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Contractor appointed to repair equipment and provide clean linen at Bara

Location: News

Contractor appointed to repair equipment and provide clean linen at Bara

The Gauteng Department of Health has appointed a service provider to repair the laundry equipment at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg. 

This is after nurses raised their concern about infection control and cleanliness, as pictures of dirty linen surfaced on social media recently. 

“The Gauteng Department of Health would like to reassure the public that several measures continue to be implemented to ensure the provision of clean linen to patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital,” a statement issued by the department said. 

The department said the facility’s laundry has ageing infrastructure, which requires an overhaul. Three tunnel washers are currently out of service, with only five driers operational in tunnel washer number two. 

One out of the four ironers have been successfully repaired, while the original equipment manufacturer is in the process of repairing two other ironers.

“In the interim, hospital linens are being laundered at Dunswart Provincial Laundry on a daily basis to ensure a consistent supply of clean linen to patients,” the department said.

Meanwhile, 106 staff members have been deployed in the laundry section to boost capacity during the day and night shifts. 

“Additionally, external two laundry service providers have also been appointed to further support these efforts. Already, two five-ton trucks have delivered clean linen over the weekend,” the department said.

The in-house laundry at the hospital is not only responsible for providing the linen for its 2 888 beds, but also services facilities including Carletonville and Bheki Mlangeni Hospitals, 33 community health centres in Soweto, emergency medical services, and the forensic pathology service. 

“However, the department has put a solid plan in place to ensure that soiled linen can be replaced quickly at a much faster turnaround time by the 13th of December 2024.

“The department assures the public all is being done to restore laundry to better functionality as speedily as possible, and the health and comfort of our patients remain our key priority,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Tue, 12/10/2024 - 10:29

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Pioneering Professional Development: LG Electronics SA Achieves ECSA CPD Status

Location: Business

LG Electronics
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LG Electronics South Africa (https://www.LG.com/global/) has always been a leader in engineering excellence and professional development. This is why it is no surprise that LG Electronics South Africa has been awarded verification as an Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Service Provider.

“In South Africa, LG Electronics is committed to professional development within the engineering profession and landscape, whether through high-quality training or development programs,” states Andries Bekker, Air Solutions Field Engineering Team Leader at LG Electronics South Africa. “By being granted this status, LG can now aim to provide engineers with all the skills and knowledge they need to grow and prosper.”

Setting the bar higher

When it comes down to the details of the ECSA CPD Service Provider verification, there are a few key factors to consider. Once LG Electronics application was submitted and approved based on the criteria that align with the ECSA's CPD policy, a review was conducted. From there, when successful, LG was formally recognised as an ECSA CPD Service Provider.

Consistency means quality, which is why service providers need to undergo another review every three years to ensure high-quality CPD programs are consistently being delivered. There are plenty of incredible benefits of gaining ECSA CPD Service Provider Status. For one, it showcases LG Electronics well-established reputation in the engineering community, and what's more, it highlights LG's dedication to enhancing professional standards, supporting lifelong learning for engineers, and boosting career development.

Transforming careers

LG's involvement will play a significant role in providing validated Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities for engineering professionals. In order to contribute to the engineering community, a range of exclusive training programs and activities will be created that match ECSA standards. What's more, all of these programs and activities will provide the latest industry-relevant content.

“All of LG's learning experiences promise to produce continuous improvements in the engineering field with programs that are always relevant and led by qualified professionals and industry experts,” says Bekker.

Leading the way

Because of LG's recognition as an ECSA CPD Service Provider, engineers are ensured that they have access to all of the relevant information and up-to-date knowledge so that they can excel in their fields.

Looking at LG's future CPD offerings, it is crystal clear that LG is invested in prioritising the professional development of engineering professionals. Not only does this mean that the engineering workforce will be strengthened, but it also promises to create a culture of continuous learning within the community.

Elevating the standard

The importance of ECSA accreditation in the engineering field is crucial for plenty of reasons including professional recognition, quality assurance, career advancement opportunities, and lifelong learning and development.

However, what does this mean for LG Electronics position in the industry? In short, it gives LG a competitive advantage over other establishments because LG is now a credible and reputable source of educational training programs in the engineering sector.

“In terms of the future of engineering education and development, there are always expanding possibilities,” explains Bekker. “Broader curriculum offerings, collaboration with educational institutions, and further research and development opportunities are just a handful of opportunities brought about by LG's ECSA CPD accreditation.”

What lies ahead

In light of LG's ECSA accreditation, the plans for CPD program development include establishing and maintaining clear objectives that align with ECSA standards, providing a range of diverse course offerings, and so much more.

“LG Electronics South Africa is committed to providing the best training programs to empower engineers. For that reason LG continues to be a leader in technical innovation and professional education, and now even more so in the engineering environment,” concludes Bekker.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of LG Electronics.

Read morePioneering Professional Development: LG Electronics SA Achieves ECSA CPD Status

President pays tribute to MTN

Location: News

President pays tribute to MTN

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to telecommunications provider MTN for transforming the lives of millions of people in the country and across the continent of Africa.

“In countries like South Africa, MTN has sought to ensure that no one is left behind. Its network reaches some 97% of the population, providing a foundation for digital inclusion and economic empowerment,” the President said on Friday in Johannesburg.

