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UIF task team to intervene in Belville Labour Centre

Location: News

UIF task team to intervene in Belville Labour Centre

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has dispatched a task team to the Bellville Labour Centre to intervene in concerns that have come to light through a media article about UIF payments and related matters at the centre.

UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping said on Friday: “We need to have a thorough understanding of the specific issues on the ground so that we can intervene swiftly. It bothers me when I hear that workers are struggling to get what is due to them. Whatever the issue, it will be addressed. I will take it upon myself to see to it.”

The fund said the task team, which is from the UIF head office in Pretoria, is expected to “establish facts and submit a report to [Maruping] within a week”.

“In recent times, the UIF has introduced various mechanisms to improve customer experience, including mobile buses, queue management, kiosks, online application platforms, free Wi-Fi at all labour centres, a data free mobile application, as well as a free USSD platform that can be used on any mobile device from anywhere,” the fund said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Sun, 09/24/2023 - 14:52

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KZN Premier calls for urgent action to respond to climate change

Location: News

KZN Premier calls for urgent action to respond to climate change

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has called for urgent and collective action in order to respond to the impact of climate change.

This, the Premier said during an engagement with various strategic and alliance partners at the 2023 Climate Week in New York, must be accompanied by meaningful funding and the implementation of commitments.

Dube-Ncube bemoaned the fact that those who have contributed the least to climate change and are the most vulnerable -- mainly residing in the developing world -- have been the most affected by the impact of climate change. 

“Governments must strengthen the implementation of current policies and strategies to hold corporates responsible for their contribution to the climate change impacts and to ensure their accountability. 

“The corporates, on the other hand, must put their money where their values are. We urgently need collective action to mitigate, while we largely adapt to the climate change impacts,” Dube-Ncube said.

In its 15th year, Climate Week is regarded as the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together some 400 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid and online. 

Each year, business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, gather to drive the transition, speed up progress, and champion change that is already happening.

KwaZulu-Natal is one of the co-chairs of the Climate Group. The group acts as the Secretariat of the Under2Coalition, the largest network of subnational governments committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.

KwaZulu-Natal represents the voices of the vulnerable people of Africa, as the Premier is the co-chair for the Africa Region.

This year, Climate Week NYC is being held from 17 - 24 September 2023. 

At the event, the Premier met with the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, and the two discussed issues of common interest, including lessons on climate insurance, and establishing learning platforms, which will be shared by both KwaZulu-Natal and the California subnational government, to push the urgency of action. 

The two leaders also discussed climate risks and vulnerabilities, as both California and KwaZulu-Natal share similar experiences, which is flash floods, droughts and sea level rises.

Dube-Ncube said Climate Week and the engagement with the Governor could not have come at a more poignant time, as KwaZulu-Natal and the rest of Africa are more susceptible to violent weather patterns. 

The Premier said while making good progress, the province is still reeling from the April 2022 floods and its infrastructure has not yet fully recovered.

“Just this weekend, we witnessed devastating tidal waves in the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal which destroyed infrastructure and saw a number of people injured. This clearly demonstrates that our province is in the eye of the storm and, as a result, urgent action is required from all stakeholders,” Dube-Ncube said. 

On behalf of the provincial government, the Premier conveyed a message of support and condolences to the families of the victims of the high tidal waves, which left a trail of destruction in its wake.

Dube-Ncube said the conversations at the 2023 Climate Week will not end at the event but will shape the onward conversations of COP28, scheduled to take place in November/December 2023 in the United Arab Emirates.

“This is where governments and non-parties will be advancing the voice of inclusivity.

“As part of the underdeveloped and developing worlds, we carry a clear mandate to advance the aspirations of our regions and in particular, the African continent, for environmental justice, food security and financing of mitigation efforts,” the Premier said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK
Thu, 09/21/2023 - 10:02

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Switch to Shoprite’s Money Market Account for stress-free SASSA pay outs – free of charge

Location: MyPR

For a hassle-free experience, SASSA grant beneficiaries can switch their payments to a Shoprite Money Market Account and enjoy the many benefits offered by South Africa’s lowest-cost, fully-fledged, transactional bank account. Switching is free of charge, and there are no obligations to sign up for any additional services. The benefits of a Money Market Account …

Read moreSwitch to Shoprite’s Money Market Account for stress-free SASSA pay outs – free of charge

Is Umhlanga a Nice Plot to Live

Location: MyPR

The allure of coastal living, combined with the comforts of urban sophistication, makes Umhlanga a unique and sought-after location in South Africa. But what truly defines this coastal town? Is Umhlanga genuinely a great place to reside? Let’s explore.   Coastal Charm with Modern Amenities Umhlanga seamlessly merges the best of both worlds. On one …

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Cabinet firmly committed to NHI implementation – Minister Ntshavheni

Location: News

Cabinet firmly committed to NHI implementation - Minister Ntshavheni

Cabinet is forging ahead with “its firm commitment for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI)”.

