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South Africa, 18 September 2024 – As South Africa grapples with a staggering rise in road accidents, IQTech, a leader in telematics technology, is spearheading efforts to enhance road safety through cutting-edge solutions. Recent statistics from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to curb road fatalities, which have reached …
Gqeberha based BA Systems have completed a number of high profile projects in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape, South Africa and abroad. In this article we explore the benefits and cost savings that Building Automation and Management Systems offer to the industrial, commercial, retail and domestic consumer. What is Building Automation? Key Components Benefits …
Johannesburg, South Africa – July 10, 2024 – CoreLife Medical, a leading provider of medical oxygen solutions, is excited to announce the launch of its newly designed website. The revamped online platform offers an enhanced user experience and streamlined access to a comprehensive range of oxygen concentrators, cylinders, and accessories. The new website reflects CoreLife …
In today's interconnected world, cyberattacks are more frequent and more dangerous than ever before. Businesses, regardless of size or industry, are prime targets for cybercriminals. These attacks can cause widespread damage and create long-lasting consequences. Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) dives into the impact of cyberattacks on business and reveals the key losses that an unprotected business can suffer.
When we consider the impact of cyberattacks on business, the first thing we pay attention to is financial losses. An example of an incident with huge financial losses is the attack on Johnson Controls, a major player in the building technology sector that faced a significant ransomware incident (https://apo-opa.co/3XnrMJm) perpetrated by the Dark Angels hacking group. The attackers claimed to have stolen 27 terabytes of sensitive data and demanded a $51 million ransom. This breach resulted in severe disruptions to the company's systems and cost over $27 million in damages. The attack impacted Johnson Controls' business operations, including disruptions to its billing systems and increased recovery expenses. As a company with a global presence, the breach significantly affected its business relationships and operations.
Below, Kaspersky explores several key ways a cyberattack can hurt your business.
Financial losses
Cyberattacks often result in direct financial losses. Ransomware attacks, where hackers demand payment to restore access to data or directly steal funds, are a clear example. But this is only the beginning, as there are numerous other consequences that may result in considerable indirect financial losses. These can easily exceed what the company has lost as an immediate outcome of the incident.
Operational disruption
Cyberattacks can grind your operations to a halt. Many businesses depend on their digital infrastructure for daily activities. If systems are compromised, productivity falls. In severe cases, entire operations may be disrupted for days or even weeks (https://apo-opa.co/3MQRkKo), resulting in lost revenue, diminished service quality and disappointed clients and partners — an additional impact on your company's reputation.
Indirect long-term costs
Even following the immediate aftermath of a cyberattack, businesses often face long-term financial impacts. Restoring systems, improving cybersecurity infrastructure, and managing the legal fallout are just some of the lingering costs. Additionally, lost business and damaged customer relationships can take months or years to rebuild.
Reputational damage
The trust your clients place in you is invaluable. If customer data is stolen in a breach, it can severely damage your brand's reputation. This loss of trust can lead to customers leaving and a long-term decline in business. In some cases, a single breach is enough to ruin a company's public image beyond repair.
If your business falls victim to an attack, it can also impact your relationships with partners and vendors. Third-party partners might lose confidence in your ability to protect shared data. Similarly, business-critical relationships could be jeopardised if you fail to recover quickly or if your systems compromise their operations.
Legal and compliance issues
With data protection regulations such as the GDPR in Europe, POPIA in South Africa or HIPAA in the U.S., a data breach can lead to heavy fines. Failing to protect sensitive customer or employee data may result in penalties and lawsuits. Furthermore, companies that fall victim to breaches often face lengthy legal battles, which add to the financial and reputational strain.
Loss of intellectual property
For many businesses, intellectual property (IP) is among their most valuable assets. Cyberattacks targeting IP can steal product designs, marketing strategies, and proprietary information. This is particularly harmful in competitive industries like technology and pharmaceuticals, where IP theft can erase the advantage a company has spent years building.
