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EWSETA introduces specialised training for renewable energy, water management
The Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) has developed and implemented specialised renewable energy and water resource management training programmes, in a bid to align with industry needs and technological advancements.
This was revealed during a media engagement with the organisation in Rosebank, Johannesburg on Tuesday.
EWSETA Chief Executive Officer, Mpho Mookapele, engaged the media on the back of growing research that macroeconomic trends and technological advancements continue to disrupt labour markets worldwide.
Mookapele highlighted some of the courses implemented by the organisation and others currently in the pipeline, including water works management, solar panel installation, wind turbine maintenance and other green energy solutions, among others.
She said as the energy sector is rapidly evolving the EWSETA is currently developing qualifications that will respond to the gaps in the curriculum.
The skills programmes that will be introduced include wind turbine operation, biogas installation, microgrid and battery energy storage operation, solar PV manufacture, design, and installation.
“When the sector needs certain skills, we are committed to working together with industry to build these capabilities. Ultimately, we exist to ensure industries are successful.
“As such, we aim to move with agility to ensure that these programmes and qualifications are concluded and submitted for registration with Quality Council for Trades and Occupation (QCTO) and South African Qualification South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA),” Mookapele said.
She said due to the boom in the photovoltaic sector and more people going solar, the SETA is also currently working with industry to ensure that minimum skills requirements are mandated for the PV Green Card training - a quality assurance standard for solar PV installers.
These minimum requirements will hopefully mitigate against substandard installations.
Mookapela said the EWSETA is looking for partners to enable retro-fitting technical workshops for TVET colleges to ensure that they are responding to the tech-developments in the industry.
Developing water-related qualifications
The EWSETA has also partnered with water boards, including municipalities and private industries, to develop water-related qualifications that aim to address the challenges around clean drinking water and wastewater treatment plants.
“In response to the evolving water landscape, a Water Works Management NQF 6 qualification has been registered. EWSETA is in the process of developing a Water Resource Management qualification at NQF level 8 and a skills programme for a Water Conservation Practitioner,” she said.
Advances in water treatment processes will necessitate the development of qualifications that will respond to the future treatment landscape, and these include biological water treatment and smart water grids, amongst others.
“As the world transitions to net zero, the traditional career landscape is changing, and it is up to all of us to future-proof our workforce. The Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority is taking strides to harness the opportunities that these exciting changes present,” Mookapele said.
Skills development initiatives
Meanwhile, Mookapele underscored the importance for businesses to share their skills plans with the EWSETA to enable the organisation to capacitate learners accordingly.
Investing in skills development secures the long-term sustainability of industries and contributes to economic resilience.
“Together with government and private entities we are collaborating to fast-track skills development initiatives that seek to upskill and reskill employees to meet the workforce demands of the changing energy and water sectors,” Mookapele said.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) last year revealed that 4.7 million more people were employed in clean energy globally in 2022 than in 2019.
Mookapele noted that concerns around the “green skills gap” have been echoed by a recent report from LinkedIn, which shows that only 1 in 8 employees globally possess one or more green skills.
“We don’t want to leave South Africa’s young people and workforce behind; it is important for businesses to share their skills plans with us, so that we can capacitate learners accordingly,” she said.
EWSETA’s mandate is to participate, build and strategically plan and manage skills development, and training needs in the energy and water sectors, as directed by the National Skills Development Plan 2030. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 02/27/2024 - 14:38
In a resounding celebration of South African literature, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors Association of South Africa (ANFASA) proudly unveil the results of the DSAC Publishing Hub’s 2023/24 Call for Manuscripts. This year’s initiative has seen an overwhelming response, with 21 exceptional manuscripts selected for publication. …
At the 9th annual Cyber Security Weekend – META conference held recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) presented an industrial cybersecurity review for the countries in the region and outlined the key cybersecurity challenges for industrial enterprises in the year ahead.
According to Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) statistics, in the second half of 2023, 32.6% of ICS computers globally had been attacked with malware. In the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region the figure is 36.5% for Turkiye, 36.8% for Africa (27.5% in South Africa, 34.55% in Kenya, 28.8% in Nigeria, 33.17% in Ghana), and 33.5% for the Middle East region. There is a slight decrease in this figure in the region compared to 2022 which can be the result of industrial organisations paying more attention to cybersecurity.
African countries are undergoing rapid digitalisation and integration into the world's economy, while at the same time facing a significant cybersecurity under-investment problem. In the second half of 2023, 7.55% of Operational Technology computers in Africa were exposed to threats via USBs (that is 20 times more than the figure of Western Europe); 7.2% faced threat by worms (that is 28 times more than in Australia & New Zealand); and 9.1% of OT computers were exposed to spyware (that is 7.7 times more than the figure for North America).
