SA News

8 August 2023

Women believe fought for their rightful space in society

Location: News

Women have fought for their rightful place in society

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Director General, Advocate Mikateko Joyce Maluleke, says democracy has ensured that women occupy their rightful position in society.

“Sometimes when there are women in a leadership position, some will attribute it to affirmative action and women empowerment. No! Women fought to be where they are. It was not just given to them,” Maluleke said on Tuesday in Cape Town.

Addressing young women at Transnet’s Cape Town Harbour, Maluleke said women fought for the struggle of emancipation.

“Women have been involved in the struggle for freedom since 1912. In 1956, women marched to the Union Buildings. They were brilliant.

“People do not usually talk about the strategy that women engaged in order to go to the Union Buildings. They could have been arrested before they could get far but because they worked as domestic workers, they had their bosses’ children on their backs and walked to the Union Buildings,” Maluleke said.

South Africa commemorates Women’s Day annually on 9 August to pay tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of pass laws to women.

Women’s Month is a tribute not only to the thousands of women who marched on that day in 1956, but also a tribute to the pioneers of the women’s movement in the country

This year’s Women’s Month takes place under the theme, ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment’.

This theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavour.

As part of Women’s Day build-up activities, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), in partnership with Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), hosted an outreach programme with women in logistics at the Cape Town Harbour in the Western Cape.

Established in 2000, TNPA operates container terminals in Durban, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

With the many challenges that women face in society, women occupying leadership positions at Transnet encouraged the young women from various schools across the country to work hard in school and believe in themselves.

Spreading their wings

Transnet Specialist Planning and Development Manager, Zanele Dywibaba, is a qualified town planner. Dywibaba has described the port space as a “dynamic” one that has given her room to thrive.

“The introduction into the port space was something new but I have realised that it’s a dynamic space. I started at Transnet in 2016.

“I have found there is a balance between men and women who occupy leadership positions because the organisation ensures that it meets its Employment Equity targets. They also prioritise women being in the operational space, which historically was male dominated.

“Women are taken seriously at Transnet. We can offer capability than what traditionally women were not seen to be able to handle.”

As someone who grew up in a home where she was raised by her mother, this experience demonstrated to Dywibaba that women are strong and capable of doing anything.

“My mother raised five children single-handedly as a domestic worker. That is where I got my strength. My siblings and I have all gone to tertiary because my mother used to encourage us to follow our dreams.

“She would tell us to dream big and not be discouraged that she is a domestic worker. She made us believe that we would occupy big spaces. Your circumstances do not determine who you become,” Dywibaba said.

Transnet Academy Head, Captain Theresa Williams, narrated her life journey, which begins with her being born in a caravan to parents who did not have an education.

“My mother taught me how to sew clothes at the age of 12 and I was selling them at the flea market and the train station.

“Transnet advertised a bursary and I applied. My bursary covered my university fees. It did not cover my travel so I continued while I was studying to sell clothes so that I have money for toiletries.

“I didn’t allow my birth [circumstances] to define my future. I grabbed the opportunities I was given and I did not waste them. I continuously studied,” Williams said.

She is a marine pilot and is capable of captaining vessels.

“I am one year short in my studies to captain a vessel of any size in the world. I am still studying. Whatever you are going through, everyone has a story. Live a life of no excuses,” Williams said. – SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 16:45

8 August 2023

dtic to host 8th the SA-China Joint Economic and Trade Committee

Location: News

dtic to host 8th the SA-China Joint Economic and Trade Committee

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will host the 8th session of the South Africa - China Joint Economic and Trade Committee on Wednesday and Thursday.

The two-day meeting will be led by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel and China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao.

Issues to be discussed include investments on both ends, market access in the two countries, cooperation on new energy projects and cooperation in multilateral platforms.

The first day is a closed meeting between senior government officials from both South Africa and China.

On the second day, both Ministers will make remarks and hold a signing ceremony of purchasing agreements.

The signing ceremony will be preceded by business-to-business and match-making between Chinese buyers and South African exporters. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 12:16

8 August 2023

Boost for KwaNongoma infrastructure projects

Location: News

Boost for KwaNongoma infrastructure projects

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and KwaNongoma Local Municipality have committed to work together to accelerate service delivery, especially the delivery of transport infrastructure projects.

This follows a meeting where Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, led a team of departmental officials to engage with the municipality in a bid to identify areas of possible partnership.

During a meeting on Monday, KwaNongoma Local Municipality Mayor, Mshangane Ndabandaba and Speaker Babongile Sithole shared the challenges facing the municipality and pledged to work with the provincial and national government in promoting service delivery.

The Department of Transport introduced a team of fleet and personnel that is deployed to assist in improving local roads under the three various traditional councils in the area.

