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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of a dramatic drop in temperature, with snow in places for the southern half of the country this week.

The weather service said a cut-off low is expected to develop over the southern interior of South Africa, resulting in a sudden and widespread lowering of maximum temperatures, especially over the Cape as early as Wednesday.

“Apart from the impact of widespread, bitterly cold and showery conditions setting in over the Cape provinces, the South Africa Weather Service (SAWS) expects snowfall to occur over the higher mountains of the Cape provinces tomorrow, spreading to include the Drakensberg Mountain peaks of Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.

“As the cut-off low develops further and intensifies during the week, cold weather, accompanied by overcast, rainy conditions, can be expected to set in over parts of the Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga,” SAWS said.

This weather will persist during Friday, when heavier falls can be expected over the western and central parts of the above-mentioned provinces.

“Persistent rainfall is therefore likely to lead to localised flooding and minor disruptions of road traffic. Moreover, there is also the possibility of a few thunderstorms developing, some of which may become severe.

“Large amounts of small hail as well as strong, gusty surface winds may also contribute to icy roads and hazardous driving conditions. Motorists encountering such conditions are advised to reduce speed and to observe safe following distances in traffic,” the weather service said.

By Saturday, much of the rainfall will be in the process of shifting to the eastern and northeastern provinces. The majority of the inclement weather is expected to clear by Sunday.

The public and small stock farmers have been advised that the very cold, wet and windy conditions may pose a risk to livestock, vulnerable crops and plants. The public is also warned to keep warm during these cold conditions.  

“A Yellow level 2 warning has been issued for possible disruptive snow over the mountains of Eastern Cape, valid for 19 to 20 July 2023. Accumulation of snowfall is expected to particularly affect the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality (LM).

“Graaff Reinet is expected to be significantly affected as well as the Chris Hani District Municipality. Similarly, the mountain pass in the Barkly East area will be affected from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.

“The other areas that will be affected are the Raymond Mhlaba LM, Elundini LM and Matatiele LM.  This weather system is also expected to be accompanied by strong waves and winds along the south-western and southern coast of the Western Cape,” SAWS said.

Consequently, a Yellow level 2 warning for waves leading to difficulty in navigation at sea for small vessels and personal water craft has been issued for the coastline between Cape Columbine and Plettenberg Bay on Tuesday 18 July through to Wednesday 19 July 2023. 

The public is urged and encouraged to regularly follow weather forecasts on television, radio as well as social media platforms. Updated information in this regard will regularly be available at www.weathersa.co.za as well as via the SA Weather Service Twitter account @SAWeatherService. – SAnews.gov.za

Young people from BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and Africa have been challenged to use their voices to demand action from the leaders.

The call was made by Acting KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomagugu Simelane, during her address at the BRICS Youth Summit, currently underway in Durban.

Simelane challenged young people to seize the moment and be part of the debates about their own future.

She said young people have a unique perspective to offer on the challenges and opportunities of our time, noting that they are the ones who will inherit the world tomorrow. 

“It is said that we do not inherit the Earth, but we merely borrow it from future generations. This therefore places a major responsibility on us all, to rise to take our respective places in the sphere of infinite possibilities… but to do that, conscious of those who are yet to come and the world they’ll be borrowing from future generations,” Simelane said.

Simelane also urged the youth to use the summit to discuss, debate and share brilliant ideas for the better, safer, more prosperous, but “sustainable future of our country, our continent and the world.”

“Let us work together to build a BRICS that is inclusive, prosperous and sustainable. This is a timely and important topic, as we face the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and inequality.

“You are the ones who will inherit this planet; and you are the ones who will have to live with the consequences of our actions. You have a responsibility that you will lend those who will come after you, a planet that is not only viable, but also conducive to further growth and development,” the Acting Premier said.

She added that the KwaZulu-Natal Government believes in the importance of creating a culture that values the contributions of young people, by listening to their ideas, respecting their opinions and giving them the opportunity to lead.

“We certainly believe that when young people are empowered, they can make a real difference in the world. They can help to solve problems, create change, and build a better future for everyone.”

Held from 18-20 July 2023, the BRICS Youth Summit aims to bring together youth participants and afford them an opportunity to share ideas and work on a concrete Action Plan for co-operation in economic, humanitarian, mass media and the science sphere. 

The summit will focus on discussions that aim to encourage young leaders amongst BRICS nations to actively participate in addressing the most significant global challenges, as well as economic and social issues and contribute to the developmental agenda.  

It also aims to establish constructive engagements on issues relating to youth empowerment, the advancement of youth development and in creating a conducive environment where youth will devise a path to a brighter and better future. – SAnews.gov.za

It was a joyous occasion as Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, and other government officials turned the first sod to mark the birth of the groundbreaking new Limpopo Central Academic Hospital in Polokwane.

The barren land, situated a stone’s throw away from the Peter Mokaba Stadium, will soon be turned into the state-of-the-art hospital, which is one of the five flagship academic hospitals around the country. 

