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SA inches towards G20 Presidency 

Location: News

SA inches towards G20 Presidency 

The countdown to South Africa assuming the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability” has begun.

“The Leaders Summit will be held in Johannesburg, Gauteng and the IMC [Inter-Ministerial Committee] is working with other provinces to host Ministerial and Working Groups meetings. We will launch the South Africa G20 programme on the 1st of December 2024,” Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said at a post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday. 

This as the country will participate in the upcoming G20 Summit on 18 and 19 November 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with the 19 member countries.

READ | SA to play key role at upcoming G20 Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously said in his weekly newsletter that when South Africa takes over the G20 Presidency later this year, it will focus on the priorities of Africa and the Global South.

South Africa will assume the G20 Presidency from December 2024, approximately five years before the deadline of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The President said that as a signatory to the Pact for the Future, the country aims to push for a people-driven, sustainable development.

“When South Africa assumes the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) later this year, we will prioritise the needs and aspirations of our continent and the Global South. As a signatory to the Pact for the Future, we want people-driven, sustainable development to become a reality,” the President said at that time. 

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Meanwhile, Cabinet has welcomed the filing of South Africa’s memorial to the ICJ, which shows how the government of Israel violated the Genocide Convention by promoting the destruction of Palestinians living in Gaza.

READ | Government condemns genocide disinformation efforts

The memorial of more 1300 pages – supported by exhibits and annexures – contains evidence of Israel’s genocidal acts, and its failure to prevent incitement to genocide.

“The filing of the memorial takes place at a time when Israel is intensifying the killing of civilians in Gaza and is intent on following a similar path of destruction in Lebanon. 

“The memorial is a reminder to the global community of the atrocities perpetuated against the people of Palestine and the need for solidarity to stop the catastrophe. 

“The filing also comes in the footsteps of the United Nations resolution condemning the actions of the Israeli government against the people of Palestine,” Cabinet said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Cabinet congratulates Botswana, Mozambique and the USA

Location: News

Cabinet congratulates Botswana, Mozambique and the USA

Cabinet has extended its congratulations to the governments and people of the Republic of Botswana, Mozambique and the United States of America (USA) on the successful conclusion of their recent elections.

“Cabinet commends the Umbrella for Democratic Change coalitions in Botswana on its success under the leadership of President-elect Duma Boko, and welcomed the establishment of transitional plans between the outgoing administration and the incoming administration of President-elect Boko,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said in a post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday.

Cabinet has also congratulated Mozambican President-elect Daniel Chapo and his party, FRELIMO, on their victory following the country’s historic election, which was held 32 years following the signing of the General Peace Agreement. 

The agreement brought an end to the civil war and introduced multi-party democracy in Mozambique.

US Election outcome

Cabinet has further congratulated President-elect Donald Trump following the US elections held on 5 November 2024. 

“South Africa looks forward to working very closely with President-elect Trump over the next 12 months when President Cyril Ramaphosa assumes the Presidency of the G20 on 1 December 2024,” Cabinet said. 

Answering a question on whether the US Presidential election outcome will change anything between South Africa and the US, Ntshavheni said government has indicated that it relates with the US government and that "it doesn’t matter which administration is in place". 

“Our trade relationship is with the government of the day, and we continue to engage with them and whether there are trade issues or other diplomatic issues. Our view is that our participation in AGOA [African Growth and Opportunity Act] is anchored by the value that South Africa adds in the AGOA process, and how its participation adds value for the American economy – that is the position we maintain,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Dismissed and Ignored: Keys to an African Lobby Group’s Success Being Overlooked by Climate Activists and Africa Oil Week

Location: News
African Energy Chamber

By Ajong Mbapndah L.

In 2021, the citizen-driven African Energy Chamber-AEC (www.EnergyChamber.org), and its unapologetic position in support of the right of African countries to produce oil and gas spread like wildfire. They adopted a narrative of Drill Baby Drill shocking most western political establishment, African elites and pundits.

Within a short time, well funded backers were leaping at the chance to harness this new display of African public power backing the oil and gas industry led by a charismatic and well-connected US trained lawyer NJ Ayuk. He talks like a southern Baptist preacher and trial lawyer and religiously wears only cowboy boots. Ayuk had been mentored at the University of Maryland by Dr. Ron Walters, who was Jesse Jackson's campaign Manager and at William Mitchell College of Law by John Radsan who was Assistant general counsel of the C.I.A under George W Bush. In 2013, he became part of Global Shapers, a non-profit foundation created by the World Economic Forum to unite a community of young leaders. In 2015, he was named among the 10 most influential men in Africa by Forbes magazine.

Eventually, hundreds of energy groups across Africa translated their collective strength into substantial results, putting a message engineered by the African Energy Chamber to influence African political establishment to back the oil and gas industry during COP and also provide incentives for oil drillers. Oil and natural gas is not a dirty word in Africa thanks in large part to the crusade of the African Energy Chamber.  

It's true that the AEC's anger at western wokeness and transition plans sometimes came across as extreme. While they showed that African voices can impact energy policy and international discourse, they may have also set the stage for increased divisiveness in a polarised energy discussion across the world. In some instances, observers believe the AEC pressured African leaders into backing a capitalist driven oil and gas industry at the expense of green energy. They gave home to Trump loyalist who wanted to deal with Africa. 

Given even sharper language in 2021 and 2022, it's perhaps more important than ever to understand that the AEC's success wasn't dependent solely on hostility. Behind the scenes, the story is a bit more complex. And love them or hate them, the AEC showed that African voices really can add up to something big.

So, how did the AEC turn regular, even highly cynical, Africans into an army of engaged people defending the interest of Africa and oil and gas investors in Namibia, Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Senegal, Algeria, Mauritania, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda and many more countries? Here are some strategies that set the AEC apart, gained it instant attention, and built—in short order—real power.

These strategies aren't really secret, of course, or even necessarily new, but the AEC offers lessons that any grassroots group would be wise to review even when it is a capitalist organisation. After attending African Energy Week in Cape Town and talking to observers you understand a few things.

The AEC Gave Good Content And Sweets To The Media

The AEC content and position or energy transition and oil and gas were irresistible political theater for news media. Some of the early success was about novelty. An unusual African protest movement, featuring not only Africans but older, whiter, more conservative Europeans and Americans who weren't used to taking their views in public (that kind of action was considered by many whites, the domain of hippies and Lefties).

But beyond that, members' intensity and authenticity were key factors: their heart and soul, their true colors were on display and the media couldn't get enough. The AEC got massive coverage. Their members loudly embraced slogans and symbols, and most were extremely passionate and vocal. They demonstrated their commitment in authentic, home-spun ways that made great TV footage—that is, by brandishing provocative Drill Baby Drill signs. The attention they earned was tremendously exciting for participants, and when events garnered headlines, they encouraged others to join in and start AEC groups of their own in Nigeria, Namibia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Senegal and Algeria.

