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Given the questionable state of the water many of South Africa’s municipalities are distributing via the ‘tap’ system, it is not surprising the country’s citizens are seeking alternatives. Taking advantage of the opportunity to ‘water the nation’ are entrepreneurs, retailers and restauranteurs who are bottling water using countertop systems and/or running refilling stations. However, these …
Zikalala announces construction of over 100 Welisizwe bridges
The sight of schoolchildren crossing swelling and dangerous rivers in the country’s rural areas is expected to be a thing of the past, thanks to the R3.3 billion budget allocated to build 134 Welisizwe bridges in six provinces.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala made the announcement during the launch of Welisizwe bridges construction project on Friday.
The Welisizwe bridges project is a government initiative aimed at addressing the backlog of bridges infrastructure in rural and disadvantaged communities.
The bridges will improve communities’ access to health facilities, schools and economic amenities.
The project involves the Public Works and Infrastructure Department, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and provincial Transport Departments.
Zikalala said R1.1 billion will be spent per year in the Eastern Cape - which is the pilot for Welisizwe Bridges Programme, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the North West.
The programme targets rural provinces where there is a backlog in the construction of bridges and a threat of life during rainy seasons.
“Welisizwe Bridges not only makes access possible to many communities, but also is labour intensive, creating a number of working opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
“A number of skills like welding, ground work and soil retention are transferred to the workers. Each bridge site has seven SANDF members who oversee all the projects, five artisans and 40 EPWP workers,” Zikalala said.
The launch was held at two construction sites in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape.
Accompanied by the Eastern Cape Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha and Port St Johns Local Municipality Mayor, Nomvuzo Mlombile-Cingo, Zikalala visited the sites of the Sunrise and Ntlenga bridges, which are 50% complete.
“The Department of Defence (SA Army) has committed to providing assistance with regards to construction vehicles, construction machine operators, artisans and the expansion of the Military Temporary Bases where necessary.
“Since the programme is expected to deliver 48 legacy bridges plus 96 bridges initially announced by the President for the 2023/24 financial year, phased construction will take place simultaneously at all bridge sites with augmented resources to a total of 100 bridges in all six provinces,” Zikalala explained.
The Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme was initiated to respond to emergency situations in relation to river-crossings. In 2020, Cabinet supported the Welisizwe Implementation Model. The programme was gazetted in July 2020 as Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) No 25 as part of the Infrastructure Development Stimulus Package to boost the economy.
Planned ctheonstruction of bridges in the MTEF 2023/24 -2025/26 is as follows:
- SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Fri, 10/27/2023 - 16:24
Workers staged a sit-in at the Matjhabeng municipal headquarters in Welkom to demand that they be paid immediately
Johnson & Johnson has agreed to drop the price of bedaquiline to the South African government by more than 40%
Over 300 community development practitioners graduate through RPL
In an effort to bridge the qualification gap, 312 community development practitioners in the Eastern Cape have graduated with formal qualifications after completing Recognition of Prior Learning courses.
The practitioners, who all have extensive experience in community development, graduated on Thursday at the East London International Convention Centre with an NQF Level 5 Community Development, through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
The Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) and the Department of Higher Education and Training in collaboration with the Department of Social Development, hosted the graduation ceremony to honour the successful candidates.
In attendance was the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu and Eastern Cape MEC for Social Development, Bukiwe Fanta.
“This graduation ceremony is RPL in action. RPL makes it possible for people with informal experience to gain formal recognition of their extensive skills and competencies in order to advance their careers. It was heart-warming to witness more than 300 community development practitioners be recognised for the skills that they possess and bring to our communities each day,”Zulu said.
Meanwhile, MEC Fanta said the department is committed to encouraging communities to participate in their own development.
“Today with the graduation of these community development practitioners our dream is coming true,” Fanta said.
HWSETA CEO, Elaine Brass said that HWSETA’s first RPL capacity building project was implemented in 2016 and since then the authority has managed to ensure that 550 training providers are skilled to offer RPL accredited courses within the health and welfare sectors.
“By ensuring that there are training providers accredited to assess RPL we’re facilitating access to education and training for people that might never otherwise have had the opportunity,” Brass said.
