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Following the recent severe floods, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) on Thursday released an updated assessment of the estimated financial cost of the damage.

A rapid assessment conducted during the period 26 to 30 June 2023 confirmed extensive damage to riverbanks, irrigation equipment, private roads and sediment over vineyards and fruit orchards.

According to WCDoA, the assessment considered damage to primary agriculture sites on the West Coast, Cape Winelands and the Overberg. 

The heavy rains last month caused huge damage to roads and infrastructure in the province, also claiming two lives. 

The provincial department said the damage is estimated to be R7.7 million for irrigation, R1.4 million for fencing, R1.4 million, R278 million for crop losses and R18.7 million for seasonal workers’ loss of income. 

Meanwhile, the WCDoA said it will cost a tune of R748 million to rehabilitate rivers, riparian zones, vineyards and orchards due to large volumes of sediment removed upstream and deposited downstream in rivers, riverbanks, vineyards and orchards. 

In addition, the department is expected to spend about R120 000 for the cost of clearing a weir to provide drinking water to 400 people. 

The department said the estimates do not consider potential losses experienced along the agriculture value chain nor provide insight into the impact on future exports.

“Armed with a more credible, albeit conservative estimate, officials will, together with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, approach the National Disaster Management Centre with the aim of having the flood-damaged areas declared a disaster and unlocking the relevant funding and support that could be provided.”

In the interim, the WCDoA will ensure that affected producers can access the best technical information through its extension and advisory services.

In addition, the department will also extend its current river protection works programme to flood-affected river systems as this will mitigate the impact of future flooding. 

“The WCDoA will also reprioritise existing allocations, as well as approach its national sector department and the National Disaster Management Centre, via the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, to cover the costs of river protection works.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

In celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, the Department of Water and Sanitation will on Tuesday formally adopt the Inzuzwenhle Full-Service School in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, for a period of two years.

Inzuzwenhle Full-Service School was the winner of the 2022 Baswa Le Meetse (Youth in Water) National Adjudication award in the poetry category. 

The department said the school has mastered the four focus pillars, which determine it as a water-wise school. 

The focus pillars are water wastage, greening of schools, management of toilet facilities, and health and hygiene good practices.

“During the school’s triumphant efforts in the 2022 Baswa Le Meetse National Adjudication in the Poetry category, the school was represented by three learners and guided by two water-wise educators from the school. 

“Officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation visited the school to assess their attitude towards water and they found a school with learners that are water-wise in nature and the kind of support they received from their educators,” the department said.

The department said the school with an enrolment of 1 402 learners and 65 educators, was mobilised into the Water and Sanitation Education Programme by one of the outstanding officials of the department in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office. 

The Water and Sanitation Education Programme is school-based, which aims to create awareness on water conservation and integrated water resources management. 

“One of the key components of the programme is an Intervention Project, which targets all the previous winning schools in its various competitions to strike a balance between theory and practice, hence the adoption of Inzuzwenhle Full-Service School by the department,” the department explained.

The department added that the Department of Basic Education, as the custodian of schools, is one of the potential key stakeholders for the implementation of the programme.

The adoption of the school on Tuesday will be preceded by a series of activities in and around the school.

The activities will include:
•    The cleaning of a river around the school to make people aware about the effects of littering on water quality;
•    Educate the community about the importance of water and how to stop water leaks;
•    Greening of schools and how it contributes to clean air; and 
•    Teaching learners about the importance of toilets and how to take care of them. 

Celebrated annually in July, the Nelson Mandela International Day has enjoyed 13 years of global support and solidarity since it was launched in 2009. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala has outlined timelines and a project execution plan to ensure that projects are finished on time and within the scope and costs.

Zikalala, who has prioritised a coordinated response to addressing the problem of blocked and stalled projects -- informed by the District Development Model (DDM) -- held a meeting with the Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC, Florence Radzilani, on Thursday, ahead of the Presidential Imbizo, which is taking place in Limpopo on Friday.

The meeting aimed to discuss the stalled projects in the province, and these include the Vuwani Police Station Project.

Zikalala announced that the department is in the process of appointing new contractors to work on the Vuwani Police Station Project.  

He said the department is currently reviewing all slow moving projects in Limpopo and has resolved that failure to improve will lead to harsher consequences.  

“This will apply to those overseeing the project execution from the government side and contractors assigned to projects. All contractors working on stalled government projects and still have active contracts have been directed to remedy the problem,” Zikalala said.

