News

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says tax administration tools are imperative to countering illicit financial flows and ensuring that governments can continue to collect revenue and serve society.

He was addressing the 13th Africa Initiative Meeting held by Tax Transparency in Cape Town on Thursday.

The Minister highlighted that in Africa, illicit financial flows are costing governments between €48 billion and €77 billion – valuable resources needed for functioning governments.

“[Tax administration] is one of the most valiant career callings because it is at the centre of enabling governments to provide infrastructure and basic services, and improve the lives of society at large, but especially the lives of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised. As tax administrators, you are tasked with the imperative responsibility of collecting what is due to governments in a timely and efficient manner.

“However, this task is not easy where tax evasion, tax crimes and illicit financial flows continue to spirit away revenues due to the State. A means to counter this scourge is [allowing] tax administrations, with the requisite tools and capabilities, measures such as tax transparency through Exchange of Information (EOI), as facilitated by the Global Forum and its regional partners,” he said.

Godongwana emphasised that although these tools are being improved, “this is only effective where the necessary political will is explicit”.

“We see this in the quality of laws that are passed, international agreements that are entered into, and the commitment to build competent and fully resourced tax administrations and the development of best international practices in effective tax administrations,” he said.

The Minister reflected on the efficiency of international tax standards and how these have become an “effective tool” in curbing tax evasion and other illicit financial flows.

“During the past eight years, the Africa Initiative has changed the tax transparency landscape in Africa, enabling the mobilisation of more than €310 million in domestic resources. However, continuous action is needed to ensure a long-lasting positive impact.

“Working with its regional partners, the Global Forum should continue to serve African countries and to support the Africa Initiative in its efforts to build or enhance their capacities to use the EOI standards at their full potential on the continent.

“From the South African experience, I can unequivocally say that [Exchange of Information on Request] and [Automatic Exchange of Information] are essential tools to drive tax compliance. As such, I want to urge members of the Africa Initiative to continue this important work, to collaborate closely, and to ensure that a sustainable legacy is left behind for future generations,” Godongwana said. – SAnews.gov.za

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has passed his condolences to the families of those affected by a gas cylinder leak which killed at least 17 people in Boksburg on Wednesday evening.

A further 11 people have been hospitalised with some of them in a critical condition.

The incident comes just six months after a gas tanker exploded – killing at least 40 people in the same area.

Addressing the media at the site of the incident, Lesufi said support will be given to families of those affected and the surrounding community where the incident took place.

“We want as national government, provincial government and local government to extend our sincere condolences to all the families that have been affected. It’s a tragic event.

“We have learnt from the previous incident and our systems…this time, were on par and they responded the way we advised them and the lessons we learnt from the previous explosion. We are strongly monitoring the situation and we keep our eye on it. We have asked our experts to remain here,” he said.

It is believed that the gas cylinder was cut by illegal miners in the area – causing the leakage.

Lesufi condemned the alleged criminality and said a specialised unit needs to be formed in the SA Police Service to combat the scourge.

“We are under siege. We are using outdated law enforcement mechanisms in a new era that needs new forms of law enforcement. We have to overhaul our law enforcement response.

“This thing of illegal mining is completely out of control. I am of the view that we need a specialised way of training our law enforcement. They try…[but] the fire power of the illegal miners and the resources that [police] have are not…at the level that they confront these things.

“I am calling for a completely new strategy in confronting this thing. A strategy that is well resourced and the capability of our law enforcement agencies that are at a higher level and they need to respond as if we are in a war zone,” he said.

The premier said police are doing what they can to combat illegal mining but, he said, the service needs to be further capacitated.

“The police are doing their best…[however] we are exposing them because they are confronted with a situation that is well resourced, well connected and that has the firepower to create problems for all of us. We just have to capacitate the police with the necessary firepower to respond.

“We need firepower… from technology and from the air. If people get out of those illegal mines and come out, we need to be able to pick them up and we need to know where these activities are taking place. We can’t do that with the naked eye or the resources that we have,” he said.

The Premier is expected to meet with community leaders in the area. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to struggle stalwart and former Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad, for serving the nation with pride, principle and pragmatism.

“Pahad was a thinker and strategist, who brought his understanding of the human condition, injustice and inequality at the national and international level to bear on our transition to democracy and in introducing a democratic, non-aligned and activist South Africa to the global community,” the President said on Thursday.