The 312 candidates had to complete a series of steps in order to qualify. This included a process of induction, evidence collection, support site visits, observations, and submission of their work in the form of a portfolio of evidence (POE). Assessments and moderation reports were then compiled and HWSETA verified all the POEs and endorsed the process.
In the health and welfare sectors, so far 981 candidates across South Africa have been assessed through RPL, to obtain the Community Development, NQF Level 5 or the Child and Youth Care Worker, NQF Level 4 qualifications.
“By recognising the real-world experience that these practitioners bring to the table we are opening the doors for the candidates to further their studies at higher institutions and to grow within their careers,” Brass concluded.
The South African Council for Social Service Practitioners is in the process of professionalising Community Development Practice. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Fri, 10/27/2023 - 10:11
This follows a three-day conference that brought together grandmothers from across the country
Insurance is a fundamental part of safeguarding our assets, health, and future. But with a myriad of options available, navigating the insurance landscape can be daunting. This is where an policy broker shines. 1. Acts as Your Personal Insurance Advisor While some may think an insurance broker simply sells policies, their role is far …
Tracking PRASA’s progress
Many of us will recall seeing family members rushing off to catch the train to work or school thanks to it being largely an affordable means of getting around.
“Passenger rail plays a pivotal role in driving economic activity by transporting millions of people to and from their workplaces daily,” says Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Group CEO Hishaam Emeran.
This as PRASA, which is responsible for 2 228 kilometres rail tracks countrywide, has been in the process of rebuilding the passenger rail infrastructure and refurbishing vandalised stations across the country.
According to Emeran, the rebuilding and reopening of the corridors is transporting some 19 million passengers to and from places of work and economic opportunities.
In the 2020 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa committed government to fixing commuter rail “which is vital to the economy and to the quality of life of our people.”
At the time he said government was modernising the agency’s rail network. He added that work that would be conducted on the lines included station upgrades, parkway replacements, new signalling systems and overhead electrical traction upgrades.
“The positive impact of resuming passenger rail services on the livelihoods of commuters who spend over 40% of their income on transport cannot be overstated. We have saved commuters thousands of rands in travel costs, as a train ticket costs less than a litre of petrol.
“For example, a trip from Germiston to Johannesburg now costs just R7.50, easing the financial burden on commuters. These efforts underscore our commitment to stimulating local economies and long-term prosperity,” Emeran told SAnews.
The agency is making significant progress in rebuilding the passenger rail infrastructure and refurbishing vandalised stations. The rebuilding efforts have had a positive impact on the health of the economy.
“Through our rebuilding efforts, we've injected over R3.6 billion into the economy, creating over 6,000 job opportunities, with 211 small, medium, and micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) appointed. Among these job opportunities, 856 were for women, and 4,061 were youth employment opportunities,” he said.
He adds that the commitment and determination of PRASA employees who worked tirelessly to restore passenger rail services, has helped the agency in the repair of the country’s passenger rail corridors.
“A multidisciplinary war room was set up led by engineers and corridor project leaders and other senior PRASA senior managers to manage the rebuilding project effectively and efficiently. To expedite the recovery of services, an Acceleration Programme was developed to make sure targets and deadlines were met consistently.”
The end of September saw the commuter rail service from Pretoria to Kempton Park resume its commercial service, bringing the number of recovered lines by the agency to 20.
At a recent Southern African Railway Association conference in Johannesburg, the Group CEO said significant strides are being made in recovering the passenger rail network.
“To date, 26 of the 40 corridors have been recovered, with over 19 million passengers using the services to date. Just on the corridor recovery we have spent R3.6 billion to date in this financial year, with more than 6 000 jobs created,” he said at the gathering.
Asked about the public’s response to the restoration of services, Emeran said that the PRASA services have brought much-needed financial relief to commuters who on average were spending 40% of their income on transport costs.
“PRASA has restored corridors across the country to the relief of 19 million commuters that are now using the trains. We are bringing a modern travel experience for commuters and the commuters and communities love the new trains. We have introduced new high-tech electric trains on some of the corridors,” he said.
