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Pandor reiterates stance on Israel

Location: News

Pandor reiterates stance on Israel

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, says South Africa cannot have "normal relations" with Israel, as long as it is committing war crimes and genocide against Palestinians, removing them from their land, and is unwilling to negotiate a viable peace plan without preconditions. 

“South Africa cannot be a party to Israel’s actions that would see the promise of Palestinian Statehood reduced to balkanised entities, devoid of true sovereignty, without territorial contiguity and with no economic viability,” Pandor said on Monday while delivering a lecture at the Rio Branco Institute in Brasilia, Brazil.

The South African government, according to Pandor, has consistently expressed its concern at the plight of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially in light of the acts meeting the threshold of genocide.  

READ | SA welcomes resolution on human rights situation in occupied Palestinian territory

Pandor said the “question of Palestine”, as it is known in the United Nations (UN), is the longest unresolved human rights challenge on the UN’s agenda. 

“It is primarily a question about the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. This is a right that, according to international law, gives Palestinians the right to resist the illegal occupation of their land.” 

She said South Africa concurs with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s remarks that opposition to a two-State solution was “unacceptable". 

The Minister believes that the Palestinian people are part of an existing sovereign State and have a claim to their independent sovereignty based on their right to self-determination. 

“The fact of colonisation creates this right – they have been conquered and subjected to the jurisdiction of a foreign State without their consent and are living under occupation by a foreign and oppressive occupier.

"This is the form of self-determination that is most widely accepted and which most clearly provides the right to one’s independent State,” she explained. 

Pandor said it was now more than 74 years since the UN General Assembly approved Resolution 181 (II) recognising the partitioning of Palestine and proposed establishing two independent States, which were supposed to coexist in peace and harmony. 

“Despite the length of time and efforts brought to bear, the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State is yet to become a reality.

“The most serious violation of human rights has involved the denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. This is a right enshrined in the UN Charter,” she stressed. 

Pandor raised concerns about the political solution, which is "not yet in sight". 

“The relentless military operations by Israel and its genocidal acts have aggravated the humanitarian situation in Gaza. 

“The extreme nature of the crisis in Gaza must not eclipse the fact that the West Bank and East Jerusalem are in turmoil. Since the 1993 Oslo Accords, the number of illegal Israeli settlers occupying Palestinian land has increased from 269 200 at that time to 700 000 today.” 

Meanwhile, the number of Palestinians held in Israeli jails has almost doubled to over 7 000, including 200 women and children as young as 12 years old. 

According to the Minister, the conflict has seen the killing of over 33 000 Palestinians since October 2023.

The ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israel has resulted in more civilian casualties, almost half of which are children, the Minister told her audience. 

She also raised an alarm about the threat of famine, which is imminent with disastrous consequences. 

“Those engaged in active warfare must be reminded that the targeting of civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists and UN personnel, destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure is illegal under international law.” 

Pandor is of the view that South Africa made a compelling case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

In January this year, the ICJ ruled that Israel’s actions in Gaza are plausibly genocidal and indicated provisional measures on that basis. 

READ | SA stands by decision to file lawsuit against Israel

She also took a swipe at the veto power wielded by individual States, which she said she believes cannot be permitted to thwart international justice in light of the ever-worsening situation in Gaza. 

South Africa, Pandor said, is gravely concerned about the unprecedented imminent military offensive against Rafah, which she said would result in further large-scale killing, harm and destruction. 

“South Africa reiterates its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and remains committed to seeing an end to the occupation of Palestine and calls for concrete action concerning ending the Apartheid system in Israel and Palestine.” – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Tue, 04/23/2024 - 10:38

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KZN political parties commit to peace, stability ahead of elections

Location: News

KZN political parties commit to peace, stability ahead of elections

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, says the commitment by political parties to free, fair and peaceful elections is a clear indication of the great strides made by the people of the province in entrenching stability and cementing lasting peace.

The Premier was speaking at the signing of the pledge by various political parties in the province, committing themselves and their supporters to ensuring that the upcoming general elections will be free and fair, and devoid of any illegal or violent incidents.

