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The KZN South Coast, extending from Umkomaas to Port Edward, presents lucrative investment opportunities, both locally and internationally. Through its collaborative approach, South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) is working with stakeholders to identify and package these unique opportunities for investors. Deborah Ludick Manager, Acting CEO of SCTIE, said the entity is committed to …
Success in 2024 In 2024, our CEO anticipates that the Unlimited Web Hosting with Free Domain Name offer will have significantly expanded our customer base and strengthened our position as a leader in the web hosting industry. By providing unparalleled value and empowering individuals and businesses to establish a robust online presence, we will have …
Case to stop Israeli attack on Rafah was brought by South African government
“We have been patient for a long time” says protest leader
Patients at Gilton clinic complain of medication shortages, broken medical equipment, no proper furniture, staff shortages and high patient volume.
Electronic payment system for child maintenance and other services suspended
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) has announced the temporary suspension of electronic payment system for third-party funds – including child maintenance – following “attempts to compromise the system”.
The department said an investigation into the incident is underway.
“In light of this development, child maintenance beneficiaries are urged to promptly visit their nearest court with their original identity documents to receive manual payments until the electronic service is fully restored.
“The Department has assembled a dedicated forensic team to thoroughly investigate any suspicious activity. We are committed to continually fortifying our systems to prevent and mitigate the risk of future breaches.
“We sincerely apologise to all beneficiaries for any inconvenience caused and deeply appreciate the patience and understanding during this period,” the DJCOD said.
Meanwhile, this morning (Friday), DJCOD Minister Ronald Lamola, is expected to preside over the launch and renaming of the refurbished Justice College.
The launch will also be attended by Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, and Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Mandisa Maya.
“Established in 1957, Justice College has grown into reputable institution, offering comprehensive training programs for legal practitioners. From its modest beginnings as Justice Training, it now encompasses diverse aspects of legal education, including specialised training for judicial officers, prosecutors and interpreters.
“[The] Justice College’s influence extends beyond South Africa’s borders. Officials from Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, the Republic of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda regularly attend our courses, fostering regional collaboration.
“The refurbished college boast[s] state-of-the-art training facilities, ensuring an optimal learning environment for future legal professionals,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 05/24/2024 - 09:31
A connection to nature in the city is not easy to make. Finding a residential estate just 15kms from the centre of Sandton CBD seems like an impossible find. Yet Helderfontein Residential Estate in Fourways (opposite Dainfern Shopping Centre) offers a unique living experience that harmonises luxurious living with a carefully considered connection to nature. …
90 Minutes v 2 Minutes Deep research v Clicking a button To the uninitiated recognising an AI generated article can sometimes be difficult. At MyPR we do see a number of such submissions and present the findings below as a guide to the reader on what to look for when trying to spot an AI …
Homes handed over to workers of Phase 1 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project
Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, in partnership with the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), has donated 40 houses to families living in the Kgubetswana Township in Clarens, Free State.
The residential houses were built by TCTA as accommodation for out-of-town staff members working on the construction of the Ash River Outfall during the implementation of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 1 (LHWP-1).
The organisation started leasing out the houses to the residents of Kgubetswana with the intention of selling them to occupying residents at a discounted price.
However, according to TCTA Chief Executive, Percy Sechemane, the TCTA struggled to sell the houses to the resident occupants over the last 28 years due to affordability issues, as most of the occupants were either elderly or unemployed.
After consultations between the department and TCTA, the parties decided to donate the houses to their original occupants who were part of Phase 1 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Mchunu emphasised government’s commitment to ensuring the upliftment of communities.
“The donation of these houses demonstrates our commitment to better the lives of citizens, wherever we can. Through the TCTA, we will continue to develop initiatives that bring dignity and progress to our communities. This quality and the size of houses is the best, and I would have loved to do more, but that in the hands of the mayor now, the standard has been set,” Mchunu said.
In 2006, the houses were valued between R65 000 and R85 000, however, a recent valuation in preparation for the transfer of ownership to the beneficiaries indicated that the current value of the houses was between R380 000 and R640 000.
