MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / Archives for new

new

Handwoven success: Sisters’ journey to AGOA opportunity

Location: News

Handwoven success: Sisters’ journey to AGOA opportunity

Sisters Mo Morongwe Mokone and Michelle Mokone have elevated South Africa’s innovative décor scene by breaking into the lucrative United States of America (USA) market. 

However, they are not stopping there and are now planning to grow their footprint beyond the USA and enter new markets, such as Europe and the United Arab Emirates.

The pair are the co-owners of Mo’s Crib, a company that produces a range of handmade home décor products.  Their product range includes handwoven baskets, planters, trays, wall art and outdoor items.

Michelle, who is the Operations and Supply Chain Director of Mo’s Crib, said their products are manufactured from unique materials such as ultra-durable polyvinyl chloride plastic, reclaimed from landfills and construction sites throughout South Africa, and various types of grass.

In 2021, the pair decided to take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – a United States Trade Act which was enacted in May 2000.

AGOA allows 35 qualifying Sub-Saharan countries to export 1 835 tariff lines duty-free to a significant consumer market in the USA.

“We managed to benefit from the AGOA only through our shipping agent. We had already registered and received an export certificate in 2019, and by the time we were ready to export, the certificate came in very useful. It was a relief to learn that we were from an AGOA-benefiting country and that our products will not be subject to any import duties,” Michelle said.

 Since 2021, the business has shipped a total of eight containers full of products to the USA.

“We are on track to ship two more containers before the end of 2023.  We also regularly ship a container to fulfil our orders for our online store, which is fulfilled through our warehouse in New Jersey.

 “Although shipping is relatively expensive, especially for a small business that is 100% self-funded, we have benefited from the AGOA through significant market access. Currently, the USA orders constitute 60% of our overall revenue,” she said.

Taking it back to why they started the business, Michelle said the idea of Mo’s Crib dates back to the 90s when Mo used to make homemade art crafts by crocheting strips of reused plastic bags into rugs.

 “The actual business, however, started as a hobby in 2016 when we took part in an annual Christmas market while working full-time in our corporate jobs. The first product sold was Origami Art, which Mo learnt in London, and what we thought would be a slow sale quickly became a phenomenon, selling out within days of the market,” she explained. 

“We introduced new products every year for two years until we decided to quit our full-time jobs in 2019 and focused on the business full-time,” she added.

Before starting the business, the Mokone sisters worked full-time in their respective corporate careers. Mo was an executive assistant and a human resource personnel at a corporate firm while Michelle was working as an agricultural economist for a farmer association.

Meanwhile, Michelle was busy completing her master’s in international Trade Law at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

“Our unique skills and qualities have contributed to building the business to where it is and driving growth within the homeware industry,” Mo explained.

Mo’s Crib, which is 100% self-funded from inception, employs 12 full-time staff and 86 artisans. The pair have an internal plan to create 20 new jobs within the next two to three years.

You can contact Mo’s Crib on 0877007161 or email: hello@moscrib.com

Instagram: @mos.crib
Twitter/X: @moscrib
Facebook: Mo’s Crib

LinkedIn: The Alice Group (Mo’s Crib) https://agoa.info/about-agoa.html

DikelediM
Wed, 11/15/2023 - 11:41

442 views
Read moreHandwoven success: Sisters’ journey to AGOA opportunity

SA, Qatar bolster relations

Location: News

SA, Qatar bolster relations

President Cyril Ramaphosa has deemed his visit to Qatar as significant, saying it serves as an opportunity to discuss and share views on the recent international developments. 

“This visit is very significant, not only as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between our two countries, but also to share views on recent international developments. 

“The events in Palestine, and the growing deaths of civilians, particularly children, grieves us all. South Africa supports all efforts to secure an immediate and full ceasefire, with talks on a political solution to address the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood,” President Ramaphosa said. 

The President was delivering remarks at the Qatar - South Africa Business Roundtable in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday. 

President Ramaphosa is currently on a two-day State Visit in Qatar at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.

The visit occurs in the context of three decades of diplomatic relations. The two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations on 11 May 2024. This is President Ramaphosa's first visit to the State of Qatar as Head of State.

President Ramaphosa told the roundtable that while the political relationship between the two countries is strong, much more can be done with each other in areas of trade, investment and economic development. 

“For this reason, I am particularly pleased that I have had an opportunity to engage with both the Qatari Business Association and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce earlier. I want to point to five features of the South African economy that offer us the opportunity to build and expand our economic relationship,” he said. 

Firstly, the President highlighted that South Africa is Africa’s most industrialised economy with well-established companies.

He told the roundtable that many of these companies are active in the Middle East and Qatar. The President mentioned companies like Sasol in the petro-chemical sector with its advanced technologies and iconic consumer brands such as Nandos and Ocean Basket. 

“South African has well developed manufacturing and services sectors. South African agriculture and agro-processing companies are world class, and we can support the Food Security Program of the State of Qatar. 

“Beyond these, South Africa is developing its expertise in areas such as pharmaceuticals, the space industry and advanced manufacturing,” he said. 

Secondly, the President said South Africa is developing greater market access across the world. 

He mentioned that the country has free trade agreements in place with the European Union and the United Kingdom and is about to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area, uniting 54 economies into a large tariff-free market intended to cover 1.3 billion consumers. 

In addition, South Africa currently has access to the US market on preferential terms through the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) and preferential access to certain Latin American markets. 

Thirdly, President Ramaphosa emphasised that the African continent has vast resources of critical minerals that will be used as the world embraces cleaner, greener growth. 

With Qatar’s experience, technology and capital in the petrochemicals, natural gas and energy infrastructure, President Ramaphosa said government is looking to companies from Qatar partnering with South Africa as it implement its just energy transition.

Fourthly, the President highlighted that the country is embarking on far-ranging economic reforms that provide opportunities for partnerships between foreign investors and domestic firms in South Africa. 

He said the energy market is being restructured. The public electricity utility, Eskom, which faced severe challenges, has improved maintenance of its generation fleet and has received debt relief from the State to strengthen its financial position. 

“Private energy generation, specifically in renewables, constitutes a growing share of total energy generated. Since the implementation of regulatory changes, the pipeline of private sector generation projects has increased to over 100 projects representing more than 10,000 MW of potential new capacity,” he said. 

