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IEC concluded the revision of voting district boundaries

Location: News

IEC concluded the revision of voting district boundaries

The Electoral Commission has concluded the revision of voting district boundaries in an effort to increase voter access in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

As a result, some new voting districts have been created, others have been disestablished, while some existing voting districts have changed shape.

The revision of voting district boundaries, a process known as re-delimitation, has given rise to 23 296 voting districts, compared to 23 148 for the 2021 Municipal Elections –  an increase of 148 voting districts, or 0,6%.

“This increase in voting districts, however slight, implies increased access and convenience to voting for voters,” said Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo in a statement.

Unlike wards, voting districts are not political boundaries, but are the creation of the Electoral Commission for the purposes of electoral efficiency and planning.

Mamabolo said the Electoral Commission will embark on a campaign of targeted communication and re-registration of voters affected by the voting district boundary changes on Monday, 2 October 2023.

The campaign will continue until Friday, 27 October 2023, ahead of voter registration for the forthcoming elections.

By law, eligible voters must be registered in the voting district in which they ordinarily reside in order to participate in elections.

“Nationally there are 1 925 affected voting districts identified for this campaign, the majority of which are in KwaZulu-Natal (774), the Eastern Cape (332) and Limpopo province (296),” said Mamabolo.

The targeted communication and re-registration of voters affected by the voting district boundary changes will be done by a combination of methods, including trained fieldworkers walking from house to house in certain affected voting districts, and the use of direct messaging with affected voters via SMS and other digital channels to inform them of the need to re-register in their new voting districts.

“Our fieldworkers, identifiable by identification card and vest clearly marked with IEC branding, will be equipped with voter management devices (VMDs) to re-register voters on the spot,” Mamabolo said.

Where voters are not home, a flyer will be dropped off communicating details of their new voting district and station, the national registration weekend dates, and also directing them to the Voter Portal where they can self-register online 24/7.

Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration status on the Electoral Commission’s Voter Portal.

Visit www.registertovote.elections.org.za or scan the QR code in the banner below, or SMS your ID number to 32810 to get a notification of the current voting district and station on record for you.

When you visit the Voter Portal or use the SMS line, your registration details will be displayed, including your voting district and station. If you have moved to a new home, you are most likely in a different voting district.

“We appeal to voters that if your voting district has indeed changed, it is important that you re-register in your new voting district to ensure that your name appears on the voters’ roll segment for your voting district on Election Day,” Mamabolo said.

The Electoral Commission will host the first registration weekend for the 2024 Elections on 18-19 November 2023, when all voting stations will be open from 8am to 5pm on both the Saturday and Sunday. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

Edwin
Mon, 10/02/2023 - 13:16

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Home Affairs Minister welcomes sentencing of corrupt official

Location: News

Home Affairs Minister welcomes sentencing of corrupt official

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, today welcomed the lengthy sentences recently meted out to two South Africans and a Pakistani national in two different cases in Durban and Johannesburg, respectively, for passport related crimes.

Arfan Ahmed, a Pakistani national who was arrested in a sting operation that included the Counter Corruption Branch of Home Affairs, the Hawks and the Police Crime Intelligence on 24 March 2022 at the Home Affairs office in Krugersdorp, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the Brixton Magistrate Court.

He was sentenced for the passports that were found in his house following his arrest in Krugersdorp. The department awaits his sentencing for his role in the Krugersdorp passport syndicate.

Ahmed is a kingpin of a passport syndicate that sought to undermine the country’s laws by fraudulently procuring South African passports for Pakistani nationals who did not have a legal right to possess South African passports.

He was working with some corrupt officials of Home Affairs in a network that spanned Gauteng, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Mpumalanga.

While the Pakistani is languishing in jail, the 12 corrupt Home Affairs officials who enabled his scheme have already been fired and submitted to the Hawks for criminal investigations.

In another important development, the Durban Magistrate Court sentenced Anda Ngozi and Nomathandazo Mboyane to 26 and 24 years, respectively. The two were officials of the Department of Home Affairs employed at the office in Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape.

They used to travel 650km each way at a time during the night to Home Affairs offices in Commercial Road and in Prospecton in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to fraudulently process 52 passports for foreign nationals, mostly from the DRC, who are not legally entitled to them.

They were paid between R3 000 and R5 000 for each passport. South Africans who were prepared to lend their identities for this nefarious scheme were paid a paltry R500. These were usually young people who were on nyaope.

The two were arrested in November 2022 by Counter Corruption Branch of Home Affairs and the Hawks following the conclusion of an internal investigation led by the Counter Corruption Branch.

Ngozi was sentenced for eight years for fraud, as well as for contravention of the:

•            Identification Act – four years

•            Immigration Act – four years

•            Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act – 10 years

Mboyane was sentenced for eight years for fraud, as well as for contravention of the:

•            Identification Act – four years

•            Immigration Act – four years

•            Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act – eight years

The sentences of the two will run concurrently, practically meaning that Ngozi will spend 10 years, while Mboyane will spend eight years.

“I am extremely pleased that the courts are meting out lengthy sentences to those who seek to undermine the integrity of Home Affairs systems. It is worth noting that the courts had refused bail to all three after their arrests.

"I am also happy the collective work of the multidisciplinary law enforcement teams has ensured that these rascals face the full might of the law for their criminal actions,” said Minister Motsoaledi.

Minister Motsoaledi added that he was looking forward to the sentencing of more people related to these two cases as the Hawks haven't yet closed their investigations.