The Minister warned that delayed projects impact negatively on service delivery by government institutions, noting that when the construction of a police station is delayed, “the journey to a safer South Africa led by the South African Police Services is compromised.”

“A project stalled or delayed is service delivery denied. We have resolved that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure must not be associated with poor performance or workmanship by contractors,” Zikalala said.

Zikalala and Radzilani have called for immediate consequence management on project managers who delay project implementation, and termination of poor performing contractors, who do not meet timelines to complete projects.

Radzilani welcomed the road map unveiled by the Minister to resolve stalled projects in Limpopo, saying this is the action needed by the community. 

The MEC also welcomed Zikalala’s intervention into Vuwani Police Station Project, noting “this will bring the much waited relief to communities like Vuwani, whose police station has been incomplete for several years.”

The Minister will also be undertaking various follow-up visits to the province to ensure oversight and timeous implementation of projects. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga says government welcomes the Constitutional Court judgement handed on the constitutionality challenge against the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act mounted by OUTA. 

South Africa's apex court declared that the AARTO Act was valid and constitutional, dismissing civil action group OUTA’s legal challenge to the law. 

According to reports, this comes after OUTA brought an application before the Constitutional Court (CC) to confirm last year’s Pretoria High Court’s judgment that the legislation was unconstitutional and invalid, stating that government will battle to implement it due to the red tape and potential for corruption. 

The ruling paves the way to penalise drivers and operators of motor vehicles who are guilty of traffic or road infringements through a system of demerit points, which may result in the suspension or cancellation of driving licences.

Chikunga said the ruling affirms government’s long-held view that this a necessary law to advance the state’s efforts in arresting the carnage on the roads.

“This judgement provides clarity on Schedule 4 matters of concurrent function between the national and provincial sphere as well as Schedule 5 which is exclusive provincial competence.  

“Our assertion that AARTO is part of Road Regulation and thus concurrent competence has been confirmed by the highest court in the land,” she explained. 

The AARO Act, according to the Minister, is an important mechanism in the country’s road traffic law enforcement interventions aimed at arresting road deaths and altering driver behaviour.  

“This will reinforce other interventions such as classifying traffic policing as a 24-hour, seven-day job alongside the regulation of driving schools and introduction of an NQF level 6 training for traffic law enforcement officers.”

The implementation of this law which has been pending for 25 years has been piloted in Johannesburg and Tshwane, the Minister said. 

“With this judgement having cleared the path for the implementation of AARTO, we will move with speed to roll out its implementation across the country without delay.”

In the coming days, the Minister said her Ministry will ensure that the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) mobilises the necessary capacity and proceeds with its rollout plans across all municipalities in the country.  

“We are also ready to finalise our recommendations to the President for the appointment of the Tribunal and the proclamation of the AARTO Act implementation as well as the AARTO Amendment Act,” she said. 

Meanwhile, government said it will now move speedily to implement a points demerit system, an important cornerstone of the AARTO Act intended to drive motorist behaviour on our roads.

“We are pleased that this judgement not only removes the uncertainty that was created by this legal challenge but enables us to focus on ensuring that our roads are safe for all road users with penalties that will make a telling difference.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

eThekwini Municipality Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda says a permanent solution to fix a water pump station, which was destroyed by a fire in Ntuzuma, north of Durban, is on the cards.

The Ntuzuma Reservoir 2 Pump station was destroyed by a fire two months ago and resulted in additional strain on the already challenged infrastructure.

Kaunda, joined by City’s Water and Sanitation senior management, and ward councillors from Ntuzuma, Inanda, and KwaMashu (INK) areas, attended a meeting to track the progress made by eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit in implementing the decisions taken at an initial meeting two months ago.

During a follow-up meeting, Kaunda reported that temporary work has started to reinstate the duty pumps to the various areas.

“Parallel to this temporary work, the pump station will undergo a functional upgrade which will improve its reliability and ensure a stable supply of water,” Kaunda said.

While technicians are busy upgrading infrastructure at the pump station, Kaunda said plumbers will be deployed to every ward, to ensure that there are no technical challenges. 

“They will be dealing with water leaks and internal maintenance to improve water supply and prevent water loss,” he said.

Earl Haig road repairs underway

Meanwhile, the municipality reported that the repairs to Earl Haig Road in Morningside, Durban, are currently underway with the work expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Earl Haig Road, which serves as a link between Peter Mokaba Road and Valley View Road, was damaged in May, after a water pipe burst beneath the road due to heavy rains.

