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International World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April. This year’s celebration comes at a time when many health systems worldwide are looking for ways to address capacity issues and funding for essential services. Mental health is becoming a growing focal point, with many asking if enough is being done to address the issue appropriately. …
New CEOs for Gauteng academic hospitals
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has announced the appointment of three Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) to provincial academic hospitals.
The appointments are for the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH), Steve Biko Academic Hospital (SBAH), and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH).
The newly appointed CEOs assumed their roles on 1 March 2024.
This marks a significant step towards strengthening the department’s governance system and ensuring that there is capable leadership across healthcare facilities in the province.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko congratulated the newly appointed CEOs, emphasising the importance of their role in driving the mandate to provide quality healthcare services.
She has since extended her congratulations to CHBAH’s Dr Nthabiseng Makgana, SBAH’s Dr Lehlohonolo Majake and DGMAH’s Dr Fhatuwani Mbara for their appointments.
“These positions carry a great responsibility in ensuring the delivery of excellent healthcare services to the people of Gauteng,” stated Nkomo-Ralehoko in a statement on Friday.
The GDoH said academic hospitals hold a vital place in the public healthcare landscape, serving as centres of excellence in medical education, research, and patient care.
The institutions render highly specialised services and play a crucial role in training the next generation of healthcare professionals, providing them with hands-on experience and guidance from experienced physicians and healthcare experts.
The appointment of these CEOs comes at a crucial time as GDoH prepares for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
Nkomo-Ralehoko further highlighted the significance of capable leaders in achieving the goals set by the NHI.
“As we ready ourselves for the implementation of the NHI, it is imperative that we have capable leaders at the helm of our academic hospitals. Their expertise and strategic vision will play a vital role in advancing our healthcare system, promoting equity, and improving access to quality healthcare services for all,” the MEC added.
READ | NHI receives in excess of R1 billion allocation
In addition to the appointment of the CEOs, the GDoH has also appointed the Deputy Director-General and Chief Director of Infrastructure, the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Director for Health Economics and Finance and several other senior management services employees at a director level.
“These key positions will contribute to accelerating the delivery of services to communities and to strengthening the healthcare system in Gauteng.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 03/10/2024 - 13:39
President Ramaphosa visits new Mpumalanga hospital
President Cyril Ramaphosa has conducted a site visit and inspection of the newly constructed Middelburg Hospital in Mpumalanga.
“This is most impressive. It’s a modern, state-of-the-art and it’s going to serve the community of about 330 000 people. This is development. This is how we are developing our country from a social and health point of view and we’re doing it cost-effectively as well,” the President said on Thursday.
This was ahead of the District Development Model Presidential Imbizo held at Emalahleni in the province the same day.
“I also appreciated the way there was thorough consultation with various stakeholders in the area to bring in small and medium enterprises, and to bring in communities, who participated in one shape, form or the other in the construction of the hospital,” the President said at the site visit.
He praised the participation of the community in the construction of the hospital and said it has many benefits.
“This is what we should do because in many ways, it also avoids this very bad practice that has emerged of construction mafias. When the community is well-organised and is part of the construction of a facility, everybody feels like they own the facility and they can benefit from a job point of view, and from a supplying point of view.
“I appreciate also the funding model that was used. It was funded from the budget but over a five-year period in various phases, not all at once. To do it over a set period is clearly the way to go,” he said.
President Ramaphosa added that the hospital serves as a precursor for things to come.
“This is going to be a clean, well-run hospital and a really good demonstration of what the NHI [National Health Insurance] is going to be all about. So this is a very good precursor to the NHI.
“Those who have been criticising the NHI [we now]... have... an improved facility and improved infrastructure… this is it. We are ready for the NHI at this site. When the NHI Bill is signed [into law], this is going to be one of the exciting sites for NHI implementation,” he said.
READ | NHI receives in excess of R1 billion allocation
The President will later lead government’s interaction with communities and stakeholders.
Themed ‘Leave No One Behind’, the 12th Presidential Imbizo promotes participatory democracy and inclusive development by allowing community members and stakeholders to voice proposals and express any concerns or dissatisfaction they may have about conditions in the district or province.
The imbizo will get underway at the Sy Mthimunye Stadium in Emalahleni. - SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 03/07/2024 - 13:32
Health dept welcomes NHI court judgment
The Department of Health has welcomed a decision by the Gauteng High Court to dismiss a legal attempt by trade union Solidarity to halt the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the public health system.