Fifthly, the President told the business roundtable that the country has a stable legal system, strong protections of property rights, a deep capital market with Africa’s largest stock exchange, and a growing pool of skilled employees. 

“South Africa is ready to build partnerships for faster, sustainable and inclusive growth. South Africa is keen to deepen our bilateral relationship with Qatar. We look forward to partnering in sectors such as agro-processing, automotive, aquaculture, manufacturing, hydrocarbons, infrastructure, hospitality and tourism, to mention a few.

“I invite Qatar to join us in developing a portfolio of South African investments that your sovereign wealth fund and your private sector can participate in,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa commended the business delegations from South Africa and Qatar for their engagement, adding that he look forward to successful outcomes. – SAnews.gov.za 

DikelediM
Wed, 11/15/2023 - 15:20

464 views
Read moreSA, Qatar bolster relations

Mr. Fudge: A Sweet Addition to South Africa’s Kosher Delicacies

Location: MyPR

South Africa’s kosher community is set to enjoy a richer, sweeter experience with the introduction of Mr. Fudge’s MK Kosher Certified confections. The new line-up, featuring Cholov Yisroel Vanilla and Chocolate Fudge, exemplifies the perfect blend of traditional flavors and stringent kosher compliance.   Rabbi Yossi Baumgarten, MK Kosher’s African Regional Director, has praised the …

Read moreMr. Fudge: A Sweet Addition to South Africa’s Kosher Delicacies

MultiChoice Group: Resilient Operational Performance and Significant Progress

Location: Business
MultiChoice Group

MultiChoice Group (MCG, or the group) (www.MultiChoice.com), Africa's leading entertainment company, executed well on its operational objectives during the six months ended 30 September 2023 (1H FY24).

Building on its track record of investing in technology to be ahead of the curve, and to accommodate shifts in consumer video consumption trends to support future growth, the group continued to transition strategically with an increased investment in Showmax, ahead of an exciting re-launch in the second half of this financial year.

“We remain focused on developing our leading entertainment platform that caters for consumer needs across sub-Saharan Africa, on leveraging our footprint to build a differentiated ecosystem and on developing additional revenue streams,” says Calvo Mawela, Chief Executive Officer. 

The overall excitement around three world cups, culminating in the Springboks emerging victorious as back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions, supported subscriber activity. A highlight of the interim period was the South African Premium customer base, which grew 5%, a positive trend for the first time in many years.

Although profitability came under pressure due to ongoing power interruptions, cost of living pressures and sharp depreciation in local currencies against the US dollar, the impact was mitigated by a change in focus towards subscriber retention, an improved customer mix, as well as ongoing pricing and cost saving disciplines to protect the resilience of the business. As a result, the group maintained a positive trading profit margin of 3% in the Rest of Africa (a ZAR2.2bn organic improvement YoY) and delivered a 31% trading margin in South Africa.

Salient points for the 1H FY24 period included:

  • Group revenue: ZAR28.3bn, down 1% (up 4% organic) due to weaker local currencies and consumer pressure, offset by conversion benefits of a weaker ZAR on the group's USD reporting segments and inflationary-led price increases in the majority of the group's markets.
  • Subscription revenues: 3% higher on an organic basis, attributed to strong growth in Rest of Africa (+14%) and Showmax (+25%), offset by pressure in the South African business (-4%).
  • Group trading profit: increased 18% on an organic and like-for-like basis (excluding the additional investment in Showmax), reducing to a 10% improvement once the investment in Showmax is considered. On a reported basis, trading profit was 18% lower at ZAR5.0bn, impacted by foreign exchange headwinds of ZAR1.7bn, Showmax trading losses of ZAR0.8bn and a lower contribution from South Africa. Focus on cost optimisation delivered ZAR0.5bn in cost savings.
  • Total content costs: up 10% (+ 4% organic), driven by ongoing investment in local content (+16% YoY) and several World Cups hosted in the first half of the year.    
  • Core headline earnings: ZAR1.9bn, down 5%, impacted by the same drivers weighing on trading profit, with some offset from realised gains on forward exchange contracts and lower tax and minorities in South Africa.
  • Adjusted core headline earnings (incorporating the impact of losses incurred on cash remittances in markets such as Nigeria): increased 25% to ZAR1.5bn, resulting from lower losses on cash remittances as the gap between the official and parallel naira rates narrowed following the material depreciation in the official naira rate during the period.
  • Free cash flow: ZAR1.1bn, impacted by the increased investment in Showmax and a lower contribution from the South African business.
  • Retained cash and cash equivalents of ZAR5.6bn and access to ZAR9.0bn in undrawn facilities; financial debt stable at ZAR8.1bn with Net debt:EBITDA of 1.30x.

The group continued to deliver compelling local content and enable its audiences to access internationally renowned entertainment shows. Playing a vital role in supporting and developing the continent's wider video entertainment industry, it has increased its spending on local content by 16% YoY, taking its local content library to almost 80,000 hours. Going forward, the group plans to enhance the monetisation of each hour of content produced by leveraging both its linear and streaming platforms.

Several new titles were launched to maintain strong momentum in leading local language programming. In addition to the successful debut of Shaka iLembe on Mzansi Magic; Gqeberha: The Empire replaced The Queen in its time slot; and Umkhoka: The Curse continued to grow in viewership and social media engagement during the period. M-Net launched the higher-end series 1802: Love Defies Time on 1Magic. kykNET introduced a new medical procedural drama, Hartklop, and a new cooking reality show, Kokkedoor: Vuur & Vlam, both of which commanded strong audience share. Big Brother Naija entered its eighth season, delivering record advertising revenues in local currency.

Following on from the success of the FIFA World Cup in FY23, SuperSport yet again demonstrated its ability to deliver an exceptional sport offering,  successfully broadcasting three World Cup events in the period — the FIFA Women's World Cup, the Netball World Cup and the Rugby World Cup — followed by the Cricket World Cup, which aired post period-end.  

As part of its broader “Here for Her” campaign, SuperSport provided a world-first all-female broadcasting crew to produce the Netball World Cup in Cape Town, which was shortlisted at the Sports Business Awards for “Best Sporting Event of 2023”.