“Once again, I want to reiterate that we shall stop at nothing in ensuring that all Home Affairs officials who engage in malfeasance face the full might of the law. If you are at Home Affairs and are corrupt, expect our knock at your door," said Minister Motsoaledi.

He added that the actions of corrupt officials, kingpins, South Africans and corrupt foreign nationals have the following consequences for the country:

•            People who don’t qualify for South African passports are legitimised through these actions to the detriment of the sovereignty of our country.

•            They can use these documents to travel the world as South Africans, and in the process, they may be committing acts that are detrimental to the reputation of the country.

•            More worrisome is the fact that even those who claim to be asylum seekers or refugees use these passports to travel back to their home countries proving that the whole claim of asylum was just a rouse.

•            South Africans will find it difficult to travel the world as the authenticity of their documents will be questioned.

"South Africans who stupidly lend their identities to be utilised in this manner end up suffering serious prejudice when trying to do transactions with other State institutions, banks and some industry associations.

“This is because the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA), banks and the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) verify the identity of the people they transact with through the Home Affairs National Population Register (NPR).

"Every time you apply for an ID or passport you are required to take a photo. The latest photo you take becomes the one in our database and all previous ones are automatically deleted.

"So, if a South African sells their identity in this way, it means that the photo in the Home Affairs system is that of the foreign national. So, institutions verifying through NPR refuse to deal with people whose identity at Home Affairs have pictures that don't look like the person in front of them," said Motsoaledi.

The Durban Magistrate Court also ordered that the 52 passports be surrendered to the State.

Because of this abuse of the passport application system, Home Affairs has drastically changed the processes through which passports are acquired in the country. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Mon, 10/02/2023 - 13:28

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Kenya celebrates 15th anniversary

Location: MyPR

September 2023 marks a milestone in the history of leading African law firm Bowmans. Fifteen years ago, Bowmans Kenya was established in a move that marked the start of Bowmans’ growth across the continent. Today, Bowmans Kenya is one of the largest law firms in the country and operates as a hub with Bowmans’ other …

Read moreKenya celebrates 15th anniversary

Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Adopts its Report on National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) Bill

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament
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The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has today adopted the A-list and B-list of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) Bill. The Bill was tabled in Parliament and referred to the committee on 11 October 2022. It was classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a section 75 Bill.

The committee received its first briefing on the NCGBVF Bill from the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on 28 February 2023. In facilitating effective public participation on the NCGBVF Bill, the committee conducted in-person and virtual public hearings on 6 and 13 June 2023. 17 oral submissions were heard by the committee during these hearings.

The committee received oral submissions from individuals, various groups and organisations such as academics, civil society organisations, one statutory body, business sector experts and one labour union. In addition to the public hearings, the committee received 52 written submissions from the public. The written submissions were submitted electronically (via email) and online.

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities responded to the issues raised during the public hearings on 29 August, 5 and 12 September 2023, and thereafter the committee was briefed by the department on 19 September 2023 on the revised Bill as a working document, with further inputs received from the members of the committee made in the meeting held on 12 September 2023.

The committee also deliberated clause-by-clause on the Bill with respect to the amendments made. Furthermore, it deliberated clause-by-clause on the Bill in its entirety on 27 September 2023. The committee accepted and adopted its report on the Bill on 29 September 2023. The report will be tabled in the National Assembly for its consideration and thereafter it will be referred to the National Council of Provinces for further processing before it goes to the President for assent into law.

The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba, thanked members of the committee for their insightful contributions on the views of the people on the Bill. “Your dedication and contributions delivered the report we are proud of and which we pass to the National Assembly with full confidence. The establishment of the Council would be an important milestone for the country in the fight against GBVF,” said Ms Ncube-Ndaba.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Read moreCommittee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Adopts its Report on National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) Bill

Justice dept gives Gupta brothers extradition update

Location: News

Justice dept gives Gupta brothers extradition update

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services is engaging with its counterparts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in South Africa’s extradition request of the Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh.

The two are wanted in South Africa on charges including fraud and money laundering related to State Capture.

In April this year, the UAE rejected South Africa’s extradition request for the brothers, which the department described then as “inconsistent with article 17 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, to which both nations are a signatory”.

In a statement, the department said it has now been requested to resubmit a new extradition request.

“On 26 July 2023, the South African Embassy in Abu Dhabi forwarded a Note Verbale dated 25 July 2023, as received from the UAE Central Authority in which… South Africa is requested to urgently resubmit a new extradition request for the Gupta brothers.

“It is, however, our view that a new extradition request can only be submitted to the UAE once the questions raised in our Note Verbale dated 19 June 2023, have been sufficiently answered by the UAE

“On 18 and 28 August 2023, respectively the Minister and Director-General directed letters to their counterparts in the UAE stating South Africa’s position that despite the UAE’s invitation to submit a new extradition request, it remains necessary to first obtain clarity on the questions asked previously by the Central Authority of South Africa in order to assess the matter before a decision can be taken to submit a new extradition request,” the statement read.

The department added that it has not yet received a response to the correspondence with the South African Embassy in Abu Dhabi “following-up in this regard”.

Fugitive prophet

In the extradition case against controversial pastor Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary Bushiri, the department said the matter – which is being heard in a Malawian court where the two fled to – has been postponed to October.

“On 30 May 2023, the matter was postponed due to arguments raised on behalf of the Bushiris that South Africa’s extradition request was not properly authenticated. The South African prosecutors prepared arguments to assist the Malawian prosecutors with the filing of supplementary affidavits for purposes of the interim application where the legal team of the Bushiris is again trying to stop the extradition processes.

