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Johannesburg, 28 July 2024: “It’s not every day that I get to surround myself with the best of the best in the world of business, it is a privilege that I am here, and it was amazing, humbling and edifying all at once,” says BBQ Businessman of the Year, Richard Manzini. Manzini, the catalyst for …
President Cyril Ramaphosa wishes Team South Africa the best success for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and assures the team of the nation's fervent support.
President Ramaphosa said: “Having our flag held aloft by Team South Africa fills us with great pride and expectation for the team's success in the Paris Games.
“Team South Africa also causes us to reflect on how our 30 years of freedom have opened the doors for South Africans from all backgrounds, walks of life and geographic locations to exercise their human potential and talents.
“The diversity of our national team reflects the unity, social inclusion and shared vision we have been able to build as a previously divided nation.
“Today, we celebrate our participation in global society, including in the sports arenas of the world.
“From rugby sevens, aquatics, fencing and archery to track and field, canoeing, cycling and golf, our flag and our good wishes will accompany our athletes as they realise their dreams, which are our collective dreams.”
President Ramaphosa assures the athletes who will perform at the Games as well as the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) of the nation's full support.
The President similarly wishes the host nation, France, and the International Olympic Committee a successful showcase of human ability and social solidarity.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law amendments to the Companies Act of 2008 that promote the ease of doing business and impose greater corporate transparency on the earnings gap between the highest and lowest paid persons in a company.
The Companies Amendment Bill and Companies Second Amendment Bill referred to the President for assent jointly constitute initiatives by government to make the conduct of business less burdensome, to tighten the pursuit of delinquent directors or prescribed officers for wrongdoing, including state capture and address disparities in earnings.
The Companies Amendment Act as signed by the President streamlines company law to be clear, user-friendly and less burdensome on the conduct of business. This reform is important for the efficient and effective conduct of the domestic economy as well as the attraction of foreign investment.
The Act is also aimed at achieving equity between directors and senior management on the one hand, and shareholders and workers on the other hand.
In addition, the law addresses public concerns regarding high levels of inequalities in society by introducing better disclosure of senior executive remuneration and the reasonableness of the remuneration.
The law requires the preparation of a remuneration report by all public and State-owned companies in respect of the previous financial year.
This remuneration report must be accompanied by the company's remuneration policy and an implementation report that must set out detail on the total remuneration received by each director and prescribed officer as well as the total remuneration for the employee with the highest and lowest total remuneration.
Among other indicators, companies must report the average and median total remuneration of all employees, and disclose the remuneration gap between the total remuneration of the top 5% highest paid employees, and the total remuneration of the bottom 5% lowest paid employees of the company.
Public and State-owned companies are now required to prepare and present a remuneration policy for shareholder approval.
Other provisions include the empowerment of a court to validate the creation, allotment or issue of shares, which would otherwise be invalid, upon application before the court by a company or any person who holds an interest in the company.
The law also requires paid shares to be transferred to a stakeholder and held in terms of stakeholder agreement, until fully paid.
These measures are directed at preventing unethical, reckless and criminal conduct in businesses that will impact negatively on shareholders, workers, clients and customers and the economy as a whole.
The Companies Second Amendment Act signed by President Ramaphosa contains a response by Government to one of the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State (State Capture Commission).
This law amends the Companies Act to extend the period during which proceedings may be launched to recover any loss, damages or costs for which a person may be held liable under the law.
The State Capture Commission recommended that Section 162 of the Companies Act be amended so as to ensure that an application for a declaration of delinquency may be brought even after two years on good cause shown.
While the recommendations applied to specific cases, the new law extends the time bar for declaring a director of a company a delinquent director, from 24 months to 60 months. It also gives the court the power to extend the period on good cause shown.
This provision ensures that directors and prescribed officers in companies can be held accountable for a significant period after they have committed alleged offences.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has today announced a 14-player SA Emerging Men’s squad for a two-format tour of Zimbabwe...
Condolences for the people of Ethiopia
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences and sorrow following recent landslides in Ethiopia which claimed the lives of over 200 people.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa, on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, has expressed deep sorrow and condolences following the recent landslides in Gofa, South Western Ethiopia, which tragically took the lives of at least 250 of people at this stage,” said the Presidency on Thursday.