Beyond World Cup coverage, SuperSport's broadcast of the Comrades Marathon in June 2023 was the biggest production in SuperSport's history. The group continued telling the best of local sport stories and is proud of its latest documentary series, Pulse of a Nation, which documents the history of football in South Africa. SuperSport also secured several rights in its portfolio to provide viewers with a wide variety of choice.

MultiChoice also remains committed to making school sport accessible to all levels of society through its SuperSport Schools platform, which grew its user base by 69% over the last six months, providing a valuable stage for identifying the next generation of South Africa's sporting stars.

Operational performance review 

South Africa

The challenging consumer environment persisted into 1H FY24.  Loadshedding remained the most immediate challenge in terms of subscriber activity, with the number of active days per subscriber declining by 5% due to a significant increase in both frequency and intensity of loadshedding, especially in Q1 of the reporting period. Premium and Compact bases showed improved stability compared to the latter part of FY23.

The group reported a 5% decline in 90-day active customers to 8.6m (3% of which can be attributed to the decision to end the short-term campaigns implemented in the prior year to support customers during loadshedding), with active customers amounting to 7.8m. More stable trends in the mid- and upper segments of the customer base, along with inflation-linked average price increases of around 4%, helped limit the decline in monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) to 2%.

Various initiatives were implemented to protect the economics of the segment and to help offset macro and consumer challenges weighing on the performance of the business into the second half, a period which is typically affected by the seasonally higher cost of the football content rights and festive season promotional activity. Key amongst these was the reduction in decoder subsidies through increased device pricing in our linear business and the relaunch of DStv Stream, which has more than tripled its subscribers since March 2023, albeit off a low base. Encouragingly, over 90% of DStv Stream subscribers added in the period are new subscribers to DStv, who find the connected product without hardware installation more appealing. The pricing and value proposition of the DStv Business Play packages were also recalibrated which led to a 37% increase in month-on-month revenues for this segment in September 2023.

Revenues declined by 3% to ZAR16.5bn, impacted by a 4% decline in subscription revenues and a reduction in decoder revenues due to the shift in strategy, offset by 31% growth in insurance premiums and a doubling of DStv Internet revenues.  The segment delivered a trading margin of 31%, with Showmax now reported as a separate trading segment. In absolute terms, the lower revenues and negative operating leverage resulted in trading profit trending 17% lower to ZAR5.2bn, impacted by the ongoing investment in local content and sport, partially offset by cost saving initiatives and reduced decoder subsidies.

Rest of Africa (RoA)

After adding 1.4m new subscribers in FY23, subscriber growth in the Rest of Africa was more subdued in 1H FY24. This was due to the impact of inflationary pressures in key markets like Nigeria, and similar trends to previous periods which followed a FIFA World Cup or northern hemisphere football off-season. A total of 0.1m subscribers were added to end the period at 13.0m 90-day active subscribers. The active subscriber base was broadly stable at 8.9m subscribers and subscription revenues grew 14% organically.

Revenue of ZAR10.5bn was flat (+13% organic) with a weaker ZAR against the USD on conversion, offsetting the impact of weaker local currencies relative to the USD. The RoA segment delivered a trading profit of ZAR330m (+ZAR2.2bn YoY on an organic basis) which was underpinned by specific cost interventions around decoder subsidies and content costs.

Weaker currencies remained a significant impediment to improvements in profitability, with average first half exchanges falling sharply against the USD. The sharp fall of the naira resulted in a large proportion of the previously recognised losses incurred on cash remittances now being recorded in trading profit. The net effect of these forex movements was a negative ZAR1.6bn impact on the segment's trading profit for the period.

Showmax

The Showmax partnership with Comcast (owners of NBCUniversal, Sky and Peacock) was concluded on 4 April 2023 and significant progress has been made in preparing for launch later in this financial year. This service, which is set to benefit from rising connectivity and smart device uptake that enhances accessibility and scalability, will enable MultiChoice to double its customer base and deliver an additional USD1bn revenue in the medium term. 

Showmax (now reported separately from the South African segment) saw its active subscriber base increase by 13% YoY, resulting in revenues growing 46% (+45% organic) to ZAR0.6bn. As the group continues to support the existing business and invest behind the new platform, operating costs increased in the short term, resulting in trading losses increasing by ZAR0.5bn to ZAR0.8bn.

Technology segment

Irdeto's external business delivered 17% topline growth (+4% organic) due to the weaker ZAR against the USD, market share gains in its core media security business and the provision of its managed services.  Irdeto's connected industries initiatives continue to build momentum, most notably in the Keystone product line where Irdeto secured additional customer wins in the construction equipment space.

Trading profit was affected by once-off restructuring activities in the core media security business as the business adapts to the changing media landscape, and increased by a modest 1% on an organic basis.

On a standalone basis, Irdeto generated revenues of USD98m (ZAR1.8bn), down 7%. Trading profit of USD15m (ZAR0.3bn) was lower than the prior period as a result of the non-recurring benefit from elevated FIFA World Cup orders in the prior year, as well as the restructuring costs.

KingMakers

KingMakers continued to deliver strong underlying operating momentum despite the impact of the weaker naira and challenging macro environment in Nigeria. The business delivered organic revenue growth of 22%, led by strong growth in its online sportsbook which saw active users increase 17% and its revenue contribution grow by 40% YoY. The weaker naira resulted in reported revenues increasing only 2% to USD95m (ZAR1.8bn). KingMakers reported USD10m in EBITDA and narrowed its loss after tax to USD8.6m (ZAR0.2bn) for the first six months to June 2023.

The core development focus for KingMakers was preparations for the soft launch of SuperSportBet in South Africa on 9 November this year. The expertise of the KingMakers team combined with the strength of the SuperSportBet brand and exclusive partnerships uniquely positions the group to leverage the opportunity for future revenue and gain market share in this large and growing addressable market.

KingMakers is focused on optimising the profitability of its agency business and growing its higher-margin online business that, together with the opportunity presented by the new South African business, will support its path to sustainable profitability.

The product and market expansion plans are fully funded with KingMakers having USD134m (ZAR2.5bn) of cash at period end (being June 2023).

Moment (Fintech)

The Moment joint venture made significant progress in integrating with group core payments infrastructure and remains on track to commercialise its local services in 2H FY24.