Western Region Senior Technologist Nhlanhla Ndaba said the reinstatement of Earl Haig Road involves the earthworks for the collapsed section, layer works, stabilisation of the base course, and milling of the existing asphalt surface layer. 

“After completion of the stabilised base, the road will be surfaced with asphalt as a final layer. The total surfaced length will be 250 metres and the width will be kept at an existing 5.5 metres. This will assist in free traffic flow.

“Minor challenges on the project have been encountered including the temporary water main pipeline that will affect progress as the Water Department has to relay the permanent pipeline before the final surface layer. Business forums and other affected stakeholders were addressed before the start of the project,” Ndaba explained. 

Regarding progress of repairs, Ndaba said the earthwork on the collapsed section has been completed with the stabilisation of the base course.

“The milling process has been completed as well. The road has been opened for traffic with precautionary signs where there is still outstanding works for the water department to finalise.”

The contractor in charge of this project is Raubex KZN under the supervision of the West Regional Office. – SAnews.gov.za

As the globe gears up for the annual Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July 2023, the City of Cape Town’s librarians will celebrate the day by taking part in storytelling sessions, to spread joy to their communities. 

South Africans and the global community honour South Africa’s late former President and international icon, Nelson Mandela, every year on 18 July. 

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed Mandela's birthday, 18 July, as Nelson Mandela International Day in 2009, to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better and in so doing, build a global movement for good.

The Nelson Mandela International Day campaign asks that individuals, including groups and corporates pledge 67 minutes of their time on day, and every day thereafter, to give back to their communities. 

The 67 minutes is symbolic of commemorating the 67 years that Mandela had been a part of the movement for liberation.

Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia van der Ross, said the city’s librarians are leading the charge this Mandela Day by following the example set by Madiba of compassion, acceptance and care. 

“Although everyone is asked to give 67 minutes to serve, our librarians live this spirit of nation building every day. I encourage our patrons to get involved and do their part in not only giving to others, but also supporting our librarians,” van de Ross said.

The activities to take place to commemorate Mandela Day:

17 July 2023
•    Scottsdene Library will host a teen knitting session; and
•    Lotus River Library will host a storytelling session with libraries mascot LiBee at noon along with arts and crafts.

18 July 2023
•    Kensington Library will host a soup kitchen and talk at the Kensington Home of the Aged;
•    There will be a talk on drug abuse at the Macassar Library;
•    Fisantekraal Library will host a clean-up of the community parking lot at the multi-purpose centre;
•    Philippi East will host a soup kitchen at the Masakhane Old Age Home as well as storytelling and arts and crafts for the younger ones;
•    Huguenot Square will host storytelling, followed by arts and crafts, with soup and bread to the community;
•    Belhar Library will host a soup kitchen at the Freedom Farm informal settlement;
•    Scottsdene library will plant a vegetable garden;
•    Otter Library is handing out soup and sandwiches;
•    There’s a beach clean-up by Gordon’s Bay Library;
•    Breakfast and coffee in front of the Observatory Library; and
•    Lotus River Library will spend 67 minutes with the seniors of Home Morea and host a soup kitchen at noon.

23 July
•    Bishop Lavis Library will host a soup kitchen in the library hall. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended Huawei for the work it is doing to cultivate local digital talent through the Learned, Engaged, Accelerated Professionals (LEAP) Programme, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) academies and DigiSchool projects.

The President was speaking at the launch of the Huawei South Africa Innovation Centre held at the Huawei Office Park in Woodmead, Sandton, on Thursday.

The Huawei Innovation Centre serves to foster and encourage joint innovations with Huawei’s South African partners, app developers and Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in the ICT space.

The centre is also a showcase of Huawei’s latest and most innovative digital technologies and solutions.

The President, who toured the centre in the morning, said what he saw and heard, is both impressive and encouraging.

“This centre brings together Huawei’s different business units in a collaboration hub with local partners, app developers and ICT-focused SMMEs. For South Africa, expanding digital infrastructure is one of the primary engines of economic growth [and] the development of information technology is key to the competitiveness of our economy,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President also welcomed Huawei plans to invest substantially in data centres and cyber security industries in Africa.

By adopting the range of cutting-edge technologies being pioneered by companies such as Huawei, he said, South Africa and the continent will be able to leapfrog into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

“It is our hope that this Innovation Centre will be a springboard for the launch of new local ICT enterprises that create jobs. We hope it will be a springboard to new business processes that grow our economy and support our national developmental goals,” President Ramaphosa said.