Modernisation
The new Isitimela Sabantu trains sport automated doors, built-in safety features, CCTV cameras, and they don’t move when the doors are open for the safety of commuters. The air-conditioned cars are designed for the comfort of commuters.
Meanwhile, PRASA is set to increase its capital spending over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) with a budget of over R50 billion for rolling stock and infrastructure investments. The increased capital spending is due to the reopening of some of the key corridors.
“Now we plan on spending R50 billion from this financial year and over the next three years to support the modernisation of the passenger rail network and the implementation of our turnaround plans," he said.
Progress made in rehabilitating the lines includes that of the Leralla-Germiston line, which cost under R600 million in rebuilding and rehabilitating. The rehabilitation included the six stations the train stops at, the overhead electrical cables that power the trains and the substations that feed power to the network. The train stops at Leralla, Limindlela, Tembisa, Kempton Park, Rhodesfield and Germiston stations.
Security
In the fight against theft and vandalism, in August the agency announced that its Protection Services Officers had been declared Peace Officers as per Section 334 of the Criminal Procedures Act, giving them law enforcement powers similar to those of police officers.
The Peace Officer status gives them the powers to make arrests, issue written notices in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, complete dockets, and powers to detain.
“They have been deployed to key corridors to safeguard the rail infrastructure and ensure the protection and safety of our commuters.”
The group CEO added that there are plans to train more PRASA Protection Officers to be Peace Officer across the country.
The agency has also developed an integrated security plan, collaborating with law enforcement agencies.
“Part of the strategy is to increase boots on the ground, in our trains, stations and platforms. Since implementing this comprehensive security plan, we have seen a 70% reduction in security-related incidents, an achievement that we commend,” he said.
Festive season
While the country continues to mark Transport Month, it is also inching closer to the busy festive season and the agency has plans in place to transport commuters to their various holiday destinations.
“The festive season is our busiest period for our long-distance transport services. Plans are in place for the long-distance traveling for the holiday season – whether by bus or train. Shosholoza Meyl and our Autopax bus services – Translux and Transnet, will be moving people to their various destinations during the holiday period,” said Emeran.
No doubt PRASA is on track to deliver services. –SAnews.gov.za
Neo
Fri, 10/27/2023 - 14:28
The department was ordered to put notices up in hospitals and clinics stating that children under six and pregnant and breastfeeding women are eligible for free health care irrespective of nationality
Strengthening community relationships is key to improving mental health and wellbeing for residents.
On the 25th of October, Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, hosted a multi-stakeholder mental health and wellbeing engagement with community members at the Western Cape College of Nurses.
Almost 200 residents, students, officials from various Departments and members of community organisations joined the event. During the proceedings, officials were able to detail the current state of mental health in the province, how the healthcare system responds to it and how other stakeholders have a role in improving these outcomes.
Ever since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Western Cape has been experiencing an increased prevalence of mental health cases and admissions. This has been further worsened exacerbated by increased unemployment, substance abuse and safety concern in our communities. For an example, last year we recorded 26 600 acute adult mental health admissions at our facilities and is 2 600 more than in 2021. Of these cases last year, 6 700 were substance-related psychiatric admissions.
While mental health services are incorporated into our facilities' operational budgets, we made an additional R72.4 million allocation in 2023/24 towards strengthening these services. This included:
However, poor mental health is not only a result of an illness or a disorder; anyone can experience it if one's environment does not allow for one's wellbeing. This emphasises the need for us to address the upstream factors that affect an individual, which is why engaging communities every step of the way is crucial to this end.
Highlighting the role government plays in supporting communities, Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez added that: "Mental health is everyone's business and it is an important component to one's overall wellbeing. The effective rendering of services requires a multi-disciplined approach. Collaborations are important when it comes to raising awareness and implementing interventions, as this workshop has proven. The Western Cape Department of Social Development has a close relationship with the Department of Health and Wellness in this regard. DSD also works with other government departments, the NPO sector, and community structures."
Speaking to the effects crime has on one's wellbeing, Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen said: “Being of healthy mind, body and spirit is of utmost importance for us as individuals to function optimally. The various societal issues that we have to contend with makes this quite challenging. It is vital that we support one another as we navigate through life. The daily violence we encounter has to come to an immediate end if we are to heal fully from all the trauma. This will go a long way in living an optimised and dignified life.”