In addition, Moment prioritised payment service integrations for the Showmax business to support the streaming platform's launch in 2H FY24. The platform is set to deliver returns equal to the initial investment within a 20-month timeframe and will become increasingly important to the success of the group's ecosystem in future, providing simplicity to customer payment options, more integrated rewards platforms and B2B revenue opportunities.

Future Prospects

“MultiChoice has a compelling growth strategy in place, which is partly driven by the opportunity to capture sustainable long-term growth through our targeted investment in streaming and partly by the need to absorb increased external economic pressure on the business and its consumers in the short-term. Our priority is to navigate both sets of demands to ensure the group operates sustainably through the current economic cycle and long into the future, while delivering attractive shareholder returns.” says Mawela.

The focus remains on driving further efficiencies in operating expenditure, as well as working capital and capex decisions, to ensure consistent and optimal returns on all capital deployed. At the same time, the group continues to seek ways to support or improve the economics of the business through pricing decisions, optimising customer mix and content monetisation, as well as calibrating decoder subsidies according to the macro-economic backdrop.

The group is also carefully investing behind nascent or future business lines, taking into account the strategic importance and prospects of success.

“The second half of FY24 will be an important period in our journey to expand our ecosystem beyond Africa's leading linear pay-TV operator into a broader ecosystem of interactive entertainment and consumer services to enable us to double our customer base to 50 million over the next five years. The relaunch of Showmax, combined with KingMakers' entry into the South African market with SuperSportBet, and Moment's platform launch are all important milestones as we accelerate growth and drive additional scale, creating a ‘world of more' for customers and additional value for shareholders.” Mawela concluded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.

Media files
MultiChoice Group
Download logo
Read moreMultiChoice Group: Resilient Operational Performance and Significant Progress

Good Heart Kosher MK Certification

Location: MyPR

  In a significant development for South Africa’s kosher food market, Good Heart has announced an expansion of its product range with a new lineup of MK kosher-certified products. This diversification is a boon for the burgeoning kosher community, providing a variety of options from coated rice cakes in exotic flavours to a selection of …

Read moreGood Heart Kosher MK Certification

Load shedding requires urgent intervention, Ramokgopa tells Parliament

Location: News

Load shedding requires urgent intervention, Ramokgopa tells Parliament

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has told the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises that load shedding is an existential problem, both in economic and social terms, which requires urgent intervention.

The Minister said the South African economy could be losing up to R1 billion a day, depending on the intensity of load shedding.

“This is severe. The amount of jobs that have been lost as a result of load shedding are projected to be upwards of 800 000 just for the current year, if you were to go by the modelling that has been done by some of the reputable institutions.

“I'm trying to convey the message that we are dealing with a major problem that undermines the overall growth of the South African economy,” he said on Wednesday. 

Ramokgopa said as a result of this, President Ramaphosa found it appropriate to provide a comprehensive and compelling response to the crisis by unveiling the Energy Action Plan (EAP), which has about five outcomes.

The five priority outcomes, Ramokgopa said, are to fix Eskom and improve the availability of existing supply; enable private investment in new generation capacity; accelerate procurement of new capacity from renewables, gas and battery storage; unleash investment in rooftop solar PV for businesses and households, and to "undermine the political interest calculation, ensuring that there's transparency in how costs are located and how tariffs are determined". 

Expanding on the first priority, the Minister said they have to improve the availability of existing suppliers.

“So the focus will be on the existing fleet of Eskom coal-fired power stations, a focus on Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and also the importation of hydro that we are getting from Mozambique, ensuring that first we address the reliability of this unit... [and reduce] the rate of abrupt failure of these units, and address their efficiency as they run, then approximate their design capacity,” he said. 

Turning to the second priority, Ramokgopa said that it exists to ensure that significant private sector investment is attracted, and this is supported by the reforms that were introduced on the generation side. 

He said there is a significant amount of project pipeline as a result of the reforms that have been introduced on the generation side, which focuses on the private sector and new generation capacity. 

Generation performance 

On the overall performance of units, Ramokgopa told the portfolio committee that the trendline has essentially been going up.

"If you look at the available capacity, you can see that it is beginning to pick up from what the situation was in May, which was used as a baseline." 

The Minister said they were addressing factors that have contributed to increased load shedding over the past week.

"... There is the good and there's also the bad. The good is that the trendline is going up and the bad is that there are things that we admit that we can improve on, especially better planning, returning the units on time, and ensuring that gradually, we continue to reduce the intensity of load shedding,” the Minister said.
 
He said they are taking advantage of the warmer period the country is now in. 

“We have been ramping up planned maintenance... [We need to] make sure that we fix [the units] and when they come back, they're healthier and they're able to perform,” he said.
 
As part of improving the issues at Eskom, Ramokgopa said they have returned two of the three units that failed at Eskom last year in October as a result of challenges related to the Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) unit, which is a mechanical component that houses a chemical process meant to reduce the amount of sulphur content that is emitted into the environment. 

“We asked for a special dispensation to bypass that Flue-gas desulfurization unit and then we accepted that there are environmental costs, and that's why we put together a comprehensive health plan to... mitigate the environmental costs, and those were approved by the Minister of Environment. 

“Of course, we are going to return to normality, essentially to go back to the original design of going through the Flue-gas desulfurization by the end of the year 2024. 

“But now we've got that relief and two of those three units are back. Unit 1 and 3 are back, and we anticipate to bring Unit 2 by end of the month, and then we'll be firing Unit 5 at Kusile by the third week of December. So we project to get another 1 600 megawatts,” the Minister said. 

The Minister told the portfolio committee that they are currently focusing on four broad areas, which include the facilitation of renewables.

"It's important to not just over rely on Eskom, which is aging. We have committed to a decarbonisation agenda. We're committed to the nationally determined contribution the net zero path. Of course, we have extended the life of these power stations as a result of the challenges that we're currently facing. 

“So we [have] delayed the decommissioning. It will happen but it's delayed. The key is facilitating renewables, and transmission is a big part of that." – SAnews.gov.za
 

DikelediM
Wed, 11/15/2023 - 12:51

318 views
Read moreLoad shedding requires urgent intervention, Ramokgopa tells Parliament

Blockchain as a tool for Entrepreneurs

Location: MyPR

South Africa, 15 November 2023 – The debate around blockchain technology and the future is almost as old as blockchain itself. Ever since this innovative technology first emerged, it became abundantly clear that its potential goes far beyond merely supporting cryptocurrencies. It has the power to revolutionise the way people conduct financial transactions, and as …

Read moreBlockchain as a tool for Entrepreneurs

Fighting the harmful effects of alcohol

Location: News

Fighting the harmful effects of alcohol

By Dr Ntombifuthi Nala

Many South Africans thrive on celebrations, whether it is a national accomplishment such as winning the Rugby World Cup, or a personal achievement such as passing an exam. These celebrations are often accompanied with dancing, singing and of course alcohol.