President Ramaphosa said the South African people's thoughts are with the people of Ethiopia, particularly the bereaved families, during this period of mourning.
“Our hearts goes out to the government and the people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia at this difficult time.”
According to news reports, the landslides were brought about by heavy rains on Monday.
President Ramaphosa recalled the strong and historic relations between South Africa and Ethiopia, dating back to the struggle against apartheid. -SAnews.gov.za
Neo
Fri, 07/26/2024 - 12:08
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 …
Roodepoort, South Africa – June 13, 2024 – Family Divorce Mediators is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new website. The aim is to provide seamless access to comprehensive divorce and family mediation services through a user-friendly platform. Family Divorce Mediators is dedicated to helping families navigate the complexities of divorce with empathy and …
Mashatile says the GNU is working towards bettering people’s lives
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has once again assured citizens that the government of national unity (GNU) is working towards developing a common programme to create a better, more equal, and a more just South Africa.
“For us to reach our objective, the National Development Plan 2030 goals remain the central pillar to guide the development approach, which will inform the outcomes to be achieved in this administration,” he said on Friday.
He announced that in the next five years, the GNU will focus on strategic priorities, including creating inclusive economic growth and job creation, maintaining and optimising the social wage, and building a capable ethical and developmental State.
In addition, the seventh administration said it would focus on fixed capital investment, industrialisation, job creation, and the transformation of people’s lives.
“We remain intentional in investing in people through education, skills development, and providing quality healthcare. We want to change our communities’ spatial outlook by building inclusive cities and providing them with services,” he said on Friday.
The Deputy President was speaking at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in Auckland Park, delivering a keynote address on the second day of the conference co-hosted by the UJ and the National School of Government (NSG).
The second-in-command used the platform to call upon all sectors of society to work with the State to ensure it was stable, efficient and an effective democracy.
In addition, he described the GNU as parties behind a united agenda.
National dialogue
“We have now set our sights on deepening this initiative by engaging in a substantive national dialogue as proposed by the President.”
According to the Deputy, the national dialogue aims to initiate fresh conversations that tackle relevant and unresolved issues that affect most South Africans, particularly the impoverished.
Economic transformation
He told attendees that developing a solid strategy for economic transformation should be at the centre of the dialogue and believes that the discussion will have a positive effect on poverty, inequality, and unemployment levels.
The Deputy President pleaded with the guests to provide solutions that would harness the potential for South Africa to become the world’s “finest” civilisations.
“I firmly believe that our nation possesses sound policies, yet we struggle with their execution due to a deficiency in accountability. I believe that accountability is essential for successful implementation.
“Our motto now is to strategically put our policies into action.”
He is of the view that to deliver results, South Africa must invest in devising a workable plan and be more meticulous in its implementation.
Democracy
As South Africa continues to reflect on 30 years of democracy, he urged people to remember those who gave their lives and fought for freedom, equality, and justice.
While there are still challenges, he reminded attendees that since democracy, South Africa has made significant strides in overcoming divisions of the past, demonstrating remarkable progress in social transformation.
“Let us draw inspiration from our collective journey and utilise it to propel us towards a better future.”
International guest speaker and renowned expert in public administration and management, Dr Ra’ed BenShams, said regardless of the form of government, the ultimate goal must be to serve the people.
He used the analogy of the formation of a new river system through the merging of multiple streams, symbolising the creation of a new government coalition.
He discussed the importance of public sector reform in addressing inequality and building social cohesion.
The expert also offered a fresh perspective on South Africa’s past, present, and future, emphasising the need for unity and hope for a brighter future.
BenShams also stressed the importance of effective communication and collaboration with different communities to ensure efficient service delivery.