“Attackers are never idle - they're like wolves who must be constantly active to catch their prey off-guard. So, companies need to be ever more alert and agile. They must be sure they have the right solutions and processes to allow for effective threat discovery and containment, as well as swift recovery. At Kaspersky, we're deeply committed to delivering the agile security that businesses need. Proactive assessments and multi-layered protective solutions, plus managed security and actionable threat intelligence - we have it all. What's more important, we have the expertise to put together the exact cybersecurity structure for your individual profile. Only a consistent and comprehensive approach, like this one, can ensure true business resilience against today's cyber risks,” comments Oleg Gorobets, Security Evangelist at Kaspersky.
Below, Kaspersky offers some recommendations to help your business stay ahead of cyberthreats and remain resilient:
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.
For further information please contact:
Nicole Allman
INK&Co. (https://InkAndCo.co.za/)
nicole@inkandco.co.za
Social Media:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4gsHo7i
X: https://apo-opa.co/4esRFi8
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3B97XhG
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4epExKw
Blog: https://apo-opa.co/4e7nptg
About Kaspersky:
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za.
President Ramaphosa, Business Unity SA meet on NHI
President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with the leadership of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) to discuss matters related to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act.
According to the Presidency, the meeting on Tuesday included the Minister and Deputy Minister of Health and senior officials and was “constructive and forward looking”.
“Business and government expressed a shared commitment to the underlying objectives of the NHI, namely to achieve universal health coverage for all South Africans and address inequality in the health system,” the Presidency said.
Furthermore, the office said government will continue to engage on the matter “in good faith”.
“The President has requested BUSA to put forward specific proposals on the remaining issues of concern as a basis for further engagement. Government remains committed to engaging with all stakeholders in good faith on the process of healthcare reform, and to finding workable solutions that will advance quality and affordable healthcare for all,” the Presidency said.
In May this year, President Ramaphosa signed the then NHI Bill into law. During the signing ceremony, he said the signing was a “milestone in South Africa's ongoing quest for a more just society”.
“This transformational health care initiative gives further effect to our constitutional commitment to progressively realise access to health care services for all its citizens.
“At its essence, the NHI is a commitment to eradicate the stark inequalities that have long determined who receives adequate healthcare and who suffers from neglect.
“By putting in place a system that ensures equal access to health care regardless of a person’s social and economic circumstances, the NHI takes a bold stride towards a society where no individual must bear an untenable financial burden while seeking medical attention,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 09/18/2024 - 09:01
Expansion includes Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria; Leveraging success in Latin America to provide underbanked populations in Africa with efficient payment functions.
PayRetailers, the leading payment processor for Latin America, has today announced further expansion into Africa. With coverage now across 12 countries, the company offers a unified simple payment solution that will be a game changer for cross-border online merchants looking at Africa as their next move for strategic growth.
PayRetailers offer a simple, user-friendly, and scalable experience to businesses looking to grow their regional operations and give them access to major local payment methods like MPESA, Airtel, and MTN. The further expansion includes Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria, having recently launched in Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania three months ago.
This expansion effort further solidifies PayRetailers' ability to unlock new growth opportunities for their clients, giving them easy access to additional emerging markets. For existing clients, in fact, this process requires zero integration efforts, as it is all handled via the same API.
With many populations across Africa being underbanked, PayRetailers accelerates financial inclusion across the region by supporting businesses with their growth journey. The market is increasingly mobile and connected, with global businesses seeking to tap into the strong growth opportunities across Africa.
The expansion marks a significant milestone in PayRetailers' ambitious growth plans, with further expansion planned into more African countries as well as Europe. Leveraging its extensive experience in Latin America, the company is well equipped to address the unique needs of African consumers and businesses.
Jonathan Vintner, Global Head of Sales at PayRetailers, said:
“Expanding into eight new markets marks a significant milestone for PayRetailers as we continue our mission to bring tailored payment solutions to diverse regions. Africa is a vibrant and varied continent, with payment preferences that differ from region to region. For example, our launch in Kenya enables merchants to access M-Pesa, the country's leading mobile money provider, while in South Africa, we're offering a blend of card and cash solutions to meet local demands. All of this is seamlessly integrated into our existing API, allowing merchants to access the top payment methods across Latin America and now Africa through a single connection—with more countries on the horizon”.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of PayRetailers.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Issie Rees-Davies
Account Manager
Lansons
payretailers@lansons.com
07712447161
About PayRetailers:
Founded in 2017, PayRetailers is a global payment processing solution for secure and efficient transactions in Latin America and Africa. The company is a trusted partner for businesses seeking customized payment solutions. With a flexible platform supported by a direct API and commercial agreements, PayRetailers provides access to 300+ local payment methods, adapting rapidly to market demands. Its own technological architecture is highly flexible and scalable, allowing rapid innovation to meet the demands of constantly evolving markets. For more information about PayRetailers, visit www.PayRetailers.com
SA launches R300 million facility for recycling plastic
A new PET (polyethylene terephthalate) processing facility, which can accommodate more plastic waste and is the first-of-its-kind technology for Africa, will come on stream in 2025.