President Ramaphosa expressed deep sadness at the passing of Pahad at the age of 84.

“We mourn the passing of a veteran of our struggle, 65 years after he took his first revolutionary step of becoming a member of the Transvaal Indian Congress.

“Security crackdowns, banning and exile shaped Essop Pahad’s contribution over decades to our struggle, and as Parliamentary Counsellor to President Thabo Mbeki and Minister in the Presidency, to the early design and impact of our democratic state,” the President said.

He offered his deep condolences to the family, friends and comrades of the late veteran.

“He served our nation with pride, principle, pragmatism and a charm that lived comfortably alongside a tongue that could lash severely at the right provocation.

“Amid the excessive demands of his public life, Essop Pahad was deeply devoted to his wife, Meg, and was a proud and doting father and grandfather, who is now sorely missed. May his soul rest in peace,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

Eskom has lodged a dispute against Lesedi Local Municipality as a result of the municipality’s failure to service its R125 million debt.

According to Eskom, the municipality began to default on payments in June last year and says it has exhausted “all avenues” to recover the debt.

“In January 2023, Lesedi submitted a payment proposal to Eskom to settle the arear debt, which Eskom accepted on condition that it would continue to service its monthly current account.

"However, the municipality defaulted on both the repayment and the current account by failing to settle the April 2023 invoice of R20 million that was payable on 29 May 2023, and only paid R7 million.

“The May 2023 invoice of R21 million, which was due on 29 June 2023, remains unpaid. Eskom has issued the June 2023 invoice of R38 million and that is payable on 27 July,” the power utility said.

Eskom has struggled to recover monies owed and regular payments from municipalities. Municipal debt for bulk electricity supply had ballooned to at least R56 billion by December 2022.

This, Eskom said, is hampering its ability to deliver on its mandate of supplying electricity to the country.

“Failure to service debt by Lesedi and other local municipalities burdens the power utility’s revenue streams, ultimately affecting service delivery. This puts further strain on Eskom’s finance and its ability to operate effectively,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za

The education sector has been urged to help equip young people with skills that will empower them to participate in the various economic development projects earmarked for the Northern Cape.

Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister, Nomalungelo Gina, on Tuesday addressed the Namakwa District Development Model (DDM) executive in Aggeneys in the Khâi-Ma Municipality in the Northern Cape.

Attended by stakeholders including the Northern Cape Agriculture MEC, Monopole Mase, mayors, municipal managers and senior officials, the meeting was convened to chart a way forward following the approval of the Namakwa One Plan DDM. 

Gina is the national champion appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa for the Namakwa District.

In the Namakwa district, efforts are being made to address critical challenges, among them the decline in mining activities, which has impacted negatively on the economy. The district is the biggest in the country by land mass.

One of the major upcoming programmes is the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) recently designated by Cabinet. Vendata Zinc International is an anchor investor, with R16 billion earmarked for its operations in the SEZ.

Gina told the leaders and senior officials that one of the most urgent tasks is ensuring that schools, especially technical schools and institutions of higher learning work towards producing skills required by the new economic sectors for the district.

“This province is going to be the home of renewable energy for the country in solar, wind and green hydrogen. My biggest worry is the speed with which investments in the green economy are coming to this province and the district, without a local skills pipeline to meet them.

“We need to produce the required skills for these industries. I will not be excited to see technical people coming exclusively from outside the province and locals being left behind because of the skills deficit,” she said.

Gina said real work must begin immediately, and discussions with investors and the efforts to increase interest towards the district must be well coordinated.

The meeting resolved to establish two skills centres working with major companies, one in Poffader (in the Khâi -Ma municipality) and another in Port Nolloth (Ritchersveld Municipality), which is a host to Boegoe Baai deep sea and a future green hydrogen energy project.

The District Development Model was initiated by President Ramaphosa in 2019. It is aimed at improving the coherence and impact of government service delivery with focus on 44 Districts and 8 Metros around the country as development spaces that can be used as centres of service delivery and economic development and job creation. – SAnews.gov.za

What is the NHI and how will it change the system?