“We must be willing to be tolerant of the different values and principles forming our different cultures. We strive to do so and embrace all necessary actions because our paramount responsibility is to provide clean water to our people,” said BenShams. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 07/26/2024 - 14:32
Sandton, South Africa – Foot health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, yet it’s often overlooked until discomfort or pain arises. M Maddocks Inc, a leading podiatric care provider, is shedding light on a common foot disorder that can significantly impact daily life: metatarsalgia. This condition, characterised by pain and inflammation in the ball …
44 Questions answered about prepaid electricity meters. Straton Prepaid have been installing prepaid meters since 2012 and receive many different questions around prepaid electricity meters. Below are the 44 most common questions received: How to recharge prepaid electricity meters? Why was my prepaid electricity cut? Who stocks prepaid electricity meters in South Africa How does …
10 Questions answered around the differences between traditional mechanical prepaid water meters and ultrasonic prepaid water meters. Straton Prepaid have been installing prepaid meters since 2012 and receive many different questions around water meters. Below are the 10 most common questions received: What is the difference between mechanical meter and ultrasonic meter? Are ultrasonic water …
The Black Business Council (BBC) congratulates Chief Justice Mandisa Maya on her appointment as the first female Chief Justice of South Africa. The Presidency announced yesterday that Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya would succeed Raymond Zondo, who is set to retire at the end of the month after being the head of judiciary since 2022. …
Deputy President to address BBQ Awards ceremony
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to attend the BBQ Awards ceremony and Gala Dinner in Kempton Park this evening.
The awards ceremony recognises and promotes sustainable black business and transformation by honouring exemplary corporate governance, leadership and achievement in South Africa.
“Over the past two decades, the BBQ Awards have continued to encourage the growth and success of black-owned and black-empowered companies, providing a platform to celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations across 10 categories,” said the Presidency in a statement ahead of Friday’s ceremony.
These categories include the community builder award and the digital transformation award.
Guests at this year's ceremony include Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi; Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commissioner, Tshediso Matona; and Black Business Council (BBC) President, Elias Monage, who will be hosted by the Editor of BBQ Magazine, Professor JJ Tabane.
“Among other things, Deputy President Mashatile leads initiatives to foster partnerships and cooperation amongst a wide spectrum of the South African population to build the economy, empower women and youth, as well as create the necessary atmosphere conducive for the business community to thrive," said the Presidency.
Partners for the BBQ Awards 2024 include Mercedes Benz South Africa, Siyanda Resources, Industrial Development Corporation of SA, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), The Reclamation Group, HER Wine Collection, Sentech, Nedbank, the University of Mpumalanga, and Bonitas Medical Fund, among others.
The ceremony will take place at Emperors Palace. -SAnews.gov.za
Neo
Fri, 07/26/2024 - 12:31
JOHANNESBURG: The South Africa U19 Women recently participated in a series of unofficial T20 matches against the senior Namibian Women’s team...
Providing a guaranteed minimum level of income frees people from vicious cycle of poverty, says Archbishop Thabo Makgoba
Johannesburg, South Africa – JR Activate, a 100% black female-owned enterprise, has established itself as a leading force in the event management industry, showcasing an impressive ability to execute events of all scales with precision and creativity. The company’s growing portfolio of high-profile clients and successful events has positioned it as a go-to partner for …
Johannesburg, South Africa – JR Promotions, a leading name in the marketing and promotional industry, has demonstrated significant progress and innovation during the first quarter of 2024. The company’s recent newsletter highlights several key achievements and developments that underscore its commitment to excellence and growth. Job Creation Amidst Economic Challenges In the face of South …
President Ramaphosa appoints Justice Maya as next Chief Justice
In a significant milestone for the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed current Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, as Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa with effect from 1 September 2024.
“The appointment follows the President’s consultation, in accordance with Constitutional prescripts, with the Judicial Service Commission and the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly,” said the Presidency in a statement on Thursday.
In a letter addressed to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on 22 February 2024, President Ramaphosa informed the Judicial Service Commission of his intention to appoint Deputy Chief Justice Maya as the Chief Justice of the Republic upon the expiry of the term of office of Chief Justice Zondo on 31 August 2024.
The President invited the Judicial Service Commission to provide its views on the suitability of Justice Maya to hold the office of Chief Justice.
Discharging its consultative mandate set out in Section 174(3) of the Constitution, the Commission interviewed Justice Maya on 21 May 2024 to ascertain her suitability to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Republic.