“On 10 August 2023, the formal application brought by the Bushiris was argued in court and thereafter postponed to 11 September 2023, for a ruling by the court. On 11 September 2023, the Magistrate gave judgment during which she indicated that the extradition request was in fact not certified in terms of the Malawi’s Extradition Act.

“The State however was afforded an opportunity to re-certify the request. The matter has been postponed to 10 October 2023, on which date state representatives will give testimony,” the statement read.

Criminal tribunal request

The department said a request by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) related to alleged Rwanda genocide killer Fulgence Kayishema to stand trial overseas has been transferred to the High Court for hearing.

“The request cannot be executed as a normal extradition request under the Extradition Act, 1962 (Act No. 67 of 1962), or in accordance with the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act, 2002 (Act No. 27 of 2002), as requests from tribunals do not fall within the ambit of this legislation.

“The position is that there is no domestic legislative framework to deal with the mechanism’s request. The request is being dealt with in accordance with South Africa’s international law obligations.

“The matter was transferred to the High Court, and has been set down for hearing on 1 November 2023. It is worth noting that along with the IRMCT request Mr Kayishema is also being charged with 51 counts of contravening the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002), and three counts of fraud,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Fri, 09/29/2023 - 10:26

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Mashatile calls for accelerated service delivery in communities across SA

Location: News

Mashatile calls for accelerated service delivery in communities across SA

Accelerated service delivery is not a luxury but a necessity, says Deputy President Paul Mashatile. 

“It is a human right, as enshrined in our Constitution. It is the key to unlocking the full potential of our communities and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come,” he said on Friday. 

The Deputy President was speaking in the North West, as part of the Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, in Taung. 

By adopting modern technologies and employing well-trained personnel, he said government could drastically improve response times and minimise the damage caused by emergencies. 

“It is important to recognise that accelerated service delivery is not just about efficiency and convenience, it is about creating a society where every individual has equal access to basic services and an equal say in how their community is governed and serviced.” 

By empowering communities with faster and more efficient services, he said the state could bridge socioeconomic gaps, reduce inequalities, and ensure a better quality of life. 

“Achieving accelerated service delivery requires collective effort. Governments, private sector organisations, and civil society must work together to identify and address the key challenges in service delivery.”

He believes that collaboration, innovation and investment in technology and infrastructure are essential to create a robust ecosystem that supports accelerated service delivery.

He took the time to reflect on the Bill of Rights, contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution, which guarantees all South Africans basic human rights and recognises basic services as a human right. 

The Constitution, he said, serves to codify the fundamental entitlements of individuals and communities, while validating the democratic principles of inherent worth, parity, and human dignity. 

“Section 10 focuses on human dignity. It specifically states that ‘everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected’.

“If this is the case, a Councillor, MEC or Minister who fails to provide services to the people neither respects nor protects the dignity of the people. As such, when that happens, the Constitution is contravened. And this should never be allowed.”

The country’s second-in-command commended provincial leadership for their commitment to focus on job creation and accelerated service delivery – the Thuntsa Lerole intervention. 

The programme, he told the community, is aligned with the District Development Model (DDM), designed to address service delivery. 

“The DDM enables all spheres of government to better plan, budget and implement projects and programmes,” he explained. 

The Deputy President believes that communities will benefit from more integrated service delivery as a result of this commitment and collaboration directed by the DDM. 

“As a party that has been in power for almost three decades in South Africa, we have made commitments to improve the lives of the people of South Africa and deliver essential services such as housing, education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure to all South Africans…

“It is important to note that we have made significant strides in certain areas of service delivery.” 

Access to clean drinking water, he pointed out, has improved for many communities, while social grants have provided a safety net for the most vulnerable.

“However, the overall delivery and implementation of these promises have sometimes fallen short of expectations, with lingering challenges that need urgent attention.” 

The Deputy President took time to apologise for the recent technical glitch that led to grant beneficiaries not receiving their critical grant support on time. 

Meanwhile, he also touched on public safety, which he is of the view that should be a priority.

“Timely response to emergencies, effective disaster management, and robust law enforcement are all vital components of a safe and secure community,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Fri, 09/29/2023 - 14:40

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BMA to safeguard SA’s borders

Location: News

BMA to safeguard SA’s borders

The newly established Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Dr Mike Masiapata, has assured South Africans that the entity will get rid of corruption and ensure that the country’s borders are safe.

The BMA came into effect on 1 April 2023, and it is expected to be officially launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Musina, Limpopo, next week.

Masiapata explained that the BMA was established to ensure that the country is protected.

Speaking at the National Press Club media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Masiapata said legislative frameworks had to be looked at prior to the establishment of the BMA.

“Since 1994, South Africa has been using a multi-agency approach in its border management. It was therefore decided that a single agency was needed to manage the country’s borders,” Masiapata said.

Masiapata said the previous multi-agency included seven departments and agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; Health; Home Affairs; the South African National Defence Force (SANDF); the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which all have a physical presence in the border environment.

Masiapata said managing the country’s borders has been a challenge, especially with the old system.

He explained that the aim of establishing the new agency was to deal with the challenges that the country faces.

“For almost 15 years, there have been some discussions to try and have the Border Management Authority established to deal with the challenges the country is faced with. There was a lot of corruption brought by the old system,” Masiapata said.

Masiapata said BMA officials will be thoroughly vetted.

The BMA has, since its inception, recorded successes, amongst them intercepting stolen vehicles.