The team deployed will be working in the area for a month, where they will rehabilitate roads, including D1857, D1858 and D1858, which are located in Mthwadlana, KwaNongoma.

Hlomuka said government is exploring a number of innovations to support struggling municipalities like KwaNongoma, where key projects will be prioritised.

He said the department is going to identify critical areas of intervention.

“We will assist the municipality to fulfil its constitutional and political mandate to deliver services to the people. The Department of Transport has started, and we commit to reviving road infrastructure in KwaNongoma,” Hlomuka said.

The MEC said the team will do local roads but will also look at critical capital projects.

“Government, at a provincial level, has agreed that all departments will improve their service delivery roll-out in Nongoma. This will also culminate in the Premier-led Operation Sukuma Sakhe, which is a provincial government integrated service delivery programme,” Hlomuka said.

He said national departments have also committed to accelerate services to assist the municipality.

Ndabandaba commended the department’s intervention, saying that with a budget of R39 billion from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), the municipality is unable to cover all the wards within the local municipality.

“We welcome the involvement and partnership with the provincial government. This marks a new era for the people of KwaNongoma, and it is a start of more good things to come,” Ndabandaba said.

Hlomuka also expressed concern with the level of political intolerance and political killings in the area, saying more work will be done on crime, including political violence. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 12:38

8 August 2023

Chikunga warns perpetrators behind Cape Town violence

Location: News

Chikunga warns perpetrators behind Cape Town violence

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga says that those who perpetuate criminality in the City of Cape Town must face the full might of the law.

“Violence and lawlessness have no place in our society and government will not hesitate to unleash the full might of the law against those who believe they can perpetuate such conduct with impunity,” Chikunga said in a statement on Tuesday.

Chikunga’s warning comes as the minibus taxi strike continues to wreak havoc in the Western Cape, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The ongoing conflict involving the minibus taxi industry and the City of Cape Town has escalated into a strike following the impounding of taxis by the city.

Chikunga has condemned the violence that has characterised the strike, warning that government will not tolerate lawlessness, irrespective of who the perpetrator is.

Chikunga emphasised that our democracy is founded human rights, and the exercise of those rights requires that we respect the rights of others.

“It can never be acceptable for those who are aggrieved by the actions of the city to blockade roads and undermine the rights of ordinary citizens to travel or access schools, places of work and economic activity.

“It is equally not acceptable for officers of the law to conduct themselves in a manner that violates the law and the rights of citizens including the taxi industry. We will therefore act decisively, working closely with law enforcement agencies and authorities to uproot this criminality,” Chikunga said.

The Minister has called on the taxi industry to denounce any form of violence or intimidation by its members.

She said she has personally intervened in the efforts to find a lasting solution to the impasse through numerous engagements with the taxi industry under the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) leadership.

“I have also met with the Premier of the Western Cape, the MEC and the city led by the Mayor and the MMC [Member of the Mayoral Committee]. We have made strides in addressing the root cause of the current tensions, and we are confident that we will find each other in the process.

“The City of Cape Town has introduced conditions of operating licences, which the taxi industry has expressed reservations on. The task team that was established to address the concerns has not made headway, resulting in the city implementing the impounding of vehicles based on these conditions,” the Minister said.

Chikunga noted that it is an integral part of the legal system that administrative decisions must be based on the principle of legality.

She said the country has national laws in place that govern the infringements and penalties dealt with in the contested conditions of operating licences.

She emphasised that national laws are in place to ensure that fair rules are applicable to all citizens, irrespective of the city or province.

“This is a constitutional mandate to ensure order and effectiveness of the rule of law. It can never be that a city will define itself outside the parameters of national laws and implement penalties that are out of sync with these laws. We therefore call on the City of Cape Town to respect and uphold national laws as they currently stand.

“To this end, we call on the city to return to the negotiating table to address the areas of disagreement and demonstrate a genuine effort to find a lasting resolution to the current challenges. Based on these considerations, we therefore call on the city to immediately release, without any conditions, all vehicles impounded based on operating licence and leave those impounded in terms of the National Land Transport Act of 2009.

“We remain committed to moving with speed in finding an amicable solution that must enable the taxi industry to resume operation and call off the strike. Such an outcome is in the interest of the country and the industry,” Chikunga said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 13:34

8 August 2023

Chiloane saddened by two learner suicides

Location: News

Chiloane saddened by two learner suicides

Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, has expressed sadness over two reported learner suicides in the province.

According to the Gauteng Department of Education, one of the incidents occurred at Soshanguve Secure Centre, where a Grade 10 boy learner was discovered hanging in a dormitory during lunch on Monday.

It is reported that the learner had been taken to the juvenile centre about two weeks ago and was awaiting trial.