While alcohol is a means of celebrations and enjoyment, it can be open to misuse or abuse that can lead to the destruction of lives.

Every year the lives of 3 million individuals are lost due to alcohol, representing 5 per cent of all deaths. This is worrisome in South Africa where alcohol is the most widely used psychoactive substance and high levels of binge drinking and associated harms prevail.

In characterising the challenge, Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, stated that “alcohol is one of the most abused substances that causes the most harm to the most people in our country”.

Alcohol abuse not only harms the health of an individual by affecting their vital organs and increasing susceptibility to life threatening diseases, it also jeopardises the safety, well-being and lives of others.

In searching out solutions to reduce alcohol-related harms and best practices for regulating alcohol, South Africa recently hosted the Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC).

This is the first time that the conference was held in Africa, which brought together policy makers, academics, representatives of community-based organisations and NGOs from across the globe.

The conference made strong inroads in the formulation of a global alcohol policy that protects children and vulnerable adults. It also engaged on how further the regulation of alcohol marketing could help fight the abuse of alcohol.

During the conference Minister Zulu committed to reviewing the Liquor Amendment Bill which seeks to strengthen regulations on alcohol trading, marketing and sales. The bill put forward strong interventions which includes increasing the legal age of drinking to 21 and introducing an increased radius limitation for the trade of alcohol around educational and religious institutions. It also places liability on alcohol retailers and manufacturers for harm resulting from contravening regulations.

These proposals are important in advancing our fight against alcoholism, particularly in curbing access for young people as one in three teenagers are addicted to drugs and alcohol in our country.

The plight of underage drinking and non-compliance with alcohol-related laws were recently brought to the fore at the Enyobeni tavern tragedy that resulted in the loss of 21 young lives.

In strengthening our efforts to address the challenges caused by alcohol and substance abuse in the country, the Department of Social Development has drafted a policy framework on the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Use Disorders, which will soon be gazetted for public comment. Cabinet also recommended an inter-Ministerial Committee for prevention, reduction and treatment strategies for alcohol and substance abuse.

Whilst government strives to reduce alcohol-related harms by reinforcing our laws and developing new strategies, we urge South Africans to be responsible citizens by adhering to current legislation.

The National Liquor Act prohibits the sale of alcohol to anyone under the age of 18, which calls for the co-operation of parents, community members, and liquor outlets to ensure that alcohol is not sold to children.  

Establishments with liquor licences must perform verification checks against identity documents to ensure a person is of the legal age to consume alcohol. These checks are essential, especially as pens down parties, rage festivals and a host of social gatherings will occur as exams come to an end and the festive season approaches.

South Africans are urged to act responsibly this festive season should they choose to consume alcohol, and to always say no to the use of drugs. Excessive alcohol intake is widely linked to an increase in accidents, violent behaviour, fights and domestic violence.

Alcohol abuse is one of the main contributors to crime, especially gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa. We ought to make it our duty to report incidents of GBVF, alcohol–related and other crimes, to law enforcement authorities.

Reducing alcohol-related harms requires the combined efforts of everyone. When we do our part by practising responsible drinking and adhering to our laws, we can celebrate without putting our health, safety and the lives of others at risk.

*Dr Ntombifuthi Nala, Director: Research and Knowledge Management at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

 

Janine
Tue, 11/14/2023 - 14:24

398 views
Read moreFighting the harmful effects of alcohol

Zeitz MOCAA Ushers in Summer with Two Novel Exhibitions

Location: Entertainment, MyPR

Zeitz MOCAA unveils two new exhibitions for summer, marking the start of an exceptionally busy season for the institution. Focused on lens-based practices, Self as a Forgotten Monument is a solo, survey exhibition by celebrated self-taught artist and photographer Mame-Diarra Niang while Seekers, Seers, Soothsayers is a group exhibition. The shows and accompanying programming solidify …

Read moreZeitz MOCAA Ushers in Summer with Two Novel Exhibitions

From soft skills to core competencies – the current essentials for future entrepreneurial success

Location: MyPR

To succeed in the future, entrepreneurs must embrace technology, social imperatives, and adaptability. With advancements in artificial intelligence, sustainability and decentralised finance, the business landscape is shifting rapidly. With this, entrepreneurs need to integrate cutting-edge technologies and adopt ethical and sustainable practices. Digital transformation and changing regulations have redefined traditional business operations, making geographical locations …

Read moreFrom soft skills to core competencies – the current essentials for future entrepreneurial success

NJRat and AgentTesla Guide Head up an Alarming Surge in Global Malware Activity

Location: News
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (https://www.CheckPoint.com/), a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, has released its Global Threat Index for October 2023, unveiling an alarming trend in cyber threats. The Remote Access Trojan (RAT) NJRat has dramatically risen from sixth to second place, with a particular focus on targeting government agencies and organizations in the Middle East and Africa. This escalation in cyber threats has been particularly severe in Africa, with Mauritius ranking 6th, Nigeria 11th, Morocco 15th, and Kenya 25th in terms of being targeted and attacked. South Africa follows, ranking 55th globally.

Download document: https://apo-opa.co/3MHq2pZ

In addition, the report highlights the expanding reach of the sophisticated RAT AgentTesla, driven by a new and complex mal-spam campaign using corrupted email attachments. The education sector continues to be the prime target, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of this industry to cyber attacks.

Last month, AgentTesla was found being disseminated through archive files that contained a malicious Microsoft Compiled HTML Help (.CHM) extension. These files, disguised as typical order and shipment documents, were distributed via emails with .GZ or .zip attachments, tricking recipients into downloading the malware. Once installed, AgentTesla exhibits a range of harmful capabilities, including keylogging, capturing clipboard data, accessing file systems, and secretly transmitting stolen data to a Command and Control (C&C) server.