In June 2013, Cabinet made the decision to establish a Border Management Agency under the guidance of the DHA.

The decision was taken in recognition of the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee  (NICOC) 2012 Feasibility Study, which had highlighted weaknesses in border management.

The authority will be responsible for the execution of frontline border law enforcement functions related to, inter alia, port health, immigration control, access control, biosecurity, food safety and phyto-sanitary control, land border infrastructure development and maintenance, and border information and risk management.

It is intended that the new agency, the BMA, will adapt and respond effectively to the challenges, threats and opportunities that exist in the border environment whilst safe-guarding South Africa’s borders and meeting the country’s national, regional and global developmental responsibilities and human rights imperatives. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Thu, 09/28/2023 - 15:29

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9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum (PF) Converges to Foster Multilateralism, Cooperation, and Collaboration

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament
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The 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum (BRICS PF) got off to a remarkable start today as approximately 250 delegates from about 15 countries across different continents converged for discussions that reinforced the BRICS Parliaments' commitment to multilateralism, cooperation, and collaboration.

The BRICS PF is an interparliamentary forum composed of presiding officers of Parliaments from BRICS Member States - the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of South Africa, whose aim is to deepen collaboration, partnership, and progress.

The 9th BRICS PF is hosted by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng Province under the theme: "Harnessing inclusive Multilateralism and Parliamentary Diplomacy to deepen BRICS and Africa Partnership for Accelerated Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement."

Today's debate centred around the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and its potential impact on BRICS nations – as well as the crucial role that parliaments can play in maximizing its benefits. "This agreement presents BRICS nations with a significant opportunity by granting them improved access to the African market, creating new avenues for trade, and opening up possibilities for expanded investments," said National Assembly Speaker Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula said that by collaborating closely with one another, BRICS nations can utilize their collective influence to promote fairer trade, alleviate trade barriers, and address existing imbalances. "This partnership offers an ideal platform to not only strengthen economic ties with Africa but also stimulate Africa's economic transformation process," she added.

Speaking during his keynote address, Deputy President Mr. Paul Mashatile said the BRICS PF has the potential to effect change on a global and unprecedented scale. "For starters, BRICS has focused the imagination of the world's population beyond the citizens of its member states. In and of itself, this is a good thing. However, we should not be surprised when this success factor attracts negative responses from some actors in the world despite the fact that BRICS is not opposed to any state parties or groups. Instead, we seek a peaceful and just world of equitable resource distribution."

National Council of Provinces Chairperson, Mr. Amos Masondo, said the discussions on the opening day were "characterized by a fruitful exchange of perspectives and expertise. They have enhanced our collective understanding and reinforced our commitment to our common objectives."

Chairperson Masondo said multilateralism is the cornerstone for BRICS. The BRICS countries have shown greater resolve to pursue multilateralism with the aim of creating a fairer, peaceful, and secure world. Consistent with the understanding that multilateralism is key to containing international rivalries, BRICS has expressed its commitment to multilateralism through upholding international law.

Also speaking on the opening day, former National Assembly Speaker Ms. Baleka Mbete reminisced about the formative years of the BRICS PF. Ms. Mbete, who is also a former Deputy President of the Republic, said that by signing the Memorandum of Understanding on the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, "BRICS parliaments are establishing a platform that seeks to streamline and coordinate our parliamentary contributions to the vision of BRICS."

It is all systems go for tomorrow as the delegates to the BRICS PF are expected to sign a ground breaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will define the general cooperative strategy of the legislative organs of the BRICS Member States. The MoU will enable the members of the BRICS PF to coordinate efforts aimed at developing and strengthening the inter-parliamentary relations of BRICS Member States concerning issues of common interest.

The format of tomorrow's session, which starts at 09:30am, will include breakaways into commissions which will discuss four broad themes as follows:

i). BRICS and Africa Partnership – Promotion and Acceleration of Regional Integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA);

ii). BRICS Energy Issues – Just transition of Coal to Hydrogen Energy;

iii). Climate change and Legislative mobilization in BRICS countries; and

iv). BRICS Peace and Security: Can Multilateralism Restore Peace and Security?

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Cabinet approves Draft Water Services Amendment Bill 

Location: News

Cabinet approves Draft Water Services Amendment Bill 

Cabinet has approved the publication of the Water Services Amendment Bill for public comment. 

The Bill aims to strengthen accountability for water service providers and to introduce transparency. 

“The amendments to the Water Services Act will ensure that water service providers deliver high quality water as part of their licensing conditions.

“The amendments will also address weakness that have been identified in the water services sector, and these include conflict with water services providers being both providers and regulators. The Bill sets minimum standards for the functioning of Water Services Providers, which must be enforced by Water Services Authorities,” Cabinet said. 

Draft National Water Amendment Bill

Cabinet has also approved the publication of the draft National Water Amendment Bill for public comment. The Bill amends the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998). 

“These amendments will improve regulations and will ensure that the country’s water resources are well managed, protected and conserved. Once the amendments are implemented, there will be equitable allocation of water to all citizens of the country,” Cabinet said. 

The Bill also makes proposals to eliminate the imbalances of the past relating to water allocation and makes provisions for effective and quicker internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

SABC Bill 2023

Cabinet has approved the submission of the SABC Bill, 2023 to Parliament.
 
Cabinet initially approved the Bill in 2022, however, the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor subsequently made suggestions on certain provisions of the Bill in order to align it with the constitution. 