In a separate incident, a Grade 9 boy learner from Kgetsi Ya Tsie Secondary School tragically took his own life at home on the same day.

The GDE said its Psycho-Social Support Unit will be dispatched to provide assistance in both instances.

“These incidents serve as a grim reminder that the emotional well-being of learners is a shared responsibility that requires immediate attention from all of us. As we mourn the loss of young lives, there is a growing determination to prevent future tragedies and to foster a culture of support, compassion, and understanding within the educational community. We wish to extend our condolences to families and school communities,” Chiloane said.

For immediate assistance and support, learners are encouraged to contact Childline by dialing 116. The Childline toll-free Helpline is available 24 hours a day (free from all networks) and what you talk about is confidential. However, if learners want to reveal their identity and see a counsellor they can request for such accordingly. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 12:42

8 August 2023

SA Navy prioritises gender mainstreaming

Location: News

SA Navy prioritises gender mainstreaming

While significant strides have been made to ensure that women occupy leadership positions in the South African Navy, much more must be done to mainstream gender, says South African Navy Deputy Chief Navy, Rear Admiral Bubele Mhlana.

“Looking back at 2007 where the overall percentage of women in the SA Navy was 17%, we have managed to increase the percentage to 29% of women in decision making positions and 33% at entry level,” Mhlana said on Monday in Cape Town.

He made these remarks while addressing young women who had an opportunity to visit the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Military Naval Base in Simon’s Town.

In an effort to demonstrate the opportunities for women in the sector, learners from various schools toured a shipyard at the Military Naval Base as part of Women’s Month activities that showcased the role of women in the maritime sector.

This year’s Women’s Month is celebrated under the theme, 'Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment'. The theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavor.

“Significant strides have been made at leadership level, we cannot become complacent. Much more must be done to mainstream gender. I emphasise that the maritime security domain presents limitless opportunities for young women who have a significant role in unlocking the potential of our blue economy.

“Gender mainstreaming should not be seen as an aspiration, it should be seen as an imperative. It is time for women to take their rightful place to exploit every opportunity and participate meaningfully in exploring the potential of the blue economy,” Mhlana said.

He said harnessing the potential of young people is vital to unlocking and exploiting the vast ocean economy potential.

“The South African navy has a key role to play in Operation Phakisa, most particular in terms of maritime enforcement of good order of governance and seas. Indeed Operation Phakisa Economic Lab features a number of streams including marine protection and governance where the South African Navy plays a meaningful role through operations and the patrols it conducts at sea,” Mhlana said.

Government launched Operation Phakisa in 2014 with the ultimate goal of boosting economic growth and create jobs. This initiative focuses on unlocking the economic potential of South Africa's oceans, which could contribute up to R177 billion to the GDP by 2033 and between 800 000 and one million direct jobs.

South Africa has a coastline that spans about 2 800 kilometers from Namibia to Mozambique.

“Our hydrography domain plays an equally significant role in ensuring safe efficient and sustainable conduct of every human activity in or under the sea including safe passage of shipping,” Mhlana said.

With the full integration of women in all spheres within the South African Navy, 44-year-old Nicolette Le Roux occupies the position of a Hydrographic Survey Officer.

Hydrography is the science that measures and describes the physical features of the navigable portion of the Earth's surface and adjoining coastal areas.

“Hydrographic survey entails the collection of hydrographic data, processing of hydrographic data and rendering of products. As hydrographic data analysts, we measure the depth of the ocean using various equipment like echo sounders, multi-beams and single beams. That is the data that we process to provide nautical charts.

“This is important for safe navigation of all mariners. South Africa is situated along one of Africa’s busiest sea routes and ships need to know where it is safe to sale. Our data can show them where that is,” Le Roux said.

Le Roux joined the navy after completing matric in 1998, where she started with basic military training and progressed to training as a combat officer. From 2004 onwards, she specialised in hydrography.

“Our qualifications for hydrographics are recognised internationally. Our qualifications are regulated the International Hydrographic Organization. The qualifications for hydrographic are equivalent to a degree, the first course, which is a Category A survey qualification is equivalent is a post graduate diploma in hydrographic surveying and the Category B qualification is equivalent to a Bsc is Maritime Science,” Le Roux said.

While the navy has made efforts to educate its organization about not discriminating against women, she explained that women still had to work hard to be recognized.

“You are not always seen as someone who is supposed to be there. Luckily, the navy has done a lot in terms of gender equality and workshops to educate about gender equality.

“I have been excellent in everything that I done, in the sense that I have worked very hard and I have the accolades to show for it. Finishing at the top of my class. Those are some of my achievements and it took hard work,” she said.

Le Roux emphasised the importance of women standing up for themselves.