Various political parties from the province made the commitment in an event organised by the Electoral Commission (IEC) at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre this week.

South Africa will go to the polls on 29 May 2024.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dube-Ncube noted the major strides made in establishing peace and tolerance as a way of life in the province. 

“As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our democratic breakthrough, we commend the maturity displayed by various political parties through the signing of this pledge. Unlike most of our sister provinces, we know the brutality of political intolerance and the social devastation that this wreaks havoc on our people. 

“Therefore, this commitment by political parties is much more than just appending signatures to a pledge, but a solemn promise to our people that they will not allow the elections to take us back to the days of instability,” Dube-Ncube said.

WATCH I

The Premier said conservative estimates put at 20 000 the number of people who have died because of political violence in KwaZulu-Natal, from the late 1980s to way beyond the democratic moment in 1994.

Through the efforts of all stakeholders, including political leaders, community members, religious leaders, amakhosi and non-governmental organisations, peace was finally achieved in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Following the attainment of peace, ours has been one of the best performing provinces in terms of service delivery and investment attraction, to mention but a few. This confirms the correctness of our long-held view that peace and development are inseparable and that one cannot be achieved in the absence of the other. 

“Therefore, all of us have the responsibility to strive for peace, stability and tolerance, even beyond the elections so that our province can continue on its upward and forward growth trajectory,” Nxesi said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK
Fri, 04/19/2024 - 10:06

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Read moreKZN political parties commit to peace, stability ahead of elections

Fintechs should develop products that address the exact needs of their customers (By Mike Cook)

Location: News
Mukuru

By Mike Cook, Mukuru Head of Wallet and VAS; Lorraine Nyawo, Mukuru Head of Product Domain: Financial Services (www.Mukuru.com)​.

All around the world businesses are pulling out the stops to achieve growth in what can best be described as challenging economic conditions. Africa is no exception. The continent has long been recognised for its immense potential, and as such businesses across sectors are investing heavily into the continent. Advancements in technology make serving the unbanked and underserved populations in Africa more viable than ever before. However, that does not mean growth comes easily. It is a hyper competitive and complex environment where genuinely understanding your customer is key to growth.

Even with this textbook understanding, there is a strong urge to take the “build it and they will come” approach because we can get caught up in our own technology and view problems from our frame of reference while ignoring the customer. This is typified in the African market where we see multiple shiny apps being dropped across markets with massive investments behind them only to be followed by a scaling down of operations as customer uptake and usage have not met expectations.

Instead, leading fintechs that show consistent growth have a deep understanding of their customers' needs and then constantly listen to their customers. Having a deep understanding of customer needs results in innovative solutions. But that is only half of what you need. Listening to customers as you build those solutions is what guarantees market adoption and success. It also allows you to discover further unmet needs. Without listening you fall into the trap of building it and hoping customers will come.

The point here is that you need to listen to customers that are already talking to you. Yes, A fintech can listen directly to its customers in the form of focus groups or formal surveys where customers can engage and tell it directly and clearly what they don't like, what they do, and what they want. But in a fast-paced environment it is not always possible to engage in traditional research to uncover what your customers are saying. More importantly, businesses need to develop the capacity to use existing touch points where customers are already talking to them to gather the insights needed for successful product development.

Social media is a massively useful tool for this. If a business is using its social media only as a marketing or customer service tool it is missing the boat. By mining the comments coming through social media channels, including positive and negative feedback, businesses have a treasure trove of data on their customers' voice.

Internal support tickets are another avenue. Whether customers are emailing, submitting comments through various platforms or calling into a contact centre, they are telling you about their problems. Often, this information starts and stops with frontline staff. Fintechs, or any businesses, need to have the right processes to gather that information effectively and feed it up to the product development team.

Of course, it is great when customers explicitly tell you what they want or need through these channels but regardless of what they say, every interaction can implicitly give you direction. For example, if customers continue to complain about something, they may not be telling you what to do or what to change, but they are telling you that your current solution is not working. An effective business must address those problems because that's how to genuinely serve customers.