The AEC Gave Africans A Safe Haven To Oppose A Western Driven Anti Oil And Gas Agenda

Many Africans were anxious about longstanding cultural shifts they felt were occurring in the climate change culture and strong calls to abandon oil and gas. Africans still have to deal with energy poverty issues and also industralisation that is lagging behind in the continent.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 600 million Africans lack access to energy, around 900 million are without clean cooking. To solve this the African Energy Chamber has aggressively lobbied and pushed African nations to embrace an “All of the Above” energy strategy—which supports greater domestic production of oil and natural gas, renewable and nuclear energy, and critical mineral mining—would help to provide energy access and encourage development  and job creation.

For many Africans, speaking their minds in public was daunting and unfamiliar. The AEC events prompted many people to speak out in public for the first time. People who had felt shut out, misunderstood, and alienated were encouraged to vent their frustrations and talk about themselves, their families, and what they wanted—and into a microphone, no less! Great early set up and as crazy as it sounds it worked.

Africans and oil industry for once felt safe. The western oil companies had found “their people.” Their voices finally mattered. Western oil companies felt for once that an African organisation spoke to their issues. The AEC spoke from the heart through their press releases.

Most importantly, speaking out made them feel like proper, boisterous Africans having their say. 

The AEC Kept It Simple And Never Strayed Away From Its Core Purpose

The AEC has been laser focused on its core message around free markets, Drill Baby Drill, individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and limited government intervention in the energy markets. They have been virtually lock stepped in agreement that these issues—and only these—were their primary focus.

Motivated largely by opposition to a radical energy transition that does not consider Africa's energy poverty needs and development, they built a solid and well-structured case against what they saw as a radical overreach by western governments. These values resonated powerfully with conservative whites and corporations in America and Europe who rallied support for the AEC, help sharpened their message and represent an agenda that any group could buy into. By sticking to these values, they avoided getting bogged down in arguments over more contentious issues that could divide, delay, or sidetrack their core base.

You need to watch how NJ Ayuk the Executive Chairman Keeps a clear and narrow focus and invites more people in and avoids alienating others over inevitable differences. By experimenting with this stripped-down approach, they have been able to avoid quibbles about top priorities and fast-forward to high-impact activities across Africa.

The AEC Built Its Muscle By Picking Fights It Could Win

While the rhetoric of the AEC favored sweeping Pan African change on how oil and gas industry is viewed and a rejection of western climate action, their actual achievements were huge, and they basically got the IEA and western governments to start listening to Africans. They got African Presidents and Ministers to be bold in their defence for oil and gas sector. They became the premier lobbying house for the oil and gas sector in Africa. They figured out where they could have an immediate impact and put their energies into small wins. Case in point, in 2021, Hyve group made a brutal and arrogant move of taking Africa Oil Week (AOW) to Dubai. The AEC saw an opportunity and produced a textbook rebuke of this British group. It recruited Blackwater's Erik Prinz, Robert Stryk Ryan Zinke (Trump's interior secretary) various American congressmen and former US Ambassadors to speak at its rival African Energy Week in Cape Town. They quietly built a relationship with the American Petroleum Institute and other US oil and gas groups and support came strong from the oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil, Total Energies, Chevron and many others. Since then, the Africa Oil Week brand by Hyve group has seen a gradual death with most of its staff defecting to the AEC or other companies. In 2023, sensing change the Biden administration deployed Joshua Volz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa to attend the African Energy Week and meet with the African energy sector. American official Joseph McMonigle, Secretary General, International Energy Forum also gave a keynote speech at the event.

Small wins like African Energy Week or getting governments to approve projects for oil companies in a speedy format, gave the AEC the taste of victory and built momentum. And all the little victories tallied around Africa added up to a greater voice for the AEC. The AEC also scored strong victories across Africa for incentives to oil companies, getting them permits, license extensions, reduction in taxes, and passion oil friendly reforms.

Most organizations have broad, high-level goals, but it's worth remembering that every small victory can help pave the way in the direction you're going. In fact, you may want to purposefully pick a small, winnable fight, especially as you're getting started.

Climate Group Reaction

Climate activist have been stunned because they dismissed and overlooked the AEC. Climate activist and their allies ignore the AEC as it built a 4 million membership base something of a dream for any group. They decided to pummel the AEC and its leadership with a volley of attacks on the media then demonstrations at the AEC office and also in Cape Town. And yet from the blowback that erupted once the attacks started Africans rallied around the AEC and supported the AEC.  Climate activists were surprised that an oil lobby group in Africa was being seen as innocent civilian under assault by a drone western activist. Green groups and their negativity were self-destructive and made it difficult for them to push a green energy message in Africa which a continent that has great potential for renewables.

Only at the African Energy Week will you have a closing panel with Oil and Gas stalwarts like Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) of Nigeria, NJ Ayuk of the AEC, Florival Mucave, Executive Chairman of the Mozambique Oil & Gas Chamber, Eric Williams, Principal Consultant and President at Royal Triangle Energy Solutions inviting climate change zealots like David Le Page, Director-Coordinator at Fossil Free South Africa.

When I come to your events, I am booed and vilified, but here at the African Week, we welcome debates and diverse opinions and people even cheer for you when you make points, NJ Ayuk reminded David Le Page who looked flummoxed at the buoyant atmosphere and civility that greeted his presence.

“There is an amazing opportunity to transition as quickly as possible to renewable energy – if we can find the finance, and any new developments of oil and gas, no matter where they are developed in the world, risk the chance of pushing us past the point of stability, Le Page said.

Africa only accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, NJ Ayuk schooled Le Page. “We need oil. We are not saying that we do not welcome solar, wind and renewable energy, but we understand the intermittent nature of these technologies. With oil and gas, you create a market where people do things for themselves rather than relying on others,” Ayuk said.

The Bottom Line: Restore Africans' Trust In Their Own Energy Sector.

So many people in the Africa and its energy sector feel isolated, frustrated, and powerless. Despite this, no matter how cynical or checked out they get, and no matter how divisive things seem, the vast majority of Africans still have faith in a foundational part of the oil and gas industry thanks to the AEC. Africa Oil Week has been sold to Paul Sinclair and he exited quietly to Ghana as the brand faces a natural death. Many observers wait to see what the AEC opinion on Hyve Group and Mining Indaba is. Will the AEC make a move?

Whatever you think of the AEC, one thing it did was restore trust in Africa's oil industry, showing that the grassroots—the public—can make a difference. Regular people who had long felt shut out of the process flexed their civic muscle in the AEC, and they saw quick and enormously satisfying results.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Media files
African Energy Chamber
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Cabinet approves establishment of IMC for 2026 Municipal Elections

Location: News

Cabinet approves establishment of IMC for 2026 Municipal Elections

Cabinet has approved the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that will oversee preparations for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections.