• The NHI is a Fund, paid by our taxes, from which the government will buy health care services for all of us who live in the country from health care providers in the public sector and private sector.
• This means when you feel unwell, you can go to your nearest GP or clinic of your choice that has a contract with NHI and not worry about the cost of care. 

Why do we need NHI? What are the benefits of NHI?

• Providing health care for all: South Africa is a member of the United Nations community and we have committed that we will implement universal health coverage for all. We believe access to healthcare is a fundamental right for all. The government has the legislative mandate to realize this right. And the government has the responsibility to implement universal health coverage to ensure that all people are able to access health care when and where they need it without suffering financial hardship.
• Improving quality of services: The public sector has constraint budgets that are not sufficient to provide health care services for the 84% of the population that relies on public sector for health care. This results in an overburdened public sector that is characterised by underservicing. The private sector, that serves 14% of the population, is characterised by rising costs of care and overservicing without demonstrating much improvement on health outcomes. Both sectors need a reform to ensure that quality of health is improved. The pooling of funds into one fund will improve quality of services and therefore improve health outcomes.
• Reducing burden of disease: Extending health coverage for all South Africans will improve access to care, quality of care and continuity of care. NHI reforms will contribute to the health system having a co-ordinated and well-structured response to burden of disease.
• Financial risk protection: The NHI Fund will protect individuals from financial hardship when they need to access healthcare services. Financial hardships take place when you need to pay out-of-pocket payments such as user fees at facilities and co-payments for individuals insured by medical schemes. Contribution to the Fund will be through prepayment methods such as taxes. Services will be paid for by the Fund and the patient will not have to pay at the point of care.
• Economic development and growth: A healthy population can work more effectively and efficiently and contributes to economic growth. A productive workforce contributes to the economy through growth of local business, attracting foreign investors and growing the domestic economy. An investment in health is an important safety net against poverty by providing financial protection for everyone.
• Integration of the healthcare system: The fragmented, two-tiered system undermines principles of equity and social solidarity and leads to a health system where resources are distributed unfairly. The NHI will promote equitable access to care, and this will be achieved by cross-subsidisation among the population. The NHI fosters social cohesion and contributes to developing a society that is compassionate across all socio-economic groups.

 

What is the significance of passing the Bill?

• Government considers the passing of the NHI Bill by the National Assembly as a key milestone to ensuring all people in SA have access to a clinic, a doctor or a hospital (public or private) closer to where they live or work without paying when they need the services. We will have paid in taxes already so the government will pay the provider of your care for you and your loved ones. There will be no gap cover for you to fund and no cash out of pocket payments.
• Government recognises the efforts by all stakeholders which exercised their constitutional rights to participate in legislative processes to influence decision-making process of the NHI Bill.
• The Department will remain available and accessible at all times to clarify any ambiguities and public concerns about the Bill and its objectives.

 

Who will be covered under the NHI Fund?

• The fund will purchase services on behalf of SA citizens, permanent residents, refugees, inmates and specific categories of foreign nationals.
• Asylum seekers and illegal foreigners will be covered for notifiable conditions and emergency medical services.
• All children will be covered for all benefits purchased by the fund regardless of nationality.
• Visiting foreign nationals will be covered by their mandatory travel insurance.

Will unemployed people be able to access health care services?

• Yes. The NHI Fund will purchase services on behalf of all South Africans. All users will be able to access health care services without paying anything at the point of care, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

How much will it cost to receive services at a clinic, GP or hospital?

• The NHI Fund will pay the clinic, GP or hospital. You will not pay anything when receiving care.
• This is to make sure that everyone is able to receive health care services when they are sick, at a facility close to them (as long as the facility has a contract with the NHI Fund).

How can I register and what do I need for registration?

• You will register with the NHI Fund when you go to a clinic, GP or hospital that has a contract with the NHI for the first time. You will not need to register again when you go to any other clinic, GP or hospital because the NHI system will make sure that your records are available at every contracted health care provider.
• There is no fee payable for registration. This will be a similar process that you currently do each time to you go to a clinic, GP or hospital.
• You will need your ID book, passport, or other identity document to register. Your fingerprints will be taken and put on the NHI Fund system. This will make it easy when you visit the clinic, GP or hospital again, or when your ID is lost. Fingerprints are a way to prevent fraud and identity theft but mostly to be absolutely sure that the medicines that you are given are for you and not someone else.
• Each time you attend a clinic, GP or hospital you will need to present your proof of identity. If you are unconscious, then the provider can still find your records using your fingerprints.

