News

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the call President Ramaphosa had with the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, about the ongoing negotiations between Russia and the UN about the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The discussions also revolved around the African Leaders Peace Mission and the need for a permanent and sustainable solution to the movement of grain from Russia and Ukraine to the international markets.

As part of ongoing engagements on the conflict in the Ukraine and the Black Sea Grain Initiative , President Ramaphosa also held a telephone discussion with  President Zelenskyy on Thursday.

President Ramaphosa will have further discussions with both leaders and the UN Secretary General about these matters. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of Imam Achmad Cassiem, a former Robben Island prisoner, Pan Africanist Congress member and founding member of the Qibla Movement.

Imam Cassiem passed away on Friday at the age of 78.

President Ramaphosa extended his condolences to the family, friends, comrades and associates internationally of the late political and religious leader, who hailed from the Western Cape.

As a teenager, Achmad Cassiem was politically conscientised by the Pan Africanist Congress’s campaign against apartheid pass laws, motivating him to join the armed struggle at the age of 15.

He was a high school learner when he and his teacher, Sadiq Isaacs, were arrested for sabotage, detained and charged under the Sabotage Act.

His was handed a five-year sentence, which caused him to become one of the youngest prisoners on Robben Island.

Upon his release, he was issued with a banning order, which he defied to remain politically active, including his role in the establishment in 1979 of the Qibla Movement to promote and defend Islam in South Africa.

He was detained again for an extended period after mobilising learners during a protracted class boycott in 1980 and was later charged under the Terrorism Act for facilitating military training and infiltration into South Africa for Qibla fighters who had been trained in Libya.

Years after arrest for this action, Achmad Cassiem was sentenced to six years in prison, which was cut short his release in 1991, following the unbanning of liberation organisations.

In later years, he served as National Chairperson of the Islamic Unity Convention and as advisor to the Islam Human Rights Commission.

“Imam Cassiem lived a life of courage, principle and faith in mobilising communities on the Cape Flats and around the country against apartheid,” President Ramaphosa said.

“Imprisonment, confinement to his home in Hanover Park and repeated harassment and detention by the apartheid security machine failed to extinguish the flame of resistance and revolution that burned in his being and which he ignited in everyone he inspired as an activist.

“We are joined by supporters of our Struggle in Libya, Iran and other nations who had an impact on Imam Cassiem who in turn, had an impact on them. We are grateful for his life and wish him eternal, peaceful rest,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

​​​​​Realising the benefits and opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) requires proactive collaboration between all levels of government and businesses, says Director of Africa Bilateral Economic Trade at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Calvin Phume.

Phume was addressing the AfCFTA awareness workshop, which took place in Bloemfontein, in the Free State.

The workshop was part of a nationwide series aimed at equipping export-ready South African Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), private sector, women and youth-owned enterprises with knowledge on the benefits of trading under the AfCFTA,

The AfCFTA is a flagship project of the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063 and aims to build an integrated market anchored on development integration.

It seeks to enhance intra-African trade through progressive elimination of tariffs, introduction of rules to manage non-tariff barriers among other things, opening up vast markets of over 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion.

Phume said beyond the policy transformation and reforms, the AfCFTA seeks to ensure inclusivity of women and youth, including youth in the rural areas, development of SMMEs and overall industrialisation of the Continent.

“Africa has the youngest population in the world, with 70% of the population under the age of 30. Women make significant contributions to cross-border trade in many African countries.

“However, women and young people face challenges such as underemployment, lack of opportunities and other structural and financial challenges that hinder their ability to trade.

“The AU Assembly took a cautious decision to also include the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade on the Agreement.” 

Phume said the AfCFTA encourages innovation, fosters competition and promotes the development of value-chains, thereby spurring industrialisation and job creation across sectors. – SAnews.gov.za

Police have arrested a suspected police killer within eight hours after the deceased was murdered.

The suspect, aged 33, was arrested by a multidisciplinary police team comprising Limpopo and Gauteng police officers.

In the early hours of Saturday, an off duty police official, who was stationed at SAPS Burgersfort, was allegedly gunned down in Lebowakgomo by unknown assailants, who were driving in a bronze Volkswagen Golf 7 GTI.