The Commission subsequently assured the President of Justice Maya’s suitability to lead the judiciary in the country based on the interview, Justice Maya’s qualifications and judicial record, her leadership qualities, her experience as a judge in various courts, her past leadership of the Supreme Court of Appeal and her role as Deputy Chief Justice in the period leading to her nomination by the President.
The Commissioners also advised that Justice Maya’s appointment would be a significant milestone for the country as Justice Maya would be the first woman in South Africa to be appointed Chief Justice.
“President Ramaphosa appreciates the confidence expressed by the Judicial Service Commission and leaders of political parties in the suitability of the incoming Chief Justice, who can draw inspiration and support from the confidence expressed in her,” said the Presidency.
Maya’s appointment is in terms of Section 174(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. -SAnews.gov.za
Neo
Fri, 07/26/2024 - 09:10
25 July 2024 – Johannesburg, South Africa – Mercatique Consulting had the immense honour of playing an integral role in the 7th Presidential Inauguration — a historic event celebrating 30 years of democracy in South Africa. Under the visionary leadership of Yasmine Kazadi, CEO of Mercatique Consulting, their mission was to deliver a turnkey solution …
(Cape Town, 25 July 2024): Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 Bookmark Awards, the digital media and marketing industry’s most-anticipated event! Get ready to be inspired by the best of the best as we celebrate the power of digital storytelling, innovation and creativity. With the dynamic Sne Dladla as host, and the Finalists’ …
(Cape Town, 26 July 2024): The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) South Africa’s Industry Measurement Dashboard reveals dedicated radio listeners in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal for Q2 2024. According to the industry organisation’s audience data across the months of April through June, independent radio station Jacaranda FM garnered an impressive 5,64 million daily listeners via its web …
Survey shows encouraging trends in HIV prevalence
HIV prevalence in South Africa across all ages decreased from 14% in 2017 to 12.7% in 2022, resulting in a decline from 7.9 million (2017) to 7.8 million (2022) people living with the virus.
This is based on the findings of the sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey (SABSSM VI), which was released by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) at the 2024 International AIDS Conference on Wednesday.
While HIV prevalence has decreased across all age groups, data shows that females continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV, with a prevalence of 16.4%, compared to males at 8.8% across all age groups.
Prevalence peaks at 34.2% for females aged 35 to 39 years, whereas prevalence peaks at 27.1% for males aged 45 to 49 years.
The survey also found that HIV incidence in individuals aged two years and older in 2022 was 0.44%, resulting in 232 400 new HIV infections in South Africa.
HIV incidence was at 0.60% among adults 15 years and older translating to 227 400, 0.39% among youth and young adults aged 15 to 24, and 0.72% among adults aged 15 to 49 years.
In addition, the HIV incidence rate in 2022 was consistently higher in females than males in all age categories.
“In terms of treatment, South Africa recorded an increase in antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage, from 63.7% in 2017 to 80.9% in 2022,” the HSRC said.
This means an estimated 5 700 000 people living with HIV receive ART, an increase from 4 500 000 in 2017.
“A greater proportion of females, 83.2% than males, 76.2% were on ART.”
Data shows that HIV viral load suppression stands at 81.4% for all ages.
Evaluating progress
The SABSSM VI survey, conducted between 2022 and 2023, evaluates the progress of the South African national HIV and AIDS, STI, and TB Strategic Plan.
It also monitors HIV indicators for national and international reporting.
The survey also assessed progress towards the 2030 UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, HIV drug resistance, and the relationship between social and behavioural factors, intimate partner violence, and HIV infection.
In December 2020, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) outlined a set of new targets ensuring that 95% of all individuals living with HIV are aware of their HIV status, 95% of all individuals diagnosed with HIV infection receive continuous treatment, and 95% of all those on treatment achieve viral suppression by 2025.
The HSRC said progress towards the 95-95-95 targets improved, with 89.6% of people living with HIV knowing their status, and of those knowing their status, 90.7% were on treatment, with 93.9% of those who knew their status and being on treatment, being virally suppressed.
“Improvement across the 95-95-95 indicators was more pronounced in males compared to females.”
Overall, the survey found that 81.4% of all people living with HIV were virally suppressed.