Addressing MTN’s 30 years celebration gala dinner, President Ramaphosa said over the past three decades, MTN has evolved from a small South African start-up of 20 employees into a global telecommunications leader which now employs over 17 500 individuals representing more than 70 nationalities across 18 diverse markets.

“The mobile sector in Sub-Saharan Africa generated more than US$140 billion of economic value last year. MTN is a big part of this growth story.

“The group provides voice, data, fintech, digital, enterprise, wholesale and API services to 288 million customers in 18 markets. MTN Mobile Money provides over 65 million individuals with access to financial services, driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved communities,” the President said.

He acknowledged the telecommunications industry for helped to democratise public goods and services. 

“It has enabled the provision of financial, health, education, social welfare and other service to the most far-flung areas. At the time of the transition towards democracy in the early 1990s, South Africa was among the most connected nations on the continent with over 3 million landlines.

“Yet, as in almost every other area of life, access to telephony was severely unequal. At the time, there were 60 telephone lines for every 100 white people. There was only one line for every 100 black people. 

“In these circumstances, it took visionaries like the late Dr Nthato Motlana and Zwelakhe Sisulu to see the potential of mobile technology to close this gap,” the President said.

South Africa cellphone companies reached a million subscribers within two years.

“This spectacular growth was spurred by innovations such as prepaid, which South Africa was to introduce to the global community. It was in this early period that the foundation for MTN’s unique culture was laid. 

“It is a culture that is characterised by resilience, adaptability and a relentless drive to succeed. MTN’s many employees are united by a shared belief in the transformative power of technology. 

“Distance is no longer the impediment it had once been. Services can be delivered more cheaply and more reliably. Very soon after its introduction, the cellphone became an important tool for social cohesion,” the President said.

He said the cellphone helped to strengthen bonds between communities, family members and friends.

“This new frontier of economic and social transformation has, in the main, been driven by the youth of our continent. The industry is a case study of how young Africans can drive innovation and growth. On this anniversary, we salute the early pioneers and all those who have since been at the forefront of leading Africa’s digital progress,” the President said.

He said MTN has consistently encouraged and supported government’s efforts to strengthen trade and investment ties with other countries.

“It has been generous in sharing its experiences and insights of different markets. As MTN looks to its future, we are certain that it will make use of the great opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“There are few companies in South Africa that know the African continent better than MTN. We trust that it will forge a path that many others can follow.

“As we work to improve the lives of the people of South Africa, we know that we can rely on the ingenuity, the industry and the commitment of the MTN team to support these efforts. As we look to a future of peace, prosperity and hope, we should embrace the MTN clarion call of ‘doing for tomorrow, today,” the President said. - SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Sun, 12/01/2024 - 15:02

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Higher Education Stakeholders Ready for 2025 Academic Year

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: The Parliament
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The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education said yesterday that universities should prioritise submitting accurate student registration and enrolment data to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) at the beginning of the academic year to ensure accurate funding decisions.

The committee was speaking during a briefing from the Department of Higher Education and Training, Universities South Africa, the South African Public Colleges Organisation, NSFAS, the South African Union of Students and the South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Students Association on preparations and readiness for the 2025 academic year.

The committee recommended that issues emanating from the 2024 registration period should not continue in 2025. These issues included delays in processing applications for funding, disbursements of allowances, processing of appeals and matters related to private accommodation.

The chairperson of the committee, Mr Tebogo Letsie, said, “After our engagements, we are hopeful that measures put in place to ensure a successful start to the 2025 academic year have been properly set in motion by stakeholders in the post-school education and training sector.

NSFAS told the committee that it has ended the pilot project and is now implementing the NSFAS Accredited Student Accommodation Programme. NSFAS also said it is in consultations to discontinue accommodation disbursements to individual students and by 2026 all accommodation disbursements will be directed to the accredited or recognised accommodation provider.

The committee recommended that the Department of Higher Education and Training should expedite the process of standardising allowances for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and university students, recognising their shared experiences.

The committee will undertake oversight visits to assess the state of readiness of TVETs and community education and training colleges during the 2025 academic year.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Read moreHigher Education Stakeholders Ready for 2025 Academic Year

Yellow Card Secures Crypto Asset Service Provider Licence in South Africa

Location: News
Yellow Card Financial

Yellow Card (www.YellowCard.io), Africa's leading stablecoin-based infrastructure provider, has been issued a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) licence by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa.  

Commenting on the FSCA's decision to issue the licence to Yellow Card Financial South Africa, Chris Maurice, Yellow Card's co-founder and CEO, said, “The CASP licence underscores Yellow Card's commitment to its customers in South Africa and regulatory compliance across the continent.This achievement reflects our dedication to providing secure, compliant and transformative solutions for our customers both in South Africa and across Africa.  

Stablecoin adoption is surging throughout Africa, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest adoption rate in the world at 9.2%. In South Africa alone, where the number of total users of crypto assets is estimated to amount to 5.8 million people, stablecoins have experienced growth of 50% month over month since October 2023, displacing bitcoin as the country's most popular cryptocurrency.  Yellow Card is excited to play a pivotal role in this financial revolution in South Africa. 

Yellow Card, which launched in South Africa in 2020, has facilitated over US$3 billion in transactions in the last several years and now operates in 20 countries across the continent. The company recently completed a US$33 million Series C financing, led by Blockchain Capital and existing investors, including Polychain Capital, Valar Ventures, Third Prime Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and Block, Inc. (Square/Cash App), reflecting strong investor confidence in its mission.   