Will individuals be able to use facilities of their choice?

• Yes. The NHI aims to make health care more accessible to all South Africans. Individuals will be able to access NHI-contracted GPs, clinics or hospitals closest to them, whether in the public or private sectors. 

How will South Africans who do not have IDs be helped?

• Biometric identification will be used in facilities under the NHI reform. This is to ensure that all users have a portable health record that can be accessed under all circumstances anywhere in the country.
• The department of Health has a collaboration with Department of Home Affairs to address birth and death records.
• This collaboration helped many undocumented South Africans to access COVID-19 vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What services will be provided under NHI?

• NHI will purchase comprehensive personal health service benefits from NHI-contracted public and private health facilities.
• The service benefits include services provided at primary, secondary, tertiary, specialized and quaternary levels.
• Once the NHI Fund covers a benefit the medical schemes may not cover the same benefits.
• The Benefits Advisory Committee will determine which benefits are medically necessary benefits and this will include:

• Primary Health Care services: visits to clinics, community health centres and accredited multi-disciplinary group practices and centres at a non-specialist level, community health care outreach workers, integrated school health services,
• Hospital services: outpatient and in-patient visits at all accredited hospital levels, using a referral system (requiring a letter from a PHC centre/ provider unless in case of emergency)
• Rehabilitation health services
• Palliative Care
• Mental health services
• Emergency medical services
• Transportation for patients who are referred to and from another health facility.

• Medicines and medical devices specified on the Essential Medicine List and Essential Equipment List.
• Diagnostic procedures specified in the Treatment Guidelines and protocols.

Will the NHI provide adequate cover compared to current medical scheme benefits?

• Yes, the NHI benefit package will be comprehensive. It is important to bear in mind that the NHI benefits are not confined like most current medical scheme benefits. In the present system of medical schemes, in a desperate attempt to contain the escalating prices, a lot of benefits have been reduced. Furthermore, the system is characterized by co-payments for costs which the medical scheme is not prepared to pay for because they are regarded as too expensive, and the cost is simply pushed back to the patient. Service providers like private hospitals and specialists then resort to sending individual patients legal letters of demand to pay what their medical schemes are refusing to pay.
• The Council of Medical Schemes (CMS), a Statutory Body established to regulate medical schemes, in trying to protect consumers, came up with a system of what is called prescribed minimum benefits (PMB’s). This is a group of 26 chronic conditions and 271 medical conditions which by instructions of CMS, medical aids need to pay for in full. Not all diseases are included in this group leaving their sufferers to pay out of pocket whilst contributing to a medical scheme.
• Under NHI, this problem will not exist since NHI has no intention to choose between diseases in order to remain sustainable. The range of cover of benefits will be much better than under the current system.

Where will the funding for NHI come from?

• National Treasury will determine the sources of funding for NHI and be approved by Cabinet. Treasury will also determine when any dedicated NHI contributions are introduced or changed in line with the fiscal and economic environment.

• NHI will be funded through a mandatory pre-payment system and other forms of taxes collected by SARS and allocated to the Fund by Parliament.
• Based on the NHI Bill, NHI will be predominantly funded through general revenue allocations, supplemented by: (1) a payroll tax payable by employers and employees and (2) a surcharge on individuals' taxable income.
• The financial impact of the NHI taxation system must not create an increased burden on households compared to the current system. There will be no option for opting out of NHI for eligible people.
• Out-of-pocket payments such as co-payments and user fees will not be used to generate additional funding for comprehensive health care services to be covered under NHI. This ensures that healthcare services are delivered free of charge at the point of service and that the most vulnerable are not denied access.

Is NHI an affordable system?

• Yes. The World Health Organization has stated that countries must pursue universal health coverage with the current resources allocated for health and what countries are able to afford.
• As a nation we spend huge amounts of money for health care for very few people and very little on the majority. Our total spending on health care is far more than any country of similar size and economic activity to ours. We need to spend more efficiently.
• The NHI will redistribute money from the current multi-payer system of nine provincial health systems, tax rebates, levies, conditional grants and consolidate into one Fund. The pooling into one risk pool will ensure appropriate cross-subsidization between the young and old, rich and poor, healthy and unhealthy.
• The Fund as a single payer and strategic purchaser, will be able to negotiate prices for services and health products on behalf of the country.
• Through the elimination of waste and corruption in both sectors by simplifying the way we work and the use of all public and private health care provider capacity for everyone, health care can be delivered at a cost-effective price.