“The value of the properties being donated to the 39 families and an NGO servicing persons living with disabilities is R16 720 000. The property sizes range from 208m² to 302m²,” Mchunu said.
Sechemane said the process of property transfer is currently being finalised at the Deeds Office, and all new owners will be receiving their title deeds in the next six weeks.
“It is believed that such a massive transfer of property ownership to these families and the escalation of the property value to multiple times the original value, will make a significant contribution in boosting the property values in the area,” said Sechemane.
One of the beneficiaries and a local community leader, Sonwabo Morgan Ngubane, expressed the beneficiaries’ profound gratitude for being granted the opportunity to own their homes.
“Today we made history. We have been working diligently with TCTA over the years, helping to resolve all the outstanding issues to ensure that the organisation can reach this day,” Ngubane said.
The handover of houses to new owners was preceded by an engagement between the Minister, TCTA and representatives from Free State municipalities on water and sanitation services in the province.
During the engagement, Mchunu implored municipalities in the province to do all it can to overcome any challenges hindering water and sanitation services provision in the province.
TCTA re-assured municipal representatives that the Lesotho Highlands Tunnel closure from October 2024 to March 2025 for maintenance, will not adversely affect water provision in both Free State and Gauteng provinces.
“We continue to work with the DWS provincial office in Free State and local municipalities to explain all the processes we are following to ensure that water provision will continue uninterrupted during the six-month period of maintenance,” Sechemane said.
TCTA is a state-owned entity under the Department of Water and Sanitation and is responsible for financing and implementing bulk raw water infrastructure in South Africa, including the South African portion of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is a multi-phased initiative established by a 1986 treaty between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa, designed to provide water to South Africa’s Gauteng region and generate hydroelectricity for Lesotho.
The project includes the construction of a series of dams to harness the waters of the Senqu/Orange River in Lesotho’s highlands, for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Phase I of the project was completed in 2003 and inaugurated in 2004, with Phase II currently underway and expected to be completed by 2028. The project is envisaged to yield a capacity of 14 cubic metres per second to the Vaal River System. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 05/22/2024 - 10:07
“Significant progress” recorded in Operation Vulindela reform initiative
Director-General (DG) in the Presidency Phindile Baleni says Operation Vulindlela has made significant progress in reforming the economy since its announcement nearly four years ago.
She was speaking during a media briefing aimed at providing an update on progress in the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela.
Operation Vulindlela is a government-driven initiative aimed at accelerating the implementation of structural reforms in key sectors to achieve inclusive growth in the economy.
“Significant progress has been made in reforming our economy since the President announced the establishment of Operation Vulindlela in October 2020.
“Our economic challenges are complex and deep rooted. However, the progress that we have made in implementing the economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela give us confidence that they will be overcome. While the impact of these reforms may not be immediate, they will be significant.
Electricity
In the electricity sector, government has moved to do away with some barriers to private electricity generation – resulting in massive investment in that space.
“In the energy sector, regulatory changes have resulted in a massive increase in private investment in electricity generation with a pipeline of more than 22 500MW of confirmed projects in development.
“The reform of the energy system has now far advanced with the passage of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill and the establishment of the National Transmission Company of South Africa, amongst other key milestones.
“We are already seeing the impact of these reforms in reduced load shedding and in the proliferation of new energy projects across the country,” Baleni said.
Logistics
Regarding logistics, Operation Vulindlela is aimed at growing exports in the country through the improvement of efficiency.
“Greater private participation in port terminal operations has been enabled and the freight rail network is being opened to competition. These reforms will allow more volumes to be transported via rail and support export growth while making our logistics systems more efficient and competitive.
“The Freight Logistics Roadmap, which was adopted by cabinet in December last year, continues to guide the implementation of these reforms,” the DG said.
Telecoms and water sector
Baleni asserted that strides made through Operation Vulindlela in the telecoms sector are already bearing fruit with decreased costs in data just but one example.