The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt General Godfrey Lebeya, immediately activated a 72-hour-plan to hunt down the suspects.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Limpopo, Major General Gopz Govender, led the multidisciplinary team comprising the Limpopo Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation Tracking Team, South African Police Service Crime Intelligence from national office, SAPS Gauteng Highway Patrol, Bravlor Risk, Tracker Connect, ICB-Insurance Crime Bureau, BadBoyz Security, GTP Sleu, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and Trio Tactical.

After conducting a thorough investigation, the team was led to Braamfontein in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province on the very same day on Saturday.

The suspected vehicle with three occupants was spotted driving in the area and it was followed and tactically cornered.

The driver of the vehicle was suspected to be the one that killed the cop in Lebowakgomo and he was placed under arrest. Further investigation led the team to his residential address at Rooihuiskraal in Centurion, Pretoria.

Upon searching the house, the team found a firearm suspected to have been used in the murder of the police officer and it was seized.

The team also seized a vehicle (GTI Golf 7), large amount of money and a cellphone.

The investigation to establish if the suspect is involved in other crimes is underway.

The suspect will appear in the Lebowakgomo Magistrate's Court to face murder, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and other possible charges.

The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt General Godfrey Lebeya has appreciated the swift reaction of the team.

"Although there was a 72 hour operational plan in place, the case was cracked within eight hours," Lt General Lebeya said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has held a productive engagement with the community of Sekhukhune District, at Motodi Sports Complex in Limpopo.

This was the eighth successful Presidential Imbizo of the current administration.

The President inspected the progress of R37 Driekop - Steelpoort Interchange road project. The project is part of the massive road infrastructure rollout programme across the province. Upon its completion, it will link the district with Polokwane, the capital city of the province.

Preceding the Imbizo were other build-up activities led by various Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Mayors and other agencies of government.

They checked progress on service delivery projects within the four local municipalities that make up Sekhukhune District Municipality.

The President, accompanied by Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, the Acting Premier of Limpopo, Mayors and members of the Limpopo Members of the Executive Council and traditional leaders from across the district proceeded to the Motodi Sports Complex to engage with members of the community, including business organisations.

Key to some of the issues raised by the community was shortage of water, unemployment, illegal mining and the shortage of higher education centers in the area.

In his response, the President acknowledged the challenge of water and invited the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, to provide an update on the progress of resolving the water shortages.

Minister Mchunu expressed concern about the rollover of funds earmarked for water projects.

He announced a R12 billion project aimed at addressing the water problem and committed that the Department of Water and Sanitation will work directly with the local authorities and the mining sector on this project.

The President further assured the community that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will intensify its programme of combating illegal mining, working together with law enforcement agencies.

The department will further engage with the relevant stakeholders to address issues related to mining in the district.

Mchunu also encouraged communities to actively participate in local economic activities.

President Ramaphosa thanked the people of Sekhukhune for attending the imbizo in their numbers and the manner in which they raised their issues and willingness to work with government.

He also thanked the mining companies for working together with government and he acknowledged the positive input by a youth representative, who emphasised the importance of young people in actively participating in the upliftment of their communities. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Paul Mashatile, accompanied by the Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Institute, will on Tuesday lead the Nelson Mandela International Day activities in Soweto.

Mandela Day is an annual global celebration, which takes place on 18 July, to honour the life and legacy of the late liberation struggle veteran and international icon, President Nelson Mandela.

This important day also serves as a call to action for individuals, communities and organisations to take time to reflect on Tata’s values and principles and to make a positive impact in their own communities.

This year’s Mandela Day will be observed under the theme: ‘Climate, Food and Solidarity’ - urging all to action in response to the impact of climate change, addressing the challenges of poverty and inequality.

In this regard, the Deputy President and his delegation will participte in planting 12 additional vegetable beds at the Morris Isaacson High School in Jabavu, Soweto, with the aim of encouraging the learners to start and maintain vegetable gardens at their schools and homes.

This is also part of the food security initiatives aimed at contributing to the overall National School Nutrition Programme.

While in Soweto, Mashatile, together with representatives of the National Youth Development Agency, Clinic Health Group and the Gauteng Provincial Government, will hand over gifts to learners at both Morris Isaacson and Matseke High Schools.