In a statement on Thursday, the department said Solidarity sought to stop the filing of critical posts under the National Health Insurance (NHI) branch.
According to the department, the trade union approached the court last year to challenge a decision taken by the department to advertise and fill 44 vacancies, including five Chief Directors and competent technical specialists to assist with the preparation for the National Health Insurance Fund for the country to achieve universal health coverage.
“The union argued that the NHI should be established only after the NHI Bill has been signed into law by the President. However, Section 85(2) of the Constitution empowers the Minister of Health to develop and implement national policies deemed critical to improve healthcare delivery to achieve a long and healthy life for all South Africans.
“Further, the National Health Act of 2003 (Act 61 of 2003), Section 3(1) provides that the Minister must, within the limit of available resources, determine the policies and measures necessary to protect, promote, improve, and maintain the health and wellbeing of the population,” the department said.
The court found that the establishment of the NHI branch, as part of the department’s organisational structure, does not amount to the implementation of a Bill. The functions of the branch remain relevant for any health system in the world, public or private.
Thus, the creation of these critical posts responsible for, amongst others, health products procurement, health care benefits and provider management, health system digital information, risk and fraud management, and user and service provider management, are part of broader health system strengthening.
“The court ruling paves way for the department to prepare for the rollout of NHI once it is signed into law.
“The judgment simply means the department has the right to continue with the work to strengthen the public health system of the country to respond to the health care needs and demands of the population.
“We hope the applicant will abide by the ruling and allow the department space to execute its mandate of improving health by preventing illness and disease, and promoting healthy lifestyles without interference,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Thu, 02/29/2024 - 13:04
Phaahla welcomes budget allocation
Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana has announced an allocation of R848 billion for the Department of Health over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a move that has been welcomed by the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla.
The money includes an additional R11.6 billion to help cover last year’s wage agreement, R27.3 billion for infrastructure, and R1.4 billion for the National Health Insurance (NHI) grant over the same period.
“The allocation for the NHI is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to this policy,” Godongwana said when tabling the 2024 Budget in Parliament on Wednesday.
READ | NHI receives in excess of R1 billion allocation
He said that activities such as upgrading health facilities and improving the quality of care are necessary to ensure that they meet the minimum accreditation criteria for contracting under NHI.
They are also, according to Godongwana, key enablers in improving the public healthcare system and should be undertaken.
“Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, welcomes the decision by the National Treasury to favourably consider that the current shrinking budget allocations have a negative impact on the effective functioning of the public health system in the country.”
The department has announced that they also have been allocated an additional budget of R3.7 billion for the 2024/25 financial year to compensate employees in the sector.
This will help address the increase in the wage bill as well as the recruitment of more staff, including nurses and medical doctors.
Phaahla has been in consultation with Godongwana on implementing plans to strengthen the health system, including the recruitment of essential health workers like medical doctors and other professionals.
“Although the budget may not address all health service delivery challenges at once, it will go a long way to enable the department to respond to the immediate and key priority needs to strengthen the health system. These include activating vacant but unfunded essential posts,” said the Health department.
The department will soon outline plans with timelines for recruiting and appointing health workers, including recently graduated health professionals and unemployed medical doctors. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 02/22/2024 - 10:30
Hope is on the horizon despite South Africa’s economic challenges The nation’s eyes and ears will be focused on Cape Town today as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presents the 2024 National Budget. It is no secret that South Africa faces a challenging economic climate where austerity is the phrase most commonly used during the Budget. …
NHI receives R1 billion allocation
The health sector is expected to receive an allocation of R848 billion over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework with at least R1 billion directed to the National Health Insurance (NHI).
This was announced by Minister Enoch Godongwana during the 2024 Budget Speech on Thursday.
“These allocations include R11.6 billion to address the 2023 wage agreement, R27.3 billion for infrastructure, and R1.4 billion for the NHI grant over the same period.
“The allocation for the NHI is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to this policy. There remain a range of system-strengthening activities, that are key enablers of an improved public health care system, that must be undertaken,” Godongwana said.
He said these activities include:
In the 2024 Budget Review, National Treasury noted that the budget for the sector is expected to grow slower than inflation over the MTEF “due to the R23.7 billion baseline reductions over the medium term”.