As the stablecoin landscape continues to evolve, Yellow Card is committed to leading the charge in making digital assets accessible and secure for businesses across Africa. With the recent licensing and funding, the company plans to expand its B2B offerings by enhancing its stablecoin rails, upgrading infrastructure, and advancing its B2B API and Widget. These efforts will empower businesses with seamless solutions for liquidity management and their general operations. 

To learn more about Yellow Card, visit: https://YellowCard.io/. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Yellow Card Financial.

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Yellow Card Financial
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World leaders pledge to help developing countries fight poverty

Location: News

World leaders pledge to help developing countries fight poverty

By Gabisile Ngcobo

Rio de Janeiro - Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced initiatives to support global development and strengthen the Global South as a significant player within the Group of 20 (G20).

Speaking at the G20 Leaders’ Summit on Monday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, President Xi emphasised that China was committed to fostering a fair world centred on mutual development.

The President commended Brazil’s G20 Presidency for placing fighting hunger and poverty at the top of the agenda and the decision to establish a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.

“From Hangzhou to Rio, we have been working for the same goal, that is, to build a just world of common development,” he said. 

However, he said to build such a world, leaders needed to channel more resources to such fields as trade, investment and development cooperation, as well as strengthen development institutions. 

“There should be more bridges of cooperation, and less ‘small yard, high fences’, so that more and more developing countries will be better off and achieve modernisation.” 

He called on the opening, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for international economic cooperation and integration in digital, smart and green development to bridge the North-South gap.

President Xi said China was committed to ensuring that the Global South research centre currently under construction is effective. 

He emphasised that the US$20 billion allocated for development funds would be utilised effectively to support developing countries and enhance practical cooperation in key areas, including poverty reduction, food security, and the digital economy.

“China has decided to join the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. We support the G20 in continuing to convene the Development Ministerial Meeting and will stay a committed host of the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste.” 

Meanwhile, he announced that China, alongside Brazil, South Africa and the African Union, was proposing an Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science to help the Global South gain better access to global advances in science, technology and innovation.

“China is pursuing high standard opening up and unilaterally opening our doors wider to the least developed countries (LDCs),” he explained, adding all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100% tariff lines. 

“From now to 2030, China’s imports from other developing countries are likely to top US$8 trillion.”

He called on leaders to promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation to bridge the North-South gap.

United States President Joe Biden highlighted his administration’s efforts to combat global hunger and poverty.

On Sunday, as part of his historic trip to the Amazon, President Biden announced that the United States had fulfilled the historic pledge to increase the country’s international climate finance to over $11 billion a year by 2024 – making the United States the largest bilateral provider of climate finance in the world. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed poverty, saying it was an important issue and that achievements in this area would significantly contribute to sustainable progress.

During his remarks, he spoke about India’s efforts, notably how the country collectively worked to remove 250 million people from the clutches of poverty.

The Prime Minister highlighted how India was providing free rations to 800 million people, thus strengthening the fight against hunger. 

He touched on the initiatives being undertaken to ensure top quality and affordable healthcare for the poor and elderly, steps to boost financial self-reliance among women and ensure food as well as nutritional security.

“India believes in the approaches of ‘Back to Basics’ and ‘March to Future’. That is why we are emphasising organic farming, popularising millets and encouraging climate-resilient crop varieties.” 

The G20 leaders will discuss global solutions to eradicate hunger, reduce social inequality, and promote sustainable development and food security to ensure a fairer and more equal future. 

Read I Two-day G20 Summit kicks off in Brazil

French President Emmanuel Macron said they were counting on Brazil's leadership to ensure that the G20 moves forward to address global crises and challenges. 

“No country should choose between fighting poverty and protecting the planet,” he said, adding that France will do everything in their power to address these issues. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

Gabisile
Mon, 11/18/2024 - 21:51

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SIU to probe at least three municipalities

Location: News

SIU to probe at least three municipalities

At least three municipalities are to be placed under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed proclamations authorising the corruption busting unit to probe allegations of maladministration in the affairs of the Tshwane Metro Municipality, Mahikeng Local Municipality and Alfred Nzo Municipality.

The President also signed an amendment of the Chris Hani District Municipality proclamation.

SIU Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago explained that at the investigation into the Tshwane Metro will focus on the procurement of services for the upgrading and extension of a macro surveillance closed circuit television system in Tshwane.

It will also probe whether there was “unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure by the municipality and losses incurred by the municipality or the state”.

“The investigation’s focus will zoom into the payments and establish whether the contracting and procurement were conducted in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective. 

“Additionally, these activities were contrary to applicable legislation; manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars, or instructions issued by the National Treasury or relevant Provincial Treasury; and policies, procedures, or practices of or applicable to the municipality.

“Furthermore, there was unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of the municipality, contractors, suppliers, service providers, or any other involved parties related to these allegations,” he said.

Mahikeng Local Municipality

The investigation into the Mahikeng Local Municipality will focus on two tenders, namely:

  • Lease agreement SCM/MLM17(A)/12/2015 dated 15 December 2015, and
  • Full Maintenance Lease Agreement SCM/MLM17(B)/12/2015 dated 23 February 2016.