The Deputy President will then visit and hand over gifts to the elderly at the Soweto Home for the Aged which accommodates needy and destitute elderly people with full boarding and lodging facilities, frail care and other services.

As part of honouring and paying homage to freedom fighters, the Deputy President will lay wreaths at Tsietsi Mashinini’s statue in Jabavu, the Nelson Mandela House in Vilakazi Street, as well as the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum in Orlando West.

The Deputy President will be supported by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi; Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Parks Tau; Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale Tlabela; Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Morakane Mosupyoe; Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane; Gauteng MEC for Social Development Mbali Hlophe and senior government officials. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on mining companies under the Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo to work together with government in uplifting young people.

 
“I want to call on mining companies to work together with us. It is about time that in an area that is concentrated with minerals, we uplift the young people of Limpopo… There should be meaningful skills development, which revolves around mining, engineering, metallurgy, and all other related courses. 

“We want the young people to be taught here in Sekhukhune. We must have an education facility [mining academy] right here, as many of you have called for it. I want a mining academy and college here in Sekhukhune. So I am going to make a direct call because it is unacceptable for an area, which has such a bright future with mining, not to have such," President Ramaphosa said.

The President lauded young people in the area for showing an interest in education. He further articulated the need for a mining academy. 

President Ramaphosa was speaking on Friday during the 8th Presidential District Development Model (DDM) Imbizo at the Motodi Sports Complex in Ga-Motodi Village under the Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo.

 
The DDM is an integrated planning model for Cooperative Governance, which seeks to ensure integrated, district-based, service delivery approach aimed at fast-tracking service delivery.

The imbizo follows similar engagements that have taken place in the seven provinces of the North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. 

The President interacted with people and listened to their experiences of daily life, their service delivery challenges as well as their initiatives and solutions to improve socio-economic conditions.

The main challenges highlighted by the communities of Sekhukhune District Municipality includes the issue of a District Office location, illegal mining, basic services such as water and electricity, dilapidated roads, high rate of unemployment among the youth and the shortage of clinics. 

The communities told the President that one of the pertinent issues is the fact that the Sekhukhune District office is located in the Capricorn District, since 2007, making it difficult to access the services they need. 

In response to this, the President said that those in charge are playing ‘politics’ and pulling in different directions, hence the relocation of the district office is still hanging to date.

 
“From 2007, we have been talking about exactly the same thing, the political leaders here are pulling in different directions and it has paralysed the provision of good services to our people. Let us put the interest of our people first, and put our needs at the back.

 
“It is unacceptable to me that we have been waiting for a district office since 2007. Today, you are complaining about a simple thing like that. The instruction I am putting out today is that the district office must be built in Sekhukhune without fail,” he said.

 
The President strongly called on municipalities to do their work and correctly use the money that has been allocated for service delivery. 

“We have now realised that for us to go forward and see the money being put to good use, we have to come in and intervene as national government, whether they like it or not - this is going to happen. 

“We are now saying we want our municipalities to function and as they function, we want the best of the best to serve us, people with capacity and capability… We must get our municipalities to function better, this is why we say went to professionalise our civil service,” he said. 

On the many issues the community raised, the President said government is hard at work.

He told the community that one of the key issues government is looking at is the high rate of unemployment, along with the water challenges. 

“One of the key issues we are looking at is unemployment. We want to create jobs and that is why we want the Sekhukhune area to become the mining capital of our country. We want it to attract investors and our local business people must get involved in mining so that they can employ others as well. We must turn the situation around,” he said. 

The President lauded the communities for the positive spirit they showed in wanting to see the challenges solved. 

He highlighted that government recently launched the Olifants Management Model Programme (OMM) in Limpopo, with an estimated cost of R24 billion, in a bid to address pressing water needs. 

“Jobs will be created and water challenges will be solved. Let’s look at a way forward. We want to see young people getting skills and employment. Once the mining academy is built, I want to see many of you getting enrolled,” he said.  - SAnews.gov.za
 

As part of its Nelson Mandela International Day initiative for 2023, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said it continues to support communities to fight poverty and inequality.