“One of the earliest milestones in the economic reform programme was the completion of the spectrum auction – ending a more than 10 year delay and contributing to reduced data costs and improved network quality and reach,” she said.
Turning to the water sector, Baleni said reforms have led to the clearing of the backlog in water use license applications which stood at more than 1000.
“[The] license application system has been improved to reduce processing times. Concrete steps have been taken to strengthen institutions in the water system, to improve regulation as well as to encourage investment in the infrastructure,” she said.
Visa reforms
Government has also embarked on reforms for South Africa’s visa regime in order to attract skills and to encourage growth in tourism to the country.
“The e-Visa system is now available in 34 countries while visas have been waived for visitors from 135 countries. The recommendations of the work visa review task team, which was completed last year, are now being implemented including the establishment of the Trusted Employer Scheme and a points based system for work visas,” Baleni said.
Working together
The DG emphasised that one of the key drivers to achieving the progress that Operation Vulindlela has produced is collaboration.
“Perhaps the most important lesson of Operation Vulindlela is that we can achieve significant progress by enabling collaboration across government and putting in place clear, time bound plans and by establishing systems to support delivery and ensure accountability.
“More than 15 government departments and entities have contributed to the implementation of these reforms through new ways of working and a singular focus on implementation and results. Above all, this report demonstrates that government is fully committed to staying the course on the reform agenda and removing constraints on growth,” Baleni said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 05/22/2024 - 13:02
President Ramaphosa to sign anti-GBV and anti-corruption bills into law
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to sign into law the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill in a ceremony at the Union Buildings on Friday.
According to the Presidency, the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill is a “critical step forward in ensuring the safety and security of women from all walks of life”.
“The establishment of a council dedicated to drive a whole-of-society approach to combat this scourge is fundamental.
“The council will be the statutory body charged with providing strategic leadership in the elimination of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa,” the Presidency said.
Meanwhile, National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill paves way, among others, for the provision of the establishment of the Investigative Directorate against Corruption.
“The Directorate, which will over time incorporate the existing Investigating Directorate, will have investigative capacity with priority given to particularly serious criminal or unlawful conduct committed in serious, high-profile or complex corruption, commercial or financial crime.
“The legislation directs that the Directorate be given the infrastructure and resources needed to perform its functions,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 05/22/2024 - 14:17
Nzimande opens first-ever nuclear medicine research facility in Pretoria
The Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) facility - the continent’s first nuclear medicine research facility, which features a cyclotron for producing isotopes used in radiation therapy – was officially opened on Tuesday, in Pretoria.
The NuMeRI will provide consolidated expertise in nuclear technologies in medicine and biosciences, creating significant research, development and innovation capacity in South Africa and will assist in the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, who opened the facility, told guests the world-class facility is a product of South Africa’s long-standing cooperation with the European Union (EU) that dates back to 2012.
Under this agreement, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) collaborated with the EU to develop a South African first Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR) for the country.
“The mobilisation of innovation and technology to address the disease burden and the need to provide quality health care to all South Africans is a key priority of my department’s Decadal Plan on Science, Technology, and Innovation,” said the Minister, adding that the NuMeRI was an important pillar in this effort.
The NuMeRI is a one-stop-shop medical imaging facility dedicated to drug development and imaging-based clinical research and open to all researchers who will benefit from imaging in their product development.
“It will assist in taking bio-innovations further down the value chain from radiolabelling to preclinical testing. It will also contribute to good manufacturing practices and clinical trials,” he explained.
In addition, the NuMeRI’s capabilities will contribute to the precision medicine approach and targeted personalised therapies being developed in South Africa.
Governance
To ensure efficient governance and management, the two partners, the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, agreed to the establishment of a NuMeRI not-for-profit company (NPC).
The University of Pretoria and South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) are founding members of the NPC and draw on the knowledge of officials of the DSI, who are actively involved in the implementation of the NuMeRI.