Who will run the Fund?

• The Fund will have a Board and various governance structures as required by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and the principles contained in King IV’s Report on Corporate Governance. The Board will have the responsibility of ensuring that there are institutionalised systems, policies and procedures that proactively prevent, detect, investigate and correct incidents/acts of fraud and corruption.

What is being done to improve the infrastructure of public sector facilities?

There are initiatives underway to improve the conditions of public facilities. The Department of Health has allocated R7.2 billion over three years to facilitate maintenance, refurbishment, upgrades, replacements of infrastructure or new infrastructure.

Will the NHI destroy the private sector?

• No, the NHI will not destroy the private sector. The private sector has different role players, and they are: 1. health care providers (like GPs, specialists, pharmacies and hospitals); 2. suppliers of goods (heath products like medicines, devices and diagnostic devices); 3. funders (medical schemes) and 4. administrators. They have different roles to play in the NHI and they are described below.

What role do private health care providers play in the NHI?

• Private health care providers will continue to operate privately under the NHI dispensation. Contrary to some public narrative, the NHI is not going to abolish or do away with private health providers.
• NHI will not allow health care providers to set their own fees for NHI funded benefits. The Fund will set the fees that it will pay to private doctors, hospitals and others on your behalf.
• Private General Practitioners will be a part of multi-disciplinary networks in their communities and will be paid by the NHI Fund using a capitation model.
• The private health sector providers will benefit from the opportunity to contract with NHI to provide health services to the broader public, rather than the small proportion for which they currently provide services. They will be able to provide services to patients throughout the year not worried about depletion of funds of patients at any stage.
• Private hospitals will see patients referred by primary health care providers in both public and private sectors and the NHI Fund will settle the bill at the prescribed rates.

 

How will the NHI Fund procure health products?

• Suppliers of health products will remain private companies. The NHI Fund will determine the range of products (medicines, devices, etc) that are required to deliver the benefits that the Fund is paying for at any point in time and will set prices for those products that any contracted provider will pay to the suppliers. The large volumes create certainty for suppliers and help to reduce prices.

What role do medical schemes play in the NHI?

• The business models of private funders and their administrators will change over time. Once the NHI Fund covers a benefit, the medical schemes may not cover the same benefits. This means that their membership fees must be reduced, and some will be too small to survive so they will consolidate with others to maintain a viable risk pool for the benefits that they may still cover. Administrators of medical schemes will no longer manage over 250 options, meaning the complexity of their services will be greatly reduced.

Will NHI take the reserves of medical schemes?

• No, the Fund will NOT take the accumulated reserves of medical schemes since those belong to the members and not the schemes.

What if I want to contribute to a medical scheme?

• Once implemented, medical aid schemes won’t be able to offer any health services already offered by the NHI.
• Medical schemes will only offer you extra services not covered by the NHI.
• The NHI will offer comprehensive health care service cover - there will be no co-payments.
• Medical Aid schemes will remain voluntary arrangement for those who choose to contribute to them, but they will only cover you for any additional benefits that the NHI Fund does not pay for, so they should be significantly cheaper.

How does the NHI affect those who are currently insured by medical schemes?

• The Fund will be implemented over phases and over many years. Regulations will be published to address the phased implementation of the NHI Fund and phased implementation of service benefits as the money is moved to the Fund. Medical schemes will be given notice on the type of services that they will no longer be able to cover.

How can I qualify to be an accredited health care provider under the NHI?

• Every health care provider may be contracted by the NHI Fund. This will be initiated by the provider and once the provider meets the accreditation requirements they will be contracted. There will be no tenders for services.
• Every health care provider (public and private) must be certified by the Office of Health Standards Compliance.
• It will take some time for all health care providers to obtain certification, so the law makes provision for a transitional period of conditional accreditation by the Fund. The tools for health care provider compliance have been developed but NHI Fund accreditation and contracting requirements are still being developed.
• The health care provider must agree to, and comply with, the requirements of the NHI Fund to be accredited and contracted with the Fund. This includes connection to the Fund digital systems and reporting.
• A primary health care provider will be assigned a designated population that will be under their care and will be paid on a capitation basis. The details are being developed and will include a performance-based portion.