Equipped with advanced medical technology, the Minister said the hospital will offer cutting-edge diagnostic procedures and innovative treatments. 

The project, which was launched during this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day, has been a long time coming since the initial planning of the hospital started in the 2008/09 financial year. 

However, Phaahla said he was pleased when a Master Plan, which was approved by National Treasury in 2022 was finally approved for the 488-beds hospital. 

“This day of laying the foundation for the construction of the Limpopo Central Academic Hospital is a culmination of the work of many years by many people, some of whom are here while others are not.”

The Minister announced that the health facility in association with the health science faculty of the University of Limpopo will make a significant contribution to health education and research.

“The establishment of a specialist hospital in this province will bolster the health sciences education and training, creating more opportunities for future generations to pursue careers in health sciences. 

“The university’s health sciences faculty which houses the medical school, must start concrete plans to attract specialists and super-specialists to train doctors and other health professionals.”

He is of the view that the establishment will reduce Limpopo’s dependence on Gauteng for specialised medical care.

Meanwhile, as a teaching institution, it will also provide valuable educational opportunities for health sciences students ranging from medical students to nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy and more. 

The hospital will also offer emergency health services, critical care, surgery, rehabilitation, and ancillary services. 

“This will not be an ivory tower, but part of a network based on the foundation of primary healthcare.”

Meanwhile, he said the success of the execution is going to depend on cooperation by all the role-players. 

The department has assigned the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) appointed as an implementing agent, working with technical professionals of Sakhiwo, and Enza construction company. 

“This team is under very strict instructions which were given by President [Cyril] Ramaphosa. He said to me that this must not be another Eskom-like Medupi, where you budget so much and you end up spending three or four times more. I assured the President that all those shenanigans will not happen here.”

Minister Phaahla called on the service providers to deliver a quality product, on time and within budget.

“As a result, their mandate is to complete and hand over the keys by Christmas of 2026 to whoever will be the Premier or Minister and when they hand the keys, it must be like the [impressions we saw on the screen].”

At various stages of construction, the department expects to produce about 2 000 jobs and about 2 000 more, once it is fully operational. 

However, he cautioned that not everyone will get a job or contract while the hospital is under construction.

“Above all, thousands of lives will be saved every year,” he stressed. 

Phaahla thanked the Limpopo government for their cooperation and assistance and former Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who started the process and laid the foundation for this hospital to be built. 

“I am confident that if we embrace the spirit of President Mandela; of doing everything for the most vulnerable we can disappoint the naysayers. 

“This Limpopo Central Hospital will be one of the pillars to deliver the National Health Insurance. In Madiba’s memory, let us deliver the Limpopo Central Hospital.” – SAnews.gov.za

In response to the call to action, health workers, including doctors and medical specialists from Gauteng hospitals are doing the only thing they know, as they join the globe in commemorating International Mandela Day. 

The health workers from 32 Gauteng health facilities are currently participating in a massive surgical marathon, where over 700 elective surgeries will be conducted on patients who have been on the waiting list. 

Gauteng Health Department spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said the surgical marathons aim to reduce the backlogs currently facing the province, when it comes to surgeries. 

“At the beginning of the year, we had 32 000 awaiting surgical procedures, and as we speak, we’ve managed to reduce the backlog to about 18 000 patients awaiting surgical procedures [and today] we are going to be doing 700 surgeries across our service platforms. 

“These patients have been chosen according to surgical backlog lists at every hospital, and incorporates waiting time and prioritisation according to clinical needs. The aim is to see how far we can push this so that even beyond the Mandela Day, we are able to continue running these surgical marathons,” Modiba said.

He said as part of the marathons, a number of surgical procedures, including arthroplasty, hernia repair, maxillofacial, hysterectomy, cataract excision, prostate biopsy, colostomy closures, caesarean section and circumcision, amongst others, are being conducted today.

Modiba emphasised that the surgical marathons are more than just reducing the backlogs, but most importantly, “they are about restoring dignity to hundreds of patients whose lives have been impacted by their medical condition.”

“The clinicians who will be performing these surgeries are specialists in the various disciplines and their teams consist of registrars, medical officers, scrub nurses and other support staff, including porters and cleaners who are all vital in the success of the surgical marathons,” Modiba said.

Modiba said the major drive to reduce surgery backlogs follows major surgical breakthroughs such as the first heart surgery for Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital; brain surgical procedures at Sebokeng Regional Hospital and the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy for Bertha Gxowa District Hospital.

“There has been a concerted effort to also use this opportunity to expand the capacity to perform surgical procedures across various facilities, including attending to infrastructural issues and the beatification of the general environment at hospitals,” he said. 

In preparation for the surgical marathons, he said, the department has ensured functional theatres in participating 32 hospitals, and provincial laundry services have also been working around the clock to ensure that there is adequate supply of clean linen at surgical wards on the day. 