The first phase of NuMeRI, established and hosted at Necsa for three years was made possible by an investment of close to R150 million between 2016 and 2019. The second phase of implementation at Steve Biko Academic Hospital started in the 2020/21 financial year with an investment of approximately R390 million since 2020 by the DSI.
Meanwhile, the University of Pretoria also received an additional R85 million for the NuMeRI building.
Human resource
According to the Nzimande, it is anticipated that this infrastructure will triple the current clinical PhDs and increase six-fold basic science PhDs.
To date, 20 Masters and 15 PhD students have completed their studies with a further 17 Master’s degrees and 22 PhD students finishing their studies.
Meanwhile, the NuMeRI’s research activities advance the objectives and priorities of the National Department of Health, strengthening the nuclear medicine capacity in South Africa and beyond its borders in Africa.
It also enhances South African research in medicinal chemistry, expediting the development of drugs to address national priority diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis, enabling new pharmaceuticals to reach the market sooner, and giving South African pharmaceutical development a competitive edge with global equivalents.
The research will be mainly in oncology and will cover other communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“The opening of this facility represents yet another important milestone in the development of scientific infrastructure for our country and this is embodied in the fact that the NuMeRI is the first of its kind on the African continent.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 05/21/2024 - 15:51
After 13 years in a “transit camp”, Ntuzuma flood victims are afraid they’ll die there
Boreholes to help secure water in rural areas of Makhado
The installation of water boreholes will offer relief for rural communities in the Makhado Municipality in Limpopo who have been struggling with water issues for many years.
This comes after Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, working together with the Topisa Trust under its Chairperson and Finance Deputy Minister David Masondo, handed over community water boreholes in the villages of Chavani, Bokisi, Mbhokota, Shirley and Bungeni at the weekend.
Topisa Trust, a public benefit organisation, has successfully drilled and installed eight boreholes, including four boreholes at Mbhokota, two at Bokisi, one at Shirley and one at Bungeni.
The water challenges have negatively affected the livelihoods of the economically distressed households.
Speaking at the official handover of the boreholes, Mahlobo said a total of nine tanks have been installed providing a combined 90 000 litres of potable ground water, which will also ensure that there is water provision in schools and hospitals.
“The operation and maintenance of the infrastructure is exclusively left in the hands of the communities with various committees taking the lead in ensuring seamless operational efficiency of the borehole system. This is done to foster greater autonomous organisational capacities from below and promote community ownership of the infrastructures,” Mahlobo said.
He commended the Topisa Trust for the initiative to ensure consistent water supply in the rural areas, however, he emphasised that this is just a temporary measure.
The Deputy Minister urged communities to refrain from vandalising water infrastructure.
“In Makhado, Collins Chavani, Greater Tzaneen, Thulamela, and other areas, we are faced with the challenge of people vandalising water infrastructure, stealing equipment and illegal connections.
“Let us refrain from such activities as this leads to more water shortages. We have a responsibility to take care of our infrastructure,” the Deputy Minister said.
Masondo said plans were underway to drill and install more community boreholes in neighbouring villages to ensure that those people also have access to safe drinking water. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 05/21/2024 - 11:46
Mashatile launches SANDF-led youth initiative to create jobs, entrepreneurship
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called on all South Africans to support the newly launched National Youth Service (NYS) initiative, which aims to address youth unemployment in South Africa.
The Deputy President, together with the Department of Defence and the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), unveiled the South African National Service Institution (SANSI) in Pretoria on Tuesday.
The Deputy President said the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)-led NYS is a special project that will be piloted and implemented in the country’s poorest districts, where most youngsters are unemployed.
WATCH | Launch of the South African National Service Institute
Despite interventions such as the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which has created over 1.7 million job opportunities, the country’s second-in-command bemoaned that many young people remain on the margins of real economic participation.
He cited the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, which shows that the official unemployment rate stands at 32.9%.
According to the survey, about 3.6 million (35.5%) out of 10.3 million young people aged between 15 and 24 were not in employment, education or training (NEET).
