Digital Infrastructure Investment, Sustainability & Climate Resilience, ICT Policy and Regulation, Fintech & MFS, Broadcast Media & Entertainment, Pioneer Tech, the Future of Work and Talent and Skills Development. Africa Tech Festival also incorporates the Africa Tech Festival Awards, an exclusive ceremony celebrating Africa's tech pioneers and held at the luxury 5-star The Bay Hotel, as well as the LeadersIn Africa Summit, an exclusive, VIP-only feature offering high-level presentations and roundtable discussions to Africa's tech elite.

Read moreAfrica Tech Festival Announces Top 10 Finalists for Start-Up World Cup

SA freight rail sector requires R50 billion investment

Location: News

SA freight rail sector requires R50 billion investment

Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) will need in excess of R50 billion investment in the next five years to improve capacity and the freight rail performance.

In recent years, Transnet has experienced challenges characterised by the condition of the network, security issues, including cable theft and infrastructure vandalism, as well as the unavailability and reliability of the locomotives.

Addressing a webinar on the state of freight and rail in South Africa, TFR Acting General Manager: Rail Network and Projects, Bessie Mabunda, said the entity requires a combination of funding to deal with the network backlog and to continually maintain the network at the desired standard.

In addition, Mabunda said a level of capital funding will be required to sustain the network at full capacity.

Transnet’s primary business is to provide rail transport of commodities for the export, regional and domestic markets.

“The National Rail Policy, approved by Cabinet on 23 March 2022, provides an opportunity for funding through full network reflective tariff, as well as  government support and public participation. From a network restoration point of view, we have identified that some of the corridors have a high requirement due to years of underfunding.

“There are certain lines that require more intensive maintenance due to the age of the line, the design topography and the impacts of weather. Certain lines are also more prone to theft and vandalism, especially our electrifying lines and our fully signaled areas, which have been under siege in the last couple of years,” Mabunda said on Thursday.

From a 'sustaining capex' point of view, Mabunda said the biggest concern is that most of the train authorisation systems are actually at the end of life and must be replaced.

“New technology is being considered, which will be less prone to theft. With regards to the telecom system, our requirements are mostly driven by the legal compliance to Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and similar regulations,” Mabunda said.

In an effort to address the security challenges, the entity will implement the outcomes based security (OBS), which relies on boots on the ground and vehicles guarding the network.

“The OBS places the responsibility of protecting the network on the service providers, who implement a combination of various security measures, including physical guarding, intelligence as well as technology such as drones, CCTVs and smart fencing.

“Over and above what the OBS providers are doing, the TFR security has put in place strategies that are meant to curb the scourge of security incidents. These include replacing copper cables with copper magnesium that has no resale value and therefore will deter criminal in terms of stealing cables,” she said.

The entity is also piloting a system on some of the lines, which will allow it to pick up intrusions close to the rail network before the criminals cut the cables.

In addition, Transnet is employing other measures such as target hardening for substations and target hardening to protect the signaling equipment.

With Transnet’s peace officer status, internal security has powers to make arrests.

“We have been carrying out specialised operations at hotspot areas; we have been focusing on illicit markets in conjunction with law enforcement agencies. There has been a national logistics committee that has been established and one of the work streams focuses on an integrated approach to fighting crime with support from law enforcement agencies.

“We are also creating capability to ensure effective identification and investigation of organised crime groupings and follow up on any suspected internal involvement. It is important that when arrests are made that we are able to connect these individuals to other crimes that could have taken place in the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Eskom and City Power networks, so that we have stronger cases and improve our chances of getting a successful conviction,” she said.

As pertaining to the rolling stock, Transnet has enlisted the assistance of various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for their fleet.

“The original equipment manufacturers of stock are critical to the supply of spare parts, especially parts and systems that have inherent intellectual property linked to it. We have concluded and awarded one of the contracts, it supports our diesel fleet. There are three contracts that we do need to award. The second contract is at final approval stage and the last contract is in technical evaluation,” Mabunda said.

She said returning the long standing locomotives into service is only part of the solution, as there is a further requirement for continued sustainability of the fleet to ensure reliability and availability.

“This we can only do through long-term agreements with the respective OEMs in the form of Material and Reliability Support Agreement (MRSA), where the OEMs provide, amongst others, the necessary parts, technical support as well as guidance.

“The MRSA is in the final approval stage and the second contract is in the negation phase. All of these initiatives are expected to be in place within the next few months, with the benefits being realised as early as the next financial year,” Mabunda said.