“Sometimes you have to give back as good as you get. If somebody chirps you, you have stand up for yourself because no one is going to stand up for you. Nobody else is going to pave the way for you. You have to stand up for yourself and show up and take a seat at the table. The future for women is bright. Work hard. There is nothing that stops you from achieving your dreams,” she advised young women. – SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 11:03

8 August 2023

Over 53 000 appeals approved for 2023 academic year

Location: News

Over 53 000 appeals approved for 2023 academic year

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) says a total of 53 206 student appeals have been approved for the 2023 academic year, pending registration at a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college.

Briefing media on the 2023 academic year current state of affairs on Monday, NSFAS Board Chairperson, Ernest Khosa, said a total of 6 107 appeals have been rejected for either financial or academic ineligibility, and those students cannot submit any further appeals.

“About 27 791 are awaiting supporting documents and messages requesting these have been sent to applicants and institutions. Other appeals are still in progress and all appeal decisions are subject to budget availability,” Khosa said.

The NSFAS appeals option allows individuals whose financial standing could have changed between the time of processing the application and finalisation of the funding decision.

The financial standing may also change if a key contributor to the applicant’s household income may become incapacitated or is deceased since the submission of the application.

It may also change if the parents of a student/applicant are divorced, and in terms of the divorce decree, a court has determined that the responsibility for child maintenance, including the responsibility for the cost of education, is restricted to one parent.

Khosa said in February 2023, NSFAS established an Independent Appeals Tribunal, including individuals in the higher education and training sector; officials from universities and TVET colleges, and members of student leadership, to deal with special or complex cases of appeals.

“Examples of these (special or complex cases) would be applicants who have exceeded the N+ rule however, only have one or two modules to complete their degrees or applicants belonging to a household of more than R350 000, with more than one student in an institution of higher learning.”

The N+ rule refers to the number of years students will receive funding to obtain a qualification. The N+2 rule currently used makes funding provision to students for a minimum number of years allocated to the qualification “N” plus an additional two years N+2.

State of student accommodation

Giving an update on student accommodation, Khosa said, the NSFAS Board and management conducted site visits to the universities and TVET colleges across the country to assess the state of student accommodation for NSFAS funded students.

He said during the site visits, some of the challenges were identified and these included insufficient beds to accommodate students.

“The state of these accommodations is not conducive for student accommodation and learning. The cost structure for accommodation is not properly regulated and the accreditation process is fraught with inconsistencies. It is susceptible to fraud and corruption,” Khosa said.

Following this, Khosa said it was necessary for NSFAS to streamline student accommodation and optimise the process of providing housing for students in a way that is efficient, cost-effective, and conducive to a positive living experience.

“NSFAS then built an online student accommodation portal wherein all accommodation providers, who wish to provide accommodation to NSFAS beneficiaries, should register their properties, including institutions.

“NSFAS also then appointed 38 accreditors to accredit and grade the loaded properties. Once properties have been cleared and deemed fit for student living, the portal will be opened for students to apply for accommodation near them,” Khosa explained.

To date, Khosa said, a total of 41 245 beds have been registered and 24 784 across the country have already been accredited.

He said NSFAS has commenced the process of piloting the new system, with 18 selected TVET colleges.

“It is envisioned that after evaluating the pilot project and mitigating challenges encountered, the portal will be opened fully for both providers and students in all institutions.”

R45 000 accommodation cap under review

Meanwhile, Khosa said NSFAS has requested institutions that are negatively affected by the newly introduced R45 000 accommodation cap, to make their submissions and negotiations with private accommodation providers to adjust their rental rates to accommodate the cap.

He announced that there is a task team led by the Department of Higher Education and Training that is reviewing the R45 000 cap.

“NSFAS is constantly looking at ways to amend its funding policies to accommodate the dynamic conditions of the students’ life cycle and banks the success of these policy implementations on collaborative efforts with sector stakeholders.

“We are always open to healthy engagements with our colleagues in the higher education sector, as well as student leadership in ensuring that the journey of our beneficiaries in learning is as comfortable as possible. We remain committed to enabling success and access in higher education sector in a responsible and sustainable manner,” Khosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 10:26

8 August 2023

Health skills development programme to empower KZN youth

Location: News

Health skills development programme to empower KZN youth

The youth of uMshwathi Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal are set to benefit from the Hub of Hope – a health and skills development programme for youngsters in Gcumisa and neighbouring communities in that municipality.

Deputy Health Minister, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, on Monday presided over the launch of the Hub of Hope.

“The hub is aligned to the department’s broader youth support programme to empower young people with health information to make well-informed health choices and economic opportunities to increase their skills and knowledge and improved employability,” the department said.

The launch was organised in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), TB HIV Care, uMgungundlovu District Municipality, Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and other public institutions.

The programme is implemented through DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) programme.