Digital innovation inextricably linked to nation’s development

President Ramaphosa also noted that not only can new digital technologies such as AI, Big Data and machine learning provide a platform for economic growth, job creation and self-employment; they can also vastly improve government service delivery.

“The application of digital technologies to improve production processes spans a broad range of economic sectors from mining to ports to transportation and others. Last year, for example, the first 5G coal mine was launched in South Africa through a partnership with Huawei, its carrier and industry partners. 

“This centre is a signal of Huawei’s confidence in the South African economy and its potential. The digital technology and business services sectors are key pillars of South Africa’s investment strategy,” President Ramaphosa said.

To stimulate investment in these sectors, the President said, government has focused on several structural reforms.

He said the actions taken include the auction of high-demand spectrum that took place last year, which – alongside digital migration “will significantly expand access to broadband and bring down data costs.”

Other priorities include the development of an ICT and Digital Economy Masterplan and National Data and Cloud Policy.

The President noted that South Africa has a robust and sophisticated ICT sector with expertise in data centres, including cloud computing and storage, and rapidly expanding wireless and fibre infrastructure.

The country also has strong regulatory frameworks around cybersecurity, intellectual property, and the protection of personal information, amongst others.

“According to the 2023 State of the ICT Sector in South Africa, published by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, the sector’s revenue continues to increase by approximately R25.5 billion over a five-year period. This makes the ICT sector one of our most attractive industries for investment, with substantial growth potential,” the President highlighted.

As we grow the digital economy, he said, it is our expectation that this growth in revenue should be matched by an increase in the number of jobs the sector creates. – SAnews.gov.za

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Office says he welcomes the judgment by the Constitutional Court affirming his adherence to due process and fairness in suspending Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. 

“The suspension followed the decision by the National Assembly to institute Section 194 proceedings against Advocate Mkhwebane,” the brief statement read on Thursday. 

In a unanimous judgment, the highest court in the land found that there was a rational reason and that the President “stood to gain nothing” for him to precautionary suspend Mkhwebane.

The apex court’s ruling reverses the Western Cape High Court judgment that found that President Ramaphosa's decision was unlawful and invalid in September last year. – SAnews.gov.za

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has urged people in possession of Mainstay and Terra Firma multi-hinge aluminium ladders, Model JC 403, 150 kg, to immediately stop using them and to return the products to the point of purchase for a refund.

Mainstay ladders were distributed by Game stores, while Terra Firma ladders were distributed by Makro stores. 

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission said it was informed by Massmart that they ran a comprehensive set of tests at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) revealing that the ladders did not comply with safety standards, as required by SANS 50131 (SABS) relating to minimum material thickness and static load. 

“Failure to meet these requirements renders the ladders unsafe and may lead to injuries or fatalities,” Acting Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza said. 

The recall includes five models of aluminum telescoping ladders that can be used in five different positions (twin step ladder, stairway step ladder, extension ladder, wall ladder and as two scaffold bases).

The date code is stamped on the inside of the outer leg of the ladder, beneath the bottom step.

The NCC said to date, 57 000 units were sold in South Africa with Mainstay ladders also exported to Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, and Tanzania.   

Mabuza emphasised that it is the responsibility of the importers and retailers to ensure that goods comply with all applicable laws and standards. 

“The Consumer Protection Act requires the recall of goods which pose any risk of harm to the consumers. We encourage consumers who have bought the ladders at Makro or Game, to immediately stop use and return these for a refund. The Commission is monitoring the recall based on its Recall Guidelines,” Mabuza said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says skills for the Changing World is crucial for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) to remain on the path for sustainable economic growth. 

“The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a unique opportunity for Africa and BRICS to explore further areas of cooperation in terms of skills development,” Nzimande said.

Addressing the 10th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education, currently underway in Mpumalanga, Nzimande argued that the AfCFTA is going to be a game changer on how BRICS Member States conduct trade with the African continent.

Held under the theme “Responsive and Relevant Education and Training in the Current Global Context”, the BRICS education engagement, forms part of the build-up to the 15th BRICS Summit scheduled to take place from 22-24 August 2023 in Johannesburg.

Nzimande said South Africa has put forward eight thematic areas to be discussed during this year’s meeting of Ministers of Education.

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.

Nzimande urged the Member States to make concrete proposals on how the BRICS education system can assist to contribute meaningfully in all the thematic areas. 

In the area of mutual recognition of qualifications, the Minister highlighted that since the adoption of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, BRICS Member States need to discuss possible cooperation aimed at accelerating ratification by countries and its prompt implementation. 