The non-profit organisation said it will initiate a global commemoration of International Nelson Mandela Day along with a network of global partners who will be planting trees and resourcing home-based community food gardens across the world. 

“The global celebration will follow the sun as it traverses the globe from East to West, with networks participating on the 18th of July 2023.”

This year’s Mandela Day will be commemorated under the ‘Climate, Food and Solidarity’ theme. 

“Our call to action is ‘It is in your hands’,” the foundation added. 

Meanwhile, the organisation and its South African partners will be capacitating a community food garden in Diepsloot, a community north of Johannesburg.

“The foundation recognises that urgent action must be taken to combat the climate crisis and thereby ensure continued food security. 

“In making a positive contribution to climate justice and food security, the Nelson Mandela Foundation continues to work with communities to plant trees, the majority of which are fruit trees and to resource a number of community gardens across South Africa.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Employment and Labour Department is looking into imposing significant fines against unlawful labour practices by employers as the number of violation of basic employee registrations increase. 

“One of the things we are going to be harsh on is that some of the employers violate labour laws, and we come back to them and we find they did not correct because we start by corrective measures.

“And they continue to violate labour laws, and then they get a fine in court but the fine is insignificant to them and they continue to violate labour laws,” said Minister Thulas Nxesi. 

The Minister was addressing the employers of the Golden Ridge Estate during farm inspections on Wednesday.

The Golden Ridge Estate is a farming estate in Kirkwood in the Eastern Cape and the second biggest gross domestic product (GDP) contributor in the province. 

“Now part of the law which we are cooking is that if we are to find you [as an employer in violation of labour laws] and if we have given you warnings to do the corrective measures, and for the third time we find you violating, we are going to deal with your profits and a certain percentage of your profits. 

“And we send a very clear message,” he warned. 

The Minister further explained the department’s current stand on the Employment Equity Act to the farm owners. 

He also touched on the lack of training and mentorship of certain sectors of the population on farms.  

“The most sensitive issue, which I must emphasise, is the question of the foreign nationals amid high unemployment in South Africa. 

“You can employ them provided they are legal and provided they have papers. But it must be a particular quarter. You have the security sector and the retail sector, but we cannot come up with something which is a one size fits all. It’s going to depend on the various sectors,” he added. 

The Minister also embarked on the  ‘Taking Services to the People’ initiative where he visited the Tamboville Community Multi-Purpose Centre in Kariega. 

“It’s a very strong programme where we feel that some of the people are not closer to Labour Centres, and then it means we must be able to provide service closer to them. Tons of the services we are bringing are the UIF [Unemployment Insurance Fund] and the Compensation Fund. 

“We’re also looking at the Employment Services where we’ll do career counselling for the young people on how to deposit their CVs in a central database which will be available to all the employers, both private and public,” he explained. – SAnews.gov.za

A total of R1 billion has been disbursed to businesses affected by the KwaZulu-Natal July 2021 civil unrest, with 118 applications from businesses located in the province approved.

Giving an update on the economic recovery measures implemented after the July 2021 civil unrest, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said following the civil unrest, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced measures to ensure that peace and stability are maintained throughout the country, and that there are no further incidents of violence. 

“There was also a programme to provide support and relief to poor households, in order to alleviate the hardship they are going through and reduce hunger and the need to help businesses to rebuild,” Dube-Ncube said.

On the back of the President’s announcement, Government then announced measures to address the social unrest, and these included R3.9 billion financial backing from the South African Special Risk Insurance Association (SASRIA); R2.3 billion support to small businesses that are not covered by SASRIA; and a R400 reinjection into the Solidarity Fund.

The rollout and accessibility of the relief measures is centralised in national departments and the Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), including the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC); the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC); and National Empowerment Fund (NEF).

The Premier said through the DTIC relief measures implemented through the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the IDC Critical Infrastructure Reconstruction Programme, a total of 118 applications from affected businesses have been approved with a value of R1.980 billion. 

She said under the National Empowerment Fund and IDC Critical Infrastructure Reconstruction Programme, eThekwini was allocated R444 233 503, uMgungundlovu R6 563 993, King Cetshwayo R26 741 606 Ugu R88 059 481, Amajuba R36 412 949, and uMzinyathi R10 490 963.