“The function will prioritise greater efficiency, better management of commuted overtime and intensified promotion of preventative care. Spending reviews in the sector have led to some savings in vaccine and antiretroviral tenders. The health sector continues to recover from service disruptions due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, particularly in antiretroviral treatment and tuberculosis screening and treatment.
“The Department of Health and its provincial counterparts will prioritise building tertiary services like oncology through earmarked funds in the national tertiary services grant in provinces with inadequate services. This grant grows by 8.8% in 2024/25 as funding is shifted into it from the oncology portion of the national health insurance conditional grant,” Treasury said.
Education Sector
Turning to education, he said the sector will receive some R25.7 billion “carry-through costs of the wage increase over the medium term”.
“At the same time, we were able to protect the budgets of critical programmes such as the school nutrition programme. The programme provides food to pupils in almost 20 000 schools.
“The early childhood development grant is allocated R1.6 billion rising to R2 billion over the medium term,” he said.
Firm eye
Government is expected to keep a firm eye on value for money as consolidated government spending is expected to reach R2.37 trillion in 2024/25, R2.47 trillion in 2025/26 and R2.6 trillion in 2026/27.
This is according to the National Treasury’s 2024 Budget Review.
“Government’s priority is to enhance spending quality and minimise inefficiency while ensuring sustainable public finances – in other words, to increase the value for money from this spending,” the department said.
The bulk of the 2024/25 budget will go to basic and tertiary education, peace and security.
“While R69.4 billion is added to this function for the carry‐through costs of the 2023 public‐service wage agreement over the medium term, there are baseline reductions of R49.8 billion in other areas. Improved efficiency in the procurement of learner‐teacher support materials and in the management of the placement of educators will continue.
“Spending in the post‐school education and training sector grows by 2.5% over the medium term. Spending in the sector education and training authorities and the National Skills Fund grows by 3.9% over the medium term, allowing the institutions to improve the quality of their offerings,” Treasury said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 02/21/2024 - 14:35
Unemployed doctors to be placed by April, says Minister Phaahla
Government is working tirelessly to ensure that unemployed doctors who want to join the public service are placed by 1 April this year, Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla has announced.
This follows an ongoing public outcry over doctors who have completed statutory community service programmes but remain unemployed.
“I am, therefore, happy to announce that working with the Minister of Finance we have a solution to address the current challenge of doctors who want to stay in the public service but could not be offered funded posts,” said the Minister.
During the debate on the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), Phaahla said the Finance Minister will flesh out more details during his Budget Speech next week on how these posts will be funded.
“Our national team is working with the National Treasury team to thrash out the details and working with provincial health departments to speed up the process so that by 1st April 2024 all those who will not be already in posts can be able to start.”
Phaahla said he was confident that some provinces will even be able to start giving out appointment letters before 1 April 2024.
“The measures we are working on with the Minister of Finance will give us sufficient breathing space while we are working on long-term solutions.”
He told Parliament that over the last 15 years, government has ramped up the training of doctors both in the local universities and the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro programme in Cuba.
The number of graduates, according to Phaahla, has almost doubled over the last 10 years, from 1 338 graduates who entered the internship programme in 2014 to 2 210 this year.
“The medical profession is very key in the multidisciplinary teams and that is why we are doing everything to retain as many doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other members of the teams in the public health system.”
In addition, he said his department was committed to working with the medical association and the trade union to look at more opportunities for doctors including offering primary health services in the community as the State prepares to implement the National Health Insurance (NHI).
NHI
He told the House that the government interventions are laying the foundation for the implementation of the NHI.
Phaahla also took the time to thank members of both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) who passed the Bill last year.
As stated in the Bill, he said the NHI will be implemented in two remaining phases from 2024 to 2026, while between 2026 and 2028 government will focus on establishing the Board and CEO and several key committees of the NHI Fund.
“We are confident that the innovative funding of infrastructure as stated by the President will also contribute to health facilities.”
In the meantime, he said his department was strengthening key delivery areas.
These include the healthcare benefits design, digital health systems, and risk identification and fraud prevention.
COVID-19
Since the lifting of all restrictions in June 2022, he said the health sector has been on a recovery path.
“Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members indeed as stated by the President, key indicators show that we have recovered well from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
For example, he cited the improved life expectancy approaching pre-COVID, the continued reduction in maternal mortality in pregnancy and reduced infant and under-five mortality rates.