“With the previous Local Government Elections having been held on 1 November 2021, the next Municipal Elections will be held between 2 November 2026 and 1 February 2027,” Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Wednesday in Cape Town.

Ntshavheni was briefing members of the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held  on 6 November 2024.

The IMC will be convened by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. It consists of several government departments that are key to ensuring the delivery of successful elections.

At its recent meeting, Cabinet also considered and approved the formulae for the determination of the number of councillors in terms of Section 20 (1) (a) of the Municipal Structures Act.

“The 2026 Municipal Elections will be the sixth such elections since the advent of democracy in 1994. The IMC will work with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and other relevant bodies towards ensuring that the process leading to the local government is smooth and peaceful,” Ntshavheni said. - SAnews.gov.za
 

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National Treasury calls for comments on policy proposals

Location: News

National Treasury calls for comments on policy proposals

The National Treasury has called on stakeholders to submit detailed written comments and proposals on the policy review of the taxation of alcoholic beverages, carbon tax and the tax treatment of collective investment schemes.

The policy review of the taxation of alcoholic beverages builds on the previous excise tax policy review in 2014 and proposes adjustments to the current policy framework.

The discussion document covers developments in the alcoholic beverages industry, including changes in the regulatory landscape, the prevalence of alcohol consumption, illicit trade in alcoholic beverages, international observations on alcohol taxation. 
It also covers the potential use of minimum unit pricing in the long term, and other administrative policy considerations in line with the concerns that have been raised by stakeholders.

“With this publication, the National Treasury requests stakeholders to submit detailed written comments and proposals to assist government to further develop an appropriate excise policy framework to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

“After the public consultation process is concluded, the draft proposals will be revised to consider public comments and announcements will be made in the 2025 Budget,” National Treasury said on Wednesday.

Written comments can be forwarded to 2024Alcoholreview@treasury.gov.za by close of business on 13 December 2024.

Carbon tax

In addition, stakeholders are encouraged to submit detailed written comments on phase two of the carbon tax design.

In the 2024 Budget, government announced its intention to publish a carbon tax discussion paper for public comment.

This paper puts forward proposals on phase two of the carbon tax design from 2026 to 2035 for consultation, considering South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) commitments.

“South Africa has made commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions in the range of 398 to 510 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) by 2025 and 350 to 420 million tCO2e by 2030, and to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

“The NDCs set out policies and measures to achieve these mitigation goals and adapt to climate change, and the finance requirements to support the transition to a lower carbon climate resilient economy.

“Carbon tax is an integral part of the package of policy measures aimed at addressing climate change as recommended in the 2011 National Climate Change Response Policy and the 2012 National Development Plan,” National Treasury explained.

The carbon tax discussion paper puts forward proposals on phase two of the carbon tax design from 2026 to 2035 for consultation, considering South Africa’s NDC commitments.

The discussion document includes proposed adjustments to the basic tax-free allowance, carbon offsets, the electricity levy, the renewable energy premium and the energy efficiency savings tax incentive.

Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments on the draft proposals contained in this paper to carbontax@treasury.gov.za.

“After the public consultation process is concluded, the draft proposals will be revised to consider public comments and announcements will be made in the 2025 Budget. The closing date for comments is close of business on 13 December 2024,” treasury said.
 

Tax treatment of collective investment schemes

In addition, National Treasury is also requesting the public to submit written comments on the draft proposals contained in the income tax treatment of amounts received by portfolios of collective investment schemes.

This discussion document stems from a statement in the 2020 Budget Review that indicated that National Treasury would undertake a review on the matter.

“In 2018, amendments were proposed in the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill to provide certainty on when these amounts should be treated as revenue instead of capital, which would impact the tax treatment of those amounts.

“After consultations, government opted to withdraw the proposed amendments to allow additional time to engage with industry to find solutions that will not negatively affect role-players.

“This document investigates the policy considerations of the taxation of collective investment schemes under section 25BA of the Income Tax Act, 1962- and puts forward various policy options,” National Treasury said.

Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments on the draft proposals contained in this paper to CIS-Tax@treasury.gov.za.

After the public consultation process is concluded, the draft proposals will be revised to consider public comments and announcements will be made in the 2025 Budget.

The closing date for comments is close of business on 13 December 2024. -SAnews.gov.za
 

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MTBPS welcomed by Cabinet

Location: News

MTBPS welcomed by Cabinet

The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) is a demonstration of South Africa’s openness and accountability on spending.

This according to Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who briefed the media on the outcomes of Cabinet's recent meeting.

The MTBPS was tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in Parliament two weeks ago. 

“The MTBPS is part of our nation’s open and accountable budget cycle, which allows for medium to long-term financial planning of our nation’s finance. It also allows South Africans to hold government departments and entities to account on spending and gives investors surety over the country’s economic direction.

“[The MTBPS] gives effect to the commitments of the Government of National Unity to pursue rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and create a more just and equitable society by tackling poverty, inequality and unemployment,” she said.

Ntshavheni said Cabinet had welcomed the MTBPS, which supports the Government of National Unity’s aims.

During the delivery of the MTBPS in October, Godongwana highlighted four pillars to spur on inclusive economic growth, namely:

  • Maintaining macroeconomic stability.
  • Implementing structural reforms.
  • Building State capability.
  • Supporting growth-enhancing public infrastructure investment.

Ntshavheni said Cabinet is backing the statement delivered by Godongwana.

“Cabinet supports the four pillars to uplift the economy through macroeconomic stability, implementing structural reforms, building State capability and increasing public infrastructure investment.

“The country is also on track to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist, having already addressed 16 of the 22 action items identified ahead of FATF reassessment in 2025,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za

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SA to play key role at upcoming G20 Summit

Location: News

SA to play key role at upcoming G20 Summit

South Africa is set to play a pivotal role at the upcoming G20 Summit next week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as it prepares to assume the G20 presidency in December. 

The G20 Leaders' Summit which will take place from 18-19 November 2024, will bring together leaders from the 19 member countries, along with representatives from the African Union and the European Union.

Representing nearly 60% of the global population, 80% of global gross domestic product (GDP), and 75% of global exports, the G20 stands as a vital platform for international economic cooperation and sustainable development. 

Speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday, International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister Ronald Lamola, said the G20 is a preeminent forum on whose stage, global economic cooperation is facilitated. 

“In terms of promoting the economic interests of the Global South, South Africa considers the G20 to be an important vehicle for advancing the aspirations of developing countries, and Africa’s development priorities in particular,” Lamola said. 

The Summit will conclude the work of Brazil’s rotating G20 presidency, where world leaders will review and approve agreements addressing pressing global challenges.

The Minister emphasised that supporting emerging and developing economies to achieve sustainable development is vital for global stability and security, reducing resource pressures, population movements and the risk of conflict. 

“This is especially important for the African continent. We will support the President at the G20 in Brazil. The G20 Summit represents the conclusion of the work carried out by the country holding the group's rotating presidency. It is the moment when heads of state and government approve the agreements negotiated throughout the year and point out ways of dealing with global challenges,” he said. 