“I am pleased that the DWYPD, in collaboration with the Department of Defence, adopted a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to the skills revolution for the unskilled. This will have a significant impact on restoring livelihoods, creating wealth, and alleviating poverty and hunger among the marginalised.”
READ | Employment programmes make a difference
According to the Deputy President, the initiative aims to optimise government resources by spearheading impactful projects that assist the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
“We envisaged inviting and encouraging young people to voluntarily join the National Youth Service, beginning with a character-building programme and progressing to industry demand-based education and training, ultimately leading to gainful employment or entrepreneurship.”
The establishment of SANSI aims to develop, capacitate, and empower young unemployed Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and university graduates through a purposeful and smooth skills-to-industry pipeline that will lead to innovative entrepreneurship and long-term, sustainable employment.
The initiative also intends to transform youngsters into courageous agents of change, who will tackle the country’s most pressing issues in strategic work streams.
These include food and agricultural value chain commercialisation, maritime and ocean economy, engineering and construction, manufacturing and infrastructure rollouts, as well as skills of the future, which include digital technologies and electronics.
The initiative, Mashatile stated, represents a massive investment in the effort to get young people trained and capacitated to participate in the economy.
He views the move as a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards a stronger and more resilient society.
In addition, he said the initiative would serve as a hub for nurturing leadership, fostering skills development, and promoting community engagement.
“It will empower our young people to contribute meaningfully to the development of our country and the wellbeing of our communities,” he stressed.
The Deputy President announced that the provincial launches are still to follow, with the project aiming to reach at least 100 000 youth participants in the current fiscal year.
He urged all young individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for the NYS to submit their applications in large numbers.
“The youth must also take advantage of the opportunity presented by the programme to equip themselves with the much-needed skills.”
Minister of Defence Thandi Modise described SANSI as a necessary and important initiative and thanked the DWYPD Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for rallying her to see the bigger picture.
“It tallied with the call from all society that asked the Defence Force to do something and cries of mothers who had their hands on their heads and those who were trying to fight the nyaope. We see SANSI as that instrument in the hands of the Defence Force that will enable our children to come into their own,” said Modise.
Shifting her focus to the young participants in SANSI, she emphasised that the SANDF will ensure their punctuality, obedience, ability to give and receive instructions, and leadership skills.
SANSI launch in pictures
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“The military will keep an eye on every little cent spent on this project and will go to the future of this country and the skills that we need,” Modise said. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 05/21/2024 - 14:12
DWS one step closer to establishing national water agency
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says it is one step closer to establishing the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) to ensure sustainable, equitable and reliable supply of water from national water resources infrastructure.
The NWRIA Bill was recently adopted by the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements and the National Council of Provinces.
This follows the Bill’s adoption by the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation and the National Assembly.
READ | National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency Bill: Explanatory Summary
The Bill seeks to establish the NWRIA, which will result in the ownership of national water resources infrastructure, as well as its asset management and revenue collection-related functions being integrated under one entity.
Departmental spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said the agency will raise funding for the development of national water resources infrastructure.
The NWRIA Bill was initially drafted in late 2021, after which it received preliminary certification from the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor in April 2022.
The certification set the wheels in motion for the Department of Water and Sanitation to commence with the Cabinet process and seek approval to conduct public consultations.
The department had comprehensive, all-inclusive public consultations for a period of 120 days aimed at soliciting meaningful inputs from the public, as the key water sector stakeholders, to enhance the legislation and echo the voices of South Africans.
Mavasa said the department received over 80 comments, and these include comments from the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), National Treasury, Labour Unions, and Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), a departmental entity responsible for financing and implementing bulk raw water infrastructure projects.
The comments were taken into consideration when the Bill was being refined, and in June 2023, Cabinet approved the Bill for introduction to Parliament.
“Now that the Bill has been adopted, this means that we will submit it to President Cyril Ramaphosa for his sign-off. Once that happens, the Bill will become law, which will entail that we move with the establishment for the agency,” Mavasa said.
The department reiterated the assurance that the agency will significantly improve the provision of reliable water supply through effective rollout of national water resource infrastructure projects.