“The SIU’s probe will assess whether the payments made were conducted in a manner that was neither fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, nor cost-effective. These actions were contrary to applicable legislation; manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars, or instructions issued by the National Treasury or relevant Provincial Treasury; and policies, procedures, or practices applicable to the Mahikeng Municipality.

“The SIU will seek to ascertain whether the process involved was unlawful, irregular, or improper intervention by employees or officials of the Mahikeng Municipality and, in some cases, was fraudulent and led to unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure by the Mahikeng Municipality or the State,” he said.

He added that the SIU will seek to ascertain whether there was “unlawful or improper conduct by employees or officials of the Mahikeng Municipality, the service provider, or any other individuals or entities involved”.

Alfred Nzo District Municipality

At least seven contracts are expected to be placed under scrutiny at the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. These are:

  • Implementation of Water Services Infrastructure Grant projects in Ntabankulu (Appointment of a panel of service providers, Consulting Engineers and Contractors, for the Planning, Design and Construction of Water Services Infrastructure Grant funded projects in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality - Ntabankulu Local Municipality)
  • Mount Ayliff Bulk Peri-Urban Water Supply (Implementation of Pump station and a reservoir)
  • Servicing Mbizana Town Area with 2ML Waste Water Treatment Works and Outfall Sewer (Construction of 2ML Waste Water Treatment Works and Outfall Sewer Pipeline) Mbizana Sewer
  • Kwabhaca Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme at Mount Frere (Construction of Water Treatment Works and other water schemes at Mount Frere Peri-Urban)
  • Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/131/13/06/18: Greater Mbizana Water Supply Project 
  • Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/41/23/09/19: Greater Mbizana Water Supply Project Phase 33: Implementation of Ward 4 & 27: Zone 0 Main Pipeline Contract 3B; and
  • Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/133/31/01/20: Matatiele Ward 5 Water Supply Project Phase 3 Contract 3 Matolweni Secondary Mains and Reticulation

“The SIU probe will look at unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality. Additionally, if there was irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of the municipality, contractors, suppliers, or service providers associated with the municipality, or any other involved person or entity,” Kganyago said.

Chris Hani District Municipality

A proclamation on the probe into the Chris Hani District Municipality on the appointment of the Chris Hani Co-operative Development Centre NPC for the conversion of the community service providers and operators into functional co-operatives has been amended.

The investigation period has been extended to start from 01 December 2011 to 08 November 2024 and the amendment authorises the SIU to add the procurement of goods, works or services in terms of Tender No. 33/2015/MD (TN) – Cluster 9 Backlog Eradication: Tsomo Water Treatment and River Abstraction Works.

“The amendment results from the SIU’s investigations which revealed that the SIU needs to investigate further areas that the existing proclamations did not cover. The SIU requested a proclamation amendment in terms of time and focus areas,” Kganyago said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 11:25

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Read moreSIU to probe at least three municipalities

Electricity and Energy Minister steps in to resolve Eskom, City Power impasse

Location: News

Electricity and Energy Minister steps in to resolve Eskom, City Power impasse

A high-level engagement convened by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Mayor Dada Morero with Eskom executives and City Power has resulted in an agreement aimed at averting a potential electricity crisis in the city.

This follows an Eskom statement last week announcing that it had served the city and City Power with a notice of intention to interrupt power supply at certain pre-determined times of the day due to non-payment of debt.

According to Eskom, the CoJ and City Power owe nearly R5 billion in unpaid bulk electricity supply, plus a further R1.4 billion, which Eskom said will become due and payable at the end of this month.

In response, the City of Johannesburg subsequently called the move by Eskom “unjust, counterproductive, and potentially harmful to… residents and businesses”.

In a statement following the meeting between the Minister and the parties, the Department of Energy and Electricity said the following principles of engagement had been agreed upon by all:

  • The respect for inter-governmental framework characterised by an honest and concerted effort to exhaust all internal process. 
  • The User Pay Principle, where in an event of a dispute, the user is still obligated to pay whilst a resolution process is underway, decoupling the obligation to pay from and a billing query. 
  • The service provider has an obligation to ensure accurate billing.
  • An appreciation that there can be no unilateral implementation of an action or more than one version of what the facts are.

Furthermore, resolutions were reached by the parties in order to resolve the impasse between the two.

“The first resolution is on the appointment of independent technical capacity to evaluate and validate the credibility of the bill levied by Eskom to City Power. In this regard, both parties have agreed that The South African Energy Development Institute will undertake this process. 

“The second resolution is on a 14 days turnaround timeframe for the assessment report to be presented to all parties, the set date being 25 November 2024. 

"The third resolution is that City Power will pay the current account in order for the notice of intention to interrupt power supply to the City of Johannesburg, issued by Eskom, to be withdrawn. 

“Lastly, is the agreement on the importance of the Minister and the Executive Mayor to assure business and households that there is no crisis. The Minister and the Executive Mayor further expressed their appreciation of the willingness of the two parties to work together to ensure the uninterrupted provision of services to the country's economic nerve centre and its residents,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:48

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Eskom serves City of Johannesburg with power interruption notice

Location: News

Eskom serves City of Johannesburg with power interruption notice

Eskom has served the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and its power utility, City Power, with a notice of intention to interrupt power supply at certain pre-determined times of the day.

This in accordance with the Provision of Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA).