Meanwhile, he said backlogs in planned surgery procedures including in orthopaedics, general surgery and eye operations are being attended to through the mobilisation of specialists to spend time in under-served areas with many doing it free of charge.
In addition, Phaahla said procurement and distribution of medicines has stabilised with the result and that public health institutions now have stock availability of 85%.
As stated by the President in his SONA, the department will also focus on serious interventions to improve the quality of health services by upgrading infrastructure, including building new facilities. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 02/14/2024 - 09:32
Somebody give me a pen! - President
“The Bill has arrived at my desk. I’m going through the Bill. I’m looking for a pen!" - said President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night, eliciting much laughter from a packed Joint Sitting of Parliament.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) President Ramaphosa announced that government will gradually implement the long-awaited National Health Insurance (NHI).
President Ramaphosa was speaking during a televised speech at the Cape Town City Hall.
The NHI Bill, which was passed by both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) last year, will provide free healthcare at the point of care for all South Africans, whether in public or private health facilities.
“We plan to incrementally implement the NHI, dealing with issues like health system financing, the health workforce, medical products, vaccines and technologies, and health information systems.”
The Bill now only requires President Ramaphosa’s signature for enactment.
President Ramaphosa said the State is working tirelessly to improve both healthcare quality and access equality, despite the country’s health system having a significant impact on people’s lives.
In addition, he said South Africans are living longer than ever before. Life expectancy has increased from 54 in 2003 to 65 years in 2023.
“The World Health Organisation [Director-General] says it is a phenomenal development,” he said.
Meanwhile, the country’s maternal and infant deaths have declined dramatically.
“We have built more hospitals and clinics, especially in poor areas, providing better quality care to more South Africans.”
He touched on the Limpopo Academic Hospital in Polokwane, which is currently under construction.
The hospital promises to be a state-of-the-art establishment and will be one of the five flagship academic health institutions around the country.
Equipped with advanced medical technology, the hospital will offer cutting-edge diagnostic procedures and innovative treatments.
“I had anecdotally a good representation of how our healthcare system has been improving. When the ANC held its birthday anniversary there was an accident where five people passed away and scores were injured and were taken to hospitals in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. I went to see some of them and when they were asked: ‘Don’t you want to be moved to private hospitals?”… Many of them said: ‘No, we’re well looked after here’.”
He also cited the sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey results, which found that 95% of people diagnosed with HIV know their status, 79% of those receive antiretroviral treatment, and 93% of those are virally suppressed.
“New HIV infections among young people have declined significantly.”
The President’s speech touched on the state of South Africa and reflected on a wide range of political, economic and social matters.
The address will be followed by a two-day debate by Members of Parliament and the President will thereafter reply to issues raised in the debates. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 02/08/2024 - 21:28
Taking stock of the sixth administration
Thursday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) to be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the last one to be made by the sixth administration.
The President - in his capacity as Head of State and government - will deliver the annual SONA at 7pm, before a joint sitting of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Just as individuals usually make a list of their goals at the start of each year, and the steps they need to take to attain them, the SONA similarly sets out government’s key policy objectives as well as deliverables for the year ahead.
The President is expected to reflect on the gains made and the areas that still need attention since the last SONA.
However, having been inaugurated as President on 25 May 2019, President Ramaphosa is also likely to look back on the term of his administration.
According to the Presidency, this administration “took office with a mandate to grow the economy, create employment and reduce poverty.” It was also tasked with putting an end to corruption as well as “restoring the integrity and capability of public institutions.”
Government has over the years made progress in improving the lives of those within the borders of South Africa.
Advancements have been made in the key priorities of growing the economy and job creation, building better lives, making communities safer and fighting crime.
Over the years, irrespective of the administration at the helm, an inclusive economy in which all South Africans can partake in, has and continues to be a top issue for government.
Fixing the economy and load shedding
In order to grow the economy, reliable energy supply is essential and energy security is cited in the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP). In July 2022, government launched the Energy Action Plan (EAP). The EAP is a set of steps to be taken to address load shedding.
Government has amended Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act to remove the licencing requirement for generation projects to accelerate private investment.
By September 2023, more than 100 projects were at various stages of development, representing over 10 000 megawatts of new generation capacity and over R200 billion in private sector investment.
Other steps taken to reform the electricity sector include the tabling of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill in Parliament.