The main mandates of the NWRIA are to:
• Implement water resource management infrastructure as identified by the department’s water resources planning processes;
• Manage national water resources infrastructure;
• Generate and collect revenue from the sale of water as its primary source of income, and
• Raise commercial funding on the strength of its balance sheet and operational cash flows (actual and projected) for commercially viable projects. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 05/21/2024 - 09:52
Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health cover, today expressed its enthusiastic support for the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, highlighting its commitment to collaborating with the government to implement a balanced health coverage system. Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health, praised the landmark legislation as a critical step towards universal health coverage (UHC), …
Monument of remembrance for KZN families
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu is expected to lead a traditional cleansing ceremony and unveil a monument of remembrance for families and graves that were relocated from the uMngeni riverbanks for the construction of the Inanda Dam in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal.
The department said the cleansing ceremony, which will take place at Inanda Dam, kwaMsinsi on Monday, seeks to appease the families of Qadi, eMaphephetheni, KwaNgcolosi and KwaQiniselani-Manyuswa Traditional Authorities whose families were relocated to allow space for the reconstruction of Inanda Dam.
Before the construction of the dam in 1989, the families from four traditional authorities lived along the riverbanks of uMngeni flowing from Nottingham Road, where they also buried their deceased traditionally in the kraals, as had been done from generation to generation.
In 1987, the families were relocated to various areas, and around 800 graves were exhumed, and reburials conducted at various gravesites in the province. The majority of the remains were reburied at the Ntuzuma gravesite, while some of the graves were unaccounted for.
“Over the years, representatives of the four traditional authorities and the families have been engaging with the DWS over concerns that during the impounding of the dam, traditional rites were never observed or performed to inform and appease the departed that they were being relocated from their ancestral home to be reinterred somewhere else,” the department said.
The Department of Water and Sanitation and its KZN water entity, the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board, together with its subsidiary, Msinsi Holdings, which is responsible for the Inanda Dam water resource infrastructure, will host the traditional cleansing ceremony and erect a monument to provide closure to the affected families.
“This is in accordance with the legislations and policies that guide on the management of issues relating to land development by government, including relocations and compensations for those affected by the process,” the department said.
During the ceremony, Mchunu will be accompanied by the leadership of the provincial and local government, representatives of the four traditional authorities, the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board and Msinsi Holdings. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 05/17/2024 - 12:19
There are more than 300 shacks in Havelock next to the formal suburb of Greenwood Park
Campaign to protect Eskom transformers
As the winter season approaches and temperatures plummet, Eskom is launching a campaign under the theme ‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’.
According to the power utility, over 2 000 transformers across the country are overburdened due to illegal connections and tampering, which leads to overloading and explosions.
“This situation can result in extended periods without electricity in communities,” the utility said in a statement on Thursday.
In the past 12 months, Eskom said it spent over R300 million replacing failed transformers and mini-substations, without any revenue for its efforts.
“This threatens the ability to deliver on its mandate to supply quality electricity to its customers.”
The call-to-action campaign, Eskom said, urges electricity users to reduce their consumption to ease the load on the power system and prevent related injuries.
The utility also warned that several safety incidents and equipment failures are directly linked to these unlawful activities.
They, according to Eskom, not only endanger lives but also disrupt supply continuity and cause extensive damage to transformers and related infrastructure.
Meanwhile, illegal connections, network equipment theft, vandalism, meter bypasses, unauthorised network operations, purchasing electricity from illegal vendors, and indiscriminate electricity use significantly burden network equipment.
“As the load increases, transformers can fail and explode, posing serious safety risks to unsuspecting members of the public, potentially resulting in injuries and fatalities. The failure of transformers, mini-substations, and other equipment also causes great inconvenience to customers, as replacements can take days to months, given the frequency of such damages.”
This is the reason that members of the public can contribute to the ‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign by refraining from illegal connections and promoting responsible energy practices.