DREAMS is an ambitious public-private partnership aimed at reducing rates of HIV among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), decreasing teen pregnancy, keeping girls in school, reducing sexual and gender-based violence and equipping them with skills.

According to Dhlomo, apart from health services, the programme also offers skills development opportunities including basic computer training, baking, hairdressing, beauty technology, nail technology and bookkeeping.

Most of these training opportunities targeted at out-of-school youths are accompanied by starter packs upon completion to enable them to become entrepreneurs.

The launch was attended by amongst others, District and Local Mayors, senior government officials from the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), over 900 Masijabule High School learners, parents and members of School Governing Body (SGB). – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 08:32

7 August 2023

Load shedding to alternate between Stage 1, 2 and 4

Location: News

Load shedding to alternate between Stage 1, 2 and 4

Eskom is expected to implement alternating stages of load shedding throughout this week.

On Monday and Tuesday, Stage 1 load shedding will be implemented between 5am to 4pm followed by Stage 4 between 4pm to 5am.

No load shedding is expected between 5am to 4pm on Wednesday. However, this will be followed by Stage 2 between 4pm and midnight.

“Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit at Camden and Duvha power stations was returned to service. In the same period, a generating unit at Medupi Power Station was taken offline for repairs.

“The delay in returning to service two generating units each at Kendal and Tutuka power stations is contributing to the current capacity constraints. Eskom teams are working tirelessly to return these generating units to service,” the state power utility said.

By Sunday, unplanned breakdowns rendered some 15 050MW of generating capacity unavailable with a further 4434MW taken offline for maintenance.

The power utility called on South Africans to do their part to save electricity.

“We appeal to the members of the public to continue reducing demand by switching off non-essential appliances. We would like to thank those who do heed the call to use electricity sparingly and efficiently, including switching off geysers and pool pumps from 5pm to 9pm, as this lowers demand and helps in alleviating the pressure on the power system and contributes to lower stages of load shedding,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Mon, 08/07/2023 - 08:45

7 August 2023

Police dealing with incidents of public violence

Location: News

Police dealing with incidents of public violence

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says integrated police deployments are currently dealing with incidents of public violence which erupted this morning in the Nyanga area as the looming taxi strike is yet to come to an end.

Roads in and around Nyanga and the Cape Town International Airport have been affected and traffic is severely backed up on the N2.

Incidents of busses torched in Borcherds Quarry Road are under investigation, and as yet, no injuries have been reported to SAPS.

“Our members will remain on high alert and deployed in numbers to ensure the safety of the public and to maintain law and order,” police said in a statement.

“We encourage any person who has been affected by an act of criminality to report the matter to SAPS immediately, so that an investigation can be initiated."

The public is urged to be vigilant and to apply safety measures to avoid being caught off-guard during the taxi strike.

The Western Cape taxi strike continues after talks failed to reach an agreement.

The meeting was between Santaco taxi industry leaders, the Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town.

Centre to the taxi industry's unhappiness is the ongoing seizure of minibuses. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Mon, 08/07/2023 - 09:42

7 August 2023

Winde counting the cost of Cape Town’s taxi strike

Location: News

Winde counting the cost of Cape Town's taxi strike

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says the provincial government remains gravely concerned at the devastating impact caused by the strike called by the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the province.

This comes after six Golden Arrow buses were torched due to arson attacks since the taxi strike on Thursday, 3 August 2023.

This has forced the company to terminate its bus services in Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Philippi East, Langa, and Mfuleni, while many roads remain closed.

The Golden Arrow has since secured a court order on Sunday against Santaco to stop intimidating, harassing, threatening, or interfering with Golden Arrow, its employees, and passengers.

“I am appalled at the scale of violence that has not only dealt a severe blow to our economy and critical services but has also delegitimised and damaged Western Cape’s Santaco cause.

“This violence and damage to property has continued this morning. I will be holding a special Cabinet meeting this morning with key leadership from the City of Cape Town to assess what further steps need to be taken and the impact on services,” he said on Monday.

The Premier has again called for taxi leaders affiliated with the council to intensify all efforts to de-escalate the violence and urgently find a resolution to the dispute.

He added, “All sides, more especially residents and commuters, are being harmed by this stay away. We must find common ground now.”

Western Cape MEC for Mobility, Ricardo Mackenzie, said the province is concerned that the strike continues even after urgent engagements throughout the weekend.

“The withdrawal of minibus taxi services since Thursday has had a devastating impact. As the provincial government we are working extremely hard to resolve ongoing issues in the industry and establish new terms of engagement that will ensure the safety of commuters and road users.”

The provincial government said the impact on provincial government and municipal services has been profound.

Because of the strike, the province said 287 420 learners have not been able to attend school across the province since the sudden stay-away was called.