Of course, listening is only worth anything if you do something about it. The amount of data and insights being mined can become overwhelming and so businesses need a quick way of scoring opportunities. It is impossible to have all possible information to calculate the most accurate return on investment. Rather, the business needs a quick, effectively designed scoring system or process that can help decision-makers weigh up revenue opportunities and customer service opportunities.

The team needs to balance these opportunities based on the business's long-term strategy and on what the most pressing need is for customers. This is important because in a highly competitive world, customer retention is golden. Beyond this, an effective scoring system keeps the development roadmap full.

Beyond scoring, prioritising opportunities is also influenced by where a business is in its development cycle, which development teams have immediate capacity, and which of the top opportunities can fit into the development roadmap immediately. Certainly, from an innovative fintech's perspective, the goal should be to get a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) out of the gates as quickly as possible as opposed to chasing the Rolls Royce solution at the outset. This is critical if the fintech wishes to be agile and relevant as opposed to producing one shiny, state-of-the-art product a year with no real knowledge of how customers will react to it.

One of the most important ways a fintech can listen to its customers is to gauge how they engage with its products. By using agile methods and principles, and building iteratively — from getting an MVP into testing and then exposed to the market, all the way through phase two and three development — a successful fintech is able to use its tight feedback loops to continually listen to customers. This way the product's development is influenced by the needs of the customer all through its development, meaning the product is effectively serving needs and not just being pushed into the market.

A customer may not understand or use a product the way it was designed — this is incredibly useful information during development phases. Mukuru develops with a finger on the pulse of feedback loops because developing products for the unbanked is not the same as developing products out of Silicon Valley: Solutions don't yet exist and they need to be built from scratch.

Of course, not all resources can go into new features and a portion of development should go into maintenance and support for live products — after all, the brand promise must be kept. It's a balancing act that each company must manage.

This is how fintechs such as Mukuru evolve into next-generation digital financial services providers. The brand promise is pinned on growing diverse products on the same platform, using the same payment rails and methods that customers have used and grown to trust.

This is, at its core, financial inclusion because it takes the unbanked and underserved on a journey from remittances, to wallets, to the ability to purchase online goods and services, to credit, funeral cover and more. None of this is possible without developing products based on the exact needs of your customer base.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mukuru.

About Mukuru:
Mukuru is a leading next generation financial services platform in Southern Africa that offers affordable and reliable financial services to a customer base of over 13 million across Africa, Asia and Europe.

With over 100 million transactions to date, our core was built providing international money transfers and from this base, we've developed a set of services to address the broader financial needs of our customers. We now operate in over 50 countries and across over 300 remittance corridors.

We are a business that puts the customer at the centre of everything we do, and for that reason, we serve clients across physical and digital channels, by various payment methods (cash, card, wallet) as well as a range of engagement platforms including WhatsApp, USSD, contact centre, App, website, agents and a branch and booth network.

Mukuru has, for the fourth consecutive year, been listed as one of the top 100 Cross Border Payments businesses in the world in the 2023 FXC Intelligence Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Companies (https://apo-opa.co/48HwI0k), one of only six African companies to receive this accolade.

In April 2023, Mukuru officially ranked sixth on the 2023 LinkedIn Top Companies List in South Africa.

Mukuru was celebrated for innovation and excellence at the 2023 Africa Tech Festival Awards, receiving the Fintech Innovation of the Year Award - an acknowledgment of the transformative power of financial technology in driving economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation.

Further information can be found at https://www.Mukuru.com.

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Mukuru
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Read moreFintechs should develop products that address the exact needs of their customers (By Mike Cook)

Enhancing Your Wellness Journey with Saunas and Steam Rooms

Location: MyPR

Embarking on a wellness journey transforms not just your physical health but also your mental and emotional well-being. Integrating a sauna or steam room into your home can significantly elevate this experience, offering a sanctuary where you can unwind, detoxify, and rejuvenate. Saunas, with their dry heat, have been cherished for centuries for their health …

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The Radisson brand enters Cape Town with the newly rebranded Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore

Location: Business
Radisson Hotel Group

Radisson Hotel Group (www.RadissonHotels.com) brings the renowned Radisson brand to South Africa's "Mother City" with the rebranding of Park Inn Cape Town Foreshore to Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore. Strategically located just minutes away from the International Convention Centre (CTICC) and the famous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore marks the Group's third Radisson property in South Africa.