This according to Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who held a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.

Ntshavheni explained that the NHI represents a way to ensure that all South Africans have access to quality healthcare.

“The commitment to NHI is premised on the fact that both public and private health sectors are not sustainable. The current parallel and fragmented systems must be integrated into a national system so that all resources are accessible to all people.

“The implementation of the NHI is premised on the implementation of a comprehensive approach to accelerating infrastructure improvement in the public sector. This is not something that should be contemplated separately from the reforms in the NHI Bill,” she said.

Ntshavheni explained that through the NHI, the pressure on “congested public facilities” will be lifted.

“Focusing narrowly on the intended reforms of private financing of healthcare has detracted from the Bill’s intended reforms of public and private provision of services. It is in reforming the service platform that space will be created for decongesting public facilities.

“When the NHI Fund is able to purchase services from both public and private providers, we will begin to see the pressure lifted from highly pressured public facilities,” she said.

The Minister emphasised that during every phase of implementation of the NHI, progress is monitored.

“The intentional distortion that the passage of the Bill will reform everything overnight is mischievous at best. The transitional provisions are clear that the implementation will take time and that the reforms will be implemented in phases.

“At each and every phase there will be evaluation of the impact and the necessary gaps and corrective measures will be taken,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Thu, 09/14/2023 - 11:30

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Labour Appeal Court clarifies the requirement for a claim of constructive dismissal based on mental ill health

Location: MyPR

By Yonela Sicam, Senior Associate, Bowmans South Africa On 17 August 2023, in the matter of Sanlam Life Insurance Ltd v Mogomatsi and Others the Labour Appeal Court (LAC) found that an employee who alleges constructive dismissal based on mental ill health must prove that the employer knew or ought to have known of the …

Read moreLabour Appeal Court clarifies the requirement for a claim of constructive dismissal based on mental ill health

Understanding the Importance of Location in Substance Recovery

Location: MyPR

Why Location Matters When it comes to recovery, the location of your treatment facility can play a significant role in your journey towards sobriety. If you’ve been asking yourself, “Is there a rehab near me?” then you’re already on the right track.   Community Support Systems Being in a treatment facility close to home can …

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Chiropractor in Pretoria Enhances Well-being with Expert Care

Location: MyPR

Chiropractor in Pretoria Enhances Well-being with Expert Care Pretoria, South Africa – September 11, 2023 – Joint Health Chiropractic Pretoria is proud to announce its commitment to delivering top-notch chiropractic care to the Pretoria community. With a team of skilled professionals, state-of-the-art facilities, and a dedication to holistic well-being, Joint Health Chiropractic Pretoria has become …

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UIF launches free mobile app to speed up its services

Location: News

UIF launches free mobile app to speed up its services

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has launched a zero-rated mobile APP, as well as a free USSD platform to enable clients to access UIF services at any time.

This will go a long way to reducing long queues at the labour centres.

The app, which was launched on Monday, will bring services to the people and enable UIF clients to access services at any time, from anywhere at no cost.

Unveiling the platforms during a media briefing in Cape Town, Maruping said the USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) and mobile APP will promote greater self-service for clients, reduce long queues in the labour centres and alleviate pressure on officials. 

UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping believes the platforms will put more money in the pockets of clients because they will save on transport costs currently incurred when visiting labour centres.

“There is really no better time than now to do this to ensure that workers begin to access services at their fingertips. We are moving with the times to create a better, more capable UIF that leverages technology to respond to challenges on the ground and changes in the external environment,” Maruping said. 

He said the UIF recognises that most of their clients may not be in the best financial position when they need to access their services, hence the initiative to launch the mobile app and USSD platform.