Minister Dr Nomafrench Mbombo concluded the event by saying: “Health is truly everyone's business. Even though the health system plays an essential role in mental health outcomes, this engagement with the community proved that one's mental wellbeing is dependent various physical, mental and social health factors. As such, it highlights the need for us to further strengthen whole-of-government and whole-of society approaches going forward. We need to continue forming strategic relationships with all stakeholders in order for our interventions to be effective and change the lives of residents.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic Of South Africa: Western Cape Provincial Government.
CSIR launches tech entity to commercialise its technologies, innovations
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has officially launched a commercialisation enterprise to accelerate the pace and increase the scale of the commercialisation of its technologies and intellectual property (IP).
CSIR-C3, pronounced as CSIR C-Cubed, will drive all aspects of technology commercialisation and provide adequate financial resources along the technology de-risking process through to commercialisation.
According to the research organisation, the standalone enterprise will hold all CSIR IP and act as an incubator for start-up enterprises underpinned by strong technical and non-financial support.
It will enable the commercialisation of CSIR IP through the development of a network of investors and entrepreneurs.
In keeping with the CSIR’s industrialisation strategy and its vision, the organisation said the initiative is intended to enhance efforts to drive industrialisation to grow the economy to catalyse South Africa’s re-industrialisation.
This, according to the CSIR, will be driven by establishing new technology-based enterprises.
CSIR Board Chairperson, Vuyani Jarana, said the CSIR developed many technologies and products that are ready to be de-risked, scaled up, and taken to the market.
He believes that the establishment of CSIR-C3 is an important turning point for the organisation.
“The CSIR has sustained a track record of contributing to industrial development through the development of technologies that improve the performance and competitiveness of existing industrial products, processes and services,” he explained.
Some of the technologies, Jarana said, require funding to take the final step towards commercialisation, while others are ready to be taken up by the market.
The CSIR has since raised R100 million as an initial investment into the commercialisation enterprise to de-risk CSIR technologies to improve market readiness.
Meanwhile, about 18 of the CSIR’s top technologies ranging from health, logistics, and earth observation to defence and security and potential investors have since been unveiled.
The first technologies that are available for commercial uptake have since been displayed to private sector players, investors, and government stakeholders.
These include formulations for biodegradable plastic, a biomanufacturing process for lactic acid from sugar by-products, “green” cement technologies, a kit for the early detection of kidney injury, a smartphone-based diagnostic tool to detect diseases, a gunshot detection camera, and a tool that forecasts the motion of moored ships in a port.
In addition, CSIR CEO, Dr Thulani Dlamini, said the commercialisation enterprise will seize the opportunity to monetise the organisation’s IP at a greater scale and pace to achieve impact.
“Through this initiative, we will collaborate with various partners to create innovation-based companies, to support the reindustrialisation of our economy,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini added that the entity will unlock new opportunities for the CSIR and industry partners to collaborate in developing and commercialising technologies in South Africa and abroad.
He also noted that the move is in keeping with the Science, Technology and Innovation’s Decadal Plan.
The model and approach, the CSIR said, are said to have been informed by global best practices and draw on valuable lessons learnt. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 10/25/2023 - 15:12
The eleventh edition of the COSAFA Women's Championship was held in Gauteng, South Africa between 4 - 15 October 2023; FIFA (www.FIFA.com) provides USD 1.25 million annually to COSAFA for the organisation of tournaments through FIFA Forward; For the fourth consecutive year, a research project dedicated to female health was conducted during the competition.
For the first time ever, Malawi were crowned COSAFA (Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) champions, thanks to a 2-1 win over defending holders and FIFA Women's World Cup debutants, Zambia in the final.
This year marked the eleventh edition of the tournament, which provides crucial playing opportunities for women's national teams and players in southern Africa. Malawi's triumph came at a tournament that featured two teams who had qualified for the Round of 16 of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand: Zambia and South Africa..
Since 2017, FIFA has provided USD 1 million annually to COSAFA through its Forward programme to organise tournaments for senior women and youth (boys/girls) and USD 1.25 Million for the cycle starting in 2023.