According to Eskom, the CoJ and City Power owe nearly R5 billion in unpaid bulk electricity supply, plus a further R1.4 billion, which Eskom said will become due and payable at the end of this month.

“Despite all the avenues that Eskom explored and efforts to accommodate the CoJ, the matter has reached a point where Eskom can simply no longer afford to accommodate the CoJ without putting further financial strain on and harming its own business. 

“In terms of the Constitution and the Intergovernmental Relations Framework, the CoJ is supposed to cooperate and assist Eskom with fulfilling its mandate of ensuring that citizens have access to affordable electricity. 

"The CoJ has breached these obligations by not paying Eskom for the bulk electricity it supplies, making it almost impossible for Eskom to fulfil its mandate,” the power utility said.

Eskom is expected to issue a public notice to those affected to submit comments on why the power utility “should or should not proceed to interrupt electricity supply to the points mentioned in the PAJA notice”.

“A final decision on whether Eskom will proceed with the interruption will be communicated after a review of the representations received through the PAJA process on 12 December 2024,” the power utility said.

Eskom explained that municipal debt – which currently stand at some R90 billion – forces it to “borrow additional money... to fund operational costs”.

“Operational costs should be funded by revenue generated from electricity sales and not by borrowings. Borrowing money to fund operational cash shortfalls caused by the failure of municipalities, such as the CoJ, to pay Eskom for bulk electricity increases the costs of providing electricity exponentially. 

“Eskom’s financial sustainability and ability to supply electricity at affordable prices is contingent upon its ability to improve its balance sheet by increasing revenue and reducing expenses. Revenue can only be increased by collecting electricity debts and/or increasing electricity tariffs,” the power utility said.

Power struggle

Eskom has said the CoJ has “acknowledged its indebtedness to Eskom, but it refuses to pay the full amount of its monthly bill”.

“The CoJ alleged, without substantiating their claim, that Eskom is overbilling it on some of its supply points. 

“It is for this reason that the CoJ is applying, set-off against the monthly bills raised by Eskom, which is contrary to the electricity supply agreement and the agreements reached with its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Rendani Sadiki, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of City Power, Tshifularo Mashava, and City of Johannesburg Management. 

“In more than one meeting, it was agreed that the CoJ would continue to pay whilst the alleged overbilling is investigated. This undertaking has been reneged on,” Eskom said.

The CoJ and City Power hit back and said the city “strongly condemns this move as unjust, counterproductive, and potentially harmful to the residents and businesses of Johannesburg”.

“The CoJ has consistently demonstrated its commitment to meeting its financial obligations and has engaged with Eskom to address billing issues. However, Eskom has failed to provide clarity on disputed billing charges, forcing the city to seek legal recourse to protect the rights and interests of its citizens. 

“Contrary to Eskom’s claims, there are ongoing disputes regarding overbilling of over R3.4 billion, with a pending appeal and monthly declarations since July 2024. The city has repeatedly raised concerns about this continued overbilling, which Eskom has failed to address, placing additional strain on the city’s resources,” a statement from the City read.

Furthermore, the CoJ called on the national electricity provider to engage in “genuine, good-faith negotiations to resolve these matters constructively”.

“Eskom’s approach of ‘pay now and resolve disputes later’ in its dealings with the City of Johannesburg can no longer go unchallenged. There is also an option of [Intergovernmental Relations] to resolve intergovernmental disputes, which Eskom keeps disregarding. The City, in consultation with its legal counsel, will explore all available legal avenues to prevent any disruptions to the electricity supply. 

“We urge Eskom to reassess its stance and engage with the City in finding a mutually beneficial resolution. In the meantime, the City has formally requested that Eskom retract the Public Notice within five days. 

“The people of Johannesburg deserve reliable and efficient services, and we will not let Eskom's actions compromise their well-being. We remain committed to serving the best interests of our citizens and will take all necessary steps to protect their rights,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Fri, 11/08/2024 - 10:20

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Boost for start-ups involved in space, Earth observation

Location: News

Boost for start-ups involved in space, Earth observation

Eight start-ups involved in space and Earth observation innovations have received funding through the Earth Observation Frontiers Enterprises Innovation Support Fund (NEOFrontiers EISF). 

Launched in 2021, the NEOFrontiers is an innovation funding mechanism designed to drive the growth of the local space sector through increased public investments. 

It seeks to stimulate collaboration, cooperation and innovation in the public and private South African Earth observation community.

The NEOFrontiers programme is managed by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), and implemented with the support of Tuksnovation, the University of Pretoria's business and technology incubator. 

The programme subsidises enterprises with amounts ranging from R750 000 to R1 million for 12 months.

SANSA launched NEOFrontiers in 2021 through investment from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). 

The first four NEOFrontiers projects were funded in 2022, while 2023 saw three start-ups supported. 

This year’s NEOFrontiers call saw eight successful start-ups submit brilliant proposals on mining, agriculture, infrastructure development, healthcare innovation, banking and financial institutions, as well as disaster risk reduction. 

These include Abiri Innovations, Agizo Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Aphelion World JV/Consortium, CreditAIs, Integrated Geoscience Solutions, Kgothatso Innovations, Regona Trading and YaAzi.

A total of 56 applications were received earlier in the year, 25 of which were eligible and allowed to pitch to an independent adjudication committee.

DSTI’s Acting Chief Director Itumeleng Makoloi said this programme unfolds at an opportune time when South Africa seeks to foster innovation.