An amount of R27.233.263 was allocated to Harry Gwala, whilst uMkhanyakude allocated R3 000 000, Zululand R3 924 030 and iLembe R12 679 371, totalling R1 856 107 906 in funds dispersed to business in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Through the Department of Small Business Development, to date a total of 75 applications valued at R78 822 730 34 for businesses affected by the July civil unrest have been approved across the department with most of these in eThekwini which received R102 492 535 01 for 75 businesses,” the Premier said.

Whilst the Provincial Economic Development and Environmental Affairs Department (KZNEDTEA) had no resources set aside to assist the affected businesses in the province, Dube-Ncube noted that the department was at the centre of coordinating the National Relief Measures, with the allocated funds amounting to R3.75 billion to cover uninsured businesses.

Some of the measures undertaken by EDTEA entities included rent holidays and reversals to 164 social unrest affected tenants, which was provided by Ithala Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) to the value of R7 639 099.

Four affected clients were also assisted with instalment relief on their Business Finance Loans to the value of R558 462.

Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) disbursed R30 million funding towards social unrest affected businesses and informal traders. The funding benefitted 192 informal and formal businesses across the province.

“The department has worked with the municipalities to facilitate the registration of informal traders with their application processes through the current established informal trader’s business chambers. A total of 5 648 traders were assisted from districts such as Amajuba, uMkhanyakude, Harry Gwala, uGu, uThukela, iLembe, Zululand; uMzinyathi and King Cetshwayo,” the Premier highlighted.

She said no businesses based at Dube TradePort Special Economic Zones (SEZ) were damaged, or destroyed during the July unrest; hence there have been no compensation claims. 

She said the companies experienced supply chain and production disruptions, and losses due to impacts on the wider economy. 

“The Dube Trade Port did assist NGOs with air cargo fee waivers and free storage for food and emergency supplies in the weeks following the unrest,” she said.

Rebuilding infrastructure on track 

Meanwhile, the Premier said major progress has been made to get the province fully back on its feet after the devastating floods that wreaked havoc just over a year ago. 

“We are on track with our rebuilding plans and great progress has been made to restore infrastructure and to revive the economy,” Dube-Ncube said. 

She said while the provincial government is certain that all affected persons are safe in temporary accommodation government secured, the focus has firmly shifted to rebuilding infrastructure and rehousing people who have lost homes, through sustainable rehabilitation and reconstruction (Building Back Better) Programme. - SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has urged businesses not to lose hope as government works around the clock to tackle the country’s major challenges. 

“South Africa’s economic and social challenges are mounting, risking stagnation amid an unprecedented energy crisis, increasingly binding infrastructure and logistics bottlenecks, high unemployment, crime and corruption,” the Deputy President said on Friday. 

Mashatile acknowledged that these were real problems that need real answers from society, business and the government. 

“As a result, we must never be disheartened by our divergent approaches to overcoming these obstacles. Rather, we must use dialogue such as this one to find common ground and develop an amicable strategy that will propel our nation forward.”

The Deputy President was delivering the keynote address at the Business Breakfast Roundtable with the CEOs of the metal and engineering companies hosted by the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA), in Gauteng. 

To restore faith in the economy, he said the metal and engineering industries need to come together, change with the times, and take decisive action.

“As a first step, we must recognise the importance of government in creating a dependable and helpful atmosphere for businesses to flourish.”

He believes that government needed to have enabling policies, solid infrastructure, and a receptive regulatory framework. 

“Our commitment to establishing a favourable business climate remains unwavering. Government has already undertaken various initiatives to restore confidence and promote growth.”

Red tape

He said these include tax incentives and relief measures to alleviate the burden on businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

“We are actively finding solutions to streamline regulatory processes, reduce bureaucracy and enhance ease of doing business.”

He touched on the Red Tape Reduction (RTR) task team announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his last year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA.  

The RTR aims to reduce excessively complex rules, regulations, procedures, and processes that stifle economic growth and job creation in key areas of the economy.

Infrastructure

In addition, he said the state was also pumping resources into infrastructure improvement. 

This includes transportation networks, power grids, and internet access, which he believe has the potential to spur development and bring in capital. 