Positioned at the heart of Cape Town's city center, Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore is the perfect destination for travelers visiting South Africa's oldest city for both business and leisure. The hotel's prime location places it just a stone's throw away from world-renowned tourist attractions and the bustling business district. Following an eight-month renovation, Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore's120 rooms now boast a fresh and modern decor that creates a relaxing environment for guests, as well as magnificent views of the prominent, Table Mountain and the city center.

Tim Cordon, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Africa and South East Asia Pacific at Radisson Hotel Group says, “We are thrilled to debut our rapidly expanding Radisson brand in Cape Town, which marks our third Radisson property in South Africa. With its strategic location nestled among the finest leisure attractions and business addresses and boasting one of the best rooftops in the city, it was a natural choice to refurbish and elevate the hotel to our Radisson brand standards. Radisson is renowned for striking the perfect balance between work and play, and we're confident that our guests will experience nothing but the best during their stay at Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore.”

Upon arrival, guests are welcomed to the newly re-energized reception lobby and foyer. Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore is home to South Africa's first Filini restaurant, following the restaurant's success at Radisson RED London Heathrow airport. Filini offers a delectable dining experience of fresh, simple, and delicious Italian-style cuisine, from starters to decadent desserts. The restaurant's open-plan kitchen creates a dynamic and interactive dining setting, while the hotel's vibrant Harald's Rooftop Bar & Terrace is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy uninterrupted views of Table Mountain and the cityscape. The bar and terrace also feature a perfectly positioned plunge pool to complete the hotel's rooftop experience.

“At Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore, we are dedicated to offering our guests the perfect balance during their stay. Our new offering and amenities will bring added value to the Foreshore area, catering to both business and leisure guests, where from nearby or from abroad. We're excited to welcome back our guests and provide them with an even better experience, thanks to our updated features and added comfort, designed to ensure our guests have a great night's sleep and overall stay,” added Angus Spurr, General Manager.

Radisson Hotel Cape Town Foreshore offers a diverse range of business and meeting amenities to its guests, including versatile meeting and event venues, secure indoor parking, and complimentary access to a state-of-the-art gym. The 125-square-metre meeting space is elegantly designed and can accommodate up to 120 guests theater-style or 140 guests in a cocktail setting, and provide a perfect blend of functionality and sophistication, making them the ideal choice for hosting events and meetings.

Click for here (https://apo-opa.co/4aVeHwk) for more information and to book. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Radisson Hotel Group.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Saadiyah Hendricks,
Area PR & Social Media Director, Middle East, Africa and the Mediterranean
Radisson Hotel Group
Saadiyah.hendricks@radissonhotels.com

Connect with Radisson Hotels on:
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4cYkxi1
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3UfBI7C
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/4cYkyT7
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/49EHoMX
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3Uf38dE

Connect with Radisson on: 
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/49wpQm0
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3PZcBTW
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/3xJgeac
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3UfBRYI
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/49Fc7t0

RADISSON HOTEL GROUP:
Radisson Hotel Group is an international hotel group, operating in EMEA and APAC with over 1,320 hotels in operation and under development in +95 countries. The international hotel group is rapidly expanding with a plan to significantly grow the portfolio. The Group's overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos. 

The Radisson family of brands portfolio includes Radisson Collection, art'otel, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.  

Radisson Rewards (https://apo-opa.co/48eby8X) is Radisson Hotel Group's loyalty program, which delivers an elevated experience that makes Every Moment Matter. As the most streamlined program in the sector, members enjoy exceptional advantages and can access their benefits from day one across a wide range of hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.   