“We need to create new ways of modernising areas such as agriculture, mining and manufacturing. We believe that this programme represents our shared vision to foster innovation, capacity building and strategic partnership across the public sector. 

"The joint efforts of DSTI entities, such as SANSA and the NRF, play a critical role in driving this vision.”

SANSA CEO, Humbulani Mudau, believes this platform will create a market pool for innovative solutions, for which space is a significant enabler and a value provider.

“I’m delighted to report that there is an equal split in gender representation. We have awarded the grant to start-up companies led and owned by four males and four females. This is good progress towards transforming the industry,” Mudau said. 

He said the NEOFrontiers is poised for greater strides in terms of direction and investments. 

“We’re indeed going to make this a flagship programme that will transform space-based ideas into relevant products and services that address societal and environmental challenges. As we do that, we’re going to be looking at increasing the competitiveness of the South African Earth observation industry for the benefit of the South African society.”

NRF CEO, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, is of the view that the initiative has the potential to gear small enterprises in the space sector to create job opportunities.

“The key focus is to support start-ups, SMMEs and entrepreneurs with funding. The reason for this is that we expect much more from our SMMEs to make sure that they can grow and employ more people.

“When they employ more people, there is an increase in new technology and service innovations coming out of their areas to a point that we can get even more people involved. Our rate of unemployment is increasing.”

The University of Pretoria’s Head of Innovation and Contracts Management, Advocate Lawrence Baloyi, said this has the potential to shape the future of South African space innovation. 

The next call to fund new SMMEs will be published before the end of 2024. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Fri, 11/08/2024 - 11:04

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Bringing Streaming to the Mainstream

Location: News
MultiChoice Group

Television is in the midst of its latest game-changing technology shift – this time from the traditional linear, direct-to-home (DTH) content distribution model to the over-the-top or OTT approach. 

OTT – or streaming – offers flexibility, and means users are no longer tied to a specific device or location to consume content.  

The power of access is now in the hands of the customer, who can choose what to watch, when, and how much of it. This is an advantage for large content providers. At MultiChoice Africa, for instance, streaming on-demand is the perfect way to give customers access to our self-produced local content library of 84 000 hours.  

Innovating for a better experience  

The shift to streaming and OTT also comes with new challenges, however. Faced with thousands of hours of content, viewers may be overwhelmed. Artificial Intelligence and machine learning allow us to solve this, surfacing and recommending customised selections of content based on viewing behaviour.  

To do this effectively, UX design must build upon AI data insights, to shape the content experience in ways that are both personalised and attuned to industry trends.  
 
Because audience preferences can now be observed and understood in real time, it's also important that in-house UX teams be deeply integrated with product and tech teams. This has been our approach with our ongoing MultiChoice UI design refinements. 
 
Another AI application in the broader content space is in building efficiencies that allow millions of viewers to watch content in their local languages.  
 
At MultiChoice, have been able to train AI for subtitling in several regional languages, enabling us to automate translations for entire series of content. This capability has already been deployed for Swahili translations in Kenya, on the Showmax platform, as well as in two vernacular languages in Nigeria.  
 
The next step is to use AI to automate the audio dubbing of content into African regional languages to further bolster the content that we already deliver in those languages.  

As an Africa-wide content provider, MultiChoice also understands that our customers face very real data challenges. We have therefore been forced to innovate to alleviate this pain point, and to find value and efficiencies for our customers through technology.  

Data compression is one solution we have found. To address the distance factor, we have found partners that will allow us to cache content closer to our various user communities. We have created nodes closer to those regions that will copy content from source locations in South Africa before relaying it to the end user.   

Adapted bit rate is another practical solution to data challenges. With this in place, picture quality adapts dynamically along with internet fluctuations, while ensuring that the stream remains uninterrupted. We also allow users to select bit rates and stream qualities according to their needs, to optimise their data use. 

We have also formed partnerships with telcos across Africa to package our content with their data offers. It is a time of great innovation in the market.   

Buffering and latency solutions 

A related technology challenge is latency issues, which will be familiar to anyone who has been watching live TV during a power outage. The streaming lags and buffering effects that often result can be a real inconvenience. To address this, we have implemented a low-latency solution with one of our partners. Again, the goal is for streaming to have the same latency quality as DTH or linear satellite TV. 

In our approach to solving this, we set ourselves the goal of getting our buffering rate to below the industry standard in developed countries, which is 0.72%. The buffering rate represents the percentage of time that a device is buffering, instead of playing content. We have already achieved an average of 0.31% and we are confident of achieving further gains.  

We are also working to optimise our configuration to ensure that our OTT platforms receive our stream before satellite receives the stream, to gain additional seconds, and compensate for the discrepancy.  

If we are going to bring streaming into the mainstream, I believe it should have the same high-quality viewing experience as satellite.  

Another technological discrepancy is lags in the content delivery times between DTH and streaming. We conducted a study of major international players in “first world” markets, and found that streaming delivery was often between 20 and 25 seconds behind satellite.  

In our quest to align these two platforms, we have managed to get lags down to five seconds, and we are on course to drop them even further, so that our steaming speed is on par with our decoder broadcasts. This confirms that African streaming services are now among the global leaders in this space.  

The next phase of innovation in the TV space is already upon us. Thanks to streaming innovation, the medium is now ubiquitous – accessible everywhere we go.  