This was announced on the sidelines of the International Solid Waste Association’s (ISWA) annual conference where South Africa’s efforts to build a circular economy for post-consumer packaging was thrust into the spotlight.
The ISWA’s annual conference saw the country’s most experienced producer responsibility organisation, Petco, and recycling partner, Extrupet, giving a site tour of the new PET processing facility.
The facility, which houses the new R300 million project, will bring PET bottle-to-bottle recycling capability to the Western Cape for the first time.
The facility will add an extra 15 000 tonnes per annum of food-grade recycled PET (rPET recycled polyethylene terephthalate) output capacity.
Extrupet Joint Managing Director Chandru Wadhwani said 64% of South Africa’s PET plastic bottles were currently collected for recycling.
“With this increased capacity, we will be able to accommodate more plastic waste and strengthen South Africa’s position as a circular economy leader in Africa and the world,” Wadhwani said on Monday in Cape Town.
Stimulating demand
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said the facility adds value to the country’s efforts to increase the collection and recycling rates for packaging materials, including PET.
“We view the facility as an opportunity to stimulate a demand for more PET materials and a supply of these by waste pickers and waste small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), thus creating stable markets for PET.
“The facility needs to be fed and the collection system needs to be improved in order to meet the demand of this facility.
“Waste pickers are an important contributor to the supply of the input material of plastic waste and we look forward to seeing the implementation of the waste picker service fee in order to continue to enable these waste pickers to do their work effectively and efficiently," Swarts said.
Petco CEO Cheri Scholtz said the additional capacity would assist in closing the loop for PET, which is the most widely recycled plastic polymer that can be turned into another food- grade product.
“So, this increase in capacity takes us another tangible step towards that circular economy, in which a bottle becomes a bottle over and over again and keeps that material in circulation at its highest possible value,” Scholtz said.
This year’s ISWA conference is taking place under the theme: “Waste to Wealth: Solutions for a Sustainable Future”.
As the host country, South Africa has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development with a focus on building a circular economy and the introduction of extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations that require producers to take responsibility for their packaging waste throughout its life cycle.
Partnership
Scholtz said, as a Producer Responsibility Organisation, Petco worked with government to contribute to policy development and the implementation of EPR legislation and helped its members to meet their legislated targets for collection, recycling and the inclusion of recycled content in their packaging, which increased year on year.
She said the key to success lay in building a sustainable value chain that could survive the economic peaks and troughs, by balancing collection with recycling capacity and stimulating.
“It doesn’t just happen overnight; it has been a journey. Petco and Extrupet have been working together for more than 20 years to build a solid foundation.
“Petco’s commitment of ongoing support to our 10 contracted recycling partners, like Extrupet, gives them the confidence to invest in the new equipment and infrastructure that is needed to recycle increasing tonnages of recyclable packaging.
“The support also enables recyclers to increase the gate price at which they purchase recyclable packaging, which stimulates collection on the ground by increasing the street value of this packaging and growing the local market for it, thereby making it easier for waste pickers to sell their collected packaging and earn an income from it,” Scholtz said.
She said a strong relationship with government, especially the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, was equally important for the country to benefit as a whole.
“Having implementable regulations, strong compliance, and effective enforcement is vital. We partner with all tiers of government to support sustainable waste management and diversion initiatives, and work towards meeting sustainable development and circular economy goals.”
Climate Change Bill
She said that the opening of the new plant also aligned with government’s climate change goals, as outlined in the newly signed Climate Change Bill.
The bill sets out to enhance South Africa’s ability to cut greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.
Wadhwani said Extrupet had established its first bottle-to-food-grade line in Johannesburg in 2009, with the second following in 2014.