Maruping said the two platforms also enable clients to check their UIF registration status, which will improve non-compliance with the Unemployment Insurance Act by employers who fail to register, declare and pay contributions for their workers.

“By simply dialling *134*843# on any cellular phone for free, clients can, among others, submit a continuation of payment or check their claim and payment status, instead of visiting a labour centre. The same services can also be accessed on our mobile APP, which can be downloaded from either Google Play Store, App Store for IOS phones or Huawei App Store,” Maruping explained.  

The Commissioner also called on all UIF contributing workers to use these platforms to check their registration status, whilst in employment, and not wait until they are no longer working. 

“If you find that your employer has not registered you, but is deducting UIF, then immediately report this to a labour inspector so it can be corrected,” Maruping said.

The Commissioner stressed that the fund is committed to taking bold steps to improve service delivery.

The UIF will go on roadshows to educate clients in all provinces and implement a mass media campaign. 

“In addition to these new platforms, we recently installed free Wi-Fi at all labour centres around the country to enable clients to access our services online and reduce the time it takes to queue for assistance. Meanwhile, our mobile buses continue to take services to the doorsteps of clients, especially in deep rural and remote areas,” Maruping said.

Maruping also visited the Bellville labour centre to interact with clients and promote the platforms. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 09/05/2023 - 10:42

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South Africa’s GDP grows by 0.6%

Location: News

South Africa's GDP grows by 0.6%

Stats SA has announced that South African real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 0.6% in the second quarter of 2023, which measured is from April to June.

Six industries on the supply side of the economy grew in the second quarter, with manufacturing and finance driving much of the upward momentum.

“On the demand side, the country benefitted from a sharp rise in investments in machinery and equipment, which included products related to renewable energy. Despite a decline in the overall household consumption, consumers continued to spend more on restaurants and hotels,” Stats SA said on Tuesday.

The GDP growth in the second quarter follows a 0.4% rise in the first quarter.

“Manufacturing production expanded by 2.2%, mainly pushed higher by petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products. Manufacturers in metals, metal products, machinery and equipment also recorded a good quarter, driven in part by increased demand for crude steel.

“Increased investment in South Africa’s automotive sector helped lift the production of transport equipment and motor vehicles. The finance industry edged higher by 0.7%, boosted by financial intermediation, insurance and real estate services,” Stats SA said.

After two consecutive quarters of decline, South Africa’s agriculture sector recorded a positive performance with a 4.2% rise in output, which was driven by increases in the production of field crops and horticulture products.

“Favourable weather conditions, increased cultivation and a rise in export demand provided further support. Mining looked good too, posting a second straight quarter of growth. Platinum group metals, gold, minerals classified in the category ‘other metallic minerals’ and coal helped lift the industry.

“The personal services industry was positive on the back of higher growth in education and health. The rise in general government services was mainly due to an increase in staff numbers.

“Not all industries had a good second quarter. After 18 months of consistent growth, the transport, storage and communication industry stumbled, declining by 1.9%. Transport support services were lacklustre and there were declines in land freight and road passenger transport,” Stats SA said.

The trade industry was down on the back of weaker retail and wholesale figures.

The overall decline was partially offset by increased activities in the motor trade, tourist accommodation and restaurant, catering and fast-food sectors.

“After holding its head above water for nine months, the construction industry lost steam in the second quarter. A decline in economic activity related to non-residential and residential buildings pulled the industry lower. There was a small uptick in construction works, but this was not enough to lift the industry into positive territory,” Stats SA said.

Investments in machinery and equipment

Stats SA noted that a sharp rise in investments in imported machinery and equipment – mostly for electricity infrastructure – drove gross fixed capital formation higher.

“This was supported by an increase in sales of locally produced electric motors, generators and special purpose machinery. The demand for machinery and equipment contributed to the 3.3% rise in imports. Imported products included those related to renewable energy, batteries, vegetable products, artificial resins and plastics, base metals and articles of base metals, and animal and vegetable fats and oils.

“South African exports edged higher by 0.9%, driven by increased trade in chemical products; prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco; vehicles and transport equipment; mineral products and machinery and electrical equipment.

“Household consumption decreased in the second quarter as consumers cut back on a variety of goods and services. Despite the overall decline, households continued to increase their spending on restaurants and hotels, representing a seventh consecutive quarter of growth for this category,” Stats SA said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

nosihle
Tue, 09/05/2023 - 12:29

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Life annuity or living annuity?