But for that transition to be real, for it to represent real evolution, we must use all the technology and expertise at our disposal to ensure streaming is as good, as fast, and as seamless as the technology that came before it. And even more entertaining!  

Then, it becomes time for the next transition. And that process is already underway. It's an exciting time for television. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.

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Europe’s Network and Information Security (NIS2) directive raises the stakes for African businesses to comply with European Union’s (EU) cyber security standards

Location: News
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

The European Union's NIS2 cyber security  directive has significant implications for African businesses trading with the continent.  This is according to Check Point Software Technologies (www.CheckPoint.com), a leading AI-powered cloud-delivered cyber security provider, which urges African businesses with strong ties to the EU to take steps to comply with this new, stringent cyber security regulation.

Download document: https://apo-opa.co/3UgCQYj

The European Union's NIS2 Directive, came into effect this month and requires member states to amend their national legislation. The NIS2 Directive imposes strict cyber security requirements, including enhanced management liability, reporting to authorities, risk management, and business continuity planning, placing African companies trading with the EU under increased scrutiny.

The NIS2 Directive builds upon the original NIS1 Directive introduced in 2016, expanding its scope to cover a wider range of sectors including Energy, Banking, Transport, Digital Infrastructure, Healthcare, Food Production, and Research. More than 80% of European enterprises are now within the scope of this legislation, which extends to global supply chain partners—including many businesses in Africa.

Collins Emadau, Check Point Partner and Director at Westcon, explains, “Europe is still Africa's leading trading partner. African businesses, particularly in leading economies such as South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, need to understand the far-reaching impact of NIS2. Compliance is not just about meeting EU standards—it's about securing their future in a globalised market. Failure to comply will result in not only heavy fines but also the potential loss of critical trade partnerships with EU member states."

What's at Stake for African Businesses?

The EU remains the largest trading partner for Africa, with over 18 Economic Partnership Agreements and trade worth billions annually. African businesses, especially in sectors like Energy, Banking, Transport, and Manufacturing, are key partners in the EU's supply chains. To continue doing business with EU companies, African organisations must comply with NIS2, which mandates strict cyber security measures to protect critical infrastructure and supply chains.

Issam El Haddioui, Head of Security Sales Engineering:  Africa, Check Point Software Technologies, says, "NIS2 sets a new standard for cyber security, and African businesses must act now. Many organisations are unaware of the depth of these requirements, which go beyond local regulations. Compliance is essential not only for maintaining business relationships with the EU but also for enhancing the overall resilience of African economies against cyber threats."

Compliance will exact a cost for African organisations, which according to Interpol's 2021 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, spends an average of only 0.05% of their revenue on cyber security, far below the global average of 0.3-0.5%.  The Report also estimated the financial impact of cyber crime in the region at over $4 billion USD, representing about 10 percent of Africa's total GDP.

Tougher Penalties and Personal Responsibility

NIS2 introduces personal liability for business leaders in the event of a cyber attack, meaning that executives themselves can be held financially accountable for breaches. Penalties include fines of up to EUR 7 million or 1.4% of a company's global annual turnover, whichever is higher. This goes beyond the GDPR, placing even more responsibility on corporate leadership to ensure robust cyber security practices are in place.

NIS2 mandates that organisations must report cyber incidents to authorities promptly and inform their stakeholders, suppliers, and customers. Therefore, African businesses must ensure they have a comprehensive incident response plan in place, along with regular cyber security training for both IT and leadership teams.

Steps for African Businesses to Ensure Compliance

To successfully implement NIS2 and avoid devastating penalties, Check Point recommends the following four steps for African businesses:

  1. Knowledge: Business leaders must gain a basic understanding of cyber security to effectively communicate with their IT teams and ensure sound decision-making.
  2. People: Establish an agile IT security department, including key roles such as a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), to manage and distribute responsibilities efficiently.
  3. Audit: Conduct regular risk assessments and audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. Continuous monitoring is essential to stay compliant with evolving threats.
  4. Incident Management: Develop clear procedures for responding to cyber incidents, including swift reporting to national authorities, suppliers, and stakeholders.

Long-Term Commitment to Cyber Security

Compliance with NIS2 is not a one-time process; it requires a long-term commitment to cyber security. From 2028, organisations will be required to annually document their NIS2-compliant IT infrastructure and demonstrate that their cyber security measures are aligned with the latest technological advancements.

“African countries, especially economic leaders like South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, should also consider using the NIS2 framework as a model for strengthening their own national cyber security regulations. By improving cyber-readiness, African businesses can not only comply with international standards but also protect their data, operations, and reputations from evolving threats,” El Haddioui continues.

El Haddioui, concludes, "The NIS2 Directive marks a significant shift in the cyber security landscape. African business leaders must recognise that cyber security is now a matter of survival, not just compliance. By taking proactive measures, they can safeguard their future, avoid heavy penalties, and ensure their organisations thrive in an increasingly interconnected global economy."

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd..

Follow Check Point via:
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/48bWAC1
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About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.:
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.CheckPoint.com) is a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider protecting over 100,000 organisations worldwide. Check Point leverages the power of AI everywhere to enhance cyber security efficiency and accuracy through its Infinity Platform, with industry-leading catch rates enabling proactive threat anticipation and smarter, faster response times. The comprehensive platform includes cloud-delivered technologies consisting of Check Point Harmony to secure the workspace, Check Point CloudGuard to secure the cloud, Check Point Quantum to secure the network, and Check Point Infinity Core Services for collaborative security operations and services.