"We cannot overlook the sophisticated tactics used by hackers to distribute malware, such as impersonating trusted brands or using malicious email attachments,” said Rudi van Rooyen, Sales Engineer at Check Point Software. “As we enter the busy shopping season in November, it's crucial to stay alert. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the increased online shopping activity, and no region, including Africa, is immune to these threats."

CPR also revealed that “Zyxel ZyWALL Command Injection (CVE-2023-28771)” was the most exploited vulnerability, impacting 42% of organizations globally, followed by “Command Injection Over HTTP” which impacts 42% of organizations worldwide. “Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal” was the third most used vulnerability, with a global impact of 42%.

Top malware families and their impact in Africa

*The arrows relate to the change in rank compared to the previous month.

Formbook was the most prevalent malware last month with an impact of 3% worldwide organizations, followed by NJRat with a global impact of 2%, and Remcos with a global impact of 2%.

1.     ↔ Formbook – Formbook is an Infostealer targeting the Windows OS and was first detected in 2016. It is marketed as Malware as a Service (MaaS) in underground hacking forums for its strong evasion techniques and relatively low price. FormBook harvests credentials from various web browsers, collects screenshots, monitors and logs keystrokes, and can download and execute files according to orders from its C&C. Its impact in Kenya and Nigeria is significant at 16.9% and 9.2% respectively, while impact in South Africa is lower at 3%.

2.     ↑ NJRat – NJRat is a remote accesses Trojan, targeting mainly government agencies and organizations in the Middle East. The Trojan has first emerged in 2012 and has multiple capabilities: capturing keystrokes, accessing the victim's camera, stealing credentials stored in browsers, uploading and downloading files, performing process and file manipulations, and viewing the victim's desktop. NJRat infects victims via phishing attacks and drive-by downloads, and propagates through infected USB keys or networked drives, with the support of Command & Control server software. NJRat's impact in South Africa is just above 2% while Morrocco is at 8%.

3.     ↓ Remcos – Remcos is a RAT that first appeared in the wild in 2016. Remcos distributes itself through malicious Microsoft Office documents, which are attached to SPAM emails, and is designed to bypass Microsoft Windows UAC security and execute malware with high-level privileges. While its presence globally is concerning, Remcos has not made a a significant appearance in Africa.

 Top Attacked Industries in Africa

Last month Education/Research remained in first place as the most attacked industry globally, followed by Communications and Government/Military. However, in Africa the top industries that came under attack are:

1.     Communications

2.     ISP/MSP

3.     Finance and Banking

4.     Government and Military

Top exploited vulnerabilities

Last month, “Zyxel ZyWALL Command Injection (CVE-2023-28771)” was the most exploited vulnerability, impacting 42% of organizations globally, followed by “Command Injection Over HTTP” which impacts 42% of organizations worldwide. “Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal” was the third most used vulnerability, with a global impact of 42%.

1.     ↑ Zyxel ZyWALL Command Injection (CVE-2023-28771) - A command injection vulnerability exists in Zyxel ZyWALL. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability would allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands in the affected system.

2.     ↔ Command Injection Over HTTP (CVE-2021-43936, CVE-2022-24086) - A command Injection over HTTP vulnerability has been reported. A remote attacker can exploit this issue by sending a specially crafted request to the victim. Successful exploitation would allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target machine.

3.     ↓ Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal (CVE-2010-4598,CVE-2011-2474,CVE-2014-0130,CVE-2014-0780,CVE-2015-0666,CVE-2015-4068,CVE-2015-7254,CVE-2016-4523,CVE-2016-8530,CVE-2017-11512,CVE-2018-3948,CVE-2018-3949,CVE-2019-18952,CVE-2020-5410,CVE-2020-8260) - There exists a directory traversal vulnerability on different web servers. The vulnerability is due to an input validation error in a web server that does not properly sanitize the URL for the directory traversal patterns. Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated remote attackers to disclose or access arbitrary files on the vulnerable server.

Top Mobile Malwares

Last month Anubis remained in first place as the most prevalent Mobile malware, followed by AhMyth and Hiddad.

1.     Anubis – Anubis is a banking Trojan malware designed for Android mobile phones. Since it was initially detected, it has gained additional functions including Remote Access Trojan (RAT) functionality, keylogger, audio recording capabilities and various ransomware features. It has been detected on hundreds of different applications available in the Google Store.

2.     AhMyth - AhMyth is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) discovered in 2017. It is distributed through Android apps that can be found on app stores and various websites. When a user installs one of these infected apps, the malware can collect sensitive information from the device and perform actions such as keylogging, taking screenshots, sending SMS messages, and activating the camera, which is usually used to steal sensitive information.

3.     Hiddad - Hiddad is an Android malware which repackages legitimate apps and then releases them to a third-party store. Its main function is to display ads, but it can also gain access to key security details built into the OS.

Check Point's Global Threat Impact Index and its ThreatCloud Map are powered by Check Point's ThreatCloud (https://threatmap.CheckPoint.com/) intelligence. ThreatCloud provides real-time threat intelligence derived from hundreds of millions of sensors worldwide, over networks, endpoints and mobiles. The intelligence is enriched with AI-based engines and exclusive research data from Check Point Research, the intelligence and research arm of Check Point Software Technologies. 

The complete list of the top ten malware families in October can be found on the Check Point blog. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd..

Media Contact: 
Kerry Botha
Kerry Botha Communications
Mobile: +27 83 263 0644 
press@kerrybotha.co.za     

Follow Check Point via:
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3ubUlyG  
X: https://apo-opa.co/3SEBgPG 
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3QEdjFz 
Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com  
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/46dJB05

About Check Point Research:
Check Point Research provides leading cyber threat intelligence to Check Point Software customers and the greater intelligence community. The research team collects and analyzes global cyber-attack data stored on ThreatCloud to keep hackers at bay, while ensuring all Check Point products are updated with the latest protections. The research team consists of over 100 analysts and researchers cooperating with other security vendors, law enforcement and various CERTs.  

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.: 
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.CheckPoint.com) is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions to corporate enterprises and governments globally.  Check Point Infinity's portfolio of solutions protects enterprises and public organizations from 5th generation cyberattacks with an industry leading catch rate of malware, ransomware and other threats. Infinity comprises four core pillars delivering uncompromised security and threat prevention across enterprise environments: Check Point Harmony, for remote users; Check Point CloudGuard, to automatically secure clouds; and Check Point Quantum, to protect network perimeters and datacentres, all controlled by the industry's most comprehensive, intuitive unified security management; Check Point Horizon, a prevention-first security operations suite. Check Point protects over 100,000 organizations of all sizes. 