"COSAFA is very happy with the year-on-year improvement in the level of play. This year we have seen a marked improvement by Malawi and Mozambique, as well as Eswatini and Lesotho,” said COSAFA Secretary General Sue Destombes.
“This development is largely due to FIFA's Forward grant to the Zonal Unions and the ability to organise consistent annual tournaments."
In addition to the COSAFA Women's Championship, FIFA Forward zonal funding also supported the hosting of the COSAFA qualifying tournament for the CAF Women's Champions League (from 30 August - 8 September 2023) in Durban, South Africa.
Working on initiatives that stimulate more women's national team activity is part of FIFA and COSAFA's ongoing commitment to promote the development of women's football competitions and advance the professionalisation of women's football in member associations in Southern Africa and around the world.
“We are proud that the FIFA Forward programme continues to contribute to women's football development in the COSAFA region. The 2023 edition of the COSAFA Women's Championship lived up to its elite status with all 12 teams performing well and new stars announcing themselves on the international stage," says Solomon Mudege, Head of Development Programmes – Africa.
"Congratulations to the Malawi women's team who emerged victorious. It's a fitting reward for all the efforts that the Football Association of Malawi is making for the development of talent in women's football and providing tailored support for female football players – under the FIFA Women's Football Development Programme and other related initiatives.
"Our sincere thanks also go to CAF and COSAFA for hosting this tournament and giving teams and officials the first-ever opportunity to work with VAR at this tournament. We are committed at FIFA to women's football development and will continue our work with CAF, the zones and FIFA member associations across Africa.”
During the tournament, COSAFA also began to implement elements of FIFA's Women's Health, Wellbeing, and Performance project (https://apo-opa.info/40afIMI). For the fourth year in a row, Dr Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi has conducted extensive research on women's health. Her area of expertise is the health of female athletes - in particular the intersection between the biology of female athletes and the socio-economic, religious and cultural context in which they live.
“This Project demonstrates FIFA's dedication to increasing awareness and fostering a deeper understanding of this subject, thereby enhancing the confidence, health, well-being and performance of female players worldwide. Our goal is to highlight the importance of tailoring training and support for women, ensuring their holistic needs are met”, said Belinda Wilson, FIFA Senior Technical Development Manager.
“We know that we have a shortage of research on women and girls in sport: Most of that research has been conducted on women and girls from high income countries; women and girls from the global north," explains Dr Mkumbuzi. And this is where her research comes in. Her main motivation is to provide a research database so that in future, more accurate decisions can be made.
"Analysis where they can say for example in Africa the problem is ankle sprains; in Europe the problem is knees; in Asia the problem is concussions. Therefore, when we direct our resources for Africa, we are making sure we direct them towards the most relevant topics, instead of having a broad approach that benefits some, but doesn't quite provide the resources that you need for everyone," Dr Mkumbuzi continued.
"That's where we are coming from and I think it's a bit like Neil Armstrong. It's a tiny little step. We hope that somewhere we have a giant leap forward with other people taking on the same type of research - but in our case it a small little contribution that we hope can then lead to smaller contributions elsewhere and collectively we have a big research database."
The full interview with Dr Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi on women's health and cultural differences will be available on FIFA.com soon.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
SA urges BRICS collaboration for tourism
South African Tourism Minister, Patricia de Lille, says the BRICS partnership is enough reason for Tourism Ministers and countries to come together and work in collaboration to grow their sectors and economies.
De Lille made the remarks during the opening session of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Tourism Ministers meeting held in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Held under the theme: "Sustainable and inclusive tourism recovery", the meeting builds on South Africa's 2023 BRICS Summit held in August under the theme: "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism".
De Lille noted that in the Summit Declaration, BRICS Heads of State acknowledged the urgent need for tourism industry recovery and the importance of increasing mutual tourist flows.
“We are here today to agree on a way forward and action plan. The BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting will exchange information and experiences in our tourism sectors.
“It is also an opportunity for BRICS Members to reach a consensus on key policy priorities for a more just and sustainable tourism recovery. We do so because we know that poverty, unemployment and inequality are the biggest problems the world faces,” De Lille said.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), international arrivals could reach 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
In South Africa, the tourism sector has risen from January to August 2023, with a total of 5.5 million international tourists arriving in the country, signifying a remarkable 70.6% surge compared to the same period in 2022.