“However, it is concerning that the survey further reveals that gaps remain in knowledge of HIV status among youth aged 15 to 24 (73.1%). Early sexual debut, age-disparate relationships, multiple sexual partners, and low condom use persist as key drivers of HIV.”
According to the findings, the awareness and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are increasing.
Stigma
Overall principal investigator of the study, Professor Khangelani Zuma, stated that HIV-related stigma persists as a significant issue among individuals aged 15 years and older.
“Addressing stigma is essential to improving the quality of life and well-being of people living with HIV. However, of the six questions related to HIV-related stigma, the majority yielded results that indicated that most people held positive attitudes toward people living with HIV,” said Zuma.
Response rate
The survey achieved a household response rate of 80% and an individual interview response rate of 94.1%.
A total of 47 766 participants provided blood specimens for HIV testing, resulting in a testing response rate of 62.7%.
The professor said this indicates that the results suggest advancements in the fight against the HIV epidemic in South Africa.
“This is evidenced by a stabilisation of HIV prevalence, ageing epidemic, a reduction in HIV incidence, enhancements in HIV treatment outcomes such as increased rates of ART coverage and viral load suppression (VLS) in line with the 95-95-95 targets,” he added.
The study has since recommended key actions that can address the HIV epidemic as a public health threat in South Africa by 2030.
These include continuing intensive programmes focusing on reducing new infections among adolescent girls and young women.
It also proposed enhancement of prevention efforts that target groups disproportionately affected by the drivers of HIV infection such as women and young people. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 07/25/2024 - 09:25
President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of Section 174(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, appointed current Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya as Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa with effect from 1 September 2024.
The appointment follows the President's consultation, in accordance with Constitutional prescripts, with the Judicial Service Commission and the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly.
In a letter addressed to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on 22 February 2024, President Ramaphosa informed the Judicial Service Commission of his intention to appoint Deputy Chief Justice Maya as the Chief Justice of the Republic upon the expiry of the term of office of Chief Justice Zondo on 31 August 2024.
The President invited the Judicial Service Commission to provide its views on the suitability of Justice Maya to hold the office of Chief Justice.
Discharging its consultative mandate set out in Section 174(3) of the Constitution, the Commission interviewed Justice Maya on 21 May 2024 to ascertain her suitability to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Republic.
The Commission subsequently assured the President of Justice Maya's suitability to lead the judiciary in the country based on the interview, Justice Maya's qualifications and judicial record, her leadership qualities, her experience as a judge in various courts, her past leadership of the Supreme Court of Appeal and her role as Deputy Chief Justice in the period leading to her nomination by the President.
The Commissioners also advised that Justice Maya's appointment would be a significant milestone for the country as Justice Maya would be the first woman in South Africa to be appointed Chief Justice.
President Ramaphosa appreciates the confidence expressed by the Judicial Service Commission and leaders of political parties in the suitability of the incoming Chief Justice, who can draw inspiration and support from the confidence expressed in her.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Well wishes for new SANEF Chairperson Nwabisa Makunga
Government has congratulated Nwabisa Makunga who is the current Deputy Chairperson of the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) on her appointment as Chairperson of the forum.
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Acting Director-General, Nomonde Mnukwa, said the appointment of Makunga is a demonstration of her ability and capability.
“Makunga’s elevation to this important responsibility is an inspiration to many women journalists and proof that the media industry is making great strides in affirming gender equality. It is a further demonstration of the triumph of abilities over obstacles of women in the media sector,” Mnukwa said on Thursday.
Makunga will lead a team responsible for representing those who are responsible for telling stories and representing the aspirations and wishes of the population.
“The media landscape is going through challenges, especially with the emergence of digital media and the impact of social media. SANEF is, amongst others, ceased with navigating challenges in the media sector such as declining revenues, shrinking media houses, fake news enabled by artificial Intelligence and other emerging threats to the information platforms,” Mnukwa said.
It is against this background that the GCIS is looking forward to further fostering its partnership with the forum and it office bearers, and the media as a whole.
“I want to reiterate that GCIS recognises the significant contributions made by SANEF in upholding press freedom, ethical journalism, and media diversity in South Africa,” Mnukwa said. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 07/25/2024 - 09:41