“The third arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. And the fact that this is now the fourth line in what's, in essence, a 15-year horizon is just so gratifying for us,” Wadhwani said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 09/17/2024 - 09:49
Municipality pledges to buy 100 water trucks to end its need to hire them
In a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing awareness and understanding of FICA compliance, leading South African PR agency Red Ribbon Communications collaborated with DocFox, a pioneer in B2B tech solutions, to shed light on the critical importance of accountability in the financial sector. The placement of South Africa on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) …
Red Ribbon Communications, a leading PR agency specialising in tech PR and sustainability, has achieved a significant milestone through its successful collaboration with Rubicon, a leading South African sustainable technology provider. The strategic partnership has not only solidified Red Ribbon’s position as an expert in providing PR services to renewable energy solutions but has also …
Gauteng features more sweet-scented and bright yellow flowers this year, heralding the end of winter and welcoming the start of spring. These flowers will also attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies in the province, helping to create a healthy and vibrant ecosystem. This is all thanks to the efforts of Emira Property Fund (JSE: …
BRICS Ministers of Justice to meet in Moscow
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane is expected to attend the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Justice in Moscow, Russia, this week.
This ahead of the BRICS 2024 Summit expected to be held in that country from 22 to 24 October.
“The meeting seeks to strengthen relations between Ministries of Justice from BRICS countries and will see the Ministries of Justice from BRICS countries working together to ensure the protection of civil rights and freedoms, introduction of technological solutions in the area of digitalisation of justice services and benchmarking on experience in providing legal services and legal aid to the members of the public.
“It is envisaged that the BRICS Ministries of Justice meeting will culminate in improved relations between the BRICS Ministries of Justice, resolution to current issues related to the areas of cooperation and organization of advanced training programs in the legal fraternity,” the department said in a statement.
The meeting of the BRICS Minister of Justice is set for 18 to 20 September.
The department said the Minister will also have the opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with Ministers from the BRICS countries.
“The interaction of different countries in [the meeting] is based on respect for the universally recognised principles, norms of international laws and the desire for equal international cooperation in order to solve mutual problems and promote common interests,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 09/16/2024 - 12:02
Collaboration key to addressing illegal snaring of wildlife
Collaboration and partnerships are key in addressing the negative impacts from the illegal snaring of wildlife.
This was among the takeaways from the inaugural two-day national Snare Mitigation Symposium in Pretoria, which was attended by leading experts in wildlife crime, government officials and representatives of numerous stakeholders across the sector to examine the multi-faceted aspects of the snaring crisis.
The meeting of 140 delegates delved into the impacts, drivers and solutions to this increasing threat to wildlife and the economy.
This is according to a joint statement issued on Monday by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT), the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and South African National Parks (SANParks).
The statements said snaring is motivated by complex socio-economic and cultural drivers.
The symposium explored snaring from a myriad of angles and viewpoints.
“Information gained through the symposium highlighted that animals are snared largely for personal or commercial use and is occurring at unsustainable rates across all provinces and in diverse landscapes.
“Sadly, many species including leopard, lion, hyena and other predators are killed as by-catch in snares originally set for bushmeat,” said the statement.
A key takeaway from the symposium is that there is a need for less ‘fortress’ mentality and more community and sustainable use interaction among stakeholders towards achieving positive outcomes for this threat to wildlife.
“Communities living with wildlife, and those linked to snaring, need to form an integral part of the solutions being proposed, and to be undertaken, to address snaring.
“No solution will be credible without the involvement of the relevant community voices in co-development of solutions. Solutions need to be diverse, purposely inclusive and tailored to, and by, the people living in the affected areas. Technological advances were showcased at the symposium to improve snare detection and data collection,” the statement said on Monday.
Among the key decisions adopted as outcomes of the symposium included further research on the drivers and alternative livelihood solutions, more cohesive legislation to address snaring and other wildlife crimes, more centralised reporting and monitoring to ascertain the extent of the problem and creating a greater understanding of the impact of snaring not only on biodiversity, but also on the economy and well-being of communities.