Transnet is also hard at work improving the status of the fleet by performing certain modifications through Transnet engineering, which has already seen a number of locomotives being returned to service using alternative compressors.

“We have a large order of compressors that will assist us in the interim to return some of the long-standing locomotives. We are also focusing on digital transformation.

“This is to transform the business by implementing integrated technologies and systems across the value chain including train planning, yard operations – that will allow us track and trace rolling stock, unlock value and drive efficiencies and position us for the railway of the future,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 10/26/2023 - 15:36

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Read moreSA freight rail sector requires R50 billion investment

Excitement Builds for the Killarney Motor Display as Motul Prepares to Shine

Location: MyPR

The Killarney Motor Show, scheduled for Sunday 5 November 2023 at the renowned Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town, promises an adrenaline-packed experience like never before. Leading automotive lubricant brand, Motul, is set to take the event by storm with thrilling partnerships that demonstrate their exceptional product range. Visitors to the Motul stand can look …

Read moreExcitement Builds for the Killarney Motor Display as Motul Prepares to Shine

Empowering Tomorrow’s Workforce: Thriving in the Talent Battleground

Location: MyPR

By Vikesh Rampadarath (Associate Director at Regent Business School) A globalised and knowledge-based economy means businesses and industries are heavily reliant on skilled employees to drive innovation, productivity and overall business success. As the demand for specialised skills and expertise increases, organisations find themselves competing fiercely to secure the best talent available. Vikesh Rampadarath from …

Read moreEmpowering Tomorrow’s Workforce: Thriving in the Talent Battleground

Eskom’s generation steadily improving – Ramokgopa

Location: News

Eskom's generation steadily improving - Ramokgopa

Improved performance of Eskom’s generating fleet is beginning to turn the tide against load shedding.

This is according to Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who delivered a statement on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan (EAP) in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The EAP was introduced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July last year to address the intensification of load shedding.

“Generation performance continues to improve from the May 2023 days of 27410MW [generation] to 28 883MW in October month to date. Last week, we saw generation breach the psychological mark of 30 000MW largely buoyed by the return to service of Kusile units 3 and 1 over the past month.

“This improved generation and lower than projected demand has allowed for exceptional increase in planned outage or good maintenance. The increased planned outage means that we are improving the overall performance capacity of the fleet, improving reliability and efficiency and steadily ensuring that we navigate to an equilibrium between demand and supply buffered by healthy reserve margin,” he said.

The Minister added that since May this year, unplanned outages where generating units break down have been fewer.

“This is a function of the increased planned maintenance and improved reliability of Units.  

“Following a period of increased planned maintenance between mid-August 2023 and mid-October 2023, UCLF has dropped to 13527 MW from the May 2023 baseline of 17369 MW. This represents an improvement in the available capacity of 3841 MW, amounting to over three stages of load shedding,” he said.

Kusile Power Station

Ramokgopa told the National Assembly that the improvement at Kusile power station bears testament to the belief that the power station can drive forward Eskom’s improvement in generation capacity.

In October last year, units at the power station went offline following a duct failure.

“We have always been firm that Kusile Power Station would anchor the drive for generation capacity to get ahead of the demand curve.

“The two units returned have injected an additional 1600 MW over the past month, whilst Units 2 and 5 will add another 1600 MW. This means the 4 Kusile Units will provide a total of 3200 MW of base load by December 2023. The last remaining Kusile unit, Unit 6, is planned to be synchronised in August 2024.

“The early return of the two units is a result of judicious and smart engineering. We anticipate returning Unit 2 by the third week of November 2023. Additionally, Kusile Unit 4…was returned to service on 17 September 2023, three days ahead of the planned date.

“Kusile Unit 5 was originally planned for completion on 28 October 2023 but was rescheduled to later in order to prioritise the return of the three commercial Kusile units. Unit 5 is now scheduled to be synchronised by December 2023,” he said.

Forging ahead

The Minister acknowledged that load shedding continues to take a heavy toll on South Africans.

However, Ramokgopa expressed confidence that the task of lowering and eventually ending load shedding is well underway.

“The national energy crisis continues to be the single biggest existential challenge in post-apartheid South Africa, and we must continue to harness all efforts to arrest further haemorrhaging caused by load shedding to our economy and the degradation of the quality of lives of ordinary South Africans.