In addition, progress continues to be made towards the unbundling of Eskom, with the newly established National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) obtaining its operating, trading, and import and export licences from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa in September 2023, allowing the company to operate independently from the power utility. This as government works to separate Eskom into the Generation, Distribution and Transmission entities. Last month, Eskom announced the appointment of the National Transmission Company of South Africa board.
This is one of the most important pillars of Eskom’s legal separation which will “create a level playing field to enable competition in electricity generation, as a key step towards energy security,” noted the 'Leave No One Behind 2024 – A Five-Year Review', document released by the Presidency earlier this week.
The sixth administration also oversaw the appointment of Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, in March last year as part of efforts to address power cuts and to expedite government’s work to ensure the full implementation of the EAP.
At a recent media briefing on the implementation of the plan, Ramokgopa said that work continues to address partial load losses – that is, when Eskom’s generating units do not produce the full capacity, they were intended to.
In November 2023, South Africa received the first consignment of 450 gasoline generators donated by the People’s Republic of China. The donation formed part of the Technical Assistance Programme that was entered into in August 2023 during China’s Head of State Visit to South Africa.
Jobs and investment
The ERRP was government’s response to the severe health, social and economic effects of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
Announced in 2020, the plan was founded on engagements among social partners, including government, labour, business and community-based organisations.
October 2023 marked three years since government embarked on the plan, which outlined the actions to rebuild the economy and create jobs in the wake of the pandemic.
The government has put in place the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI). Through the initiative announced in 2020, at least 135 000 earning opportunities were secured by young people.
On Tuesday, the President held a presidential youth engagement in Cape Town reflecting on the three years since the initiation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) and PYEI.
According to the Presidency, the PES and PYEI programmes have “collectively generated over 1.8 million job opportunities and provided livelihood support, predominantly benefiting young individuals”.
The sixth administration also oversaw the successful raising of the R1.2 trillion worth of investments over five years that President Ramaphosa announced in 2018.
Held annually over the past five years, the South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) surpassed the initial R1.2 trillion target to reach R1.51 trillion in investment pledges. To date, there are concrete results of how the pledges made at the conference are changing lives and creating employment.
The review document notes that of the commitments made, over R500 billion has already flowed into the economy.
Having made pledges continually at the SAIC, Procter &Gamble in November 2023 launched a state-of-the-art production line of Pampers Premium Care which the President attended in Kempton Park in Ekurhuleni.
Another company which pledged R135 million at last year’s SAIC is also making good on its commitment.
In October 2023, energy company, Ener-G-Africa, launched an energy-efficient cook stove manufacturing line in Paarl, and expanded its solar panel production line from 15MW to 500MW capacity.
The company pledged R135 million in the production of small solar PV panels and solar cooking appliances at their women-led production facility in Cape Town.
AfCFTA
President Ramaphosa also oversaw the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as Chairperson of the African Union, which is currently the largest free trade area in the world. The AfCFTA which entered into force in May 2019, is expected to boost trade and economic growth on the continent.
Trading under the AfCFTA regime commenced January 2021 and last month South Africa practically realised the AfCFTA agreement. This as the President officiated the launch of the first export shipment of goods produced by South African companies destined for other African countries from KwaZulu-Natal’s Durban port.
Better lives and education
On building better lives, the current administration introduced the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for the first time in the country’s history, guaranteeing a minimum floor below which no worker may be paid with the coming into effect of the minimum wage on 1 January 2019.
The President had announced its coming into effect in December 2018.
Back in 2019, the minimum wage was set at R20 an hour and has increased over the years. Currently standing at R25,42 the minimum wage will increase to R27,58 for each ordinary hour worked with effect from 1 March 2024.
Click here for more on the “National minimum wage increases”.
To ensure healthcare for all, Parliament passed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill last year after it was introduced in 2019. The Bill aims to provide free health care at the point of care for all South Africans. In preparation for the NHI, Health Patient Registration Systems have been installed in over 3 200 facilities.
Meanwhile, social grants for people most affected by COVID-19 were expanded, including the Special Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, which reached around 11 million unemployed people.
On the education front, no-fee schools which government introduced in 2007 have continued to ensure that children get access to schooling. To date, the number of learners that are not required to pay school fees increased from 71% to 75% in 2021.