“Looking to the future, greater teamwork and communication between State, private sector and civil society will be cultivated to find sustainable long-term solutions for both people and wildlife,” the statement said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 09/16/2024 - 15:28
Government of National Unity will thrive, says President
Following a meeting of the party leaders last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa says in his weekly newsletter that he is even more convinced that the Government of National Unity (GNU) is essential for the growth and development of the country.
“I am convinced that the GNU will not only survive, but that it will thrive. South Africans expect the GNU to succeed, and we will not let them down,” the President said.
On Wednesday last week, the leaders of the parties that form the GNU met to reflect on how the GNU is working.
Three months have passed since 10 parties represented in Parliament signed a Statement of Intent committing themselves to work together in government and Parliament to advance the country’s interests.
The parties agreed to certain fundamental principles, including to respect the Constitution and the rule of law and to promote accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance.
The parties also agreed on a common minimum programme that would form the basis of the work of the GNU. At its first Cabinet Lekgotla in mid-July, Ministers and Deputy Ministers drawn from the GNU partners, together with Directors-General and other officials, developed priority actions to give effect to the minimum programme.
Since these priority actions were outlined in the Opening of Parliament Address on 18 July 2024, the President said Ministers and Deputy Ministers have been hard at work to implement the tasks assigned to them.
“For a few Ministers and Deputy Ministers, being in the Executive is a new experience and for some it has been quite an adjustment. But with the support of their departments, they have all hit the ground running. Across all parties, Ministers and Deputy Ministers are making headway in confronting the challenges the country faces.
“What is significant and most welcome is that the members of the Executive have undertaken their work as part of a Cabinet collective. Although they are drawn from different parties, they have pursued the common GNU programme. They have worked in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration as Cabinet colleagues to serve the interests of the South African people,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa added the members of the Executive have each understood their role in advancing the three strategic priorities of the seventh democratic administration.
“The priorities are clear – a commitment to drive inclusive growth and job creation. A clear focus to reduce poverty and to tackle the high cost of living. A resolve to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.
Ministers and deputy ministers have been focused not on the interests of their respective parties, but on the common mandate they have received to build and develop the country,” he said.
The President said there was general agreement among the party leaders last week that the GNU has made a good start. They believe that the GNU is working well and that everyone is playing a constructive role.
“As party leaders, we nevertheless recognise that the parties in the GNU represent a range of political and ideological perspectives. There are issues on which we disagree and there will be times when differences between the parties will become more apparent.
“A case in point has been the debate around the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, which I signed into law last week. Even as the leaders were meeting last week, some parties in the GNU were publicly urging me not to sign the Bill, while others were saying that I should sign the Bill,” he said.
The President highlighted that the Constitution is quite clear on the responsibilities of the President with respect to signing legislation.
He explained that once a Bill has been passed by Parliament, the President must either assent to the Bill or, if they have reservations about its constitutionality, refer it back to Parliament.
“Since, after considering all the various submissions, I had no such reservations about the BELA Bill, the Constitution obliged me to assent to it. However, even as I signed the Bill, I noted that some of the parties in the GNU said they wanted to engage each other on parts of the bill dealing with issues of school admissions and language.
“To give the parties time to discuss these issues, I said we would delay implementation of the Act in order for parties to engage and come up with proposals, if any, on the relevant clauses,” the President said.
In taking this approach, President Ramaphosa said he sought to establish a culture of openness and dialogue among the GNU parties.
“We are also drawing on a long history in South Africa of engagement among parties on matters on which they seem far apart.
“As times, agreement can be reached when matters come to a head at the last minute enabling all parties to focus on finding solutions and discovering that there is more that unites them than what separates them. We cannot guarantee that the parties that have requested timeout to engage will reach agreement on every difficult issue. But we need to make every effort to find common ground,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Mon, 09/16/2024 - 10:43
Gauteng commits to public hearings following municipal AGSA outcomes
The Gauteng Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has met with the Auditor General of SA (AGSA) over concerns about the poor performance of Gauteng municipalities.
This after the release of the consolidated general report on local government audit outcomes 2022/23 last month.
For Gauteng municipalities, the AGSA identified, amongst others, R7.533 billion in irregular expenditure, largely due to non-compliance with procurement regulations; non-compliance with legislation; financial mismanagement and poor service delivery and project implementation.
“In response to these findings, the portfolio committee expressed deep concern over the pervasive non-compliance and the ongoing financial mismanagement in municipalities.
