MyPR

Trade, Industry and Competition Acting Director-General, Malebo Thompson, says the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to accelerate growth and increase investment in Africa.

“AfCFTA brings us a step closer to realising the historic vision of an integrated market in Africa.

“The coordination of efforts, and inclusion of AfCFTA across all of government and relevant stakeholders will ensure that AfCFTA opportunities benefit the South African private sector,” Thompson said.

Taking part in a masterclass organised by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) and the National School of Government on Tuesday on the implementation of the AfCFTA, Thompson said trade integration and liberation should be accompanied by programmes to support African industrialisation and regional value chains.

Thompson said dtic has embarked on provincial outreach programmes and awareness workshops in collaboration with provincial governments.

“The dtic is also developing an AfCFTA implementation plan, including the establishment of a national implementation committee and a targeted strategy for the implementation of AfCFTA,” she said.

Prudence Sebahizi, the Director for Institutional Matters and Programmes Coordination at the AfCFTA Secretariat, said the AfCFTA create a single continental market with free movement of goods, services and investments.

“The objective of AfCFTA is to promote and attain sustainable and inclusive development, gender equality and structural transformation of [member States],” Sebahizi said.

The AfCFTA, Sebahizi said, will promote industrial development and regional value chain development, agricultural development and food security.

“The objective of the AfCFTA agreement is to create a single continental market for goods and services,” Sebahizi said.

The AfCFTA presents South Africa and Africa as a whole with unparalleled benefits and opportunities.

The AfCFTA seeks to establish a large, single continental market, encompassing a population of approximately 1.3 billion people with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately US $3.4 trillion.

According to World Bank projections, by implementing the trade agreement, Africans will have an opportunity to lift 100 million people out of poverty, 60 million Africans out of abject poverty and the rest out of moderate poverty.

The AfCFTA agreement was mediated by the African Union (AU) and signed by 44 out of 55 member States in 2018.

The agreement seeks to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade. In particular, it is to advance trade in value-added production across all service sectors of the African economy.

The AfCFTA will contribute to establishing regional value chains in Africa, enabling investment and job creation.

The practical implementation of the AfCFTA has the potential to foster industrialisation, job creation and investment, thus enhancing the competitiveness of Africa in the medium to long term. – SAnews.gov.za

A total of 23 447 learners in Grades 7, 8, 10 and 12 attended ‘Back on Track’ and matric support classes over the holiday period in the Western Cape.

“Parents will be familiar with our successful winter school classes for matric learners which take place every year,” the Western Cape Education Department said on Tuesday. 

This year, according to the department, 10 842 matric learners attended ‘Back on Track’ classes, which are targeted to the schools that need the extra support the most, while 7 109 joined the district-based classes.  

That means that nearly 18 000 matrics have received extra academic support over the holiday period.

“What the ‘Back on Track’ does differently is to expand support to other key grades, so that learners are already in a better academic position by the time they reach matric.

“This is the first time we have held holiday classes for Grades 7, 8 and 10,” the department added. 

Of these, a total of 1 665 learners are Grade 7s and 2 113 Grade 8s went to camps and classes over the holidays, which focused on mathematics and language, along with psychosocial well-being and life skills sessions. 

“Our Grade 10 learners participated in a unique mathematics intervention, with 1 734 Grade 10s attending extra classes across the districts. 

“This intervention has been designed given the performance of last year’s Grade 9s in our annual systemic tests, which showed that they need extra support in mathematics.”

Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier also visited some of the Grade 10s at the University of the Western Cape, which hosted classes for the Metro South Education District. 

“The learners I engaged with said that they were finding these classes extremely helpful and that the tutors had given them a new perspective on the material covered. 

“What struck me was how optimistic the learners were, and the level of commitment they were showing to the programme. I was also impressed by the commitment of their parents, some of whom travelled with the learners and accompanied them to the classes,” he stressed. 

Meanwhile, the department noted that the teachers also form part of this intensive mathematics intervention. 

“I visited the 140 Grade 10 maths teachers who attended training at the Cape Teaching and Leadership Institute (CTLI) by our maths experts during the holidays. 