South Africa is already playing an enhanced role as a member of the G20 Troika, together with Brazil and India, in support of one of Brazil’s foremost priorities of the reform of the Global Governance Institutions.

This is where G20 Leaders are expected to advance efforts for a reinvigorated and strengthened multilateral system, rooted in the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, with renewed institutions and a reformed governance that is more representative, effective, transparent and accountable, reflecting the social, economic and political realities of the 21st century.

The summit also marks the lead-up to South Africa’s presidency of the G20, which it will assume on 01 December, 2024. 

READ | SA’s G20 Presidency a significant moment for the country’s young democracy, says Lamola

South Africa plans to announce its presidential agenda soon, outlining its priorities for further advancing the aspirations of developing countries and fostering sustainable growth across Africa and beyond. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Presidency welcomes Quarterly Labour Force Survey

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Presidency welcomes Quarterly Labour Force Survey

Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, has welcomed the results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of 2024. 

The results were released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday. 

The survey revealed a positive trend in the South African labour force, with a decline in the unemployment rate.

The official unemployment rate decreased to 32.1% in the third quarter of 2024, down from 33.5% in the previous quarter. 

The number of employed people increased by 294 000 to 16.9 million. The number of unemployed people decreased by 373 000 to 8.0 million. 

The results also indicate that the largest increases in employment were observed in Eastern Cape (83 000), Western Cape (75 000), Northwest (69 000) and Mpumalanga (49 000). 

Importantly, the total number of unemployed youth (age 15-34) decreased by 171 000 to 4.8 million, while employed youth recorded an increase of 66 000 to 5.8 million. 

As a result, youth unemployment rate decreased from 46.6% in the second quarter of 2024 to 45.5% in the third quarter of 2024. Community and social services, construction, and trade sectors recorded significant job growth.

"This marks a significant step forward for our economy. The decline in the unemployment rate is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our government working with all relevant stakeholders,” Mhlauli said. 

“The Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan and Operation Vulindlela initiated by President Ramaphosa have been instrumental in driving economic growth and job creation. We are pleased to see these efforts yielding positive results,” she said. 

Government says it will continue to monitor the labour market and provide the necessary support to Stats SA to continue releasing reliable statistical data for all. – SAnews.gov.za

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Chikunga launches Disability Rights Awareness Month

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Chikunga launches Disability Rights Awareness Month

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called on all South Africans to remain actively engaged in fostering the inclusion of people with disabilities.

She emphasised the importance of collective support across every sector of society to make disability inclusion a lasting priority. 

The Minister was speaking at the launch of the 2024 Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) in Lenasia, on Monday. 

“As we move through this month and beyond, let us all stay engaged, support these efforts, and encourage every sector of our society to make disability inclusion a permanent priority. Together, we are paving the way for a truly inclusive and accessible South Africa, where every person with a disability can thrive,” the Minister said. 

This year’s DRAM which runs from 3 November to 3 December, is held under the theme “Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy: Creating a Disability-Inclusive Society for a Better Quality of Life and Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. 

Chikunga extended her gratitude to the host, the Johannesburg Council for the Disabled, for the incredible work they have been dedicated to since 1995. 

She said their commitment to providing a holistic, essential, and value-added approach to transform and uplift the social, economic, and professional lives of persons with disabilities has been exemplary. 

“I was truly inspired when I was briefed on the range of services you provide, from social work and skills development to learnerships and enterprise development. 

“We draw direct inspiration from the incredible amount of concrete measures that your institution has undertaken to champion the social, economic, spatial, and technological advancement of persons with disabilities,” Chikunga said. 

Over the past 30 years, numerous policies, legislative instruments, and government programs have earned country recognition as a respected champion of the global disability inclusion movement. 

The Minister said this was evident during the recent G7 Forum on Disability and Inclusion held in Italy.

“Disability inclusion is not merely a matter of advocacy; it is a constitutional imperative enshrined in our Bill of Rights. Over the past 30 years, we have embedded disability inclusion into various laws that comprise the country's legislative framework,” she said. 

These include the recently gazetted Framework on Self-Representation, which has implications for the composition of Boards of State-Owned Enterprises; the National Strategic Framework on Reasonable Accommodation; and the Universal Access and Design Framework, with norms and standards for universal accessibility in the built environment.

All persons with disabilities have access to free basic education and any young person coming from a home with an income bracket of R600 000 receives free higher education through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

Further, persons with disabilities receive a monthly direct cash transfer to support their basic needs.

South African Sign Language is now recognised as the 12th official language in South Africa.

More recently, the President signed the Public Procurement Act, which mandates that a portion of government procurement be sourced from businesses owned and controlled by persons with disabilities. 

During the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana revealed that “Public procurement accounts for about 19% of consolidated government spending, totalling R1.5 trillion over the next three years”.

“As a department that represents the interests and well-being of this community, we will ensure that as the Treasury develops the regulations, priority is given to the work of institutions like the Johannesburg Council for the Disabled and others who are engaged in facilitating income-earning and productive opportunities for the community of persons with disabilities,” the Minister said. 

As government launches Disability Rights Awareness Month, the Minister called on individuals to reflect on the status of persons with disabilities globally, across the continent, and within our own borders. 

“This reflection is essential to evaluate where we have been, where we are, where we still need to go, and how we should measure progress in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. The answers to these questions are crucial for the inclusive formulation of policies and legislative instruments, as well as for the co-design of our priorities and interventions,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Basic Education urges ECD operators to participate in the mass registration drive

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Basic Education urges ECD operators to participate in the mass registration drive

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has urged Early Childhood Development (ECD) operators to participate in its mass registration drive - as it commences the registration process of ECD programmes that are operating outside the regulated system.

Nationally, the department said at least half of all ECD programmes are currently unregistered and are attended by tens of thousands of children. 

“This means that more than 20 000 ECD programmes operate outside the regulatory framework and are not part of any formal oversight process, which disproportionately affects ECDs in low-income areas - meaning the poorest children are most likely to miss out on oversight and funding,” the department said. 

The DBE’s Bana Pele ECD Mass Registration Drive puts “children first” and is an important initiative to register ECD programmes at scale to ensure every child is receiving quality early learning, development opportunities and a safe and nurturing environment.

The department emphasised that ECD is a critical period in a child’s life that lays the foundation for future learning, behaviour and health.

The goals of the drive are as follows:

• To enable government to have oversight of out-of-home settings where children are cared for.
• To support ECD programmes to comply with legal requirements.
• To ensure that more ECDs can apply for the subsidy for children from low-income households.
• To make registration administration processes quicker and less resource intensive for officials, ECD practitioners and social service professionals.

The threshold for system-entry is more realistic and attainable to reflect and accommodate the complex, varying and real-life contexts in which ECDs operate in South Africa. 