Is the function of accreditation by the NHI Fund substituting function of OHSC, HPCSA, SANC and other health professional regulatory bodies?

• No. The Office of Health Standards and Compliance (OHSC) primary responsibility is quality assurance. The role of the OHSC is to inspect and certify health establishments as compliant or non-compliant with prescribed norms and standards for a health establishment. All health facilities must be certified by the OHSC to be considered for accreditation by the NHI.
• The health professional regulatory bodies such as HPCSA and SANC are statutory bodies which regulate the registered professionals with the councils. All health professionals offering services in South Africa must be registered with the relevant professional bodies and comply with the rules and regulations and requirements of continuous professional development of the various bodies.
• The NHI will require both certification as part of the application for accreditation.

What are the requirements for accreditation with the NHI Fund?

• Accreditation with the NHI Fund will require that the provider must:

1. Be registered with a recognised statutory health professional council.
2. Be in possession of proof of certification by OHSC.
3. Meet the needs of users and ensure service provider compliance with the Fund’s prescribed specific performance criteria, accompanied by a budget impact analysis, including the:
   1. 1. 1. 1. Provision of the specified minimum required range of personal health services
            2. Allocation of the appropriate number and mix of health care professionals in accordance with guidelines.
            3. Adherence to treatment protocols and guidelines, including prescribing medicines and procuring health products from the Formulary.
            4. Adherence to health care referral pathways
            5. Submission of information to the national health information system to ensure portability and continuity of health care services.
            6. Adherence to the national pricing regimen for services delivered.

Will private health care providers be forced to contract with NHI?

Not at all. Contracting with NHI Fund gives the health care provider opportunity to offer health care services to a designated population (significantly more patients than currently). The provider will not have to worry about the patients’ affordability as the Fund would have paid a capitation fee for the designated population. Patients who consult with providers who are not contracted with NHI will pay cash for the providers’ services. Patients will only be able to use their medical schemes to pay for benefits not covered by the Fund with non-NHI contracted providers.

What will happen in the first few years of NHI implementation?

• The transitional arrangements for the NHI for the period 2023-2026 include:

• Continuing with the health system strengthening initiatives including human resource planning.
• Development of NHI legislation and amendments to other legislation.
• Establishing institutions that must be the foundation for a fully functional Fund.
• Purchasing of personal health care services for vulnerable groups such as children, women, people with disabilities and the elderly.
• Establishment of the Fund as a Schedule 3A entity as contemplated.

How will corruption be prevented?

• The Fund will have a Board and various governance structures as required by the PFMA and King IV that will have the responsibility of ensuring that there are institutionalised systems, policies and procedures that proactively prevent, detect, investigate and correct incidents/acts of fraud and corruption.
• The Fund is required by law to establish and operate units that focus on fraud prevention, detection, investigation and correction of fraud and corruption.
• All employees of the NHI Fund will be responsible for preventing and detecting fraud in the execution of their assigned roles and responsibilities.
• The department, in collaboration with the Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (HSACF) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), is currently engaged in a process of risk identification, analysis and mitigation of all fraud and corruption risks that may affect the Fund.
• Control measures and mitigating strategies are currently being implemented in the design and development process of the NHI Fund.
• The public will have opportunity to anonymously report corrupt activities to law enforcement agencies and the HSACF which has been established by the President.
• The design of the NHI is far less complicated than the present myriad of departments and medical schemes. Everything that the fund does, all the contracts with providers and suppliers, and the common set of funded benefits, will be fully transparent. Since every person will be entitled to the same benefits and treated the same way, there is far less incentive for fraud and corruption.

The KwaZulu-Natal government has recommitted to provide funding opportunities for young people in business and those who want to start their own businesses. 

Engaging with youth in business at Ilembe District, northern KwaZulu-Natal, Finance MEC Peggy Nkonyeni said the provincial government is committed to assist the youth, through Operation Vula Fund, the Youth Fund, Transformation Fund, and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) Fund. 