While this resurgence is encouraging, the Minister noted these figures still lag behind the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 by a 19.0% shortfall.
However, she said the figures are encouraging, noting that within the 5.5 million arrivals, “the African region has the biggest share.”
The Minister noted that tourism can be an engine of growth of our economy, and it is also a key part of our country's Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.
“We have seen similar growth in our fellow BRICS countries. This recovery provides an opportunity to implement transformational shifts as the travel and tourism sector creates a more resilient and inclusive future.
“As international arrivals are forecast to reach 1.8 billion by 2030, this growth should be sustainable and inclusive and contribute positively to the communities, natural ecosystems, and cultural heritage,” the Minister said.
Aligning tourism strategies
De Lille also called on BRICS Members to align tourism strategies with the six lines of action, as recommended by the UNWTO's One Planet Vision for a Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector.
These include public health, social inclusion, biodiversity conservation, combating climate change, ensuring a circular economy that empowers all, and a commitment to fair and transparent governance and finance.
“Our collective recovery of tourism must be measured beyond economic impacts. A fairer development model is called for.
“It involves stakeholders at different levels in its planning and implementation and provides decent work conditions and opportunities for all, including women, youth, people with disabilities and indigenous communities,” De Lille said.
She said the meeting will explore cooperation priorities for BRICS Members to achieve a resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism recovery.
“We will look at mainstreaming sustainable policies and practices so we can take steps to support better the transition to a green, low emissions and climate-resilient tourism economy.
“We will look at developing more sustainable tourism business models using technology to manage visitor flows better. We will encourage a paradigm shift by reconsidering perceptions of tourism success. Is it just arrival numbers or the actual impact on communities?” she asked. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 14:14
Intimidation has prevented repairs to parks in Delft, Cape Town
In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining optimal health and fitness requires more than just regular exercise and a balanced diet. Nutritional supplements have become an integral part of many people’s daily routines, offering targeted support for various health and fitness goals. Let’s delve into some of the top categories of supplements that are shaping the wellness …
Some well-intentioned initiatives make the situation worse
Liquor Amendment Bill under the spotlight
Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has acknowledged the message of the 7th Bi-Annual Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) to pass the Liqour Amendment Bill.
“I hear you and that is the message “Pass the Liqour Amendment Bill now.” From the department of Social Development and all other government people that are here, [we] take note of what has been brought to us here. This is a positive message and a message that says to us we must listen when you stand up to talk to us.
"Let us make the 7th Bi-Annual Global Alcohol Policy Conference remarkable by accomplishing the things we collectively pledged to achieve and for collective action to put the needs of the world’s most vulnerable citizens ahead of profit,” Minister Zulu said.
The Minister was delivering the keynote opening remarks on the occasion of the 7th GAPC held in Cape Town on Tuesday.
GAPC is the leading forum for the world’s alcohol policy makers, advocates, researchers, civil society activists and practitioners.
The official launch was hosted by the Minister and attended by congregants from over 50 countries around the globe. Some of the key concerns that stood out from some speeches from keynote speakers, were the fact that profits are being put ahead of lives.
Zulu emphasised that the country’s approach to alcohol policy has to shift from one where the objectives revolve around economic growth to the interest of public health, with specific focus on reducing alcohol-related harms.
“I hope the conference will be an important turning point that will provide impetus for the much-needed focus on the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.
Draft Policy on the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
The Minister said that the conference came at a perfect time after a month of government tabling the Draft Policy on the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Use Disorders to Cabinet for public consultation.
The policy provides a framework for decision-making within the whole sector about where the greatest drug-related harms are occurring, and identifying the best means to address those harms.
“We are pleased that Cabinet approved the Policy for public consultation and recommended the establishment of a special committee of Cabinet Ministers to ensure coordination, strategic alignment and decision making in harm prevention and reduction strategies across government.
“I am therefore confident that this policy conference under the theme ‘Investing in People Before Profits: Building momentum towards the Framework Convention on Alcohol Control,’ will provide the necessary political impetus and generate new research and evidence-based ideas in drug and alcohol policy,” the Minister said.