Nzimande also challenged BRICS countries to put systems in place to encourage mobility of students and education experts and academics. 

He said South Africa is at an advanced stage in terms of concluding relevant constitutional obligations to accede to the Global Convention. 

The Global Convention establishes universal principles for fair, transparent and non-discriminatory recognition of higher education qualifications and qualifications giving access to higher education and offering avenues for further study and employment. 

With provisions on non-traditional learning modes, the Global Convention also facilitates the recognition of qualifications, prior learning and study periods earned remotely. In addition, it promotes the recognition of refugees’ qualifications, even in cases where documentary evidence is lacking.

“We must continue to encourage BRICS academics to research relevant topics within BRICS including the implications of the proposed BRICS currency and the role of the New Development Bank of BRICS. It is the research community of BRICS that is going to assist to elaborate this issue better,” Nzimande said.

In recognition of the theme for the 15th BRICS Summit “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism” Nzimande said the Department of Higher Education and Training has decided to invite Namibia as a guest of the 10th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education.

He noted that South Africa cannot prosper in isolation leaving the entire African continent behind, especially the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. 

“This is also the premise of our country’s foreign policy in relation to the consolidation of the African agenda.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says government is committed to enhancing tourism investment and safety to attract more visitors to South Africa.  

“We will work to find and action solutions to anything that stands in the way of that objective to grow tourism’s contribution to the country’s economy as espoused in the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP),” she stressed.

As part of her oversight duties, De Lille on Wednesday visited various sites within the Kruger National Park (KNP) to inspect investment projects by her Ministry and the private sector. 

“With our vast natural beauty and wildlife, the KNP is a must-see attraction on the bucket lists of travellers from all over the world and the country. 

“As with all tourist attractions, it is vital that this attraction is maintained to provide tourists with a world-class and authentically South African experience.”

The visit aimed to chart a way forward on how the KNP and all government spheres can unite to enhance tourism’s performance to achieve progress on the key priorities outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

The priorities, De Lille said, include tour operator licenses, e-visas, tourism safety, the Tourism Equity Fund, infrastructure development, increasing the volume and value of domestic and international tourism, and the Tourism Sector Master Plan. 

These, according to the Minister, are all aimed at increasing demand for tourism and boosting the number of domestic and international tourists visiting South Africa.  

“It is well known that unfortunately there have been many crime incidents in and around the Kruger with criminals attacking tourists and this is a matter that we take very seriously, not only because we want to safeguard tourists. 

“But we cannot have criminality stand in the way of our tourist attractions thriving because that is how we can ultimately create more jobs for our people and bring prosperity for all.”

The Minister labelled tourism as an important sector in the country’s economy due to South Africa’s attractiveness to travellers and the thousands of jobs created. 

She said she also received a briefing from the South African National Parks (SANParks) management on general tourism activities and safety matters. 

The Minister has since committed to work with the national, provincial and local government, private sector and communities to enhance safety in and around the KNP.

In May this year, she held a National Tourism Safety Forum meeting with all MECs for Tourism and the private sector on plans to enhance safety and how to communicate these security measures worldwide. 

Meanwhile, she said the department is finalising a training curriculum which is set to deploy more than 2 200 tourism safety monitors to key tourist attractions and hotspot areas across the country in the coming months. 

De Lille also announced that her department has set aside R174 million for this programme to improve safety around the 59 tourism hotspots identified by the National Tourism Safety Forum. 

Of these, 350 will be stationed at SANParks establishments, with 100 to be deployed to the KNP. 

Green Tourism Incentive Programme

She also gave an update on the department’s Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP), a key project to address climate change and water and electricity constraints in the country. 

The GTIP, she said, will see the department co-funding energy and water retrofitting projects at privately owned tourism establishments to facilitate more sustainable operations and uninterrupted visitor experiences. 

She announced that they opened eight GTIP application windows to date, with the most recent application window closing on 30 June 2023. 

“While applications received during the eight application window are currently being processed, the previous seven application windows of the GTIP already yielded 130 approved applications with a total grant value of R76.1 million disbursed by the department for the installation of energy and water saving measures at tourism establishments across the country,” she explained.

Meanwhile, before the rolling out of the GTIP programme, the department provided eight state-owned tourist attractions with solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. 

These sites included Robben Island, three National Botanical Gardens in the Western Cape, Free State and Northern Cape as well as four sites in KNP in Mpumalanga at the tune of R98.5 million for a combined total of 2.7 megawatts (MW) of installed renewable energy generating capacity. – SAnews.gov.za