In addition, the latest matric pass rate, at 82.9%, is the highest ever, up from 78% ten years ago. Learners from no-fee paying schools accounted for more than 65% of the total bachelor passes obtained. The percentage of learners who completed 12 years of education rose from 45% in 2008 to 62% in 2022.
Safer communities
The sixth administration has increased the number of police officers including the recruitment of 20 000 police trainees and an additional 4 000 public order policing members in 2022 and 2023.
In addition, 20 specialised South African Police Service Economic Infrastructure Task Teams have been established to work with business, private security and state-owned enterprises to tackle illegal mining, construction site extortion, cable theft and vandalism of economic infrastructure.
The review noted that by November 2023, the teams had made over 4 000 arrests for damage of critical infrastructure, 70 arrests for extortion at construction sites and over 3 000 arrests for illegal mining, and confiscated significant quantities of copper cable, rail tracks and other metals.
Government also launched the Border Management Authority as the third armed force to manage and secure the country’s borders, providing a vital link in government’s efforts to harness the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
On tackling gender-based violence and femicide(GBV), he National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence was developed, together with civil society, as a society-wide response to this national emergency. Around R21 billion has been dedicated over the medium term to the implementation of the six pillars of the plan, including the economic empowerment of women.
Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has achieved an average conviction rate of 94% in femicide prosecutions and 75% in sexual offences prosecutions since 2019.
In addition, the GBVF Response Fund 1 was launched, which raised R200 million from the private sector for community-based organisations combating GBV. In the first year of the Fund’s operation, 53 community-based organisations were funded, reaching 280 000 participants.
Fighting corruption
The NPA Investigating Directorate was established to prosecute state capture and other significant corruption cases.
To date, the Investigating Directorate has taken 34 state capture and corruption cases to court, involving 203 accused persons and 65 accused entities. The NPA has also secured the conviction of over 500 government officials and nearly 800 in the private sector on offences related to corruption since 2019.
In addition, a SIU Special Tribunal was appointed to expedite civil claims against corrupt individuals and the recovery of stolen funds. Since its establishment, it has recovered over R8.6 billion.
As the country prepares for its 30 years of freedom celebration, the sixth administration has certainly done its bit in a challenging environment. -SAnews.gov.za
Neo
Wed, 02/07/2024 - 15:11
Government leaders take stock of sixth administration
With the term of the sixth administration coming to an end, government leaders are discussing the implementation and progress of the priorities that it set to achieve at the beginning of its term.
“This is the final Cabinet Lekgotla for the term of the sixth administration. It will look at the work done on the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), which is a government programme that sets priorities that we had to implement in this administration,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday in Pretoria.
The MTSF 2019-2024 is both a five-year implementation plan and an integrated monitoring framework, which focuses on the seven priorities and related interventions of the sixth administration of government, and the integrated monitoring framework focuses on monitoring outcomes, indicators and targets towards the achievement of the priorities.
The priorities of the MTSF include building a capable, ethical and developmental state; economic transformation and job creation; education, skills and health and consolidating the social wage through reliable and quality basic services.
It further prioritises spatial integration, human settlements and local government, social cohesion and safe communities as well as a better Africa and world.
“We are also going to look at the progress that we have made in implementing the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) and the progress we are making in preparing for the National Health Insurance (NHI).
“Given the lessons we have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, we think it is a priority that it must be signed during this period so that the full implementation can be taken in the seventh administration. This is why we are looking at the progress of its implementation,” the Minister said.
Work that has been done to deal with load shedding will also be discussed.
“Due to the challenges in the freight and logistics, we are going to look at that in line with the work that we have done with the ERRP. We will also look at crime because we can’t rebuild the economy if we are not dealing with the crime,” the Minister said.
She said the meeting would assess the impact of crime in terms of the vandalism of critical infrastructure whether it be electricity or the freight and logistics sector and any other infrastructure.
Ntshavheni was addressing members of the media on the sidelines of the Cabinet Lekgotla, which has been convened by President Cyril Ramaphosa from 1-2 February 2024.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, Directors-General and the leadership of the South African Local Government Association are in attendance.
The outcome of the meeting will chart a way forward for the year to be announced by the President during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) taking place on Thursday, 8 February 2024, at 7pm.
“We will also discuss the safety of South Africans and critical to that is gender- based violence and femicide (GBVF). We will look at the progress we are making to address GBVF and whether we are succeeding with the whole of society approach.
“We are also looking at the progress that has been made in dealing with corruption in terms of putting together the Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) and the work that is being done to support the establishment of the council.