“This will help protect lives, safeguard property, and maintain the reliability of the electrical infrastructure,” Eskom added. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 05/17/2024 - 09:57
Eastern Cape small-scale fishermen get a shot in the arm
Small-scale fishermen in the Eastern Cape got a shot in the arm when Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) MEC, Nonkqubela Pieters, handed over much-needed fishing gear and equipment to help improve their fishing.
The handover comes after the 2023/24 financial year, when the department injected a R1.7 million investment to kick-start support to small-scale fishing cooperatives along the province’s coastline as part of driving agricultural development programmes.
The fishing equipment was handed over to the fishing cooperative members from Lusikisiki, Port St Johns and Xolobeni during an event held at Madakeni Village, on Wednesday.
The equipment was handed over to the fishing enterprises, including small-scale fishing permit holders, who received their fishing permits, as part of government’s deliberate effort to ensure that they have proper equipment and gear for fishing. This is part of ensuring that the communities benefit from the marine resources near them.
The equipment includes fishing rods, wet suits, fishing nets, blades, sucking pumps, safety boots, head lamps, life jackets and masks with snorkels.
Pieters said the handing over the equipment forms part of the department’s ongoing investment in coastal communities aimed at helping coastal communities with fishing permits to improve their fishing and increase income from fishing.
Pieters said while the province has 75 fishing cooperatives with fishing rights, most of them are unable to harvest the marine resources due to inadequate infrastructure, fishing gear and equipment.
She said the support will benefit five cooperatives, with 195 fishers in the OR Tambo, Amathole, and Alfred Nzo District Municipalities.
“As the custodians of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform programmes in the province, the department prioritises supporting previously disadvantaged communities and individuals with appropriate fishing gear and equipment to improve their livelihoods,” Pieters said.
Pieters reiterated that the department seeks to enable subsistence and black fishing cooperatives to derive optimum economic benefit out of their agricultural activities. - SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 05/16/2024 - 09:49
Pact to provide access for small fishers to public works facilities
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on the preferential access for small scale fisheries co-operatives to public works facilities.
The MOA between the two departments will cover areas such as small fishing harbours, forestry villages, expanded public works as well as government offices and facilities.
“This MOA will enable us to solve a long-standing problem of access for small scale fishers to public works facilities in small harbours. This will include facilitating small scale co-operatives to enter into longer term leases of up to 10 years for public works buildings,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy said on Wednesday.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala said this preferential access will enable co-operatives to invest in developing freezing, storage and processing facilities in small harbours.
The MOA and related implementation plans are expected to be completed in the second quarter of the financial year. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 05/16/2024 - 08:55
Chikunga reflects on state of road safety
South Africa has seen an escalation in the number of road traffic casualties since 1994 due to the rise in the vehicle population, which has presented a plethora of road safety related challenges.
Addressing the launch of the United Nations Global Campaign for Road Safety, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga attributed the increase of the vehicle population to access to bank loans and the ability to purchase vehicles.
“Such an increase has presented a plethora of road safety related challenges, from human factors, environmental factors, engineering and technical factors, law enforcement, as well as education and awareness factors.
“From 1994 - 1995, the vehicle population increased by one million, from 5.5 to 6.5 million. Calculating from a period between 1994 and 2022, we moved from 5.5 million to an almost 13 million (12 964 430) vehicle population,” the Minister said on Wednesday in Johannesburg.
According to statistics, 87% of road fatalities in the country can be attributed to road user behaviour.
“Research has shown that our employed youth are the ones who carry the heaviest burden of road crashes, injuries, and fatalities in our country. Statistics also show that pedestrian fatalities are highest segment of victims in the country and young economically active people between the ages of 25 and 39 constitute the majority of those who die on the roads,” Chikunga said.
In an effort to address numbers of road traffic casualties, government has developed a multifaceted approach to regulate and ultimately reduce the fatalities on the roads.
“We introduced legislative amendments to enhance preventive measures, for instance we introduced blood alcohol content limits; speed limits especially in urban areas and around schools. We also established mandatory the seat belt regulations and child restraints use.