Kaspersky Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS CERT) predictions for 2024 highlight the persistence of ransomware threats, rise of cosmopolitical hacktivism, an outlook on the state of “offensive cybersecurity”, and transformative shifts in logistics and transport threats.
Looking back at 2023 (https://apo-opa.co/3OXrfus), Kaspersky predicted the industrial cybersecurity landscape continuing to evolve, with several key trends emerging. The pursuit of efficiency in IIoT and SmartXXX systems fueled an expanded attack surface, while the surge in energy carrier prices led to heightened hardware costs, prompting a strategic shift towards cloud services. The growing government involvement in industrial processes also introduced fresh risks, including concerns about data leaks due to underqualified employees and insufficient practices for responsible disclosure.
This retrospective analysis lays the groundwork for understanding the cybersecurity landscape faced by industrial enterprises in 2024, such as:
Ransomware is projected to persist as the primary concern for industrial enterprises in 2024. Large organisations, unique product suppliers, and major logistics companies face increased risks, with potential severe economic and social consequences. Cybercriminals are expected to target entities capable of substantial ransom payments, causing disruptions in production and delivery
Geopolitically motivated hacktivism is forecasted to intensify, presenting more destructive consequences. In addition to country-specific protest movements, the rise of cosmopolitical hacktivism is expected, driven by socio-cultural and macro-economic agendas such as eco-hacktivism. This diversification of motives may contribute to a more complex and challenging threat landscape.
The use of “offensive cybersecurity” for gathering cyberthreat intelligence is anticipated to have controversial consequences. While it may improve corporate security by providing early signs of potential compromises, the thin line between the grey zone and the shadows may be breached. Profit-driven cyber activities, armed with commercial and open-source tools, could operate more discreetly, making detection and investigation challenging.
The rapid automation and digitisation of logistics and transport are introducing new challenges, intertwining cyber and traditional crimes. This includes theft of vehicles and goods, maritime piracy, and smuggling. Non-targeted cyberattacks may lead to physical consequences, especially in river, sea, truck, and special-purpose vehicles.
“The industrial sector's cybersecurity is continuously going through significant changes, with both new types of attacks and more sophisticated versions of old ones. Ransomware attacks are still a big problem, and hackers are getting better at targeting large, profitable companies with more advanced methods. Hacktivists who are motivated by social issues are also becoming more active, adding another layer of complexity to the threats. The transportation and logistics industry is especially vulnerable to these changes because its systems are becoming more and more digital. This combination of cyber and traditional crime is a serious threat to global supply chains. To protect themselves, organisations need to prioritise cybersecurity and keep improving their defenses,” commented Evgeny Goncharov, head of Kaspersky ICS CERT.
Read the full list of ICS predictions for 2024 at ICS CERT website (https://apo-opa.co/3OYsGZB).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.
About Kaspersky:
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. 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. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help over 220,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za.
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The realm of security technology trends has seen impressive innovations, and at the forefront is the highly acclaimed Ultralock™—a synonym for the ultimate home protection. This pioneering security mechanism is more than just a lock; it is an embodiment of the safety and assurance homeowners fervently seek today. One of the standout Ultralock™ features is its tamper-resistant steel key lock. Resistant to …
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Global leaders urged to reverse teacher shortage
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called on global leaders to do whatever it takes to attract bright young minds to join the teaching profession and address the issue of teacher shortages.
“To increase participation in this profession, we should provide competitive compensation and recognise teachers’ achievements,” the Deputy President said on Monday.
The country’s second-in-command is of the view that this could be achieved through the promotion of excellence and creativity and cultivating a sense of pride and purpose among educators.
The Deputy President was speaking at the 14th Policy Dialogue Forum of the International Task Force on Teachers for Education in Illovo, Johannesburg.
The task force is a global platform for education stakeholders, which aims to foster advocacy, knowledge exchange, peer learning and monitoring progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on quality education.
“As we gather here today, we are faced with a stark reality, which is a shortage of qualified and motivated teachers across the globe.”
This shortage, the Deputy President said, not only jeopardises the quality of education but also undermines collective efforts to achieve the SDG 4 goal of inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
“Instead of disregarding the situation and continuing as if everything is going according to plan, we need to acknowledge the problem and devise a solution that is both effective and efficient.”
The value of teachers
He also took the time to acknowledge the worth of teachers and the crucial role they play in shaping the future of nations.
Besides teaching and imparting knowledge to the future generation, Deputy President Mashatile said teachers play a crucial role in nurturing, fostering critical thinking, inspiring dreams, and pushing the limits of human potential.