In addition, more than 9 000 teachers and staff were also prevented from going to work.

Meanwhile, the past Saturday’s matric extra classes had to be canceled, impacting 14 000 learners.

According to the Western Cape, many healthcare facilities have been forced to operate at reduced capacity.

These include Tygerberg, Red Cross, and Groote Schuur hospitals and the community health centres and clinics.

While Tygerberg and Salt River forensic pathology services are operational, the province said the response to scenes would be delayed in red zones, as this will also only occur under the protection of law enforcement escorts.

In addition, many Western Cape Department of Social Development staff will have to work from home, due to the volatility of the situation.

The department will also have to temporarily close its offices in several areas.

The Premier said: “This situation is untenable and unacceptable. Our residents cannot be forced to endure this lawlessness. All parties must return to negotiations”.

MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, has condemned the burning and damage to all property, particularly safety-related resources.

“Contingency plans have been adopted to ensure that the burning of the law enforcement vehicles in Delft will have no operational impact on the deployment of Law Enforcement Advancement (LEAP) officers in the area.”

LEAP, according to the provincial government, is fully operational and part of interventions where required across Cape Town in particular.

Red-zoned areas remain volatile. All law enforcement agencies are deployed across these communities and at strategic points. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Mon, 08/07/2023 - 09:46

7 August 2023

Kubayi calls for tough action against poor performing contractors

Location: News

Kubayi calls for tough action against poor performing contractors

Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) must probe projects that are affected by poor performance, as contractors who under-deliver or abandon projects must be brought to book.

Kubayi made the call to the Free State Human Settlements Department during a recent oversight visit to Mangaung Metropolitan and Matjhabeng Municipality to assess performance, including delivery of housing units and basic services.

Together with Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, and Human Settlements MEC, Ketso Makume, Kubayi visited blocked housing projects with the aim of finding solutions.

The department has prioritised the completion of blocked projects, which are expected to deliver close to 10 000 units in the province. The eradication of rural mud houses and asbestos roofs; the provision of basic services and infrastructure in informal settlements and homes for military veterans are also top priority.

During the visits to both municipalities, Kubayi expressed her disappointment with the staggering number of incomplete projects, which deny the poor and vulnerable access to a decent homes.

She raised concern about State funds, amounting to hundreds of millions, that have been spent on incomplete projects.

She further expressed her disappointment at the number of unscrupulous contractors, who were comfortable with siphoning State funds without having delivered a single project milestone.

Kubayi warned that the delivery of houses on time and within budget is non-negotiable.

“We allocated resources and those are meant to change the lives of the people. Poor performance by contractors is a slap in the face of those who live in squalor,” Kubayi said.

She said the department, together with the Free State government, agreed that there must be consequences for those who have denied people their right to dignity.

“When I joined the department, I called on the contractors to return to the abandoned sites and make good on their contractual obligations. We have now resolved that we will go after those who have vanished with government resources.

“The poor performance of one province affects the entire sector and hence the need for all provinces to crack the whip on poor performing contractors to ensure that targets are met,” Kubayi said.

The Minister said for the financial year 2023/24, the department has allocated R19.2 billion to provincial grants and R12.5 billion for municipal grants.

With its budget allocation of close to R1 billion, the Free State has committed that during this financial year, it will deliver close to 10 000 housing units, including the eradication of mud houses and asbestos roofs; providing basic services and infrastructure in informal settlements, and accelerating the delivery of houses for military veterans and completing blocked projects.

In an effort to assist the province to achieve its set targets, the Minister announced that she has agreed to a request to second two officials from the National Human Settlements to provide additional capacity to the provincial department.

She said the two officials are expected to be in the province as early as next week.

Responding to a recent land invasion in Botshabelo in Mangaung, the Minister called on community members to partner with government to deliver sustainable human settlements.

She also warned against “shack lords” and illegal occupation of land, saying it affects service delivery.
The communities were also reminded that the occupation of land unsuitable for human settlements development in many instances results in loss of lives due disasters.

Over 600 title deeds given to elderly women

The oversight visit also included the handing over of 600 title deeds to mostly elderly women beneficiaries.

Kubayi urged the beneficiaries not to fall into the temptation of selling their newly acquired homes or to give them to loan sharks.

“This is proof that a house is yours and belongs to you and your loved ones. Hold on to it and hand it over to your next generations,” Kubayi told beneficiaries.

The Minister also commended women’s contribution to providing sustainable human settlements in many parts of the country, and called for increased allocation of projects towards women contractors, as part of the 40% set aside policy. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Mon, 08/07/2023 - 10:41

7 August 2023

TNPA, CSIR to address extreme wind disruption in Port of Cape Town

Location: News

TNPA, CSIR to address extreme wind disruption in Port of Cape Town

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to address extreme wind disruption to operate in the Port of Cape Town (PoCT).