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VFS Global appointed to roll out Australian biometric collection centres in Sub-Saharan Africa

Location: News

VFS Global
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  • Services to be rolled out at 12 locations in seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa by February 2025 
  • VFS Global becomes the exclusive biometric collection service provider for Australian applicants in all the nine regions globally – ​Americas, Europe, Mekong, Middle East and North Africa, Pacific, South Asia, South East Asia, North Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa 
  • Core services include Biometric Collection and Identity Verification, Digital Assistance with online visa applications submission and Online Payment Assistance. 
  • Additional (as required services) include remote interview hosting, document and claim checking, paper digitisation and local addressing and document delivery. 

The Department of Home Affairs, Australia has appointed VFS Global to provide biometric collection services for Sub-Saharan Africa. VFS Global is the world's leading outsourcing and technology service specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. This is in addition to the seven regions awarded in August 2023 to provide biometric collection services –the Americas, Mekong, Middle East and North Africa, North Asia, Pacific, South Asia and Southeast Asia. With the recent addition of Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, VFS Global has become the exclusive biometrics collection service provider to Australian visa applicants across all nine regions globally. 

The Sub-Saharan Africa region includes seven countries in total with Australian Biometric Collection Centre services to be rolled out at 12 locations in 13 countries by February 2025. This includes setting up Centres in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. 

According to the agreement, VFS Global's core services include Biometric Collection and Identity Verification, Digital Assistance with online visa applications submission and Online Payment Assistance on the Department's ImmiAccount portal. The company would also provide additional (as required services) such as remote interview hosting, document and claim checking, paper digitisation and local addressing and document delivery.  

“We are pleased to extend our Agreement with VFS Global to include Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. We will continue to work closely with VFS Global to ensure the delivery of high-quality biometric collection and visa support services for our visa applicants worldwide.” said Anthony Phillips, Director Offshore Service Delivery Partners Section, Department of Home Affairs.

“Securing these two regions is a testament to our dedication, expertise, commitment to excellence, and trusted partnership with the Department of Home Affairs, Australia. This decision not only reflects our ability to meet highest standards but also reinforces our resolve to deliver innovative solutions. Under the Department's guidance, we will continue to elevate the experience of Australian applicants across the world,” said Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Business Development, VFS Global. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VFS Global.

Media Contact:  
George Cherian 
Corporate Communications  
georgec@vfsglobal.com 

About VFS Global: 
As the world's leading outsourcing and technology service specialist, VFS Global embraces technological innovation including Generative AI to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, increasing productivity and enabling them to focus entirely on the critical task of assessment.  

With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 69 client governments.  Operating over 3,400 Application Centres in 153 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 297 million applications since 2001. 

Headquartered in Zurich and majority owned through investment funds managed by Blackstone Inc, along with the Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, VFS Global is committed to creating value for all stakeholders and leading in responsible, innovative solutions making government services more effective and efficient. 

Read moreVFS Global appointed to roll out Australian biometric collection centres in Sub-Saharan Africa

Former MP and seven others arrested for alleged tender corruption

Location: News

Former MP and seven others arrested for alleged tender corruption

Seven people – including a former Member of Parliament – have been arrested for alleged corruption related to a R27 million tender.

The seven were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Gauteng on Wednesday morning.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said the arrests were related to the awarding of a 2016 tender at the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD).

“Their arrest follows a forensic report by the Special Investigating Unit [SIU], which discovered that in October 2016, the [GDARD] issued a tender requesting proposals to integrate and formalise waste operatives... into the mainstream waste management economy. A tender of around R27 million was then awarded to Enviro-Mobi in March 2017. 

“The contract agreement between the department and Enviro-Mobi stipulated that the department may consider to pay, on condition that 50% of the work has been completed and no upfront payments may be made to the service provider.

“During investigation, it was established that the Chief Director and Chief Financial Officer processed and paid over R25 million to Enviro-Mobi for 200 motorised three wheelers, though all goods were still in the possession of the service provider,” Mbambo said.

The suspects are expected to face charges of fraud, theft, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and Prevention of Organised Crime Act. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Wed, 10/16/2024 - 09:39

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The Future of Cybersecurity in South Africa: Trends and Predictions

Location: MyPR

SevenC, a top-managed service provider in South Africa, analyses cybersecurity trends and how South African businesses can stay ahead of cyber threats. Bringing attention to rising cyber attacks, Graeme Millar, managing director of SevenC Computing, warned, “Be it through a phishing scam, data breach, malware infection or ransomware, cyber-attacks can throw your entire business into …

Read moreThe Future of Cybersecurity in South Africa: Trends and Predictions

Protect Your Interiors With Window Tinting: The Hidden Benefits Unveiled by Window Art

Location: MyPR

Cape Town, Gauteng, and Lowveld — Window Art, South Africa’s leading vinyl frosting and window tinting company, is raising awareness of an often-overlooked solution that enhances interiors and protects valuable assets: professional window tinting. With more than 18 years of experience, Window Art serves businesses and homeowners, helping them improve privacy, save on energy costs, …

Read moreProtect Your Interiors With Window Tinting: The Hidden Benefits Unveiled by Window Art