“The committee emphasised the need for municipalities to adhere strictly to legislative requirements and improve their financial and operational management to ensure better service delivery to residents,” the committee said.
In an effort to address some of the issues, the committee committed to holding hearings with residents particularly in municipalities that are struggling.
“These hearings will serve as a platform for engaging with local leaders, stakeholders, and the public to identify solutions and hold municipal officials accountable for their performance. The committee also reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous oversight and will closely monitor the implementation of corrective actions as recommended by the AGSA; and ensure that consequence management is implemented where required.”
The committee called for enhanced coordination between COGTA, Provincial Treasury, municipalities, and other relevant bodies to provide targeted support to municipalities in distress.
“The committee will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that all municipalities in Gauteng operate with the highest standards of governance, transparency, and accountability,” it said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 09/16/2024 - 10:32
Gauteng commended for tackling water challenges head on
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, David Mahlobo, has commended Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s bold steps towards tackling the province’s water challenges head on.
This comes after the Gauteng Councillors' Imbizo held in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg on Friday.
The event aimed to address the pressing issues of water security in the province’s municipalities, caused mainly by a constant population growth which has negatively impacted on infrastructure and water supply management issues within the municipalities.
Mahlobo, who addressed the event, highlighted the pivotal role water plays in social transformation and economic development.
He warned that neglecting water infrastructure and the management of water supply not only hinders progress but also poses significant water security threat to the province.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that Gauteng has faced ongoing water supply challenges due to increased water demand by the residents.
“Alarmingly, there is no municipality within the province that has achieved a consistent 100% or 99% water supply to its citizens without disruptions. We cannot allow the situation to continue because water will become an impediment to social transformation and economic growth and can also become a security threat within the province,” Mahlobo said.
The Deputy Minister stressed the necessity of a collective mindset shift regarding water management and its conservation within the province, pointing out that the behaviour exhibited by most domestic and institutional water users reflects a concerning lack of awareness about the sustenance of water as a finite and vital resource.
Mahlobo urged councillors not to allow the decision makers to deter their goal of ensuring service delivery in their communities.
“Councillors are in a unique position to engage with their communities and to raise awareness about water conservation, and advocate for necessary infrastructure changes. I hope that when you conclude your sessions in this Imbizo, you will have a different attitude towards matters of water supply and you will handle water and sanitation issues differently," Mahlobo said.
The Imbizo served not only as a platform for sharing concerns but also as a springboard for actionable solutions.
Mahlobo identified several key strategies, which include loss of water due to infrastructure decay, to address the water challenges facing Gauteng.
He highlighted fixing sewer spillages and ensuring that sewage systems are operating efficiently as crucial to ensure sustainable water availability and its management.
Mahlobo's approach also laid the groundwork for sustainable long-term water management practices.
“Residents and municipalities must adopt a practice that promotes responsible water consumption, which can help alleviate pressures on the existing water supply. Moreover, technology should be integrated to monitor and safeguard water infrastructure, and this can enhance management efforts and prevent future crisis,” Mahlobo said.
During the Imbizo, councillors from various municipalities got an opportunity to voice their concerns regarding water and sanitation issues.
Councillor Mariana Kruger from Ward 12 in Midvaal Local Municipality commended Rand Water for their substantial contributions toward improving water supply and emphasised the importance of collaboration between local government and water entities.
"We must maintain an open communication and contact with our counterparts to ensure effective water supply and sanitation services," Kruger said.
The Deputy Minister’s call for a change in relationship dynamics surrounding water management can empower local leaders to take initiatives that prioritise water security for their residents. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Sun, 09/15/2024 - 11:01
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education Chairperson, Ms Joy Maimela, today welcomed the signing into law of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.
The BELA Bill was assented into law today by President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, the President put on hold clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill for three months in order to find solutions to those clauses. Should no solutions be found, the Bill will be implemented fully.
Ms Maimela said the legislation has been more than 11 years in the making and is in line with continuing the transformation agenda of the education sector.
Among other things, the Bill makes Grade R the new compulsory school-starting age; provides for penalties for parents who do not ensure that their children are in school; and confirms that corporal punishment is no longer allowed at schools, with penalties for those found guilty of such offences.