“We thus owe it to these titans of our society to recognise, honour, empower, and value them as well as the job that they do.
“Most importantly, significant consideration must be made on how we should improve their working conditions and remuneration as a way of appreciating their hard work so that they can be able to fulfil their important task without getting discouraged.”
Shifting his focus to the digital age, he believes that governments should ensure that educators can effectively utilise new technologies to remain relevant and efficient in the current digital age.
The Deputy President also expressed his gratitude to the task force for recognising South Africa as a key player in the journey to achieving quality education for all by the year 2030.
“As South Africa, we feel privileged to have been allowed to co-chair the steering committee of the Teacher Task Force in collaboration with Germany.”
Finding solutions
He said he hoped his home country would learn from the good practices that will be shared at this forum.
“South Africa is optimistic that this Policy Dialogue Forum will untangle solutions for addressing the contents of the report.”
He also highlighted the issue of teachers assigned grades for which they have inadequate training and qualifications.
“More teachers are produced for the Further Education and Training (FET) band than for the General Education and Training (GET) band. This situation has necessitated the FET band teachers to migrate to the senior phase and teach Grades 7 and 8 classes.”
However, he said the government is addressing this matter through the Fundza Lushaka Bursary Scheme which aims to attract young teachers into the teaching profession and improve teacher salaries and working conditions and use of contracted teachers to deal with immediate needs.
He also paid tribute to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, who was selected to serve on a high-level panel convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in 2022. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 02/26/2024 - 11:40
When it comes to treating erectile dysfunction (ED), men across South Africa are presented with a variety of options, each claiming to restore the vigor and vitality lost due to this condition. Many seek to compare Virekta and Viagra in an effort to find the best alternative to Viagra. While Viagra has long been established as a go-to …
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By Brandon Govender – Enrolment Manager at Regent Business School In the diverse and dynamic landscape of South Africa, the digital divide is a glaring challenge impeding the progress of educational equity and societal advancement. This divide not only separates communities based on their access to technology but also impacts their ability to develop vital …
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the concept of the smart home has transitioned from a futuristic idea to a tangible reality for many. With the integration of advanced operating systems, smart lighting, comprehensive home security, unparalleled comfort and convenience, immersive home entertainment, intuitive universal remotes, and innovative intercom solutions, the modern home is becoming a hub …
Johannesburg: Business must consider pitching in to ensure community water security, said Malcolm Curror, Chief Executive of United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK). The company said water preservation and equitable distribution is critical in the near, medium and long term. Access to water and sanitation is a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. Large metros, like Johannesburg, …
Government intervenes to resolve KwaXimba water challenges
Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has reiterated the department’s commitment to work alongside the eThekwini Municipality and uMngeni-uThukela Water to resolve water-related challenges in KwaXimba.
The Minister, joined by Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, and Inkosi Mlaba KwaXimba, held a joint Imbizo at the Inkosi Msinga Sports Centre on Thursday, which aimed to address water provision in KwaXimba ward 1.
The community raised their concerns at the constant interruptions in water supply during a series of protests in recent weeks.
Mchunu said the plans announced to the community during the engagement would ensure longer lasting solutions to water-related matters.
He said the purpose of the imbizo was to engage the community of KwaXimba to acknowledge the challenges and see how long it is going to take them to resolve it.
“[As is], you can hardly differentiate now what is being done by eThekwini, what is being done by DWS, [and] what is it being done by uMngeni-uThukela Water, because we are together. The size and the nature here require all of us to work together day in and day out to resolve these problems,” Mchunu said.
The city has seen challenges in water supply due to a power outage at the Midmar Dam, a source of water supply to the area, and this sparked public outcry.
The outage affected the entire western aqueduct supplied areas, including Hammersdale, Georgedale, Kloof, Gillits, Tshelimnyama, Dassenhoek, Inanda and Umzinyath, among others.
Another issue was the high demand for water due to the population growth in KwaXimba and surrounding areas. This led to the current allocation not being adequate to the current population and resulting in some areas receiving water through water tankers.
Mchunu announced that as from 19 February 2024, the system has stabilised, with all reservoirs supplied from Western aqueduct now receiving water.
Short and long term plans have been instituted, including the urgent installation and commissioning of a 2 mega litre per day package plant at Mvini, which is expected to be operational by 17 May 2024.
“The design, procurement, installation and commissioning of a 5 Mega litre per day package plant at that will replace the package plant. This plan is anticipated to be concluded by the end of June 2024.