The TNPA and the CSIR-hosted programme, the Alliance for Collaboration on Climate and Earth Systems Science (ACCESS), and the other institutions intend to establish a series of research projects aimed at understanding the impact of extreme wind disruption on operations for the integrated maritime transport logistics chain at the PoCT.

In the past few years, according to the joint statement, the PoCT lost an average of 1 200 hours per year of operational time due to extreme wind disruption.

“Extreme wind gusts can result in terminal equipment becoming unsafe to operate, thereby impacting terminal operations.

“This sometimes leads to congestion inside and outside the port, resulting in vessels being at anchorage for extended periods. Several industries, including the time-sensitive fruit industry, are severely impacted by wind disruptions in the port,” the statement read.

The parties said experts in various institutions who possess the skills required to address the problem are conducting the research.

Meanwhile, the University of the Witwatersrand’s experts are studying the seasonal climate patterns that result in these extreme winds to establish whether there are trends and whether the wind is indeed intensifying with time.

They are also looking into how wind patterns in the Cape Peninsula and the port are likely to change because of climate change.

In addition, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Cape Town (UCT) researchers are examining the current and future economic impact of these disruptions on specific value chains to estimate the financial losses and assess the required investment into adaptation measures to deal with the problem.

“The CSIR and UCT are focusing on feasible engineering and operational adaptations to address the challenge.”

TNPA Managing Executive for Western Region ports, Advocate Phyllis Difeto, said the institution appreciates the increasing risk of environmental challenges to port operations.

“Unless these are carefully understood and managed, they can add a burden to the smooth management of the ports, which are vital to the functioning of the country’s economy.

“Climate change presents a growing challenge to shipping and ports in that it impacts the state of both land and sea operations,” Difeto said.

CSIR Senior Researcher and ACCESS Director, Dr Neville Sweijd, noted that extreme weather is the way in which climate change manifests.

“The extreme wind problem in the PoCT is a classic example. It is not a new problem, but potentially a worsening one, and so it will increasingly have an impact on lives and livelihoods all around the Western Cape, especially for those people who are involved in the fruit export industry,” Sweijd added.

He explained that the project seeks to produce solutions that can be used to adapt to and manage extreme wind impacts for the next two years.

“We cannot turn the wind off, but we can learn to better work with it,” he said.

The MoA between TNPA and the research consortium will provide researchers with access to valuable data sources that are required for the study, while national ports authority will facilitate engagements with their key clients and stakeholders.

“Strategic partnerships are critical for a successful and integrated maritime transport logistics chain, and the TNPA continues to collaborate and partner with all stakeholders to optimise the value proposition of the port and the western region,” said Difeto. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Mon, 08/07/2023 - 13:36

7 August 2023

Universities called to collaborate with NSFAS to address students’ issues

Location: News

Universities called to collaborate with NSFAS to address students’ issues

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has called on institutions of higher learning and student leadership to come on board and make constructive inputs on how to address issues facing students.

The scheme made the call during a media briefing held on Monday, where its executive management gave an update on the 2023 academic year’s current state of affairs.

NSFAS Board Chairperson, Ernest Khosa, said a number of things have been happening in the past few days, with most of the blame placed on NSFAS.

Khosa said it would be incorrect to make assumptions that universities are not part of the problem, noting that one of the biggest contributors, which is not only specific to the direct payment system, has been institutions' non-compliance in submitting registration data.

Khosa said the registration data is either submitted late or incorrectly, and this disarms NSFAS, as it "can’t pay students whose registration has not been confirmed”.

“NSFAS policy requires institutions to send updated registration monthly, therefore any wrong payments, such as those paid to students who have dropped out or not attending classes, would be as a result of institutions not alerting NSFAS through this process.

“We remain committed to having a collaborative relationship with the leaders of higher education institutions and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges,” Khosa said.

A total of R608 601 526 has been paid to NSFAS qualifying beneficiaries at public universities, while a total of R383 671 046 was paid to TVET colleges for the month of August alone.

A total of 355 270 paid students, which constitutes 86% of the paid students, have also been able to successfully authenticate themselves and receive their allowances.

Khosa said NSFAS is reviewing and assessing the remaining students who were paid but were unable to access their funds because they had not fully authenticated themselves.

“We do note that some students have been unable to authenticate themselves due to connectivity issues and NSFAS has sent teams to campuses to assist students with their authentication and verification process.

“We have also noted that closer to payment dates, the system experiences technical glitches caused by high internet traffic due to students registering at the same time. Onboarding for TVET college students continues on an ongoing basis as new students enrol,” Khosa said.