Location: MyPR

The Human Side Of Money Deciding when to retire is a massive decision we will all face one day. Apart from preparing ourselves for the lifestyle changes that come with stopping work, we must also make some decisions about our retirement investments. One of these decisions is choosing a life annuity of a living annuity …

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The insurance industry comes under fire as the cost-of-living crisis increases

Location: MyPR

The world is currently facing one of the harshest economic climates experienced since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, one of the worst financial crises in modern history. This raises concerns that more people may turn to fraud to address the financial pressure they are experiencing. “Rising inflation and the current war in Ukraine are two …

Read moreThe insurance industry comes under fire as the cost-of-living crisis increases

Uber Eats rolls out recent safety initiatives for delivery people

Location: MyPR

At a recent event, Uber Eats reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of delivery people with two new initiatives. As part of this, Big Boy Fourways, have agreed to provide delivery people with helmets at a 50% discounted rate. “Our relationship with delivery people is of the utmost importance,” says Charles Mhango, Head of Operations, …

Read moreUber Eats rolls out recent safety initiatives for delivery people

How financial institutions can safeguard against deepfakes

Location: News
iiDENTIFii

In a matter of seconds, it is possible to hold your phone up to your face and see what you will look like in 40 years. Or you could fuse the image of your face with that of a celebrity. You could even record a birthday song for a friend in the voice of their favourite artist. With deepfake technology, it is simple and possible to edit a person's facial and vocal likeness with alarming accuracy. For the most part, this can be seen as harmless entertainment. But what if your likeness was used to drain your savings or commit fraud? As the technology to create deepfakes becomes easier and cheaper, the need to guard against these cybercrimes have come to the forefront.

A deepfake is a video, visual, or audio recording that has been distorted, manipulated, or synthetically created using deep learning techniques to present an individual, or a hybrid of several people, saying or doing something that they did not say or do. These deepfakes are often used in digital injection attacks which are sophisticated, highly scalable, and replicable cyberattacks that bypass the camera on a device or are injected into a data stream.

Murray Collyer, Chief Operating Officer of iiDENTIFii (http://www.iiDENTIFii.com/), says, “Digital injection attacks present the highest threat to financial services, as the AI technology behind it is affordable, and the attacks are rapidly scalable. In fact, a recent digital security report by our technology partner, iProov (http://www.iProov.com/), illustrates how, in an indiscriminate attempt to bypass an organisation's security systems, some 200-300 attacks were launched globally from the same location within a 24-hour period. As more and more South Africans embrace digital banking, deepfake technology is a serious threat.”

Recent research (https://apo-opa.info/3L09o3T) by Discovery Bank and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) into the future of retail banking in South Africa found that most (86%) South Africans are ready to do all their banking digitally, particularly via an app. Much of this trend stems from previously unbanked people. The Covid-19 pandemic naturally accelerated the trend.

As more South Africans set up digital accounts and do their banking online, financial crime and cybercrime have become more inextricably linked than ever before. Interpol states that financial and cybercrimes are the world's leading crime threats and are projected to increase the most.

Collyer adds, “Deepfake technology is one of the most rapidly growing threats within financial services, yet not all verification technologies are resilient to it. Password-based systems, for example, are highly susceptible to fraud. South Africa needs to strengthen their technology to outwit cyber criminals.”

While deepfakes are a severe threat, the technology and processes exist to safeguard financial services companies against this method of fraud.

A growing percentage of face biometric technology incorporates some form of liveness checks - such as wink and blink - to verify and authenticate customers. Liveness detection uses biometric technology to determine whether the individual presenting is a real human being, not a presented artefact. Therefore, this technology can detect a deepfake if it were to be played on a device and presented to the camera.

While many liveness detection technologies can determine if someone is conducting fraud by holding up a physical image (for example, a printed picture or mask of the person transacting) to the screen, many solutions cannot detect digital injection attacks.

Collyer says, “Specialised technology is required to combat deepfakes. Within iiDENTIFii, we have seen success with the use of sophisticated yet accessible 4D liveness technology, which includes a timestamp and is further verified through a three-step process where the user's selfie and ID document data are checked with relevant government databases. This enables us to accurately authenticate someone's identity.”