Practitioners receive live support from a contact center agent to complete their applications on the new and robust Early Childhood Administrative and Reporting System (eCares). 

The department said that the team has been working closely with the provinces to align on the new Registration Framework, processes and goals. 

“We are also partnering with other ecosystem stakeholders and NGOs who are supporting the registration drive. We are currently live in Gauteng and Free State, and will soon rollout into the rest of the provinces. 

“Through joint effort, active engagement and co-creation across the sector, we have, as a result of the drive, received over 3 000 applications and registered 800 new ECDs in the five months since applications opened in June of this year in Gauteng, and we currently have 1 479 applications in review,” the department said. 

This impacts 27 114 children and 3 116 staff members.

"To put this in context, since the ECD function shifted from the DSD [Department of Social Development] to the DBE, Gauteng has had a total of 2 380 registered centres, and through the campaign, we have added 30% more registered ECDs to this number," the DBE said.

Nationally, the department said it currently has approximately 18 000 centres registered, as the drive rolls out across the country, and its target is to have registered 10 000 more ECDs by the end of 2025. 

“We will continue to work hard and collaborate with all government, private and NGO stakeholders to ensure we do it right, so our children shine bright,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:35

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KZN commits to economic development, investment growth toward 2030

Location: News

KZN commits to economic development, investment growth toward 2030

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, has underscored the commitment to economic development, trade, and investment growth toward 2030, aligned with the province's broader strategic priorities.

Ntuli reiterated the province’s commitment during the KwaZulu-Natal Trade and Investment Conference currently underway at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

The two-day conference, which started on Monday, aims to promote, brand, and market KwaZulu-Natal as an investment destination, identify and develop investment opportunities, among others.

The conference brings together investors, government leaders, and industry captains to explore and amplify the province’s status as a top investment destination.

Delivering his keynote address on Monday, Ntuli highlighted that over the past decade, KwaZulu-Natal has attracted significant investments in key sectors, especially through developments at the Durban and Richards Bay Ports, two of Africa’s largest and busiest maritime hubs.

“Enhanced container capacity, automation, and infrastructure upgrades have strengthened KZN’s position as a regional logistics powerhouse. Similarly, the Dube Trade Port, adjacent to King Shaka International Airport, has drawn over R2 billion in investments, cementing its role in warehousing, logistics, and agriculture, including the Dube AgriZone, a major hub for export-focused agri-business,” Ntuli said.

Reflecting on the 2019 Provincial Trade and Investment Strategy’s achievements and areas for intensified effort, Ntuli said the strategy targeted R76 billion in new and expansionary investments by 2024. This is alongside the creation of approximately 68 000 jobs and an increase in the province’s national export value to R1.28 trillion.

While projections indicate that the targets may not be fully met by the year’s end, the Premier emphasised the need to redouble efforts in investment initiatives.

“The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) has fuelled growth in heavy industry and energy, particularly in metals like aluminium and steel, generating jobs and boosting export potential.

“Renewable energy investments, particularly in biomass and solar, have diversified KZN’s energy landscape, with biofuel production from the sugarcane industry enhancing the province’s green economy credentials.”

Growth in the agricultural sector

The Premier also highlighted the province’s strong agricultural sector, which has attracted investments in agro-processing, and supporting industries including sugar refining, dairy processing, and timber.

The Premier said this growth is further supported by a thriving food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical, and packaging sectors, benefiting from proximity to key ports and an expanding consumer base.

Tourism

He said tourism also remains central to KZN’s economy, supported by new hospitality investments, including the reopening of the international Hilton Hotel and the Durban Beach promenade renewal.

READ | Mayor welcomes re-opening of the Hilton Hotel in Durban
 

Noting KZN’s absence from many long-haul tourist packages, Premier Ntuli stressed the importance of positioning the province as a key destination for international tourism.

Ntuli highlighted several strategic assets crucial to the province’s competitive advantage, and these include expanded port capacities, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) like Richards Bay and Dube TradePort, and streamlined regulatory and tax incentives to attract foreign and local investments.

The Premier urged stakeholders to seize the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which offers KZN unprecedented access to a $3.4 trillion market.

Partnerships 

The Premier also addressed issues in freight rail services and port bottlenecks, emphasising that public-private partnerships could unlock efficiencies.

He further called attention to KZN’s role in automotive manufacturing, underscoring opportunities in electric vehicle (EV) component production to tap into Africa’s growing EV market.

“Sustainable growth initiatives, including green hydrogen, biomass, and digital innovation, are essential for positioning KZN as a leader in the renewable and digital economies. Collaboration with local universities and technology firms is building a skilled workforce to support industries like IT, finance, and business outsourcing, further enhancing KZN’s role as a technology and logistics hub,” Ntuli said.

The Premier emphasised the importance of resilient infrastructure, including sustainable energy investments, and inclusive growth that extends to all municipalities, cities, and rural areas.

He issued a call to action for deeper engagement with rural and municipal stakeholders, ensuring these areas are active participants and beneficiaries in KZN’s economic growth. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

GabiK
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:35

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City of Johannesburg to implement water restrictions

Location: News

City of Johannesburg to implement water restrictions

The City of Johannesburg is set to implement the throttling of water supply between 9pm and 4 am.

Set to come into effect on Thursday, the move aims to enable reservoir levels to recover overnight.

The announcement was made by Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, during a media briefing held in Johannesburg on Monday. This followed an urgent meeting held on Sunday to address the challenges of water in the City of Johannesburg.

Majodina reported that the Sunday meeting reached a unanimous agreement on the causes of the water supply interruptions and what needs to be done to restore a stable water supply to residents of Johannesburg.

The Minister noted that the 2023 No Drop report found that the average consumption of water in Gauteng to be 279 litres per person per day.

“This is 60% above the world average of 173 litres per person per day, which is an anomaly given that South Africa is a water-scarce country with limited sustainable water resources and amongst the top 30 driest countries globally.”

The 2023 No Drop report also found that water losses in Johannesburg were sitting at 35%, compared to the international norm of 15%.

The No Drop programme focuses on water conservation and demand management, aimed at ensuring that water distribution systems function effectively.

Majodina said reducing water losses requires a multi-pronged approach by the city. 

This includes amongst others, improving billing and revenue collection to increase the funds available for maintenance and to provide better incentives for water to be used efficiently, improving pressure management and replacing ageing pipes which burst frequently.

The department, Rand Water, provincial government, and all Gauteng municipalities, are working together with civil society leaders, business leaders and experts to implement a large-scale communications and awareness campaign regarding the need to use water more sparingly.

“The meeting noted that an independent body called the Platform for a Water Secure Gauteng has been established to manage this campaign and that, as a first step, a dashboard has been created on the Department of Water and Sanitation website to provide the public with detailed information on the status of water supply in Gauteng,” Majodina said.