“Once passed into law, the Bill will result in the repeal of the current Broadcasting Act (Act 4 of 1999). The amendments will strengthen the efficiency of the operations of the public broadcaster. The Bill further proposes reforms in the SABC’s funding model and the TV licensing system,” Cabinet said. 

The Bill encourages the SABC to align its broadcasting services with the democratic values of the Constitution and to enhance its mandate to serve citizens better. – SAnews.gov.za
 
 

DikelediM
Thu, 09/28/2023 - 11:31

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Top litigation lawyer returns to her roots at Bowmans

Location: MyPR

Leading African law firm Bowmans is further strengthening its dispute resolution capacity in South Africa by appointing senior litigation lawyer Vanessa Jacklin-Levin as a partner in its Johannesburg Litigation Practice. ‘Vanessa is one of the most highly regarded dispute resolution lawyers in South Africa, with a formidable combination of skills, not only in litigation, adjudications …

Read moreTop litigation lawyer returns to her roots at Bowmans

PSC encourages public servants to expose corruption

Location: News

PSC encourages public servants to expose corruption

Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Advocate Anele Gxoyiya has called on all public servants to come out and expose corruption, saying they will be protected accordingly, in terms of the Protected Disclosures Act.

“Public servants know what is right and wrong in the workplace, in terms of their employment contract," Gxoyiya said.

Addressing media in Pretoria on the Quarterly Bulletin titled, 'The Pulse of the Public Service', Gxoyiya said ethical dilemmas can arise when employees are pressured to compromise their values in order to meet work demands or when they witness unethical behavior by some colleagues or superiors and feel powerless to intervene.

“The fear of reprisal or punishment for speaking out against such wrongdoing often adds another layer of complexity to these ethical dilemmas,” Gxoyiya said.

Gxoyiya said the Zondo Commission exposed a lot of unethical behavior in the Public Service and State Owned Entities which must be investigated by the Law Enforcement Agencies.

“The PSC welcomed the signing of a proclamation by President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2023, which authorizes the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe allegations of corruption in Tembisa Hospital. This is a step in the right direction.

“Public servants are required to promote professional ethics in their conduct during the performance of their duties, when interacting with members of the public and when managing state resources.

“Public servants have the obligation to account for their actions. It is therefore for this reason that all government employees should internalize the CVPs in their day-to-day work towards contributing to an ethical and corrupt free Public Service,” Gxoyiya said.

Gxoyiya said the Public Service Commission has, at the end of June 2023, registered 184 grievances, including 114 carried over from the previous financial year.

Of the 184 grievances, 24 (13%) were not properly referred and 160 (87%) were properly referred. Grievances which were not properly referred are those that were either being dealt with elsewhere (such as bargaining councils) or those that were still not finalized at the departmental level.

Gxoyiya said departments and organized labour are encouraged to consider mediation as an alternative means of resolving matters of conflict as this is mutually beneficial for the relationship between the parties.

“The PSC has the mandate to investigate, either of its own accord or on receipt of any complaint, personnel and public administration practices to report to the relevant EAs and Legislature.

“The own accord investigations undertaken are identified through an analysis of the trends of the complaints handled previously and through media reports,” Gxoyiya said.

Gxoyiya said the PSC’s intervention and proposed corrective measures are essential in promoting good governance in public administration.

The PSC noted that most of its investigations yielded positive results on improving good governance and accountability in the Public Service. In issuing recommendations, the PSC encouraged departments to maintain the principles conferred in section 195(1) of the Constitution. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 12:40

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Work continues between government and business to tackle SA’s immediate challenges

Location: News

Work continues between government and business to tackle SA’s immediate challenges

President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with members of Cabinet and senior business leaders to receive an update on progress made in the collaboration between government and business. 

This collaboration was initiated in June 2023, with the aim of significantly growing South Africa’s economy, and restoring public and investor confidence through critical interventions to address the key challenges of energy, logistics, and crime and corruption. 

Highlighting the meaningful progress made since the start of the initiative in a joint statement, President Ramaphosa said they have established an effective working relationship between government and business to tackle the most immediate challenges facing the economy. 

“While we have identified key milestones and set out the processes to achieve these, the real test of our success will be in the results felt by ordinary citizens. 

“We are confident that by working together and marshalling the significant resources and expertise that exist in our country, we will end load shedding, fix our logistics system, and tackle crime and corruption,” the President said. 

Adrian Gore, co-convenor of the business delegation, said while it’s early in the partnership, the collective work rate has been excellent and "there are clear areas of progress", which he believes they can build upon to achieve real change.

 
“Putting in place a viable, critical path per focal area, with clear short-term deliverables against which we collectively measure our progress, is crucial for building confidence in our ability to deliver,” Gore said. 

The joint statement sated that good traction has been achieved within the energy focal area, through the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), which has been established to ensure delivery of the Energy Action Plan (EAP).

Business and government reaffirmed the importance of the EAP as the country’s blueprint for reducing the severity and frequency of load shedding in the short term and ending it altogether in the long term. 

“Full implementation of the plan across three core priorities – improving the performance of Eskom’s existing power stations; adding new generation capacity, and reforming the energy sector – will result in over 12GW of generation capacity being recovered or added to the system from Eskom and the private sector by the end of 2024,” the statement read. 

As part of this collaboration, CEO of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Cas Coovadia, and chair of the Steering Committee of Business for South Africa (B4SA), Martin Kingston noted that business is mobilising additional capacity and skills to support the implementation of the EAP. 

