MyZA
News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff
Success in 2024 In 2024, our CEO anticipates that the Unlimited Web Hosting with Free Domain Name offer will have significantly expanded our customer base and strengthened our position as a leader in the web hosting industry. By providing unparalleled value and empowering individuals and businesses to establish a robust online presence, we will have …
Case to stop Israeli attack on Rafah was brought by South African government
Voters urged to familiarise themselves with three ballot papers
As South Africa holds its seventh democratic elections this week, voters will for the first time receive three ballot papers instead of two ballots.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) has urged voters to carefully review and mark each of these three ballot papers before depositing them into the ballot box.
“Our appeal to voters is to remember that they can only put one mark on each ballot, more than one mark will result in a spoiled vote and not counted.
“The Universal Ballot Template (UBT), whose dimensions are benchmarked against the longest ballot paper will be available in all voting stations. The UBT can be used by blind and partially sighted people, low-vision users, people who are dyslexic, and people with motor and neuron conditions which do not allow for a steady hand,” IEC Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sy Mamabolo said.
South Africans will go to the polls on 29 May 2024 to vote for leaders in government for the seventh administration.
The 27.79 million registered voters will receive three ballot papers to elect candidates to represent them in the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures.
The use of the three ballots follows the amendment of the Electoral Act, which was signed into law in April 2023.
“This amendment revised the electoral system to allow independent candidates to contest in the regional (province-to-national) tier of the National Assembly and the Provincial Legislatures.
“Although the phenomenon of three ballots will be familiar to voters in various local municipalities, it will be new to voters in metropolitan areas and for the first time in general elections for national and provinces,” Mamabolo said.
WATCH I Three ballots explained
The three ballot papers are as follows:
The commission said the design of the ballot papers will be underpinned by the following identifiers:
In respect of independent candidates, the ballot papers will have:
There are a total of 400 contested seats in the National Assembly. The proportional representation compensatory 200 seats will be contested by political parties only and there is a dedicated ballot paper for this tier of the National Assembly.
“The remaining regional or province-to-national 200 seats will be contested by independent candidates and political parties. This tier of the National Assembly will also have a dedicated ballot paper. This means that National Assembly elections will be based on two ballot papers (national ballot and the newly introduced regional or province-to-national ballot).
“Therefore, in respect of the elections of the National Assembly voters may elect a preferred party on the national ballot and elect another preferred party or independent on the regional ballot. However, in respect of provincial elections, voters will elect a preferred party or independent candidate on a single provincial ballot,” the CEO said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Fri, 05/24/2024 - 14:23
Vote where you are registered
Millions of South Africans are expected to cast their ballots in the 7th National and Provincial Elections on Election Day on Wednesday.
The Electoral Commission (IEC), which has successfully completed overseas voting, will from Monday start to service South Africans who have qualified for special votes. Special votes will take place on 27 and 28 May, from 9am to 5pm.
Election Day, which has been declared a public holiday, will take place on 29 May.
The Electoral Commission has reminded South Africans to cast their ballots to vote where they are registered.
“The commission takes this opportunity to remind voters that they can only vote at voting districts where they are registered. The only voters who may vote outside their voting districts on 29 May are those who have notified the commission, within the period 15 March to 17 May 2024 as stipulated in the Election Timetable, that they would be away from their designated districts and wished to change their voting location.
“According to Section 24 (a) of the Electoral Amendment Act, a voter may vote outside of the voting district where registered but needs to notify the Electoral Commission before Voting Day during the period specified in the Election Timetable,” said the commission in a statement.
Voters voting in the province where they are registered will receive three ballot papers - the national, regional and provincial ballot papers. However, if they vote outside their registered province, they will only be eligible to vote in the national ballot paper.
Voting on Election Day will take place from 7am until 9pm. The commission assured citizens that no eligible voter will be turned away and that every voter in a queue by 9pm will be assisted.
“The Electoral Commission reiterates the call on all voters to check where they are registered to vote, and to bring their identity documents with when voting.”
Voters can check their registration details and confirm the location of their correct voting stations ahead of Election Day by using the following channels:
Voters who successfully applied to vote at another voting station must take the added step of checking their voting location at https://registertovote.elections.org.za/voter/section-24a/notitication/status or on the confirmation notification, as this information will not appear on their registration status.