Addiction
The Minister highlighted that government is concerned that up to one in three teenagers are addicted to drugs and alcohol in South Africa.
This figure is based on the numbers of young people presenting themselves to treatment facilities.
‘While we are concerned about the harm that all drugs have on individuals, families and or society as a whole, there is a significant body of evidence from research institutions such as the South African Medical Research Council and Soul City that suggest that alcohol is one of the most abused substances that causes the most harm to the most people in our country,” Zulu said.
The Minister further highlighted to delegates that research further shows that alcohol fuels crime, mortality rates and fatal injuries, and contributes to the unacceptably high levels of vehicle crashes in South Africa.
At the same time, she said, alcohol significantly contributes to gender-based violence and risky sexual behaviours associated with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
The Minister added that time and again, the quarterly crime statistics show that alcohol abuse is one of the main contributors to crime around the country.
She said that government is concerned about the emerging trends among young people of mixing alcohol with energy drinks.
“In the face of these growing challenges, our people have demanded that government take necessary measures to address the harmful use of alcohol.
“I must acknowledge that this has not been the easiest of tasks. Any measures to prevent and reduce alcohol harm has been met with a monumental and well-resourced push back that seem to put commercial interests before people from the alcohol industry.”
The Minister emphasised that government’s objective is to regulate the sale and supply of alcohol to the public, not motivated by revenue collection, but rather by purely by the interests of public health and wellbeing, with the particular purposes of protecting children and young people, reducing alcohol consumption, and preventing violent crime and other forms of alcohol related harm.
She said this objective arises from the overwhelming evidence of significant harm to individuals and society caused by the harmful use of alcohol. –SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 10/24/2023 - 15:42
As part of GE Vernova's (https://www.GEVernova.com/) commitment to support communities in areas it operates in, GE Vernova's Steam Power business, is proud to announce the handover of the Botleng Extension 6 Community Health Centre, a first-of-its-kind primary healthcare facility in Delmas, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The clinic was officially handed over to the Mpumalanga Department of Health and marked by an official opening ceremony in Nkangala District of Victor Khanye Local Municipality.
The Botleng Extension 6 Community Health Centre represents an approximated R75 million investment towards the turnkey construction and full equipment kitting of the clinic in efforts to uplift the local healthcare infrastructure. The clinic will play a critical role in meeting the growing healthcare demands of the community and its surrounding areas. Up to 100 000 local beneficiaries will have access to comprehensive primary healthcare services including 24-hour emergency care, maternity, dentistry, eyecare, medical dispensary, and mental healthcare services.
While Botleng Extension 6, part of a rapidly growing settlement in Victor Khanye Local Municipality was being serviced by a mobile clinic with restricted services that visits the area twice a week, the new clinic will alleviate the community's burden of travelling great distances to access quality healthcare services. The state-of-the-art facility boasts of a cutting-edge maternity ward equipped with premium GE Healthcare ultrasound/V-scan equipment, ensuring precision healthcare for expectant mothers and their babies. In addition to this, GE Healthcare will roll-out technical, clinical, and soft skills training programmes for nurses and midwives at the clinic, enhancing the quality of healthcare services.
Premier of Mpumalanga, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane expressed the provincial government's gratitude for this significant contribution to the healthcare infrastructure in the region. "This facility will be heralded and safeguarded by generations to come. Not only has it exceeded our standard infrastructural requirements but should be used as a benchmark for public service and infrastructural excellence," Mtshweni-Tsipane stated. "Thank you for leading by example and being a prime example of how private public partnerships can significantly aid our efforts and serve as catalysts for sustainable employment opportunity creation in our communities."