Meanwhile, measures currently being implemented by Johannesburg Water, in a bid to save water include:

•     Throttling of water supply between 9pm and 4am, to enable reservoir levels to recover overnight. The city intends to implement this continuously from 14 November until the system has fully recovered.

•    Procurement of a panel of contractors for emergency repairs of large diameter pipe water leaks as well as increasing the number of teams on standby during the week to address leaks and burst pipes.

•     Increasing the number of repair and maintenance teams on duty during the weekend with the aim of improving leak repair response times from 48 hours to 24 hours.

•     Increasing the number of trucks available to its leak repair and maintenance teams.

•     Implementing cut-offs of illegal connections in key informal settlements.

•     Implementing advanced pressure management systems, including the installation of 45 Smart Pressure Controllers (pressure reducing valves), in addition to the 15 which have been refurbished and retrofitted to date. This is aimed at reducing water losses at night when demand is low, which will substantially reduce water losses.

•     Accelerating leak detection (to date, 12 100km water pipelines have been surveyed and 2 396 burst pipes, 6 727 leaking meters, 442 leaking valves and 259 leaking hydrants were identified and repaired.) This intervention has provided an estimated water demand reduction of 9 457 million litres per annum.

•    Working with National Treasury to put in place a Public Private Partnership for the reduction of non-revenue water, to mobilize private sector funding and expertise for reducing non-revenue water.

“The political leadership in the three spheres of government are confident that these measures will be implemented with the necessary urgency. It was agreed that similar meetings will be held every Sunday to monitor progress,” Majodina said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

GabiK
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 12:11

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SASRIA, Venda University of Technology and Gauteng Health face SIU probes

Location: News

SASRIA, Venda University of Technology and Gauteng Health face SIU probes

The Special Investigating Unit is expected to launch separate investigations into several government institutions.

This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed proclamations authorising the corruption-busting unit to probe allegations of maladministration in the affairs of:

  • South African Special Risk Insurance Association (SASRIA) payments relating to the July 2021 unrest.
  • Two contracts at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT).
  • Two contracts in the Gauteng Department of Health.

At SASRIA, the SIU explained that it will investigate allegations related to the “receipt, capturing, processing, verification, assessment, authorisation and payment of claims related to the July 2021 civil unrest”.

“The SIU’s probe will seek to establish whether the claims made were in line with applicable legislation manuals, guidelines, policies, procedures, practice notes, instructions, prescripts or practices of the National Treasury. Furthermore, the probe will ascertain if there is unlawful or improper conduct of SASRIA employees, officials and any other person or entity to corruptly or unduly benefit themselves or others.

“The investigation will probe to see if there was fraudulent conduct, including the causes of such maladministration and any losses, damages or prejudice actually or potentially suffered by SASRIA or the State and any irregular, improper or unlawful conduct by employees or officials of SASRIA or any other person or entity,” SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said in a statement.

The probe into two contracts at the VUT follows allegations of maladministration in the procurement of services for the refurbishment of student residences during 2018 and campus security and protection-related services in the same year.

“The SIU investigation will examine whether the contracting of these goods and services was done in a manner that was fair, competitive, transparent, equitable or cost-effective; [compliant with] applicable legislation manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars or instructions issued by the National Treasury, and any related unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the University or State or losses suffered,” Kganyago explained.

In relation to the Gauteng Department of Health, the investigation will hone in on the contract for the supply and delivery of three-division plastic containers with lids, small tubs with lids and dual-surface polyester film, and the contract for the supply and delivery of orthopaedic implants, fracture treatment and arthroscopy items.

“The SIU seeks to examine whether there was any conduct that is contrary to the applicable legislation, manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars, or instructions issued by the National Treasury or the relevant Provincial Treasury, as well as policies, procedures, and instructions applicable to the department and its controlled entities. 

“Such conduct may include manipulation of the department’s supply chain management processes by service providers, suppliers, officials, or other third parties, often in collusion with departmental employees or those in entities under its control, to secure undue benefits for themselves or others. This can result in unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the department, its entities or the State,” Kganyago said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 11:27

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VFS Global appointed to offer new Indonesia e-Visa on Arrival service to South Africans, 96 other nationalities

Location: News
VFS Global

  • New Indonesia Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) service to commence in the first half of December 2024.
  • Group booking facility to be available for the benefit of travel trade and conventions.

Indonesia has set an ambitious target of welcoming 14 million visitors in 2024 and achieved 9.92 million arrivals from January to August 2024. The user-friendly eVoA solution aligns with Indonesia's ongoing efforts to enhance its tourism infrastructure and services. In the African region, South Africa accounts for the highest number of tourist visitors who travel to Indonesia.

Travellers will soon be able to enjoy a quicker and smoother visa application journey through VFS Global by completing the entire process online before departure and receiving a pre-approved e-VoA. The e-VoA can be easily obtained by visiting VFS Global website, submitting all the required documents, and paying the necessary fees online prior to travel. Once the application is submitted, travellers can receive their visas on their email before departure. With the payment having been made online, travellers can enjoy a smoother and faster entry experience through E-gates or immigration counters.

Mr. Silmy Karim, Director General of Immigration of Indonesia, said, “The Directorate General of Immigration offers the latest digital solutions that enhance the experience for foreign nationals who wish to visit Indonesia. In our collaboration with VFS Global, we aim to effectively contribute to increasing the arrival of foreigners, taking into account the network and digital platform owned by our partners.”

Mr. Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group said, “Indonesia is a very popular destination for travellers across the globe, and we are excited to unveil a service that will make their visa application process quicker, simpler and much more convenient. This user-friendly and highly secure digital e-Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) service will considerably enhance the visa application experience, thereby facilitate increase in tourism to the country. We are honoured to partner with the Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia for this service."

Travellers applying for Indonesia e-VoA via VFS Global will get a dedicated email and live support in seven languages - English, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, German, and French – to help them with their queries. VFS Global will add more language support in due course of time for key markets.

VFS Global's new e-VoA platform will ensure all the documents applicants submit are complete and error-free. It also offers OCR technology which will enable applicant details to be auto populated, thereby saving time and effort for applicants. The new platform will also provide group booking facility which could be beneficials for travel trade and conventions. To further support this initiative, VFS Global has tied up with Emirates to make Indonesia e-Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) application service seamless for Emirates passengers. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VFS Global.

Media Contact:
georgec@vfsglobal.com
Corporate Communications
communications@vfsglobal.com

About VFS Global:
As the world's leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, VFS Global embraces technological innovation including Generative AI to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.

With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 69 client governments.  Operating over 3,400 Application Centres in 153 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 297 million applications since 2001.

Headquartered in Zurich and majority owned through investment funds managed by Blackstone Inc, along with the Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, VFS Global is committed to creating value for all stakeholders and leading in responsible, innovative solutions making government services more effective and efficient.

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Government activities for the week 11 – 15 November 2024

Location: News

Government activities for the week 11 - 15 November 2024

On Monday, 11 November, the Department of Basic Education has invited members of the media to the Partnerships for Education Business Breakfast, hosted by the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube at Wanderers Club, 21 North Street, Illovo, Johannesburg.