“For example, the National Rail Policy has been enacted as a road map for modernising and reforming the rail industry, and includes provisions for third-party access to the railway network.”

He told the delegates that to implement the policy commitments, government is constructing a Transnet Roadmap, which will include reorganising Transnet Freight Rail to appoint a new Infrastructure Manager for the rail network by October 2023. 

“Improving the country's ports will also help them return to being some of the best ports in the world like they used to be.”

He also announced that the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is still working to fulfil its duties related to funding, enhancing, managing, and maintaining the country's road system.

“Road infrastructure plays a critical role in the economy. It makes it possible to transport goods and services, but it also enables movement for people to gain access to basic healthcare.”

He assured the delegates that the state understands the “huge” role it needs to play to advance the economy. 

Deputy President also said government was determined to end load shedding, which is one of the foremost priorities. 

Corruption

On the other hand, the state, he said was up in arms to fight crime and corruption, describing it as a thorn in the country’s democracy. 

“Corruption undermines the functioning and legitimacy of institutions and processes, the rule of law and ultimately the state itself and it also damages the economy.”

Meanwhile, he reminded the packed room that corruption in government is no better than in the private sector. 

“The battle to root out corruption and strengthen the rule of law can succeed only if it is taken on by the whole of society. We must therefore all join forces to fight this scourge.”

Investment

In addition, he said they were actively engaged in promoting investment opportunities and forging stronger ties with other nations. 

“By enhancing our exports and diversifying our markets, we can reduce our dependency on any single market and mitigate risks associated with economic volatility.”

As his parting shot, he emphasised that the current administration is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

He spoke about investing in research and development, promoting innovation hubs, and supporting start-ups to harness the power of innovation and create a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurship.

“Government is fully aware of the challenges facing our industries, and we are committed to providing the necessary support and resources to ensure their growth and resilience.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) Ministers of Education have adopted a Ministerial Declaration which makes firm commitments on the areas identified as education and training priorities for the BRICS Member States.

 The declaration was adopted at the 10th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education, held in Mpumalanga, as part of the build-up to the 15th BRICS Summit scheduled to take place from 22 - 24 August 2023, in Johannesburg.

During the meeting, BRICS Member States identified eight thematic areas as education and training priorities, and these include climate change, entrepreneurship development, skills for the changing world, mutual recognition of qualifications, out-of-school youth, labour market intelligence, early childhood development and university global ranking.

The meeting was held in parallel with the BRICS Network University and BRICS Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Cooperation Alliance, which both culminated in the declarations, where the Member States committed to working together on matters of mutual interest for the prosperity of the nations. 

The meeting aimed to deepen cooperation and exchanges to improve the responsiveness and relevance of education and training in the current global context amongst BRICS Member States.

Higher Education, Science and Innovation spokesperson, Ishmael Mnisi, said the Ministers’ Declaration is premised on a shared vision of mutual respect and understanding, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness and consensus. 

Through the declaration, the Member States commit to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, which is to combat climate change and its impact. 

“This commitment to develop an alternative system includes exploring the development of an evaluation system that emphasises the quality (as opposed to quantity) of research outputs of universities and their diverse contributions to inclusive development of all humanity. Such a system would also seek to integrate cultural and indigenous knowledge of each country, respecting our member states’ diverse cultures,” Mnisi said.

The members also committed to strengthening entrepreneurship development at all levels of education and training amongst BRICS Member States, and impart the requisite skills for students to consider self-employment as a valuable career path. – SAnews.gov.za

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has urged Deputy President Paul Mashatile to help facilitate long-term planning across government departments if the country is to meet its developmental goals and improve service delivery. 

“This was one of three issues tabled for discussion. The other two were social cohesion and the District Development Model (DDM),” the NPC said on Thursday. 

The NPC was engaging Deputy President Paul Mashatile at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, on the National Development Plan (NDP) and State Capacity. 

The gathering also charted a way forward in implementing the NDP 2030 Vision.

The NPC is a diverse and independent planning body, comprising experts in various fields, appointed by the President to advise on the country’s long-term development as contained in the NDP Vision 2030. 

Its role is to monitor, review and assess progress in achieving the NDP.

The meeting, organised by the state capacity and active citizenry workstream focused on the functioning of the state, building the leadership required by a capable and developmental state at all levels.