This includes nearly 130 volunteers from the private sector who are being coordinated through the Energy Council of South Africa to work in partnership with Eskom and government. The deployment of technical support teams to five power stations – Kendal, Kriel, Majuba, Matla, and Tutuka – is on track, in addition to ongoing support for the return of Kusile Units 1 to 3. 

Energy stabilty

The joint statement highlighted that the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill has been tabled in Parliament, and the public comment period is underway. Government is engaging closely with Parliament to prioritise the passage of this Bill, given its crucial importance for the reform of the energy sector. 

Encouraging progress has been made in the establishment of the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA), with all three licenses approved by the National Energy Regulator of SA (NERSA), and the appointment of an independent board is in process. 

The One Stop Shop for energy projects has been established, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with the Energy Council to support enhancement of its capacity and systems to further streamline regulatory processes and facilitate private investment in energy generation.

In the logistics focal area, the collaboration is centered on ensuring implementation of immediate operational interventions, which have already been defined, alongside the development of the Freight Logistics Roadmap. 

Government has committed to finalise the roadmap, which will outline a sequenced set of actions to fundamentally reform the logistics system, by the end of October 2023. Business emphasized the urgency of this roadmap in the context of the ongoing challenges in the logistics system.

 
“Six of the eight work streams of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) are now fully operational, while the remaining two will transition from Operation Vulindlela. Interventions to improve the operational performance of the multimodal bulk freight rail network and port system are well underway through the NLCC”. 

Corridor Recovery Teams have been established for five strategic corridors, comprising Transnet managing executives, industry representatives and independent experts, and a delivery plan has been developed with specific actions and timeframes to achieve the targeted increase in freight volumes. 

Business and government further emphasized the need to support the Board of Transnet in its turnaround plan in order to drive operational improvement and sustainability. 

“A multi-disciplinary team has been formed to address congestion challenges at the Lebombo border crossing, resulting in a reduction in the border processing time, while a dedicated work stream has been established to expedite the restoration of passenger rail services. Law enforcement agencies are working to protect rail infrastructure through a range of interventions, including aerial surveillance on the North and Central Corridors as well as the Majuba rail line,” government and business said. 

In the crime and corruption focal area, current engagements centre on building capacity within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), along with the modernisation of the 10111 emergency response centre and collaboration between industry and the SAPS to address crimes targeting infrastructure. 

The NPA Amendment Bill has been tabled to establish the Investigating Directorate as a permanent entity with investigative powers. 

This Bill responds to a key recommendation of the State Capture Commission of Inquiry, and will strengthen the capacity and independence of the NPA to tackle corruption-related crimes. A further meeting will be held in six weeks’ time to assess progress on these commitments. 

“During this period, the immediate focus will be on ensuring the passage of critical reform legislation such as the ERA Bill and the NPA Amendment Bill; scaling up technical support for power station performance recovery; finalizing and adopting the Freight Logistics Roadmap; and establishing a joint delivery mechanism to coordinate agreed interventions to tackle crime and corruption,” the joint statement said. 

Both government and business continue to engage with other social partners in parallel, as part of their respective commitments to advance collaboration on shared national objectives. – SAnews.gov.za 

DikelediM
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 13:42

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Read moreWork continues between government and business to tackle SA’s immediate challenges

Presidency expresses condolences to the Mandela family 

Location: News

Presidency expresses condolences to the Mandela family 

Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, has extended the Presidency’s sincerest condolences to the Mandela family on the passing of their grandchild, author and activist, Zoleka Mandela.

“As the Presidency, we add our sincerest condolences to the sympathies expressed by many individuals and organisations at the passing of Ms Zoleka Mandela.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Ms Mandela, who has passed away at an age that has deprived all of us of benefiting from the full potential of her charismatic and creative commitment to a diversity of social causes and campaigns,” Magwenya said.

The Presidency wished the family well in their preparations for remembering and taking leave of Zoleka. 

Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of anti-apartheid heroes Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, died on Monday evening after a prolonged battle with cancer. 

The 43-year-old, who lost her long battle with cancer, passed away on the eve of her grandmother's birthday. The struggle stalwart would have turned 87 this year.

Western Cape floods

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sympathy to the people who have been affected by the recent floods in the Western Cape. 

“The President would like to extend his sympathies to all the people who have been affected by the recent floods in the Western Cape. The President also expresses his condolences to those who have lost their loved ones during this disaster,” Magwenya said. 

Magwenya said the President is grateful for the speedy response and hard work demonstrated by various disaster management teams, law enforcement agencies, NGOS and officials who have continued to work under testing conditions to ensure the safety of citizens. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 14:02

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Read morePresidency expresses condolences to the Mandela family 

Presidency notes DA court challenge over the Lady R investigative panel 

Location: News

Presidency notes DA court challenge over the Lady R investigative panel 

Presidential spokesperson,Vincent Magwenya says President Cyril Ramaphosa acted within the law in appointing Judge Phineas Mojapelo as the head of the investigative panel to enquire into the circumstances of the docking of the Lady R Cargo vessel in Simon's Town in December 2022.

Addressing media on Wednesday, Magwenya said the Presidency has noted the intention expressed by the official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, to challenge the appointment of Judge Phineas Mojapelo as the head of the investigative panel. 

Magwenya said the President decided to appoint the independent panel after having “carefully considered the delicate balance that is needed between the public’s right to information and the State’s need to secure information, the disclosure of which may jeopardise our national security and/or international relations”.

He said: “Hence, the President decided to appoint an independent panel rather than a commission of inquiry, as provided for in terms of section 84(2)(f) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,1996.”