“We thank all of the officials, schools, tutors and parents who made this holiday period a successful one for the learners and teachers participating in the ‘Back on Track’ programme.”

He believes that their hard work will go a long way toward improving learning outcomes and giving our children a better future in the Western Cape. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has warned members of the public that it is unlawful to dress in clothing that replicates the uniforms of inmates and department officials. 

This after videos surfaced on social media of private citizens wearing the latter. 

“The Department...has noted with great concern the proliferation of videos on TikTok and other social media sites by private citizens dressed in replica uniform for inmates and officials. Be it for content generation or other means, it has been repeatedly clarified that such conduct is illegal and punishable in law.

“Section 124(a)(b) of the Correctional Services Act, Act 111 of 1998, is explicit on any unauthorised person who wears or uses (a) the departmental dress, distinctive badge or insignia of the Department or of a custody official; or (b)the prescribed sentenced offender dress, or anything deceptively resembling them is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or, in default of payment, to incarceration for a period not exceeding 18 months or to such incarceration without the option of a fine or both.

“DCS is thus again cautioning those involved in such acts to immediately desist from it,” the department said.

In the same vein, the department said it is equally unlawful for inmates to have cellphones.

“The Department is also aware of inmates utilising mobile phones, being active on social media, and there are ongoing efforts to deal with this scourge. Hence, inmates found in possession of cellphones are charged in terms of Section 23 (1) of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government says preparations for the repatriation of the mortal remains of a medical student, who passed away in the Philippines, are at an advanced stage.

Snegugu Ntobeko Myeni from Utrecht, who was a final-year medical student in the Philippines, passed away at the airport on 10 July 2023, as she was about to board a plane back to South Africa.

After hearing about the family’s plight through a video recording where her mother, Lindiwe Myeni, made an emotional plea for assistance, the provincial government intervened and committed to provide support and assistance to repatriate Myeni’s mortal remains.
 
The provincial government said it has been working with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Ambassador of South Africa to the Philippines to expedite repatriation efforts.

“The initial expected date of the arrival of Snegugu’s mortal remains in the country was Saturday, 22 July 2023. However, we are still awaiting a final letter from the attending doctor in the Philippines to finalise the repatriation of Snegugu’s mortal remains. 

“We expect that the medical processes will be concluded soon. We encourage the Myeni family to take comfort in the knowledge that the greater part of the work has already been done by the provincial government to ensure that Snegugu’s remains are brought home to her loved ones in a dignified manner,” the provincial government said in a statement. – SAnews.gov.za

Global challenges, such as counter-terrorism, transnational crimes and cybersecurity, have taken centre stage at the Friends of BRICS National Security Advisors Meeting with her BRICS Security counterparts in Johannesburg, South Africa.

  
Minister in the Presidency responsible for the State Security Agency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, on Monday hosted a Friends of BRICS National Security Advisors high-level Meeting to discuss national security and global challenges, among other issues.

 
The Friends of BRICS meeting is convened as a build-up to the upcoming 15th BRICS Leaders' Summit and is constituted of all Security Ministers of the BRICS countries and Friends of BRICS countries which include Belarus, Burundi, Cuba, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Friends of BRICS are a combination of countries who have expressed an interest in joining BRICS; those who chair prominent institutions of the Global South and those invited at the Chair's prerogative. They are invited after consensus is reached between the host and fellow BRICS members.

Among the issues discussed at this meeting were the agreement amongst all delegates that cybersecurity remains a crucial element of cooperation and that the architecture supporting a safer cybersecurity environment needs to be inclusive and accessible to all countries.

While there are both new and old challenges confronting BRICS, Ntshavheni said these present an opportunity to create an environment and world order that reinforces mutual benefit and global development that is inclusive.

“There are also challenges that are persistent and affect all of us as a global family. We must reinforce the way we do things through both the BRICS and the multilateral system of the United Nations, as we deal with challenges such as counter-terrorism, transnational crimes and cybersecurity,” the Minister said. 

In welcoming the delegates to the meeting, Ntshavheni hoped that the day’s engagements would generate an enduring partnership among all countries involved.