It also zoomed into the role of an active citizenry, institutional planning, social cohesion and nation-building. 

The Deputy President was also brought up to speed on the institutionalisation of planning through the draft National Development Planning Framework (NDPF) Bill, social cohesion and nation-building, and DDM. 

NDPF Bill

The draft NDPF Bill aims to embed and institutionalise a coherent planning system across government and inclusive of the broader citizenry.”

The commission believes that only such an integrated approach to planning can lead to better service delivery and the advancement of the development goals of NDP. 

“The draft Bill centralises the NDP in the long-term planning processes of both the state and government.”

It also envisages the NPC, as well as the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) as key, permanent and formal planning instruments. 

“The NPC appealed to the Deputy President, in his capacity as the Leader of Government Business, to put the weight of his office in support of the speedy passage of the NDPF Bill through Parliament.”

Social cohesion 

On social cohesion and nation-building, the NDP envisions that by 2030 South Africa will have made significant progress towards achieving social cohesion. 

“Amongst others, social cohesion should be demonstrated through reduced inequalities, greater integration of living spaces between citizen groups, enhanced inter-group interactions and greater employment. 

“The NPC is of the view that the country has not made sufficient progress towards the attainment of these noble goals.”

The NPC proposed that social cohesion be elevated to the highest priorities of government and included among the Presidency's functions.

DDM

NPC has described the DDM as a relatively new operational model to improve coordination and collaboration among different spheres of government and stakeholders at a district level to accelerate development and service delivery. 

“The NPC appealed to the Deputy President, who is allocated the DDM as part of his portfolio, to accelerate the suggested initiatives to strengthen intergovernmental relations, build capacity through merit-based appointments, and separate the political-administrative interface at all levels of government.”

Meanwhile, NPD Deputy Chairperson, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, was adamant that there is still hope despite persistent levels of inequality and apartheid spatial arrangements that are still visible.  

“That hope resides in implementing the NDP,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Deputy President Mashatile expressed his full support for the NPC’s work and its efforts to re-centre the NDP as the vision for the country. 

“I believe in long-term planning. You have a friend in long-term planning now,” said the Deputy President, adding that he was committed to assisting with the issues raised by the NPC and assured the NPC of ongoing engagement. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has expressed grave concern over the imprisonment of two South African nationals in Equatorial Guinea. 

The DIRCO Director-General (DG), Zane Dangor, on Thursday said he was “disturbed” to learn of the sentence handed down to two locals, Peter Shane Huxham and Frederic Johannes Potgieter. 

According to media reports, Huxham, originally from Langebaan outside Cape Town and Potgieter from George, were jailed for 12 years and fined more than R100 million.

The two engineers were employed in the offshore oil and gas industry and insist they are innocent. 

The department said the pair was arrested on 9 February 2023 at their hotel in Malabo while preparing to board their flight to South Africa the following day. 

“They are employed on an oil rig off the coast of Equatorial Guinea and were coming off shift to rest and spend time with their families in South Africa.

“They made their first court appearance only on 26 June 2023, to receive the formal charges against them. They appeared in court again on 30 June 2023, for sentencing. The judgement was passed by a bench of five judges who found them guilty of ‘trafficking and illicit possession of drugs (cocaine)’,” the statement read. 

Dangor, according to the department, expressed his dismay that the South African Embassy continues to be denied access to the detainees in violation of international law. 

“The government of Equatorial Guinea has failed in its obligation to formally notify DIRCO and grant consular access by the Embassy officials to the two South African nationals. 

“He emphasised that such access is expressly required by Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963, to which both states are parties despite numerous official requests in this regard.”

The DG emphasised that the Equatorial Guinea government remains responsible for the welfare and safety of the South African citizens being held in their custody. 

“He expressed his willingness to have more direct and constructive cooperation with the relevant authorities regarding this matter.”

Meanwhile, DIRCO said it was ready and willing to advance bilateral relations with Equatorial Guinea. 

“However, the continued denial of access to the two South African nationals in distress compromises the long-standing good bilateral relations between the two countries.”

The DG has also expressed support to the families and friends of the detainees. – SAnews.gov.za