Magwenya emphasised that the President carefully considered his decision to appoint a judge to head the panel. 

“President Ramaphosa acted within the law in doing so and we are confident that this appointment will withstand scrutiny. 

“In its politically motivated court action, the DA wants to undermine the country’s national interests, failing to appreciate the importance of resolving this matter in a manner that is credible and expeditious.

 
“The DA is failing to appreciate the damage this issue has caused to our economy and potentially, to very important diplomatic relations, which are now repaired as a result of the level of credibility attached to the panel and its work, the outcome of the investigation and the intensive amount of diplomatic work that has been conducted to date and is still being managed,” Magwenya said. – SAnews.gov.za 

DikelediM
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 15:03

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Read morePresidency notes DA court challenge over the Lady R investigative panel 

Select Committee on Appropriations Welcomes Steps to Address Medical Legal Claims

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament
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The Select Committee on Appropriations has received a briefing from the Office of the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) and the National Department of Health on medical-legal claims and their impact on provincial Health care budgets.

AGSA said medico-legal claims are costing the health sector an accumulative R77 billion and the amount has, over the years risen significantly rather than the planned reduction. AGSA further said by 31 March 2022, 15 148 medico-legal claims were lodged against the Department of Health valued at R125 billion. The committee heard that provincial health facilities lacked reliable and accurate record-keeping and, in most cases, this was caused by a shortage of administrative staff.

The committee recommended that the focus shifts towards improving patient services at healthcare facilities rather than funding for possible litigation. The committee also called for significant improvements in archiving and record keeping and called for the establishment of an electronic card management system.

The committee further welcomed reports from various provincial health MECs who shared their province's plans to mitigate rising medico-legal claims and their support for strengthening record-keeping management. The committee noted that the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act (NARRSA) calls for the designation of senior staff to ensure the implementation of sound records management. The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Dikeledi Mahlangu emphasised that issues of health are societal issues and need everybody to be on board.

The committee welcomed the news that the AGSA is conducting a forensic investigation into law firms involved in litigation against provinces on medico-legal claim matters.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Read moreSelect Committee on Appropriations Welcomes Steps to Address Medical Legal Claims

Leading African law firm Bowmans celebrates a decade of focussed pro bono contributions

Location: MyPR

By Bowmans. On Thursday 21 September, ahead of Heritage Day in South Africa, leading African law firm Bowmans, held an event to celebrate a decade of focussed pro bono efforts. Bowmans managing partner, Alan Keep, highlighted that Bowmans has always been a responsible corporate citizen, and its people have been contributing their time and expertise …

Read moreLeading African law firm Bowmans celebrates a decade of focussed pro bono contributions

Inter-faith leaders called to work with govt in dealing with social ills

Location: News

Inter-faith leaders called to work with govt in dealing with social ills

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called on the faith-based community to partner with government to make tangible contributions towards addressing the social ills facing the country. 

Mashatile convened an engagement between government and inter-faith leaders on Tuesday to strengthen existing partnerships towards the country’s social cohesion and nation-building project.  

“Not a day goes by that we are not confronted by acts of violence and criminality. This is not the South Africa we fought for. It is certainly not the South Africa we want ourselves and future generations to live in,” he said. 

The country’s second-in-command raised his concern at the deterioration of the social and moral fabric, including gender-based violence and femicide, poverty, unemployment, drug and substance abuse, child abuse, crime, corruption, teenage pregnancy, and the high rate of HIV infection among young people. 

“It is disheartening that the women and girls of our country no longer feel safe in their homes, on the streets, in public transport and at their places of work. 

“Many of our people are abusing alcohol and using drugs, which is causing numerous social problems such as unsafe behaviour on our roads, violence, crime, and truancy.” 

The Deputy President also raised concerns about youngsters who are still engaging in unsafe sex, leading to high rates of teenage pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

To address these difficulties, he believes a collaborative effort must be employed involving governmental entities and all segments of society, of which inter-faith communities are an essential component. 

“Inter-faith efforts, like community service, can be used to effect societal change. Now, more than ever, we must join forces to counter what has grown to threaten our communities.” 

The Deputy President reiterated that the State is committed to addressing social ills and improving lives. 

He also took the time to talk about how South Africa transitioned from an oppressive State machinery to a democratic nation, where all people enjoy equal rights and protection before the law.

“Today, our churches, our mosques, our synagogues and our temples are pillars of society doing valuable work in education, in feeding the poor and the needy, and in being a consistent and powerful voice that speaks out against injustices in our country.” 

He expressed his appreciation for the role of faith-based communities in guiding the nation when it strayed from its mission to unite and develop the country. 

“It is the excellent work you are already doing in our communities that we want to harness and build upon. Whether it is in providing education and awareness around alcohol and substance abuse, in offering counselling and support to couples and families, or in mobilising people around anti-crime initiatives, you have been our valued partners as we seek to address these social problems.” 

He called on leaders to safeguard the significance of religious and sacred sites, as these sites hold immense cultural value, and are crucial to ensuring traditions are not eroded over time. 

“As we all know, our nation thrives in its cultural richness and religious diversity.”

Despite the many challenges, he is of the view that South Africa can emerge strong if it embraces its diversity. 

He also lauded the role played during apartheid by faith leaders like Beyers Naudé, Desmond Tutu, Peter Storey, Allan Boesak and Dr Martin Luther King Jnr. 