“A long term solution is the construction and commissioning of the Upper Mkhomazi scheme by 2030 to add additional water to the already constructed western aqueduct scheme which is designed to carry 400Mega Litre per day,” Mchunu said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 02/23/2024 - 15:04
Pretoria, South Africa – In today’s digital landscape, as businesses expand their online presence, the temptation to incorporate flashy features into websites can often lead to unintended consequences. Click Results, a leading digital marketing firm based in Pretoria, sheds light on the critical importance of simplicity in website design to drive conversions and enhance user …
The nation’s leading flexible workspace provider, Workshop17, is set to open its eighth location and Ballitos first co-working space at Ballito Junction in May this year. Located in the recently renovated Ballito Junction Regional Mall, Workshop17 Ballito offers a combo of luxury workspace solutions and retail convenience all under one roof. Members can enjoy the …
Challenges can be overcome by working together - Enoch Godongwana
Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has called on South Africans – both citizens and private business – to work together with government to resolve the challenges the country faces.
The Minister was speaking during a post-Budget Speech discussion held in Cape Town on Thursday morning.
In his Budget Speech on Wednesday, Godongwana highlighted electricity and logistics challenges as two of the key issues facing the economy.
“We need to work together to address these challenges. For instance, there are a number of business people who have come forward, business associations that have come forward and bringing in talent to work with government in what is called NECOM [National Energy Crisis Committee] to address the electricity challenges.
“Building on that template, business has come forward, working with government, and developed what is called now the [Freight] Logistics Roadmap. We need, as South Africans and even as government, not to be arrogant and accept solutions from different people across the board,” he said.
Godongwana said on crime, government has brought in business “to work with us on how we can deal with crime”.
In a frank discussion regarding the country’s challenges, the Minister said government takes responsibility for some issues.
“We have got challenges. The government has got to take the responsibility for some of these challenges. I can’t say I’m happy with the fact that we’ve not been able to deal with the electricity challenge for 16 years. It is a fundamental flaw…which has cost the economy substantially,” he said.
On the question of why National Treasury left most taxes – barring sin taxes and carbon tax – unchanged, the Minister said solutions to broadening revenue lie elsewhere.
“Our tax strategy is to broaden the base than increasing taxes. If you…compare us to our peers, tax to GDP, we are not comparing favourably. So…we should not be working hard to say how much should we tax people more; we should be saying how do we broaden that tax base.
“There are a number of ways of doing it and first, fundamentally, is to grow the economy but we can only grow the economy if we bring all of our solutions and I think we can do it working together,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 02/22/2024 - 11:37
Pandor calls on the G20 to help resolve global tensions
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has challenged G20 nations to address ongoing global tensions, which have been fueled by a variety of developments in recent years.
Pandor drew attention to a few pressing issues including the increasing debt load faced by poor and middle-income countries, inequality, and neglect in certain parts of the world like Palestine.
She highlighted the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the recent Israel-Gaza war, and related violations of international law and United Nations (UN) guidelines.
The Minister also mentioned that there are several issues, such as trade tensions between major economies, economic decline due to COVID-19, and continuing terrorism and extremism.
“All these have placed the world in a more precarious context and as G20 we must attempt to craft implementable responses,” she said.
Pandor was speaking at the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brazil on Wednesday.
She believes that the G20 leaders are most suitable to tackle the challenge of providing effective solutions to issues that are leading to conflict, division, insecurity, and growing inequality.
“The world is watching to see whether the most powerful can initiate a reversal of our slide to disaster,” the Minister stressed.
G20, which is also known as the Group of 20, is a forum for international economic cooperation and plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues.
“The G20 was conceived to draw together governments that would work together in strategic cooperation to create a platform or global practice that would assist developing countries to overcome poverty inequality and insecurity.
“Our governments acknowledged that changing the material conditions of the poorest was and remains fundamental to maintaining the relevance of G20,” she explained.
She said it was encouraging that following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group renewed its focus on development compared to the past.
Meanwhile, according to Pandor, if developing countries were to achieve greater progress with the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs), funding would be needed from the multilateral development banks (MDB).
According to the United Nations Development Programme, SDGs, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
“Greater financing and development support could be secured through active support to arrest illicit financial flows from and between African countries given the impact on development illicit finances fuel corruption undermine the rule of law and the stability of markets, yet little has been done to address them,” said the Minister.
The MDBs offer financial and technical assistance to developing countries to improve economic management and reduce poverty.
She told delegates that the multidimensional and transnational nature of illicit financial flows also requires concerted international action.
“G20 could do much to strengthen its important role in acting on this drain of developing countries resources,” she added.
The Minister also called for an urgent need to reform international institutions to make them more able to address development challenges.
She highlighted the Breton Woods Institutions, which she said had been more responsive to development needs.