 
"We hope that the engagements we are going to have today on issues that are common to all of us will generate an enduring partnership and commitment to a friendship that will ultimately result in enhanced global development and strengthened global resilience and global peace,” she said. 

The Minister said the historic meeting is held during a time when geopolitics have taken centre stage and are affecting and impacting the development of national interests.

“It is a historic meeting because it is a first physical meeting after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic and a meeting that includes the friends of BRICS to focus on matters of common interest and mutual benefit.  This will generate enduring partnerships resulting in enhanced global development and strengthened global resilience and global peace”

“This is a time for us to seek resilience and extend friendship to our people, and it is for that reason that South Africa deemed it fit to invite the Friends of BRICS to join us so that we can converge as a family and chart a way forward together for global resilience and global peace and for mutual development and innovation,” Ntshavheni said. 

Following the closed meeting held earlier in the day, the BRICS members held several bi-laterals amongst themselves and Friends of BRICS countries on various other issues and interests that concern the individual countries. It is expected that such engagements will continue into the future on matters of common interest between these countries.

Ntshavheni said the Friends of BRICS platform offers an opportunity for a mutually inclusive, secure and beneficial environment, which is conducive for global peace and development.

"Where a child of Africa can develop and have access to opportunities like a child of China, India, Brazil and Russia and other countries under conditions of meaningful cooperation," she said. – SAnews.gov.za 

President Cyril Ramaphosa says although South Africa continues to rank in the top five African countries with the best infrastructure, more can be done to improve its development.

The President was addressing the nation through his weekly newsletter on Monday.

He highlighted that good infrastructure can be the foundation of greater and faster economic growth and addressing poverty.

“However for this world class infrastructure to continue to support our developmental goals, it has to be properly, effectively and efficiently maintained. And decisions on infrastructure investment have to respond to the growing need and upgraded appropriately.

“We have good quality infrastructure, but in far too many instances it is not being properly maintained and upgraded. Last year, the South African Institution of Civil Engineering gave the country’s social infrastructure a D rating, with E being failed or failing. Passenger rail scored particularly low, achieving an E,” he said.

The President warned that neglecting infrastructure maintenance can have “detrimental consequences”.

“We are seeing accidents, disease outbreaks and other tragedies that in a number of instances have been associated with dilapidated infrastructure.

“The maintenance of public infrastructure is often the responsibility of local government. It remains of concern that municipalities are failing to spend conditional grants allocated to them for maintenance and upgrades of infrastructure.

“Infrastructure Grant was being spent by municipalities. This grant is for upgrading and building new infrastructure and rehabilitating existing infrastructure,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said municipalities, particularly those that are smaller, do not have the capacity to implement infrastructure plans.

He added that however, there are those municipalities “spending conditional grants successfully and timeously”.

“For example, approximately 91% of funding allocated to municipalities to fund reconstruction and rehabilitation after floods in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal was spent by the respective municipalities.

“This illustrates that with the necessary support, technical assistance, planning and coordination, the problem of municipal underspending on public infrastructure can be overcome,” he said.

In this regard, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, National Treasury and provincial and national government continue to step up support for municipalities.

“Because of its vital developmental function, we continue to prioritise investment in infrastructure across government. Construction is underway on several bulk water, housing, energy and roads projects. Together with better infrastructure maintenance, we are determined that these investments will make a big difference in people’s lives.

“When social infrastructure is well-maintained not only do citizens benefit, but businesses are also supported and the economy as a whole grows and develops,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has condemned the recent attack on Tshwane Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers while responding to an incident in Nellmapius on Saturday.

According to the Gauteng Health Department, the EMS crew was hijacked, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed of their personal cell phones, and other working tools while responding to what appeared to be a distress call in Nellmapius, near Mamelodi.

Committee chairperson Bandile Masuku expressed concern about the “unacceptable growing number of such incidents where EMS workers are attacked and robbed while responding to emergencies”.

“This is a worrying trend in Gauteng, as it puts the lives of EMS workers at risk and compromises their ability to respond and provide health care services to those in desperate need of them,” Masuku said.