In line with its continuous strategy to empower local businesses, GE Vernova's Steam Power business supported local businesses and communities throughout the construction process where GVK-Siyazama Construction served as the principal contractor, overseeing construction activities. A minimum of 30% of the work was sub-contracted to local Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and the general workforce was sourced entirely from the local community and empowered through accredited trade and skills development trainings. It was critical for the clinic's design approach to incorporate ecologically conscious solutions like rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient fittings and low maintenance landscaping throughout the construction process.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Emmanuel Thouet, GE Vernova's Steam Power SSA Regional Leader, expressed the company's commitment to driving social change through public-private partnerships. " Over the years, large infrastructure projects have provided us opportunities to create jobs and develop the critical skills needed to drive continuous growth in the energy sector. We recognize that for us to make a sustainable impact, we must be deliberate in our efforts to support social change," he stated. "Through our expertise and innovation, we are able to address social challenges by creating shared value. We are proud to be part of this transformative project that will significantly improve the social and economic vitality of the Botleng Extension 6 community."
Zandile Shange, Eskom General Manager for Kusile Power Plant Project, expressed her enthusiasm for the community-centric partnership Eskom enjoys with GE Vernova's Steam Power business in delivering this essential healthcare facility. " Health and wellness are fundamental human rights for all South Africans," Shange said. "The Botleng Extension 6 Community Health Centre represents a crucial step in providing accessible healthcare services to the people of this region. We are proud to be part of this initiative, which aligns with our mission to support the well-being of our communities and in accordance with one of our core values, ‘Sinobuntu'."
The Botleng Extension 6 Community Health Centre stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between industry leaders, government agencies, and the community to address critical healthcare needs and uplift local communities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GE.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Kashumba Macombe
Middle East & Africa Content Creation & Communications Specialist
GE Vernova
+27 71 372 3110
Kashumba.Macombe@ge.com
About GE Vernova:
GE Vernova is a planned, purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses of Advanced Research, Consulting Services, and Financial Services. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world's challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with more than 80,000 employees across 140+ countries around the world. GE Vernova's Steam Power business provides a broad portfolio of technologies and services that help industrial and non-renewable energy power plants deliver reliable power as they transition to a lower carbon future.
GE Vernova's mission is embedded in its name –it retains its legacy, “GE,” as an enduring and hard-earned badge of quality and ingenuity. “Ver” / “verde” signal Earth's verdant and lush ecosystems. “Nova,” from the Latin “novus,” nods to a new, innovative era of lower carbon energy. Supported by the Company Purpose,The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova will help deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova (https://www.GEVernova.com/) and LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.info/3Qc09j6).
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N West appeals for calm after reports of alleged poisonous food from spazas
The North West Provincial Legislature is appealing to communities to remain calm after receiving messages from the public “panicking about the death of children after allegedly consuming poisonous food items bought from spaza shops”.
The North West Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Tourism, Agriculture and Rural Development, chaired by Bitsa Lenkopane, has also called on communities to remain vigilant.
The committee urged the provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism and other relevant stakeholders to investigate these disturbing allegations. It urged the department to join hands with municipalities and activists to create awareness to ensure that communities understand the State’s mandate in such matters.
“We are calling on the department to do inspections and furnish the portfolio committee with a detailed report, which should indicate trader categories and their respective consumable products, which are further extended to school learners.
“These must include trader status, whether licensed or not, compliant with the business regulation act or not -- which must indicate compliance with the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 about foreign-owned business,” Lenkopane said.
The committee said it has been inundated with calls from members of the community following media reports on children's deaths after reportedly consuming poisonous food items bought from spaza shops.
Earlier this month, the Gauteng Health Department confirmed the deaths of at least five children due to suspected food poisoning. This after the children allegedly consumed poisonous food from local shops and vendors.
“While no formal and or authenticated information and evidence has been received, the portfolio committee has been receiving calls from panicking parents and community members seeking remedies to protect communities from alleged traders who sell them products containing deadly poison,” said Lenkopane.
The committee further urged officials to regularly communicate with communities through different platforms to ensure that they are accountable and responsible for all the operating businesses across the province to reduce the amount of panic.
“The portfolio committee will rely on the report from the department that should be submitted within seven days and further engage communities on the work done and/or systems in place, including communication of the database of all businesses, regulated or not.”
In addition, the committee appealed to communities to refrain from causing unnecessary unrest, and rather report incidents and provide proof to the nearest police service.
“They should also provide accurate information to any government officials who might be dealing with the situation,” said Lenkopane. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 10/20/2023 - 11:02