Radisson Meetings (https://apo-opa.co/49xBHAD) provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral.  

At Radisson Hotel Group we care for people, communities and planet (https://apo-opa.co/3SC295s) and aim to be Net Zero by 2050 based on the approved near-term Science Based Targets. With unique solutions such as 100% carbon neutral Radisson Meetings, we make sustainable hotel stays easy. To facilitate sustainable travel choices, all our hotels are becoming verified on Hotel Sustainability Basics. 

The health and safety of guests and team members remain a top priority for Radisson Hotel Group. All properties across the Group's portfolio are subject to health and safety requirements, ensuring we always care for our guests and team members. 

For more information, visit our corporate website (https://apo-opa.co/42k6te0).  

ABOUT RADISSON:
Radisson is an upscale hotel brand that offers Scandinavian inspired hospitality, which enables guests to find more harmony in their travel experience. With natural surroundings and unexpected delights, Radisson inspires the art of being in the moment. We are committed to helping our guests find the right balance for their stay, removing the discomforts travelling may bring and enabling them to switch off and relax, using our Yes I Can! attitude to ensure satisfaction of every guest. Radisson hotels can be found in suburban and city settings, near airports and leisure destinations. Guests and professional business partners can enhance their experience with Radisson by participating in Radisson Rewards, an international loyalty program offering exceptional benefits and rewards. 

Radisson is part of the Radisson family of brands, which also includes Radisson Collection, art'otel, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels. 

For reservations and more information, visit our website (https://apo-opa.co/3SkREDo). 

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Radisson Hotel Group
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Treasury releases R372 million for municipalities affected by floods

Location: News

Treasury releases R372 million for municipalities affected by floods

The National Treasury last month released R372 million from the Municipal Disaster Response Grant (MDRG) as an intervention for municipalities affected by floods in recent times.

This is after Treasury approved an allocation of R1.844 billion for the 2023/24 financial year to address the effects of disasters across multiple provinces. 

South Africa has been hit by more heavy rain, leading to various floods in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape since April 2022. This week rain caused havoc in the Western Cape with many schools across the province closed on Monday.

According to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Thembi Nkadimeng, these funds are earmarked to facilitate urgent repairs, reconstruction, and infrastructure rehabilitation. 

“The focus is to ensure access to clean, reliable water and essential government facilities for affected communities,” she explained. 

The Minister was addressing the media in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, on Tuesday, where she released details of the funds disbursed to municipalities and provinces for disaster interventions.

Nkadimeng announced that 199 projects across various municipalities in seven provinces have already been approved, with a total allocation of R372 001 000.

These include 65 projects in KwaZulu-Natal, 36 in the Eastern Cape, 30 in the Western Cape, 29 in Free State, 19 in Mpumalanga, 18 in Limpopo, and two in the North West. 

Nkadimeng assured South Africans that the allocation of disaster grants comes with stringent reporting and compliance measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of funds. 

“Organs of state are mandated to submit monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to the NDMC [National Disaster Management Centre], covering both financial and non-financial aspects of their disaster management initiatives.” 

In addition, to oversee the implementation of projects and ensure adherence to quality standards, the NDMC, Provincial Disaster Management Centres (PDMC), Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA), and relevant sector departments conduct regular site visits to municipalities. 

“Through these concerted efforts, we strive to ensure that projects are completed efficiently and that affected communities receive the necessary support to recover and thrive.”

Warning systems 

Meanwhile, she said government is continuously improving early warning systems in collaboration with the South African Weather Service and other stakeholders.

“Furthermore, we are dedicated to having greater transparency, accountability, and engagement with our communities.”

The Minister said through concerted efforts and collaborative initiatives, her department is determined to build a more resilient and responsive disaster management framework that prioritises the needs and concerns of communities and empowers them to weather the storms that may lie ahead.

“I also want to take this opportunity to urge our people to heed the weather-related early warnings provided by disaster personnel and take the necessary preventative action even if it means just staying indoors or away from raging rivers. 