“As a matter of fact, over R3 million of Operation Vula Fund has been spent on the youth during window two, with 19 females, 14 males and five people with disabilities all getting a piece of the funding pie,” Nkonyeni said.

Nkonyeni said there are various business ideas that can assist in starting and successfully running businesses, however, the key element is innovation. 

“Youth should be innovative and approach any government entity to request guidance and support. We have brought various strategic government entities so that they can present to you all their services, and this will create an opportunity for a useful engagement that will assist in starting and running businesses,” Nkonyeni said.

Nkonyeni, together with Health Deputy Minister Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo -- who are both champions of Ilembe District -- and various government partners held an engagement with young people in business to empower them with a package of interconnected business opportunities available with KwaZulu-Natal government.

The session aimed to empower the youth with vital information about supply chain, compliance and access to government funding. The engagement also aimed to assist in fighting youth unemployment that is estimated at over 30% in Ilembe District.

Young people were taken through the process of how to start and manage a business, and were given information on how to successfully manage a business and be compliant with the law.

The business owners were also assisted with their queries regrading government’s Central Supplier Database (CSD), which maintains a database of organisations, institutions and individuals who can provide goods and services to government.

Dhlomo encouraged the youth not to give up when their business ideas or businesses either do not get off the ground or collapse. 

“We need the youth to stay focused, creative and always on the lookout for business opportunities. Government has availed funding schemes and we need to use these schemes to grow our businesses.

“As champions of Ilembe District, we need to see the difference next year in the area of youth businesses,” Dhlomo said.

Ilembe District Municipality Mayor, Thobani Shandu, emphasised the importance of engaging with Ilembe youth in business, and encouraged the youth to take advantage of the available funding opportunities.

“We want to give all the guidance and information that will assist our youth to start, run and grow their businesses. We want to have the type of youth who are not only thinking about getting employed. 

“Unemployment is rife and we need the type of the youth who want to create employment and contribute to growing the economy of our district. Our youth must take advantage of these funding opportunities,” Shandu said. 

Yoliswa Nxumalo from Mandeni, who attended the engagement, asked the provincial government to give guidance and support in running her agricultural farming.

“I am in farming and have 12 hectors of agricultural land. I need support to ensure that there is no piece of land that remains unused,” said Nxumalo. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has sent condolences to the family and friends of Irish tourist, former rugby player and coach, Greig Oliver, who lost his life in a paragliding accident in Cape Town on Monday.

“We share in their grief and offer our full support at this difficult time,” De Lille said.

Oliver, 58, reportedly collided with another paraglider in the air above Sea Point Promenade.

Despite the immediate emergency response by the National Sea Rescue Institute and Emergency Services, he was declared deceased at the scene.

“South Africa offers a broad spectrum of adventure tourism activities, and we firmly believe in providing exhilarating, safe and memorable experiences to our visitorsm," De Lille said.

“This tragic incident is a reminder that we must fully support robust safety protocols and a strong regulatory environment to grow and develop South Africa as a destination in which adventurers feel safe and secure,” De Lille said.  

She further reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the highest levels of safety standards maintained by the adventure tourism sector in South Africa, commending the efforts of organisations such as the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, which promote self-regulation in the adventure tourism sector.

“Through our collective efforts, industry stakeholders, adventure tourism operators and associations can strengthen our safety protocols and ensure the well-being of adventure tourists.

“I am committed to engaging with industry stakeholders to collaborate on any initiative that prioritises the welfare of our tourists,” De Lille said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

The Health Department on Wednesday confirmed that Cholera has claimed four lives in the Free State, pushing the death toll to 47. 

While the department has recorded new deaths since the last reporting cycle, it said it has noted a significant decline in the number of both suspected and confirmed cholera cases around the country in the past few weeks. 

A confirmed case is defined as a laboratory-confirmed presence of cholera bacteria called Vibrio cholerae in any patient with diarrhoea.

“A suspected case of cholera is a person of any age with or dying from acute watery diarrhoea with or without vomiting. In areas where a cholera outbreak has been declared, any person presenting with or dying from acute watery diarrhoea meets the criteria of a suspected case,” the department explained. 

According to data, only one confirmed positive cholera case was recorded out of 28 new suspected infections in the past 10 days.