The chairperson acknowledged that, as with any introduction of new systems, there have been some teething issues and genuine cases of students who have not been able to access their allowances via the new solution.

He said this can be mainly attributed to issues of data integration with institutions and system glitches caused by too many students/traffic seeking to register onto the system at the same time.

“We have also had reports of students struggling with the authentication process and requiring assistance, hence we swiftly deployed officials across various campuses.”

Verification of information submitted

To ensure the correct processing of these applications, Khosa said, NSFAS has partnered with other entities, including the South African State Security Agency, South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the Department of Home affairs to verify information submitted by individuals during the application stages.

“These partnerships have proven to be fruitful in helping NSFAS make informed decisions. We have had instances where information received through third parties is either outdated or inaccurate. We have been in constant engagements with the said parties in a bid to get real-time data,” Khosa said.

He said a total of 45 927 students were defunded after it was discovered that they did not qualify for funding.

Khosa said after thorough investigation, improved relationships with third party data sources, including SARS, and engagements with the Auditor General South Africa, NSFAS sought to re-evaluate some applications whose funding had been approved.

After this exercise, he said, investigation results indicated that some applicants were not deserving of the funding and had submitted falsified or fraudulent documents. These had to be instantly defunded, as funding individuals who do not meet funding requirements would be going against the provisions of the funding policy, while depriving deserving students.

“For example, students would provide correct parental relationships in their first application attempt, and when they get rejected due to the financial status of those parents, and when they reapply, they submit different parental relationships. When we did re-evaluation, our system picks up the original information previously submitted.

“After re-evaluation, funding was reinstated for 14 703 students, and 31 224 remained unsuccessful, with most first-time entering students having a household income of more than 350 000 and returning students either not meeting the required academic progression, which is 50% of all registered modules or exceeding the N+ rule,” Khosa explained.

GabiK
Mon, 08/07/2023 - 15:35

7 August 2023

SAPS embarks on a recruitment drive

Location: News

SAPS embarks on a recruitment drive

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has embarked on its 2024/2025 recruitment process in which an additional 10 000 youth between the ages of 18 and 35 will be trained to serve as men and women in blue.

The announcement was made by the Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale, during a National Career Expo in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape over the weekend.

The career expo provided the SAPS with the opportunity to showcase, educate and expose communities to the various career paths in the SAPS.

During the proceedings, management announced that the age limit for recruitment of new trainees has been raised to 35.

Application forms are available as of Saturday on the SAPS website: www.saps.gov.za under the police trainees section.

Application forms will also be made available at all police stations from today.

According to the SAPS, there are currently 9 000 trainees in academies throughout the country, another 1 000 will be enlisted for training in January 2024.

This will bring the total number of recruits trained to 10 000 in the 2023/2024 financial year. The 2024/2025 cohort is thus expected to commence their training in April 2024.

Deputy Minister Mathale said the aim is to ensure sufficient boots on the ground to serve and protect the communities.

“We are embarking on this process to ensure more boots on the ground in an effort to maximise our crime combatting efforts,” Mathale said.

The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola said the organisation is targeting those with a passion for public service.

“We are inviting disciplined, upright and passionate candidates who are ready to serve and protect their communities. With more boots on the ground, we aim to enhance and improve our response to emerging crime trends,” General Masemola said.

The basic requirements for enlistment are the following: Be a South African citizen, be in possession of a matric certificate with NO criminal record. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Mon, 08/07/2023 - 09:58

7 August 2023

Riverlea residents feel safer with police presence

Location: News

Riverlea residents feel safer with police presence

Residents of Riverlea, west of Johannesburg, say their safety has improved since the Specialised Forces of the South African Police Service (SAPS) were deployed to the area to shut down illegal mining operations.

The residents welcomed the intensified police operations on illegal miners during a recently held community engagement, led by the Police Ministry.

The additional police deployment in the Riverlea area has so far resulted in the arrest of over 190 suspects, the majority of them being undocumented persons.

Police have since recovered scores of illegal firearms, ammunition, stolen property, explosives, gas cylinders and other tools commonly used during illegal mining activities.

Police Minister General Bheki Cele said these policing operations are but one part of the plan to end illegal mining.

“Arresting illegal miners is not the solution to end this well funded and well organised crime. Police are on the ground to stabilise the area so that other departments can come in and work to permanently close off mines and also attend to some of the social issues that exist in this area, which are drivers of crime.

“It is encouraging that the Hawks have arrested the suspects, who police believe are the handlers of these zama zamas and are middle and top players in the web of illegal mining,” Cele said.

He assured the residents of Gauteng affected by illegal mining and crime associated with the organised crime that a lasting solution is on the horizon. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Mon, 08/07/2023 - 10:17

7 August 2023

Kubayi calls for tough actions against poor-performing contractors