Collyer will be part of the speaker panel that will present to delegates at the 8th instalment of the AML, Financial Crime Southern Africa Conference (https://apo-opa.info/3KYm7Ec), that also includes representatives of companies such as Financial Intelligence Centre South Africa, Investec, Sanlam, Stanlib, Albaraka Bank, Standard Bank Mozambique, iiDENTIFii, Nice Actimize, SABRIC, Rand Merchant Bank, S & P Global Intelligence, FirstRand Namibia, Corruption Watch and many more.

The high-level conference will be hosted on 6 & 7 September at the Indaba Hotel Fourways South Africa and is attended annually by professionals from banks, insurance and investment companies, service providers, government, and MLCO's from non-designated financial service providers.

“With the right technology, it is not only possible to protect consumers and businesses against deepfake financial crimes but also create a user experience that is simple, accessible and safe for all,” Collyer concludes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of iiDENTIFii.

About iiDENTIFii:
iiDENTIFii is a world-leading remote face authentication and automated onboarding technology platform. It fulfills the needs of customer-focused organisations that are required to authenticate and onboard customers. Using a frictionless and non-invasive automated proven process that meets customer intelligence and risk and compliance goals, iiDENTIFii ticks all the boxes from a governance and legislative perspective. https://iiDENTIFii.com/ 

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Call to support the environment clean

Location: News

Call to keep the environment clean

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Makhotso Sotyu has called on all South Africans to do their part in keeping the environment clean and habitable.

“All South Africans have the responsibility to ensure that their environment is clean, green and habitable. Poor waste management poses health and environmental risks. Everyone can do something to attain clean-living spaces.”

The Deputy Minister made this call during a clean-up and greening activity in Bothaville in the Free State on Friday.

The Constitution of South Africa guarantees everyone the right of access to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being and to have the natural environment protected for the benefit of current and future generations. 

She said the collaborative effort between the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and Lejweleputswa District and Nala Local Municipalities aims to emphasise the importance of active citizenry involvement in safeguarding natural resources and curbing waste pollution in communities.

“What we are doing here today epitomizes the Good Green Deeds programme, a ground-breaking Presidential initiative that seeks to mobilise all sectors of South Africa to become more environmentally conscious, leading to a deal for nature.”

The Good Green Deeds programme seeks to change people’s attitudes, behaviours towards responsible management of waste, and keeping their neighbourhoods clean, green and safe.

“This is a clarion call to all sectors in society to do their part to contribute to Good Green Deeds. Where there is litter, society is urged to work together to clear litter and rubble that threatens our efforts to build a healthy South Africa.”

She added that illegal dumping and littering are some of the most common problems in the country and affect all municipalities alike.

“The prevalence of ineffective waste management practices is being witnessed in many parts of the country.  This trend, unfortunately, affects the well-being of communities, as it has indeed resulted in the mushrooming of pockets of illegal dumping and littering sites. 

“More emphasis is required to ensure that citizens are mobilized to take a firm position against such activities in their respective communities.”

She said a departmental team working together with the provincial Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Lejweleputswa District Municipality and Nala Local Municipality, has spent the past few days conducting clean-up and greening activities at different identified spots in this municipality. 

In-House Model

In addition to Friday’s clean-up, the Deputy Minister also handed over personal protective equipment (PPE) to the In-House Model participants to heighten the cleaning and greening programme.

“Through the environmental programmes, we have conceptualised the In-House Model which allows the department to implement and manage its projects using its own staff. This model enables the department to employ more Expanded Public works Programme (EPWP) participants due to ‘savings’ on project management fees. It enables the department to be in control and ensures timely payment of wages.”

The In-House model facilitates direct partnership with local government. In so doing, the department pays stipends, Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Compensation for Occupation Injuries and Diseases (COID) whilst the municipalities provide PPE, tools of trade and commit to pick up collected waste. 

“I am pleased to announce that we have recruited 517 participants as part of the In-House Model to address service delivery and waste management in partnership with the Lejweleputswa District Municipality,” she said. –SAnews.gov.za

Neo
Sun, 08/27/2023 - 12:50

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Life insurance from Nedbank that understands the woman that you are

Location: MyPR

In today’s rapidly evolving world, women are leading the charge in shaping financial decisions. As trailblazers within their households, workplaces, and businesses, women play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and prosperity. This rings true not only in South Africa but across the globe. Recent statistics have shed light on the true extent of …

Read moreLife insurance from Nedbank that understands the woman that you are