“In May 2023, I stood in this august House to deliver an executive statement outlining the transversal interventions we were making to reduce the intensity and frequency of load shedding and to articulate our plans in relation to the winter plan. Working with the dedicated staff at Eskom and industry experts, we have successfully navigated through the winter season and are beginning to turn the tide,” Ramokgopa said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 15:16

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Green shoots in resolving the energy crisis

Location: News

Green shoots in resolving the energy crisis

South Africa is beginning to turn the corner in resolving the energy crisis.

This according to Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who was briefing the media on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan in Pretoria on Monday.

Improved performance of Eskom’s generating fleet meant the suspension of load shedding over the past weekend and much lower stages of the planned power outages during the week.

“We have turned the corner, although we are not out of the woods yet. We are beginning to show sustained improved performance over an extended period of time and this is good news in that it’s an affirmation and validation of the work that the team is doing at Eskom,” he said.

The Minister said the intensification of maintenance plans at Eskom are beginning to have a positive impact despite a difficult period in September when load shedding was intensified as a result of maintenance outages.

These maintenance outages are aimed at reducing the incidence of generating units tripping on their own and improving performance.

“These plans that have been put into motion are beginning to bear fruit. I did indicate some time ago when we were experiencing heightened levels of load shedding Stage 6, that essentially what we are dealing with is short term pain which is going to result in long term gain and we are beginning to see the kinds of gains that I was referring to.

“Our actions are deliberate. We are going to invest a lot of our efforts to ensure that we are able to maintain the units,” he said.

Ramokgopa insisted that both Eskom and the department will not show any signs of complacency going forward.

“It’s important that we shouldn’t be complacent and we have never been complacent…even when are beginning to see … green shoots. I think what that does is just bolster and raise the morale of the team to ensure that we even achieved greater results and we are able to save the South African economy.

“We introduced these interventions when we came into office, after the President appointed and sat with the team and thought the best way of getting out of this situation is to ensure that we make these investments into these units. What are the results - when the units come back, they remain on load for the longest period of hours.

“Essentially we have undermined the rate and frequency of failure of these units. We have improved on their efficiency. They are beginning to produce more… closer to their design capacity. This is not by accident. It’s not some intervention that comes from a place that is unknown. It is simple engineering and we really want to commend the team,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 10/23/2023 - 11:10

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Gauteng launches auto body workshop for its fleet management entity

Location: News

Gauteng launches auto body workshop for its fleet management entity

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has launched a state-of-the-art Panel Beating and Apprenticeship Training Workshop, which is set to benefit graduates, informal businesses and entrepreneurs.

Addressing the launch on Friday in Johannesburg, Department of Roads and Transport Director of Fleet Maintenance Unit at g-FleeT Management Sifiso Mhlongo explained that the new Panel Beating Workshop will offer full cycle panel beating services for all g-FleeT vehicles involved in accidents.

G-FleeT Management is a Trading Entity of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and is a provider of vehicle leasing and fleet management services for the public sector in South Africa whose clients include National, Gauteng Provincial and local government departments.

Historically, accident repairs have been outsourced through the RT46 Transversal Contract by the National Treasury of South Africa.

“Accident repairs are one of the major cost drivers for g-FleeT. Therefore, the main objective of the New Panel Beating Workshop is to assist g-FleeT to be in total control of a major part of its value chain, which impacts on the quality of fleet, turnaround times, customer satisfaction and g-FleeT’s self-sustainability,” Mhlongo said.

The anticipated benefits of the workshop include improved cost control, quality of repairs, skills development for qualified artisans and experienced staff as well as satisfied clients and self-sustainability of the entity.

“The Panel Beating facility would be manufacturer approved, and this would enable all repairs to be carried out at the manufacturer’s strict criteria and standard, with a plan to obtain industry Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), South African Motor Body Repairers' Association (SAMBRA) and Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA) accreditation.

“It also has a built-in Training Facility for technical training and skills development, which would help g-FleeT contribute to the development of technical skills categorized as critical and scarce in the country.

“The Entity plans to operationalise the panel beating workshop, gradually build up internal capacity, and consider adopting a hybrid approach for in-sourcing and outsourcing of accident repairs,” he said.

G-FleeT has partnered with the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) to operationalise the Panel Beating Workshop, as the entity does not have the necessary skills internally.

“AIDC is a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, which is an agency of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development. They specialize in both Automotive Hub establishment and Technical Skills Development, which made them a strategic fit for the operationalization of the Panel Beating Workshop, with an In-house Training Facility,” Mhlongo said. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Fri, 10/20/2023 - 13:58

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Read moreGauteng launches auto body workshop for its fleet management entity