“We are looking at the integrated work that is be done to address with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Fusion Centre,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 02/01/2024 - 13:51
Health dept receives multimillion-rand equipment from German Development Bank
Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has welcomed the multimillion-rand donation of mobile health clinics from the German Development Bank (KfW) in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
The Minister said the donation supports efforts by the South African government to strengthen the public health system.
“Today is one of the most exciting days for the National Department of Health and the provincial departments as we formally acknowledge the support we received from the German government, through the German Development Bank and the DG Murray Trust.
“The governments of Germany and South Africa have enjoyed a very fruitful relationship across several departments for a while now,” he said on Thursday.
Phaahla was speaking at the official hand over of the equipment at the Town Hill Hospital.
The Minister was joined by the German Ambassador to South Africa, Andreas Peschke, Deputy Health Minister Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane, leaders from local government and DG Murray Trust.
The donated assets, valued at R500 million, include specialised vaccine fridges, vaccine carriers, temperature monitoring devices, notebooks, tablets and mobile health clinics.
Phaahla said the 46 mobile clinics have contributed to changing people’s lives and that they have reached 1.9 million individuals with direct interpersonal interactions.
“I will work with the MECs to sustain and maintain these assets when the funding ends in September this year.”
Phaahla said the mobile units operate in four provinces including Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and are operated by professional nurses, communicators and local mobilisers supported by the #KeReady youthful doctors.
“These units are serving as the bedrock of our campaign to get closer to the youth community and highlight the challenges that face youth life,” said the Minister.
“We consider the Ambassador and his team as friends; friends who did not abandon us at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but stayed with us and provided support for specific vulnerable communities in the informal settlements.
“We thank you for the precise, strategic and tailored programmes you brought into our primary healthcare ecosystem,” he said.
He told the attendees that today’s gathering was not just a celebration but an occasion to showcase the countries’ bilateral relationship and to demonstrate that their relationship was beneficial to both nations.
“Our vision and objectives for the health sector have been expressed in many documents and on many other platforms.”
The Universal Health Access through the National Health Insurance (NHI), he said, was a vision South Africa strives towards, working with the private sector.
“We are committed to this vision and the outcomes we envisage despite the huge setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He noted German’s specific targeted programmes, which are evidence-based and believes that will have an impact.
The focus includes children who are reached through the Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme, young people in hard-to-reach areas, community-led social mobilisation campaigns, strong monitoring and evaluation systems and cost-effective approaches.
“Ambassador, we recognise that you give our people a hand to uplift them out of poverty, instead of once-off hand-outs which are not sustainable," said Phaahla.
He acknowledged the German government for its support during the COVID-19 response.
Phaahla expressed his gratitude for German’s forward-thinking approach, which he described as “precise and impactful”.
“We will scale it up as we move forward and apply lessons learned to our programmes.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 01/25/2024 - 14:13
Since 1994, South Africa has emerged as an African economic powerhouse with a healthcare system that was once the envy of the continent. However, the country is facing a significant medical brain drain at a time when there is clear evidence that South African medical professionals possess some of the best skills in the world …
SA to celebrate Universal Health Coverage Day
South Africa will on Tuesday, 12 December, join the global community in celecrating the progress made towards health for all.
According to the Department of Health, government will also observe the day by raising awareness of the necessity for resilient, equitable, and robust healthcare systems to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Department of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) South Africa and other health sector stakeholders, will host a seminar to reinvigorate pledges to accelerate UHC efforts in South Africa.
The 2023 UHC Day theme is ‘Health for All: Time to Act’.
“The theme emphasises the need for immediate and tangible steps to accelerate progress towards UHC, ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 deadline.”
The seminar will be attended by 300 delegates from different stakeholders in the health sector and the Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, is expected to deliver a keynote address.
The event comes after the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) adopted the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill on 6 December 2023, a turning point for the country’s journey to achieve equal access to quality and affordable health care for all.
Phaahla will later in the day join the Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, during a media briefing to release findings of the investigation reports emanating from complaints lodged against the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Motherwell NU 11 Clinic. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 13:30
On 12 June 2023, the National Assembly (NA) passed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. The NHI Bill seeks to provide universal access to health care services in the country in accordance with the National Health Insurance White Paper and the Constitution of South Africa. The Bill envisages the establishment of a National Health Insurance …