The committee called on law enforcement to act with speed in apprehending the perpetrators of these crimes.

“There can never be a no-go area for EMS workers while carrying out their responsibilities, and to have them escorted by police or security officers in some areas paints a worrying picture of the level of crime and lawlessness in our province,” Masuku continued said.

Meanwhile, the committee commended the provincial government’s strides in introducing tracking surveillance devices on EMS vehicles to help EMS teams whenever they encounter dangerous situations.

The committee urged communities to work with law enforcement agencies to end attacks on EMS works, as these sabotage efficient emergency responses. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The efforts of police members through Operation Restore to fight crime, yielded positive results when they arrested several suspects for charges related to dealing in drugs, possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition as well as the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

On Saturday, at about 21:00, the members of Operation Restore in Gugulethu embarked on an intelligence driven operation which led them to a premises in Ntogwana Street, New Crossroads, Gugulethu.

Upon searching the premises, a consignment of drugs consisting of mandrax tablets, ecstasy and crystal meth were found and confiscated.

On further investigation, an undisclosed amount of cash was also found and confiscated as the proceeds of the lucrative drug trade. A 35-year-old male was arrested for possession and dealing in drugs.

Further information led the members to another address in Bengnia Street, suspected to be linked to the first one, where the members found mandrax, ecstasy and crystal meth which were also confiscated. A 34-year-old male was arrested for possession of drugs. Both suspects are due to appear in the Athlone Magistrates court today on the mentioned charges.

On Saturday, members of Operation Restore deployed in Mitchells Plain followed up on information of a firearm being kept at a complex in Dassenberg Street, Tafelsig.

The members accosted the address and found a 49-year-old male with whose consent they gained access to premises and ensued with a search. During the search they found a wooden replica firearm with two iron pipes and one round of ammunition.

They proceeded to another premises in Arsenal Road, Freedom Park where a 26-year-old male was found at the premises. Another replica firearm, black in colour, and one round of ammunition was found.

Both suspects were arrested for being in possession of prohibited firearms and ammunitions. Once charged they will make their court appearance in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates' Court.

The members also followed up on information of a firearm being kept at a complex at Somerset Place, Derrick Drive, Somerset West.

The members then went to the address and found a male at the premises. During the search that ensued they found a black Taurus pistol with two rounds.

The male person could not provide nor produce the licence of the firearm and told the members that he does not possess a licence for any firearm.

The 30-year-old male was subsequently arrested for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Once charged he will make his court appearance in the Somerset West Magistrates' court. – SAnews.gov.za

One hundred and sixty-one suspects have been arrested in the Northern Cape under the South African Police Service's Operation Shanela.

The arrests were executed between last Monday and Sunday, 23 July. 

The arrests were made during stop and searches, vehicle checkpoints, cordon and searches, high visibility patrols, compliance inspections at liquor outlets, tracing operations by detectives, visits to businesses and second-hand goods dealers.

Teams across the Northern Cape conducted numerous operations, which included 11 roadblocks and 36 vehicle control Points (VCPs), during  which 1 981 vehicles and 4 365 persons were searched, with fines being issued for contravention of the law.

These actions were also enhanced by 1 206 high visibility blue light and 1 972 foot patrols throughout the Northern Cape.

In total, 3 109 compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, shebeens, taverns, liquor outlets, firearm dealers, farms and informal businesses.

On Monday, 17 July, the police followed up on information and found a substantial amount of copper cable stashed next to a power station in Peter Mokaba Street in Kagisho in Galeshewe, while another male was also arrested with copper worth R1 000 in the Kimberley CBD.

Colesburg SAPS members confiscated a large amount of diesel concealed in containers in a Toyota bakkie and the vehicle owner could not account for the goods.

Police in Hopetown also confiscated a substantial amount of tik, mandrax and dagga, while another team seized a large amount of dagga in Galeshewe.

SAPS all over the province made routine visits at ATMs, business premises, national key points, post offices and tuckshops.

Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Koliswa Otola, said SAPS members and external stakeholders will continue with the high density crime prevention operations. – SAnews.gov.za