Also on Monday, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe will deliver a keynote address at the Mintek 90 Conference to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 11 and 12 November 2024.

On Tuesday, 12 November, Statistics South Africa will release the Quarterly Labour Force Survey results for the third quarter of 2024 at a media briefing in Tshwane.

On Wednesday, 13 November, the 2024 Border Management Conference and Expo takes place and the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria.

On Thursday, 14 November and on Friday, 15 November, there are no confirmed events.

 

Janine
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:40

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Private sector an important player in education sector

Location: News

Private sector an important player in education sector

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called on the private sector to consider taking their involvement in the education sector to the next level. 

The Minister highlighted that the private sector has the resources, expertise, and capacity to make an enormous impact on the education landscape. 

In addition, the country has seen more private sector entities involved in education initiatives investing in infrastructure, providing technology, supporting teacher training, and even partnering with educational institutions to design relevant, future-oriented curricula. 

The Minister was addressing the Partnerships for Education Business Breakfast held at the Johannesburg Council for The Disabled (JOCOD) in Lenasia on Monday. 

The business breakfast was designed to foster meaningful dialogue and establish partnerships to alleviate budgetary constraints in the education sector. 

Minister Gwarube used the event to outline her strategic priorities for the seventh administration and to discuss how the public-private sector collaboration can drive sustainable improvements in the education system.

“Today, I want to call on our private sector partners to consider taking their involvement in the education sector to the next level. 

“As South Africa’s seventh administration in the Government of National Unity [GNU], we are fully committed to improving education outcomes across the country. 

“We recognise that this cannot be achieved by government alone. The private sector has a significant role to play, and we are here to facilitate, support, and collaborate with you in ways that make the greatest impact,” she said, adding that a step-change investment in education means more than just financial support, it means active participation. 

The Minister invited the private sector partners to work closely with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to co-create programs that build the skills needed for a competitive and productive economy. 

“We need your input, your insights, and your innovation to help shape our education system in a way that prepares learners for real-world challenges and opportunities.”

Investing in quality education

With the country having ushered in a GNU in May, the Minister emphasised that education was an important issue that everyone can agree on, regardlessof their political inclinations.

She said every single South African has a vested interest in the quality of the nation’s education sector while adding that since the dawn of democracy, much has been done to provide access to basic education.

However, 30 years later, she said the nation now needed to shift its focus to quality education.

The Minister referred to an international study that revealed that about the 80% of learners who were tested (as a sample) could not read for meaning in any language.

While this was a small sample, she said that this was gravely concerning.

“If we do not fix literacy – which is reading, writing and counting – the DBE had failed on its core function. This is why every single priority in the seventh administration speaks to this goal.

“We must make sure through early child learning; we can achieve the goal of reading for meaning by Grade 4. Government has a tendency to focus only on the quality of outcomes like the matric pass rate – but not on the foundations of learning.

“I endeavour to reorientate this planning and thinking. Let us get the basics right and we will achieve a great deal in the education sector,” the Minister said. 

Minister Gwarube emphasised that quality education is the foundation upon which the country can build a prosperous future. 

“It is the tool that will empower our young people to innovate, to lead, and to contribute meaningfully to their communities and economies. 

“However, to achieve this, our education systems must be strong, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of a modern workforce.”

She further emphasised the need to provide not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also the skills necessary for the jobs and challenges of the 21st century which are digital literacy, critical thinking, adaptability, and creativity.

Priorities 

Touching on the priorities, the Minister said the 7th Administration has identified several key priorities which include improved access to and strengthen the quality of Early Childhood Development (ECD). 

“A strong foundation is important for literacy and numeracy. Early Childhood Development sets the stage for lifelong learning and personal development. We want every child in South Africa to leave our ECDs with a solid foundation in reading and counting,” the Minister said. 

Other priorities are improving literacy and numeracy across all phases of schooling, special education, accelerated teacher development and safety in schools. 

“Learners need safe, conducive environments where they can focus on their studies without interruption. This includes basic facilities such as dignified flushing toilets, but also learning environments free from crime, extortion rackets, contaminated food products and other dangerous chemical,” she said. 

The Minister noted the high number of learners who have fallen ill and children from Naledi in Gauteng who tragically lost their lives due to food bought from local spaza shops and consumed on school premises. 

“Last week Wednesday I began a process to ban the dangerous chemical known as organophosphate from all schools in South Africa. This is a proactive measure to prevent the risk of this chemical ever being used as a pesticide in any of our schools,” she said.

READ | Food poisoning incidents managed at highest level, says President Ramaphosa
 – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 14:39

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Food borne poisoning claims 23 lives

Location: News

Food borne poisoning claims 23 lives

Twenty-three people in Gauteng have died as a result of food borne-related poisoning after consuming food from spaza shops.

The majority of the deaths have been children between the ages of six and nine.

This is according to Premier Panyaza Lesufi who on Sunday updated residents on the implementation of by-laws to govern spaza shops.

“The first uniform approach across the province was to adopt a mechanism of reporting because we have so many deaths that are taking place that we want to isolate those that are food borne and those that need our immediate attention.

“The Department of Health has been given that task. They’ve given us their preliminary report, and in that report, they’ve indicated that the deaths that have been registered thus far. Today, we can confirm that we are at 23 [deaths] which is a sad thing,” he said.

He added that a large number of the incidents occurred within schools with the rest being within the community.

Furthermore, at least 441 cases of food poisoning have been reported throughout the province.

“Some of the people were either discharged or they just showed the symptoms of vomiting, stomach aches and related,” Lesufi said.

The Premier said from now on, the provincial government will “develop a template” that will be used by medical facilities, schools and community centres so that the province “can be in a position to track the areas that need immediate attention”.

“The Department of Health…will then develop a common template that will be utilised as a mechanism and then we’ll utilise the law enforcement agencies in terms of the cases that they have to ensure that we have the right figures.

“To us this is important because that becomes the base level of understanding the problem and it becomes the area in which we can record, trace and where intervention is needed, we can be in a position to make that intervention.”

Cracking down

Lesufi told the media that the provincial government has taken the decision to ban an agricultural pesticide that has been found to be at the root of some of the deaths.

“The MEC for Agriculture [Vuyiswa Ramokgopa] will formulate the approach on how to deal with that substance. We have agreed…that that substance is banned in our province and that it must not be found in any shops, it must not be found in any informal traders and that the law enforcement agencies will assist us to eliminate it where possible.

“But those that are authorised…the Department of Agriculture will be the institution that will give the licensing and the permission to utilise that,” he said.

The Premier added that because by-laws across municipalities are different in managing businesses – including spaza shops – a new uniform approach will be used.

“We have now formally adopted a draft gazette that was signed by the Minister of CoGTA [Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa]. All municipalities in our province, without exception, will now adopt this gazette. These are new by-laws that have been developed nationally. 