“Reflecting on this history and also acknowledging the temporal disparities and distinct challenges of our current era, we must draw from the lessons of the past, and use them as a compass for addressing some of the social challenges that exist in our modern culture.” – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Tue, 09/26/2023 - 11:38

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Read moreInter-faith leaders called to work with govt in dealing with social ills

Be cautious of cybercrime

Location: News

Be vigilant of cybercrime

Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, has called on the public to be wary of cybercriminals targeting unsuspecting individuals on various social media platforms.

 “The public must be aware of cybercriminals, who target unsuspecting individuals on various social media platforms with the purpose of causing harm, demanding ransoms and scamming,” the MEC said on Thursday.

This follows the kidnapping of a University of the Witwatersrand student on Tuesday in Johannesburg.

The student was reported missing by his roommate on Tuesday in Johannesburg.

According to reports, the student was lured to the suspects through the dating site, Grindr. The suspects demanded an amount of R30 000 from the student’s family for his safe return.

A team comprising members from Gauteng Crime Intelligence, Organised Crime Investigations, Hillbrow Detectives, Johannesburg Trio Detectives, Johannesburg Metro Police K9, security companies - including Vision Tactical, JT VIP, CAP Security, Fidelity Strategic Team - and Cellular Data Investigation, operationalised the information that led them to an ATM, where one of the suspects was expected to withdraw the ransom money on the M2 Road. 

The police held an observation and placed the suspect under arrest as soon as he arrived. He then led the team to Denver Men's Hostel, where the victim, aged 18, was found bound and unconscious.

Seven suspects were arrested, while three knives and the student’s personal items were also recovered. The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has commended the swift response by a multi-disciplinary team for the rescue.

The MEC commended the rescue team for their efforts.

 “I would like to commend the heroic law enforcement officials, who carried out the rescue operation. The successful apprehension of the suspects is a result of collaborative efforts by various law enforcement agencies and private security companies,” said MEC Mazibuko. – SAnews.gov.za

Neo
Fri, 09/22/2023 - 09:38

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On World Rhino Day, The United States (U.S.) Celebrates its Propitious Conservation Partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Government of Namibia

Location: News

U.S. Embassy in Namibia
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The population of black rhinos declined dramatically in the 20th century at the hands of European hunters and settlers. Between 1960 and 1995, black rhino numbers dropped by a sobering 98%, to less than 2,500 individuals. Since then, the species has made a tremendous comeback from the brink of extinction. Thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, black rhino numbers have doubled from their historic low 20 years ago to more than 6,000 today. However, the black rhino is still considered critically endangered, and a lot of work remains to bring their population up to even a fraction of what it once was—and to ensure that it stays there. Wildlife crime—in this case, poaching of rhinos for the illegal international market for their horns—continues to plague the species and threaten its recovery.

The Namibian government and its partners in conservation, including communal conservancies have been at the cutting edge of efforts to relocate, protect and expand the range of rhinos in the country. While the threat of poaching persists, the impact of these efforts is dramatic. Namibia is now home to the largest population of black rhino left on earth.

TACKLING WILDLIFE CRIME

Poaching remains the deadliest and most urgent threat to black rhinos. WWF is working with government agencies, local communities and other partners in Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa to support law enforcement agencies, develop and build on innovative tech solutions, and equip and train rangers to stop poachers.

In Namibia, WWF, with support from the USAID funded Combatting Wildlife Crime Project and INL projects, is working across sectors, agencies, and borders to help implement the country's ambitious law enforcement strategy to combat wildlife trafficking. WWF also supports the Namibian government in the implementation of its national black rhino strategy, in part by moving rhinos from parks with significant populations to other areas that historically held rhinos but currently do not—a process known as translocation. WWF is also working with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and other conservation partners to protect both black and white rhinos, including the maintenance of a comprehensive DNA databank used for forensic investigations and research, and the use of sniffer dogs.

PROTECTING AND MANAGING KEY POPULATIONS

WWF supports aerial population surveys at key sites such as Etosha National Park in Namibia. The surveys are critical for evaluating breeding success, deterring poachers, and monitoring rhino mortality. WWF is also working with partners to develop and implement cutting-edge technologies in range states to closely monitor key populations. When paired with boots-on-the-ground, innovative solutions like electronic identification and tracking tags, radio and satellite collars, night vision cameras, and camera traps provide critical data that is used to make important decisions for black rhino populations going forward.

COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION

Namibia was the first African country to incorporate protection of the environment into its constitution. In 1996, the new Namibian government granted communities the right to create conservancies — areas with defined borders and governance and management structures outside of parks — where communities have the right to manage and benefit from their natural resources. With long-term support from IRDNC, NNF, SRT, WWF and other NACSO partners, robust conservation efforts including community game guards, monitoring, community engagement campaigns, partnerships between the communities and private sector tourism, and translocation projects, which relocate species into new habitats so that they have more space to breed, have made enriched landscapes and lives in rural Namibia.

On World Rhino Day, we join our Namibian partners in recognizing their efforts to protect black rhinos – against tremendous odds. Not only does Namibia have the largest population of black rhinos in the world, but communal conservancies have allowed rhinos to roam free, outside of national parks. These communal conservancies—working with the government, nonprofit organizations and others—have restored populations of black rhinos, creating a rhino-based economy that benefits both people and wildlife!

For more information on WWF Programs in Namibia, visit https://www.wwfnamibia.org.

For more information on U.S. global climate and environmental priorities, visit Climate and Environment – United States Department of State.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Namibia.

Read moreOn World Rhino Day, The United States (U.S.) Celebrates its Propitious Conservation Partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Government of Namibia