“Early warnings are a vital component of disaster preparedness and can save lives by providing crucial information and allowing individuals to take proactive measures to mitigate risks and minimise harm.”

Impact

According to the Minister, the impact of disaster in South Africa is far-reaching. 

“It is important that we acknowledge the gravity of the situation we have faced since 2018 as a result of national disasters such as drought and COVID-19.” 

She also described the 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods as one of the most significant natural disasters in the history of the country. 

“These disasters have not only left a trail of destruction in their wake but have also broken family structures, disrupted communities, endangered livelihoods and put a lot of strain on our existing infrastructure.” 

Meanwhile, she said the aftermath serves as a reminder of the challenges in the collective pursuit of improving disaster preparedness, response, recovery and moving towards a more resilient state.

“Working through the NDMC, we have managed to allocate funds through the grants to disaster-stricken areas, thereby playing a crucial role in facilitating the recovery and rebuilding process. These funds are not merely financial assistance, but rather they represent hope, resilience, and the promise of a better tomorrow.” 

While government strives to accelerate response and recovery efforts in the aftermath of disasters, she acknowledged the frustrations that communities often endure. 

“We understand the immense challenges and hardships that accompany such trying times, and we empathise with the uncertainties and anxieties that our fellow South Africans may experience.

“We wish to reassure all South Africans that we are committed to enhancing our systems and processes for disaster response. We recognise the critical importance of continuously improving our capabilities and mechanisms to better serve and support our communities during times of crisis.” – SAnews.gov.za

 

Gabisile
Tue, 04/09/2024 - 13:03

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Read moreTreasury releases R372 million for municipalities affected by floods

NCC investigates virtual pig farming enterprise

Location: News

NCC investigates virtual pig farming enterprise

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is investigating the affairs of Piggy Farm Trading, an entity that promotes and sells “virtual pigs".

This was after the Commission received complaints that Piggy Trading Farm might be a multiplication scheme.

Promoted on its website and various social media platforms, Piggy Farm Trading provides potential buyers with two options, buying from the farm and virtual buying and owning.

The second option is processed through what is called digital Metaverse Farming. The entity claims that this option is ‘risk-free’, as they farm on behalf of the participants. This includes feeding, insurance of the pigs, vaccination, and regular cleaning of pigs.

According to Piggy Farm Trading, participants can purchase between one and 50 pigs per  annum at R2 200 per pig. Each pig gives its owner a minimum of R500 per month over a year as profit.

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) describes a multiplication scheme as a scheme that promises or guarantees participants an effective annual interest rate, as calculated in the prescribed manner that is at least 20% above the repo rate.

The Commission has warned consumers to exercise caution when dealing with this entity.

“Consumers must be honest with their dealings, as the CPA prohibits any participation, recruitment, joining or promoting a multiplication scheme and other schemes.

“The NCC has noticed a spike in agricultural schemes like this one, which lure participants into joining the scheme and promise high returns. If a consumer buys livestock, they should be able to take possession of that livestock,” said the NCC’s Acting Commissioner.

The latest trends of pyramid schemes, multiplication schemes, and chain letters indicate that the owners have designed these schemes to buy into the idea of “investing” while they (consumers) are participating in prohibited conduct. Consumers are reminded of the dangers of joining, promoting and recruiting others into such schemes. These schemes always collapse and leave consumers out of pocket. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Sun, 04/07/2024 - 13:06

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World Health Day 7 April – What is our right to health?

Location: MyPR

Access to healthcare is a basic human right, but achieving the healthy nation that South Africa needs for productivity and economic growth will take more than universal free healthcare. Social determinants of health such as lifestyle choices – diet, exercise, and substance use – play a crucial role in ensuring a healthy South Africa. Although …

Read moreWorld Health Day 7 April – What is our right to health?