Media files
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Download logo
Read moreNJRat and AgentTesla Guide Head up an Alarming Surge in Global Malware Activity

Fintech and Blockchain: Innovations vs. Regulatory Compliance

Location: MyPR

To lay a foundational understanding of the so-called Fintech Revolution, it is important to delineate the terms blockchain, fintech, and cryptocurrency from the outset. Blockchain technology stands as a decentralised and tamper-resistant digital ledger, which securely documents transactions across a vast network of computers. Fintech, short for financial technology, encapsulates a number  of innovative digital …

Read moreFintech and Blockchain: Innovations vs. Regulatory Compliance

Sony Electronics Releases the Alpha 9 III; The World’s First Full-Frame Image Sensor Camera with a Global Shutter System

Location: MyPR

Sony Electronics Releases the Alpha 9 III; The World’s First Full-Frame Image Sensor Camera with a Global Shutter System[i] Next Generation Alpha 9 III captures all decisive moments with up to 120 frames per second high-speed shooting, distortion-free and blackout-free images, flash sync at all shooting speeds and much, much more (SOUTH AFRICA, 14 NOVEMBER …

Read moreSony Electronics Releases the Alpha 9 III; The World’s First Full-Frame Image Sensor Camera with a Global Shutter System

Joma Sport launches limited edition event shoe for the 2024 Durban International Marathon!

Location: MyPR

Joma Sport, the official technical sponsor of the prestigious Durban International Marathon, has unveiled an exclusive limited-edition Durban International Marathon event shoe, perfectly timed for race day on Sunday, 28 April 2024. “We are thrilled to announce Joma’s role as the technical sponsor of the Durban International Marathon,” says Roger Noades, Director of Joma South …

Read moreJoma Sport launches limited edition event shoe for the 2024 Durban International Marathon!

NSFAS improves data exchange processes

Location: News

NSFAS improves data exchange processes

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is improving its data exchange processes with institutions to ensure seamless data integration and the registration of students onto its new direct payment systems. 

Giving an update on the disbursements for October, NSFAS said it has successfully disbursed allowances to 143 423 beneficiaries at Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, with a total amount of R681 051 078.

The scheme reiterated that it continues to review all its processes, operations and its disbursement model. 

“Tuition and allowances disbursement for university students were initiated on 25 October. However, there was a delay in payments of allowances at some universities which did not finalise their university reconciliation, which is very critical information to ensure that NSFAS disburses allowances correctly to the institutions for tuition and living allowances to students. 

“This is an important measure to ensure that NSFAS accounts for each and every disbursement it makes to properly account for using public money. It is also important to note that NSFAS is working with all institutions to improve its data management systems to ensure that allowances are paid on time to all beneficiaries,” it said.

To date, the total tuition disbursements to all universities amounts to R1 602 289 873, and the scheme is currently engaged in the process of doing mop up payments for universities where there were exceptions.

Appeal process

On the appeal process, the scheme said this process is almost at the final stage for university students who submitted their appeals. 

However, the scheme noted that the appeals process is a continuous process for TVET beneficiaries, because of the alignment of their academic year which differs from the universities’ academic year.

A total of 1.3 million students are currently funded for the 2023 academic year, following an unprecedented surge in the number of applications received. 

“The entity has been working tirelessly to ensure that it improves on its processes for applications and ensuring quick turnaround times on funding decisions,” NSFAS said. 

Crisis

Meanwhile, the scheme has refuted the South Africa Union of Students (SAUS) allegations that it is in a crisis.

“The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is not in a crisis; it is however an organisation which is in a process of realignment and modernisation to meet the demands of the more than one million students that it is currently serving.

“Since it’s established by government in 1999, NSFAS provided financial assistance to deserving beneficiaries who qualify for post school education and training. As a scheme, NSFAS represents one of the most progressive efforts by the government to systematically break the legacies of inter-generational social inequality in access to and outcomes of, post school education and training.”

Since 1991, NSFAS funding has grown from disbursing R21.4 million to almost R50 billon to fund children of the working class and the poor seeking to further their studies in public universities and TVET colleges. – SAnews.gov.za 

GabiK
Mon, 11/13/2023 - 11:40

1102 views
Read moreNSFAS improves data exchange processes

NSFAS applications open next week

Location: News

NSFAS applications open next week

Applications for financial aid for all learners who wish to enter the post-school system and students who do not have financial assistance to continue their studies in the 2024 academic year will officially open on 21 November 2023.

In a statement issued on Monday, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) said the applications for 2024 funding will open on 21 November 2023 and close on 31 January 2024. 

The reason for opening applications in November is so that NSFAS can afford the beneficiary shorter turn-around times for decision making, which is aligned to the financial eligibility assessment which requires updated South African Revenue Service (SARS) information. 

“NSFAS is awaiting SARS completion of its tax period and to enable NSFAS to have the necessary and updated information available during our application season. We encourage all students who wish to study in the post school education and training sector higher education and training space to ensure that they apply on time. 

“It is also important that students note that they don’t need results when they are entering post school education and training for the first time. Furthermore, NSFAS is engaged in conversation with the Department of Basic Education to improve the application validation processes including verifying parental relationships and all these improvements will ensure that funding decisions are confirmed timeously,” NSFAS said. 

NSFAS urged students to provide accurate information, particularly parental information, when applying so that when validations occur with Home Affairs, students can be easily funded and not be subjected to appeal processes to prove parental relationship.

The parental relationship verification has been a challenge where students change their parents’ information for the sake of the bursary. 

The entity said the partnership with the Department of Basic Education will further strengthen its ability to verify parental relationships. 

The NSFAS Board also announced that it will continue to make immediate funding decisions for new applicant South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries. Immediate funding decisions mean that as soon as the applicants submit their applications they will receive an outcome. 

“The moment you are verified as a SASSA beneficiary, we will not require any supporting documents. In fact, all new applicants will not require supporting documents, except for learners with disabilities. 

“All rejected applicants will be able appeal and it is important that students submit the appropriate supporting documents,” NSFAS explained. 