However, she said much more has to change to enhance and safeguard these changes.
“The international tension we see today requires balanced and fair approaches to global challenges, respect for diversity of opinion and belief and acceptance that global bodies are most successful when they act in the interests of all equally,” she added. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 02/22/2024 - 09:38
Genophobia, or the overwhelming fear of sexual intimacy, is more than just discomfort. It is a phobia that provokes panic, dread, and even physical symptoms like nausea, signifying a disruption in normal interpersonal connections. Known also as erotophobia or coitophobia, this condition extends to related phobias such as nosophobia and gymnophobia, reflecting its deep-seated impact. But …
The City of Cape Town is considering partnering with alternative energy providers for informal settlements
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Accessing accurate public information
By Zanele Mngadi
Through social media apps, websites, and other digital tools, the internet gives us a lot of ways to connect with each other. This makes information easy to find.
However, the ease with which we get information online makes it hard to determine how true it is. The COVID-19 pandemic is a great example of this challenge because knowledge spread very quickly through our phones and social media sites.
During this dark time, scary fake news spread very quickly, making it harder for people to get the right information and stay safe, which was bad for their health and made them less likely to trust others.
In order to fight fake news, the South African government set up many ways for people to easily get true and accurate information. This included the SA Coronavirus website, social media accounts, and regular updates for the whole country.
Lessons from the pandemic
Because of the pandemic, government learned that giving people easy access to reliable information gave them the tools they needed to make smart choices about how to protect their health.
Building on the success of spreading information widely during COVID-19, government has adopted a multi-media approach that uses all forms of media to give South Africans more power by giving them accurate information about problems facing the country, the government's solutions, and programmes meant to bring about change.
Government just recently set up two WhatsApp channels, governmentza and the PresidencyZA, that people can follow to get regular updates on things that affect everyone, like chances for legal education and work.
This adds to government’s social media platform GovernmentZA, which lets people get true information right away and talk to the government directly. People should follow these social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, WhatsApp, X, and YouTube, as well as government websites like https://www.gov.za, https://www.gcis.gov.za/, and https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/, to get accurate news about issues that affect the whole country.
The GCIS also has its own in-house news agency, SAnews (https://www.sanews.gov.za/) which provides regular news updates on matters of public concern, at no cost. In addition the GCIS launched a podcast, Vuk Talks to give people more access to information about government programmes. It’s on YouTube and Spotify.
Our online presence adapts to the changing needs of our citizens, but we also make sure that people who don’t have access to the internet can still get information.
The government tries to get accurate and reliable news to millions of people in rural areas and townships. Over the years Vuk’uzenzele newspaper has touched the lives of many people. It also brought the government to closer to the people through Izimbizo and partnerships with local community radio stations. From April 2024 on, the newspaper will only be available online, but its articles will still be useful to everyone in South Africa. We have also partnered with SABC 2 on the 13-part series Citizens Connect in an attempt to educate more citizens.
The value of accurate information
All of these online platforms let people to easily get reliable information directly from the government about their lives, our country, and the world we live in. Reliable information is essential to make democracy work. The opposite is equally true: inaccurate information, often a result of fake news, can be dangerous to democracy, especially during big national events such as elections.
As the seventh national and provincial elections get closer, people are being warned to be careful of fake news online, especially since new technologies make it hard to tell the difference between fact and fiction.
With the rise of deep fake content, fake content can seem credible. Dishonest people use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make fake videos, pictures, and audio recordings of other people. Public figures, such as our political leaders, are often the targets of these attacks.
Be vigilant at all times
Government urges every citizen to be wary of falling victim to fake news. Pay close attention to face features and lip movements that don’t match up on videos because that can be a sign of deep fake content. If in doubt, verify the information you receive via trustworthy information sources (such as government platforms). That’s how you can learn the truth and make smart decisions about your future.
If you use social media and websites as sources of information, make sure that they are real. It’s easy to miss fake accounts or profiles because their names sound a lot like real ones. So, double-check the writing of the profiles and websites you follow.
Every South African needs to make sure that the news they spread comes from reliable sources. Let’s all stay alert all times to avoid being duped by fake news. Let’s all play our part to make our democracy strong. Let’s fight disinformation.
*Zanele Mngadi is Chief Director: Products and Platforms at the GCIS
Janine
Wed, 02/21/2024 - 10:38
In the fast-paced world of business and leadership, the word “no” can sometimes carry a sense of taboo. Many leaders, especially women, often find themselves hesitant to use it, fearing it may be perceived as uncooperative or unambitious. “However, the power of saying no and setting boundaries cannot be understated. It is a vital skill …