“These by-laws explain how to register a business, how business should conduct themselves and all those related matters. [This] makes it easier for law enforcement agencies to monitor.

“The next resolution we have taken is the registration of businesses. All businesses – especially that are affecting the issue of our children – have to re-register. That’s the process that will also empower those that want to open or operate businesses, but they don’t have the financial muscle or the facilities,” he said.

Lesufi announced that stakeholder meetings are expected to be held to discuss the challenges.

Speaking at the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo on Friday, President Cyril Ramaphosa assured the public that the issue is being addressed at the highest levels of government. 

READ | Food poisoning incidents managed at highest level, says President Ramaphosa

In his address, President Ramaphosa highlighted government's serious approach to the matter. 

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) said it was working with the Department of Health to develop safety guidelines for schools to effectively mitigate the risks of organophosphate pesticide exposure in school environments.

READ | Basic Education works to develop school safety guidelines

- SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:51

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Mining industry a “sunrise industry”

Location: News

Mining industry a “sunrise industry”

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has described the mining industry as a “sunrise industry” that is diversifying from bygone eras.

The Minister said this during his address at the Mintek @90 Conference held in Sandton on Monday.

Mintek is, among other things, the national research and development entity specifically focused on mining and metallurgy.

“Mintek continues to focus on conducting research that will not only have impactful outcomes for the industry but drive technological innovations that will have a positive societal impact, stimulate economic growth, reduce unemployment and inequality, as well as eradicate poverty in South Africa.

“Thanks to the work that is being pioneered by the entity, in collaboration with the industry and various research institutions, that we can now confidently describe the South African mining industry as a sunrise industry that is diversifying from the gold mining era to a diversified industry with the world’s largest reserves of platinum group metals [PGM], manganese, chrome, coal, vanadium, and rare earth minerals,” Mantashe said.

The Minister highlighted that as the need for transition towards renewable energy sources builds up steam, so will the need for PGM rise and this is where Mintek can become a “significant player” on a national, continental and global stage. 

“The need for the world to transition from high carbon emissions to low carbon emissions has increased the demand for ‘green’ minerals. As the world’s largest producer of manganese and chrome, the South African manganese and chrome sectors are equally poised to play a significant role in the global automotive and construction industries given the expected demand for green technologies and electric vehicles.

“As we continue to engage the manganese and chrome producers on mineral value-addition close to the point of production, given its existing pioneering research capabilities, Mintek can be a significant player in the global clean energy economy.

“While there is no universal consensus on the “critical minerals”, the approach by Mintek in developing South Africa’s critical minerals strategy is poised to guide not only South Africa’s, but Africa’s responsible exploration, processing, and exporting of these essential resources,” he said.

Turning to the challenge of illegal mining in the country, Mantashe revealed that Mintek is playing a role in “tackling ownerless and derelict mines by closing the holes that were left behind, thereby help in combating illegal mining and trading in ores”.

He added that the entity is also engaged in work to improving mining processes and efficiency.

“Although funding for this project is not sufficient, there is visible progress which aligns with the government's commitment to addressing environmental sustainability and fostering sustainable growth within the industry.

“Furthermore, Mintek continues to lead the way in driving technological innovations that enhance metal recovery from both conventional and emerging processes. 

“Its focus on continually improving these processes and ensuring the efficient utilisation of energy and water resources by developing technologies to minimise environmental pollution, reflect government’s commitment to safe reclamation of waste, and further promotes broader environmental sustainability within the sector,” the Minister said.

Mantashe emphasised that the success of South Africa’s mining sector – which has contributed at least 6.3% to the nominal Gross Domestic Product this year – rests on not only on research and development but also on collaboration between government, the private sector and academia.

“These collaborations are essential for driving progress and fostering innovation, thereby enable us to tackle the complex challenges we face. By working together, we can leverage diverse expertise and resources, thus ensuring that our collective efforts are aligned with the industry's pressing needs.

“Such synergy not only enhances our ability to respond effectively to market demands but also promotes sustainable practices that benefit the economy and the environment.

“For the next 90 years, Mintek is poised to continue its trajectory of innovation and excellence in mineral technology. The ongoing commitment to advancing techniques in mineral extraction, refining, and processing will be pivotal in addressing both the current and emerging challenges in the industry,” Mantashe said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 11:57

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Hlabisa gazettes standard draft by-law to empower township economies

Location: News

Hlabisa gazettes standard draft by-law to empower township economies

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has introduced a new Standard Draft By-Law for Township Economies.

This by-law, issued in accordance with the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act of 2000, aims to create an enabling environment for small businesses in townships, supporting economic inclusion, job creation and community empowerment.

“The new by-law is a bold statement of CoGTA’s commitment to transforming townships into vibrant economic hubs that provide sustainable opportunities for residents. 

“This regulation is designed to harmonise township business ecosystems by providing standardised norms and facilitating easier entry and operation for formal and informal businesses,” the department explained. 

The department said the regulation also supports businesses with tailored resources, including permit registration processes and designated trading spaces, ensuring streamlined operations within municipal jurisdictions. 

The key features of the by-law include enhanced freedom for business activities, which means any individual with a business license may now conduct business within designated areas, subject to local quotas that ensure equitable opportunities for South African citizens and residents. 

“This regulation aligns with the constitutional right to freedom of trade, supporting entrepreneurial efforts that contribute to township vitality.” 

The by-law also touches on designated business zones where municipalities are empowered to establish business zones, creating spaces specifically tailored to retail, industrial, and mixed-use enterprises. 

It also speaks of business support and capacity building and simplified permitting and registration.

“The new standard draft by-law introduces an efficient permit and registration system that provides clear guidelines for businesses, including both physical and online access to application forms. 

“Municipal officials will assist applicants in the process, ensuring timely approvals and smooth operations for new and existing businesses.” 

According to the department, the new Standard Draft By-Law for Township Economies will also cover safety and compliance assurance and inclusive growth strategy. 

“The by-law mandates that all business activities align with public health and safety regulations. Regular inspections and public awareness campaigns will ensure that township businesses uphold the highest standards, protecting both entrepreneurs and the communities they serve.”

Hlabisa said the by-law was more than just a regulatory tool. 

“It reflects our vision for township economies as key contributors to South Africa’s growth. Through inclusive, streamlined, and supportive governance, this initiative lays a foundation for sustainable economic activity in historically underserved areas, empowering individuals to participate meaningfully in the economy,” the Minister added. 

CoGTA said it remained dedicated to engaging communities and stakeholders in the implementation of this by-law, ensuring that its benefits reach every corner of South Africa’s townships.

The full gazette can be accessed at https://www.cogta.gov.za/index.php/docs/local-government-municipal-systems-act-2000/. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Gabisile
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 11:52

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Read moreHlabisa gazettes standard draft by-law to empower township economies