Among the new features for the 2024 application period include the NSFAS mobile application which will be rolled out initially for iPhone operating system (IOs), Android, and in due course of HUAWEI devices. 

The student app will include a biometric capability which will be rolled out later in the year.

Students will also be able to track their application statuses and funding via whatsapp on 078 519 8006, and USSD at *120*67327#.  

Meanwhile, NSFAS announced that its Board, in consultation with the Department of Higher Education and Training is finalising the funding guidelines for the academic year 2024. 

The scheme said the guidelines will be announced on 21 November 2023, together with the opening of the application season for the academic year 2024. – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK
Mon, 11/13/2023 - 11:43

2720 views
Read moreNSFAS applications open next week

Measures in area to deal with Diphtheria outbreak

Location: News

Measures in place to deal with Diphtheria outbreak

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is leaving “nothing to chance” as it deals with the outbreak of Diphtheria at the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre, says it’s National Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale.

This after a 19-year-old inmate died and eight other inmates tested positive for the contagious bacterial infection at the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in the Western Cape.

“We would like to assure the public and stakeholders that we are taking proactive measures to address and contain any possible spread of the disease. The epidemiological investigation on the index case is still ongoing.

“Recognising the potential risks associated with communal living, we have implemented a comprehensive set of measures to mitigate the spread of the disease within the correctional setting.

“We are doing this because we also know that [a] Diphtheria outbreak in a correctional environment requires a coordinated and comprehensive response in order to contain the spread and provide appropriate medical care to the affected individuals,” he said at a media briefing on Monday.

Thobakgale outlined the measures taken which include:

  • Vaccination campaign: The department has initiated a vaccination campaign to ensure that all eligible individuals receive the Diphtheria vaccine. A total of 342 inmates have been vaccinated. In terms of officials, the department stands at 36.
  • Hygiene practices: Inmates and staff members are once more being educated and encouraged to practice enhanced hygiene, including regular handwashing with soap and water, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and the use of hand sanitizers. Facilities are being deep cleaned in an effort to minimize the risk of disease transmission. This involves pest control.
  • Isolation: according to Thobakgale, direct contacts are  “effectively on day 16 of isolation”. Appropriate medical care is also provided to those classified as high risk.
  • Regular Health screenings: Inmates and staff members are now subjected to regular health screenings to detect any potential cases early to enable DCS to prevent the spread of the disease and be ready to deal with new infections should they emerge.
  • Medical attention: Health care professionals are available and are treating affected inmates. Appropriate medical treatment is also being offered. The Department of Health is also working closely with DCS in this regard thus ensuring a comprehensive response plan.

“We are leaving nothing to chance, health education efforts to inform inmates, DCS officials and service providers about the symptoms of Diphtheria, the importance of vaccination, and preventive measures are being amplified. Our health care team is vigilant in monitoring the situation and the infection prevention measures are for every individual in a correctional facility to follow through.

“The situation is calm and under control. No new cases have been reported in the past five days. Hence, we do believe that the measures that we have put in place shall be effective in ensuring the well-being of everyone in our care,” he said.

Roots of the outbreak

Reflecting on the events leading up to the outbreak, Thobakgale explained that the 19-year-old inmate who died, fell ill after being transported back to the facility following a court appearance on October 17.

“When the inmate showed signs of not feeling well, the Correctional Services Health Care officials treated him and a decision was taking that he be transferred to an outside hospital. At the time the inmate showed malaise and respiratory symptoms hence the transfer to Victoria Hospital on 28 October.

“He received further treatment and was tested for Diphtheria and the results came back positive on 02 November 2023. Unfortunately, the inmate’s condition deteriorated and he sadly passed away on 5 November 2023 at the Groote Schuur Hospital,” he said.

Thobakgale said following the inmate’s diagnosis, the department immediately embarked on a contact tracing exercise with some 54 inmates and 15 correctional services officials identified as contacts.

Some eight inmates tested positive.

“[The officials] were tested and released to isolate at home. The provisional results have since came back negative, awaiting confirmatory results.

“As a department, it was important that we act with necessary urgency. The health and well-being of our incarcerated inmates, staff members, and the surrounding community are of utmost importance to us, and we are obligated to ensure a safe and healthy environment.

“Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, and through…comprehensive measures, we aim to minimize the risk of transmission at Pollsmoor Correctional facility,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 11/13/2023 - 12:00

820 views
Read moreMeasures in area to deal with Diphtheria outbreak

National summit to address substance abuse, illicit trafficking 

Location: News

National summit to address substance abuse, illicit trafficking 

The Social Development Department in partnership with the Central Drug Authority (CDA) will host the 3rd National Summit on Substance Abuse and Illicit Trafficking from 14 - 16 November at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg. 

Given the high prevalence of substance abuse and illicit trafficking, which negatively affects the wellbeing of the country’s population, the Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu is expected to address the summit. 

Zulu will be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Social Development,  Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, and the Chairperson of the Central Drug Authority, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza. 

The summit will be held under the theme: “Towards sustainable, coordinated and impactful strategies for national drug and substance use in South Africa”. 

“The summit will unfold on the premise of the need to realise a South Africa free of substance abuse through capacity building sessions on collaborative and coordinated evidence based and sustainable socio-economic interventions.
 
“Civil society organisations together with experts and leaders in government attending the summit are expected to deliberate on drug demand reduction, drug supply reduction, access to medicines and prevention of NPS [new psychoactive substances] diversion, governance, accountability and leadership, research development, monitoring and evaluation, and economic development, as key thematic areas of the summit,” the department said in a statement. 
  
Setting the scene and sharing lived experiences, affected and infected persons from various provinces across South Africa will be speaking at the opening ceremony tomorrow.

Former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates player, Junaid Hartley, now a recovered substance user, will be sharing his fourteen-year battle with addiction and sleeping on the streets of Johannesburg. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Mon, 11/13/2023 - 12:03

385 views
Read moreNational summit to address substance abuse, illicit trafficking 

Managing anxiety and stress in pets

Location: MyPR

When it comes to the well-being of your furry family members, Bob Martin’s Naturals Calmcare is a trusted ally, offering a scientifically sound and holistic approach to managing stress and anxiety. Cats and dogs, just like humans, can experience stress and anxiety and this can present at different stages in their lives, and as a …

Read moreManaging anxiety and stress in pets