The Bill amplifies the corporal punishment definition and brings in the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) definition because it is constantly used now in the Act and the Bill. The Act further expanded the powers of the courts in dealing with sentencing and penalties by adding that the courts' discretion is best placed to decide such matters in accordance with the CPA, with regards to parents or guardians who disregard the requirement to ensure children are in school.
In terms of language policy, the amendment states that the governing body must submit the language policy of a public school and any amendment thereof to the head of department for approval. The language policy must also take into consideration the language needs of the broader community. “The committee notes that this relates to one of the clauses that the President put on hold for three months. We look forward to the engagement on this but continue to call for the full implementation of the Bill,” the Chairperson said.
In terms of the Bill, home education is allowed but must be regulated in terms of site visits that can happen at any place of choice, should the parents not agree to such visits at their homes. Furthermore, a report at the end of each phase will now be required by a qualified educator or assessor to prove the competency of the learner in that phase.
“The committee commends the President for signing into law this very progressive piece of legislation that will see the landscape of schooling in South Africa changing for the better. This is indeed what South Africa needs at this stage,” Ms Maimela said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
The Coca-Cola Company in Africa (www.Coca-ColaCompany.com) and its bottling partners Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC) and Coca-Cola HBC announced a nearly USD 25 million investment to help address critical water-related challenges in local communities in 20 African countries, starting this year through 2030. The work will be led by Global Water Challenge (GWC) and implemented by a consortium of partners, including The Nature Conservancy (TNC), The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The effort, called ‘The Coca-Cola System's Africa Water Stewardship Initiative', was introduced in Cape Town, South Africa, in presence of executives from the Coca-Cola system in Africa and NGO partners. During the event, Karyn Harrington, Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company's Africa Operating Unit indicated “Water is a priority for The Coca-Cola Company and its local bottling partners because it is essential to life, the communities we serve and our beverages. As we face increasing water insecurity worldwide, with demand outstripping supply in many regions such as Africa, Coca-Cola is taking steps to help accelerate efforts to address water stress, protect local water resources, and build community climate resilience. Our 2030 Water Security Strategy focuses on helping enhance water security where we operate, source ingredients, and touch lives.”
“One in three Africans face water insecurity. The Global Water Challenge and ‘The Coca-Cola System's Africa Water Stewardship Initiative' partner coalition will seek to improve water security for millions across the African continent, helping advance community health and resilience through abundant, clean water. We applaud Coca-Cola's continued leadership on African water security” said Monica Ellis, CEO of GWC.
‘The Coca-Cola System's Africa Water Stewardship Initiative' aims to help protect and enhance the health of important watersheds and to help improve access to water and sanitation services in local communities. We will have projects in Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mayotte, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“CCBA has a responsibility to help those who face water scarcity and to help protect local water resources where we operate, especially in places with the biggest challenges. We are proud to partner with The Coca-Cola Company on this project,” says Layla Jeevanantham, Chief Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Officer at CCBA.
“We are proud to partner with The Coca-Cola Company and fellow bottlers on this critical initiative to help tackle water challenges across Africa. By working together, we can leverage the expertise of our partners and the knowledge of local communities to help create sustainable solutions that enhance water access and safeguard vital water resources,” said Sonia Ventosa, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability Manager at ECCBC.
“Coca-Cola HBC has been part of African communities for more than 70 years, and sustainability is an important part of how we operate. We're very happy to see this new water initiative come to life and to support the system's water stewardship efforts,” said Marcel Martin, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Coca-Cola HBC.
Recognizing that partnerships are critical to support this work, the company and its bottlers are collaborating with governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to design and implement strategic interventions. In addition to supporting the company's water strategy, this effort also aims to contribute to advancing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation.
This water initiative will build upon The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF)'s Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), a groundbreaking collaboration with key partners and co-funders which helped improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene for 6 million people across African countries between 2009 and 2019. Through 120 projects, the initiative positively impacted homes, schools and healthcare clinics in more than 4,000 communities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Coca-Cola.
Contacts:
Amel Benchikh El Houcine
abenchikh@coca-cola.com
About The Coca-Cola Company:
The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company's purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca‑Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We are constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people's lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.Coca-ColaCompany.com and follow us on Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/3Ttw0hL), Facebook (http://apo-opa.co/3ToqwVu) and LinkedIn (http://apo-opa.co/4db5D6V).