Rip Curl GromSearch and Rip Curl Cup presented by Royal St Andrews Hotel and Sea Harvest – Promising Forecast

Location: MyPR

Port Alfred – The town is already buzzing, and the surfers have started arriving for an epic four days of surfing at East Beach in Port Alfred. The swell has been predominantly from the east, and the practice sessions have all been going down on the West Beach wedges over the last few days, with some …

Read moreRip Curl GromSearch and Rip Curl Cup presented by Royal St Andrews Hotel and Sea Harvest – Promising Forecast

More work needed for full Human Rights enjoyment

Location: News

More work needed for full Human Rights enjoyment

President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that although government has made significant strides in advancing the constitutional and rights-based system, there remains a considerable amount of work ahead to ensure all citizens can fully exercise their basic human rights.

The country continues to be plagued by poor service delivery, especially in municipalities, said the President, adding that corruption deprives citizens of the fulfilment of their rights.

“Whilst we are rightfully proud of how far our constitutional, rights-based order has come, we know that much still has to be done to fulfil the promise of the full enjoyment of the basic human rights of all our people.

“The creation of employment for our people and promoting the rights that are enshrined in our Constitution are necessary to improve lives and lift millions out of poverty and despair. 

“We are duty-bound, not just as government but as all who have a stake in the future progress and prosperity of this great country, to work harder, sparing neither strength nor courage to fulfil the basic human rights of our people. The South Africa of today is a vastly different place to what it was thirty years ago,” the President said. 

He was addressing the National Conference on 30 years of Human Rights in South Africa at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni on Monday.

The conference is being hosted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development under the theme: “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights”.

The three-day conference will see government officials and key stakeholders reflect on the work that has been done since South Africa’s democratic dispensation.

The President reflected that since 1994 government has prioritised the advancement and fulfilment of the Bill of Rights as a cornerstone of the country’s democratic order. 

He emphasised that human rights are the basic rights that all human beings should have. 

“Human rights embody the key values of our society such as equality, dignity and fairness, and define our nationhood. Human rights should manifest themselves through protection for vulnerable groups, freedom of speech and expression, religious freedom, freedom to love and other rights that promote the well-being of people.”

President Ramaphosa further acknowledged that there have been challenges and shortcomings over the past 30 years, and “we have a long way to go towards completely fulfilling the promise of the Constitution”.

That said, he added, the nation should not shy away from the immense progress that has been made.

The President outlined the pieces of legislation that have been passed that give effect to the Constitution. 

“The Bill of Rights enjoins the democratic state to enact various pieces of legislation to promote human rights between and among people. Amongst those we have put in place are the Promotion of Access to information Act, which gives effect to Section 32 of the Constitution; the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act which gives effect to section 33; and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, which gives effect to section 9. 

“To give effect to section 9 (2) of the Constitution, relating to measures of redress for the previously disadvantaged, we passed the Employment Equity Act, Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act and others,” he said. 

He further highlighted that the constitutional order is premised not only on building a non-racial society, but also a non-sexist society. 

Over the past 30 years there have been significant changes in the position of women across society. Today, there are more women serving as leaders in both the public and private sectors.

“We have passed a broad range of laws to protect women from all forms of abuse and to advance their rights. These include laws around domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and workplace discrimination,” he said.

Strengthening constitutional democracy

To promote accountability, responsiveness and openness, the President said government has established various institutions to strengthen constitutional democracy. These include the South African Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Public Protector, the Commission for Gender Equality and others. 

President Ramaphosa said he was proud of these institutions supporting democracy and their establishment ushered in a new era of accountability and respect for dignity. 

“Before the advent of democracy, our country was a pariah state that was infamous for violating the basic rights of the majority of its citizens. We lived in a country where racial discrimination was at the core of government policy. 

“Today our country is revered as a country that upholds, protects and advances the basic human rights of the people who live in South Africa. Following our country’s admission as a fully-fledged member of the community of nations, the democratic state has signed, ratified and acceded to various international human rights law treaties,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Mon, 03/18/2024 - 14:33

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South African President to Open Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) 2024, Featuring Strong Slate of Ministers

Location: News

Energy Capital & Power
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South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote and open the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) 2024, taking place on March 17-19 at the Century City Conference Center in Cape Town. Poised to showcase updates and announcements on new international partnerships and joint ventures in South Africa, SIDSSA 2024 is set to gazette opportunities for investing in infrastructure for stakeholders in the region.