Steve Biko performs critical surgeries for children with tonsillitis 

Professor Mashudu Tshifularo, from Steve Biko Academic Hospital, said through the marathon, the hospital will be able to reduce the backlog of critical surgeries of children with tonsillitis.

He said the hospital is planning to do 10 surgeries at level 6 theatre.

Professor Tshifularo said there is a big backlog of critical children with a problem of tonsils, which cannot be done in other regional hospitals, as it needs speciality treatment, leaving the hospital with a lot of complicated cases. 

“This Mandela Day, we are going to do at least 10 patients for a start, and then we will continue in other days to relieve the backlog because our backlog is very big, seating to almost 200. The backlog is due to the [available] theatre days and sometimes we don’t have the available space to do the compression,” Tshifularo said. 

He added that Mandela Day is critical for the hospital, and “we are excited to participate in the idea of making the impact and making a difference in somebody else's life.”

“We are looking forward and we are encouraging you to get involved in which area where you are because, unless we can do it ourselves no else can do it for us. Let’s go there and do it in whatever field you are,” Tshifularo said.

International Nelson Mandela Day is commemorated annually on 18 July and calls for people to devote 67 minutes of their time to positively impact communities and the lives of people. 

This year marks 10 years since the death of Nelson Mandela. 

To commemorate the former statesman's life, the Nelson Mandela Foundation has themed the 10 year remembrance call to action “The Legacy Lives on Through You”.

Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko is visiting numerous hospitals to provide support to the various teams preforming the surgical procedures. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, has encouraged South Africans to secure food supply through their home or community food gardens as climate change threatens to reverse the progress the country has made towards eradicating hunger and malnutrition.

“Apart from climate change, the economic constraints make it increasingly difficult for people to put food on their tables and especially the most vulnerable in our society often go to bed without having a meal for the day,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

De Lille expressed concern that 29 years since the dawn of democracy, many families and children struggle to get food and often go days without a meal.

She made these remarks as she participated in the Mandela Day activities by visiting impoverished communities in Riemvasmaak in the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape.

“As a country, across all sectors, we simply must do more. We need to go beyond Mandela Day and 67 minutes, but look for ways each day to serve and help those in need.

“Whether it is planting seeds or making a sandwich for someone in need on our daily journeys, every small act of service is a reflection of humanity and our morals,” the Minister said.

This year, Mandela Day takes place under the theme Climate, Food and Solidarity, with the call to action being, “It is in your hands” to take action against climate change.

“There is so much more we can do in our daily lives to feed a hungry person. Our gestures need not be grand but any small offer of service or donation we can make will mean the world to someone in need.

“Unpacking clothing or blankets no longer being used and donating it to someone in need, is the wave of warmth we need more of to bring comfort and hope to those living in despair,” de Lille said.

Mandela Day is an annual global celebration that takes place on 18 July to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. This day is a call to action for individuals, communities and organisations to take time to reflect on the former statesman's values and principles and to make a positive impact in their own communities.

“As the National Department of Tourism, we are working closely with the provincial department and the Northern Cape Tourism Authority on various projects and we will continue to support tourism development for all areas of the Northern Cape as one of the most unique and awe-inspiring holiday destinations in our country.

“It is in our hands and we must take hands and work closer with communities to bring about economic development that will truly free all our people from poverty and hunger.

“Mandela’s life and sacrifices should be a reminder and motivator to all of us each day to serve with humility and help bring progress in any way we can to ensure all people in South Africa taste the fruits of our democracy,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has described Nelson Mandela Day as a call to action for all citizens to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate.

The Deputy President was leading the commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day at the Morris Isaacson High School at Jabavu in Soweto on Tuesday.

The day is an annual global celebration in honour of Former President and struggle icon Nelson Mandela.

This year, the day was observed under the theme ‘Climate, Food and Solidarity’ – in a call to respond to the impact of climate change, addressing the challenges of poverty and inequality.

“Nelson Mandela Day – when it was founded by the United Nations – was to say that on this day, for even a few minutes, do something to better the life of others. On Nelson Mandela Day, we work,” he said.

Addressing learners at the school, Deputy President Mashatile explained the importance of choosing the Morris Isaacson High School as the site of this year’s celebrations.

“We chose to come to your school because today we’ll be honouring Tsietsi Mashinini. We thought it’s important to come to the school where he used to attend.

“You are following on the footsteps of a very important cadre of our movement. Tsietsi Mashinini and his generation started the protest in 1976 against Afrikaans. But it was not just against Afrikaans; it was the beginning of a struggle to bring about not only better education but a better South Africa.

“So we are today in this South Africa because of…the work of Tsietsi Mashinini, the struggles that he fought with his generation made us to be where we are today. So we honour them and that generation of young leaders who went to the front and said: We will bring about change in this country,” he said.

The Deputy President planted seeds at the school for a vegetable patch which is envisioned to give vegetables for the school and learners who need it most.

He also laid a wreath at the Tsietsi Mashinini memorial. – SAnews.gov.za