“This doesn’t mean the transmission of cholera is over, and members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and exercise personal hygiene at all times, especially when preparing and serving food during mass gatherings,” the statement read.

Data shows that the country has recorded a total cumulative number of 1 073 suspected cases of cholera in five provinces , of which 198 of them were laboratory-confirmed between 1 February and 4 July 2023.

Gauteng is leading with 176 infections mostly from Hammanskraal in Tshwane, while 11 were recorded in Free State, six in the North West, four in Limpopo and one in Mpumalanga. 

In addition, most infections were diagnosed in the public sector, while 6% were detected at private laboratories.

In terms of gender distribution, females accounted for 52%, which translates into 102 out of 198 confirmed cases. 

Meanwhile, the age group between 41 to 50 accounted for 23% (46 out of 198) cases, followed by 31 to 40 years at 17% (33 out of 198), while 60 years and above is sitting at 13% (26 out of 198).

The department urges all those involved in running initiation schools to work closely with healthcare workers to ensure that the cultural practice takes place in compliance with relevant health and safety regulations.

The department has since stressed the importance of personal hygiene and the provision of clean water from reliable sources to prevent the outbreak and transmission of waterborne diseases like cholera. 

Meanwhile, efforts and interventions to prevent new infections mainly through health education and targeted case-finding activities continue. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has expressed his sadness at the untimely passing of two learners who took their own lives.

According to the department, a Grade 8 girl learner from Geluksdal Secondary School in Ekurhuleni and a Grade 12 girl learner from Nigel High School, also in Ekurhuleni, took their lives on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.

The department said according to information at its disposal, the learner from Nigel High School consumed poison at her home on Thursday and passed away.

The learner from Geluksdal Secondary School also consumed poison at her home on Tuesday in the evening. She was rushed to a nearby medical facility but died in the vehicle while being transported to receive medical attention.

“We wish to convey our deepest condolences to the families and school communities of these learners. Indeed, it is really concerning that learners will resort to taking their own lives. We call upon learners to always seek assistance for necessary support to be provided. Our psycho-social support team will visit all affected schools to provide required support to the school community and families once Term 3 begins,” MEC Chiloane said.

Learners who may be experiencing abuse or need counselling are encouraged to contact Childline by simply dialing 116 for assistance. – SAnews.gov.za

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has welcomed the decision by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, reiterating that non-compliant imported Clothing, Textile, Footwear, and Leather (CTFL) goods cannot enter the Republic.

“We welcome this judgment and we believe that it clears up the confusion that surrounded both the Compliance Notice where and when the goods can be labelled,” Acting National Consumer Commissioner Thezi Mabuza said on Tuesday.

The NCC said the proliferation of non-compliant clothing, textiles, footwear and leather imported goods destroys the South African textile industry.

During the last financial year, the Commission issued more than 50 non-compliance notices to importers of CTFL goods. Non-compliant goods to a value of just above R18 million were either returned to the country of origin or destroyed.

The High Court also confirmed that the Commission is within its mandate to exercise its power bestowed to it by the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) by issuing a Compliance Notice where an investigation by the NCC revealed that the consignment does not comply with the provisions of the Act.

“I want to remind importers that it is their responsibility to ensure that their goods do comply with the CPA. Where the goods are non-compliant, we will not hesitate to issue non-compliances instructing Importers to either return non-compliant goods to the country of origin or destroy them,” Mabuza said.

Following an Investigation into the importation of non-compliant goods by Scoop Clothing, the NCC issued a Compliance Notice against Scoop Clothing.

In response, Scoop Clothing CC applied to the National Consumer Tribunal for the review of the Compliance Notice.

The review by Scoop Clothing was successful and the National Consumer Tribunal ordered the NCC to allow Scoop Clothing to apply compliant labels to the imported goods.

The NCC appealed the Scoop Clothing CC judgment handed down by the National Consumer Tribunal allowing the supplier to label non-compliant goods in the country.

“It has always been the NCC’s view that non-compliance cannot be rectified by allowing the importer to attach labels within the Republic.

“The High Court agreed with the NCC that imported goods can only be allowed into the Republic if they comply with the provisions of section 24, failure to comply means that goods must be returned to the country of origin or be destroyed.

“A Compliance Notice does not mean that a supplier can label non-compliant goods within the republic,” the Commission said. – SAnews.gov.za