The symposium will feature the participation of South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who is expected to showcase the country's long-term plan for driving public and private sector-led infrastructure development while reaffirming the President's stated goal of reaching 5.5% year-on-year economic growth. The Deputy President will deliver a keynote during the SIDSSA 2024 stakeholder dinner.

Taking place on March 17-19 at the Century City Conference Center in Cape Town, the SIDSSA will bring together key stakeholders in South Africa and across the continent with the aim of driving infrastructure development. SIDSSA 2024 serves as a crucial platform for discussions and partnerships in the infrastructure investment landscape, with a focus on accelerating economic recovery through strategic infrastructure plans. For more information, visit https://SIDSSA.org.za/.

This year, the symposium will be held under the leadership of South Africa's Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala, who is expected to address regulatory and policy reforms, explore innovative funding models, showcase the strength of the emerging 2024/2025 pipeline and highlight opportunities for investing in infrastructure in the country. Minister Zikalala will be accompanied by the department's Deputy Minister Bernice Swartz.

Supporting some of South Africa's largest infrastructure projects, including the $34 million Musina Ring Road project and the transformation of the N3 highway into a Smart Freight Corridor, the symposium will feature the participation of the country's Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga and the department's Deputy Minister Lisa Mangcu. Set to facilitate greater economic activity between South Africa and neighboring countries and positioning the country as a freight and logistics hub for Africa, respectively, the Musina Ring Road and N3 highway projects are poised to drive connectivity and cultivate collaboration throughout the region.

Meanwhile, the participation of South Africa's Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thembi Nkadimeng promises to showcase and gazette investment opportunities in the country's infrastructure projects for the benefit of all stakeholders. Further bolstering confidence in South Africa's ability to fuel investment in its key sectors, the country's Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille and Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies add to the symposium's impressive roster of speakers from the South African Cabinet while facilitating synergy between the objectives of the country's Sustainable Development Plan.

In addition to members from South Africa's Cabinet, SIDSSA 2024 will also feature a strong line-up of international ministers, including Namibia's Minister of Works and Transport John Mutorwa, who is expected to showcase investment opportunities in the country's sustainable mobility systems. Meanwhile, with second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water project currently underway, the participation of Lesotho's Minister of Home Affairs Lebone Lephema adds to the symposium's theme of inclusive growth in the southern African region.

In alignment with the event's promise to contribute to the accelerated delivery of infrastructure throughout Africa, key infrastructure initiatives in some of Africa's most promising investment destinations will be showcased by Senegal's Minister of Infrastructure, Land Transport and Opening-Up Amadou Mansour Faye and Algeria's Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure Lakhdar Rakhroukh. Additionally, Swaziland's Minister of Work and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe rounds off the southern African region's esteemed host of ministerial delegates.

Serving as the launchpad for major energy project's in South Africa's 2024/2025 pipeline, SIDSSA 2024 will also feature the attendance of South Africa's Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong. The Deputy Minister's participation works in alignment with the event's promise to showcase South Africa's pipeline of 12 infrastructure projects due to start development in 2024/2025.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

About SIDSSA 2024:
SIDSSA 2024 is organized by the Investment and Infrastructure Office under the Presidency, in collaboration with the Association of African Exhibition Organizers and Energy Capital & Power. The National African Federation for the Building Industry joins as an association partner, while the Development Bank of Southern Africa is the official sponsor of the event.

Read moreSouth African President to Open Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) 2024, Featuring Strong Slate of Ministers

Elevate Your Listening Experience: Exploring Home Audio Systems

Location: Entertainment, MyPR

In the realm of home entertainment, few things rival the immersive experience of a high-quality audio system. Whether you’re an audiophile seeking pristine sound quality or a casual listener looking to enhance your home ambiance, investing in the right audio setup can transform your living space into a sonic haven. In this blog, we’ll delve …

Read moreElevate Your Listening Experience: Exploring Home Audio Systems