Forward-Looking Statements:
This update may contain statements, estimates or projections that constitute “forwardlooking statements” as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Statements about our sustainability goals, aspirations and anticipated progress also constitute “forwardlooking statements.” Forwardlooking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause The CocaCola Company's actual results to differ materially from its historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks include, but are not limited to, evolving sustainability regulatory requirements and expectations, including evolving processes, controls and methodologies for identifying, measuring, assuring and reporting sustainability metrics and data, which could result in significant revisions to our previously reported data; increasing concerns about the environmental impact of plastic bottles and other packaging materials; water scarcity and poor quality; increased demand for food products, decreased agricultural productivity and increased regulation of ingredient sourcing due diligence; climate change and legal or regulatory responses thereto; adverse weather conditions; unfavorable economic and geopolitical conditions; disruption of our supply chain, including increased commodity, raw material, packaging, energy, transportation and other input costs; an inability to successfully integrate and manage our acquired businesses, brands or bottling operations or an inability to realize a significant portion of the anticipated benefits of our joint ventures or strategic relationships; and other risks discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10Q, which filings are available through the SEC's website. You should not place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements.
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Lamola embarks on a working visit to the United States
The International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, has arrived in Washington DC, in the United States on Thursday for a weeklong working visit.
South Africa enjoys strategic relations with the United States and has strong political, economic, and social ties.
According to the department, bilateral cooperation with the United States covers various issues aligned with South Africa’s domestic priorities and the National Development Plan (NDP).
America is also the leading source of foreign direct investment, a market for value-added exports and agri-products, technology transfer, development assistance, investment finance, skills development, and tourism for South Africa.
These investments, according to the department, make a significant contribution to supporting government efforts to reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality.
During the visit, which will conclude on Thursday, 19 September 2024, the Minister will participate in meetings and attend various events.
These include the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 53rd Annual Legislative Conference Roundtable where delegates will also discuss critical issues facing Africa and the diaspora solutions, and the United States policy toward Africa.
He is also expected to meet with the business stakeholders, including the United States Chamber of Commerce.
George Washington University will host Lamola for a panel discussion on United States-South Africa relations.
“There will also be an engagement with the Quincy Institute Responsible for State Craft and a meeting with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“Minister Lamola believes that this working visit will deepen and strengthen the political and economic ties between the two countries,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 09/13/2024 - 10:14
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Nuclear build will follow the science - Ramokgopa
The South African government will pursue a new nuclear build that is led by scientific evidence.
This is according to the Minister of Energy and Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who addressed the Nuclear Seminar hosted by the Ministry on Thursday.
“We are going to be evidence led in terms of our policy choices. The beauty about evidence and science is that it removes emotion. It’s important that those who can bring the political dimension, bring it to the fore [and] marry it with the science and we find solutions.
“We have a duty to ensure that as many people as possible or those who have an interest must understand what the science [of nuclear] is so that we are able to dispel these myths [about nuclear], we are able to undermine and push back against those who have no clue about the conversation we are having today,” he said.
Ramokgopa insisted that the withdrawal of the ministerial determination for government’s planned procurement of at least 2 500MW was to protect the process from legal challenges.
“We made the point that we have nothing to hide. So if there are complexities or the process of the 2 500MW build programme is compromised…we have a duty to pull it back, to clean it so that you don’t conflate the science and the process.
“Then on the basis of the science we’ll be able to make a compelling story to the South African people. [We want to] clean the process, make it as democratic as possible. Those who have objections, raise those objections on the basis of the science because the process would have allowed you an opportunity to do exactly that,” he said.
The Minister noted that the global move towards the use of nuclear energy is a “return to realism”.
“We will converge on the science that this is the path that must be pursued for us to be able to achieve energy security to ensure that we are able to green the sources of energy generation.
“Nucelar is part of the energy mix…it’s part of the future. It’s indispensable to the resolution of an attainment of energy sovereignty in this country. We will answer the question of at what scale, what pace that will not undermine the issues of affordability and not compromise the fiscus. I am more than confident that nuclear has got a place, has a got a role,” Ramokgopa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 09/12/2024 - 12:30