“We examined a range of sentencing options for traffic violations, including licence suspensions under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) demerit points system, and – for specific grades of offences – community service sentences and/or mandatory licence re-testing. We put in place, advance technical norms and standards for road infrastructure and vehicles,” the Minister said.
In addition, government approved the 2016 - 2030 National Road Safety Strategy, with intermediate and long-term actions to ensure vehicle fitness, driver safety, pedestrian safety, community participation in issues of road safety.
The National Department of Transport has convened a series of national road safety policy consultative workshops and a Road Safety Summits to foster open and critical dialogue between government, industry, civil society and academia.
Recently, South Africa conducted a detailed analysis of road crash patterns in the county over the past five years (2018 - 2022).
“The analysis has shown that although we are making steady progress in reducing fatalities, we need to fast-track progress by intelligently deploying our law enforcement, conducting safety education communication campaigns at identified hotspots and at times when crashes are likely to happen,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 05/15/2024 - 13:33
President Ramaphosa delivers inaugural Elijah Barayi memorial lecture
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the legacy of unionists and anti-apartheid struggle heroes like Elijah Barayi can be found in the labour-related laws enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution.
The President was delivering the inaugural memorial lecture for Barayi held at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus on Wednesday.
Barayi was a revered trade union leader and freedom fighter during the apartheid era and was one of the founding leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
He became first President of the Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu) at its launch in 1985 and was an activist in the Mass Democratic Movement since the 1950s.
His life was lived fighting for the freedom of South Africans and fair labour practises until his passing months before South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.
“Thirty years into democracy, we have several progressive labour and social protection laws, including the right to strike. And it was the labour movement as led by Barayi which insisted that the most fundamental right that workers should have should be collective bargaining, the right to strike, the right to have a safe working place.
“So for them to be enshrined in the Constitution is something that we need to pay tribute to Elijah Barayi and the leadership of Cosatu and various other worker organisations at the time. And it is in honour of Elijah Barayi that today we have these rights enshrined in our Constitution.
“We have the Labour Relations Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act to protect and advance workers’ rights. We have laws to safeguard the health and safety of workers and a Compensation Fund to support workers who are injured or sick. These achievements form part of the legacy of Elijah Barayi. They need to be protected and advanced,” President Ramaphosa said.
President Ramaphosa emphasised that these “hard-won rights” and many others must not be rolled back.
“There are some in our country who are calling for hard-won rights … like collective bargaining, to be curtailed and for the minimum wage to be scrapped. Trade unions need to be stronger to make sure that that never happens in South Africa because it will be a total reversal of what workers have achieved and what Elijah Barayi struggled for,” he said.
The future of work
President Ramaphosa reflected that “technological advances and globalisation” are changing the labour landscape and added that in order to keep up, innovation and entrepreneurship will be crucial and this “while safeguarding workers' rights and promoting social dialogue”.
“We need to invest in technology, infrastructure and education to enable sustainable and inclusive economic growth and job creation. At the same time, we must strive to democratise the governance of work.
“In South Africa, this means strengthening and adapting labour laws, institutions and regulatory frameworks to protect workers’ rights, promote fair competition and ensure social justice.
“We need to build a more inclusive and resilient labour market that will support a just transition, greater digitalisation and other drivers of change,” he said.
The President acknowledged that although policies implemented since the dawn of democracy have “lifted millions out of poverty and despair and improved their material condition”, many other South Africans are still living difficult and challenging lives.
“As long as the divisions in our society persist, as long as some people lead lives of quality and dignity whilst others suffer at the margins of the economy, our mission remains unfulfilled. We owe it to the memory of Elijah Barayi, to the South African people and to the generations to follow that we continue to work to overcome this inequality.
“Let us honour the memory of giants like Elijah Barayi by renewing our commitment to building a better, stronger South Africa.
“As we draw inspiration from the life and times of the man we honour here today, let us deepen our resolve to advance freedom and social justice everywhere – leaving no-one behind,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 05/15/2024 - 14:00