“We encourage all 27.7 million registered voters to come out in their numbers and cast their ballots in these historic elections in the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s electoral democracy. Exercising your vote is your right and your civic duty,” said the IEC. - SAnews.gov.za
Janine
Sun, 05/26/2024 - 09:57
The only colony of one of the world’s most endangered butterflies is within sight of a large, multi-storey development
About 50 striking workers picketed outside the company’s warehouse in Glen Anil on Friday
President Ramaphosa signs GBV, NPA Bills into law
As the country marks 30 years of democracy, President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that the aspiration to be a truly free and equal society cannot be achieved as long as criminals steal resources meant to benefit the people and the country’s women and children do not feel safe and free to walk in the streets.
President Ramaphosa said corruption and gender-based violence are two scourges that plague South Africa and corrode the country’s social fabric.
“Corruption and gender-based violence are affronts to the human dignity that is the inalienable right of every South African. These forms of criminality are holding our country back and preventing us from realising our full potential,” President Ramaphosa said.
He made the remarks at a ceremony to sign into law the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Amendment Bill, held at the Union Buildings on Friday.
The two signed pieces of legislation will form part of government’s efforts to strengthen institutions, develop partnerships and build state capacity.
The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide will coordinate and provide strategic leadership to the fight against GBV and femicide, and be multi-sectoral, drawing on the expertise of all stakeholders, including civil society, labour and business.
The establishment of the council was one of the resolutions of the first Presidential Summit on GBVF convened in 2018.
President Ramaphosa said that since the first summit important progress has been made. This includes the development of a National Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender-Based Violence, and the founding of the Women's Economic Assembly, which aims to integrate women-owned enterprises into industry value chains, promote sustainable economic development, and empower women economically, among other things.
Around R21 billion was dedicated over the medium term to the implementation of the six pillars of the NSP, including the economic empowerment of women.
“We enacted new laws to strengthen the response of the criminal justice system to gender-based violence. We have worked to improve the support provided to survivors of gender-based violence through the establishment of new Thuthuzela Care Centres, new Sexual Offences Courts, and victim-friendly rooms at nearly all police stations across the country.
“Through these efforts, we have seen improvements in conviction rates and in stricter sentencing. While this progress is welcome, our greatest task is to prevent Gender-Based Violence from being perpetrated in the first place…. we want to end, once and for all, the violence that men perpetrate against women,” President Ramaphosa said.
While acknowledging progress made in implementing the NSP for GBVF, President Ramaphosa emphasised the need for the national response to be more coordinated between the different stakeholders.
“We need a national effort that is more inclusive, more focused, and better resourced. We are confident that this council will provide much of what we need and will further strengthen the national effort to eradicate violence against women and children,” the President said.
On the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill, President Ramaphosa highlighted that great progress has been made since the establishment of the Investigating Directorate within the NPA in the last five years.
“It has been five years since we established an Investigating Directorate within the NPA to investigate cases of corruption and other serious crimes arising from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. These are five years in which great progress has been made.
“To date, the Investigating Directorate has taken 39 state capture and corruption cases to court, involving 212 accused persons and 68 accused entities. In the last five years, the NPA has also secured the conviction of almost 700 government officials for corruption,” President Ramaphosa said.
He noted the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit has restrained and preserved “state capture assets” to the value of more than R14 billion and over R6 billion has been recovered so far.
The signing into law of the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill will establish an Investigating Directorate against corruption as a permanent entity within the NPA.
The Investigating Directorate against corruption will be a permanent, prosecution-led agency with full criminal investigative powers.
“This legislation will help to overcome challenges with capacity and expertise within the NPA to investigate and prosecute complex corruption cases. The Investigating Directorate against corruption will be able to recruit and retain specialist skills to deliver on its mandate.
“Permanent criminal investigators will be appointed, with full police powers. The Investigating Directorate against Corruption will be able to reap the benefits of collaboration with the private sector and other social partners,” President Ramaphosa said.
He added that efforts are underway as part of the partnership between government and business to create a Digital Evidence Unit specialising in the identification, collection, analysis, and presentation of digital evidence.
The President called on all stakeholders, including government, business, labour and across civil society to support the effort to make the two new entities a success. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 05/24/2024 - 13:11
Condolences for former MP James Selfe
President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered condolences to the family of former Member of Parliament and former Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance Federal Council, James Selfe.
Selfe passed away this week following a long battle with illness.
“As a member of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, he had an unshakable determination that we should rid our country of crime and make it safer for all of us.
“His passionate, dignified articulation and practice of liberalism enriched our engagement across party lines and he will be remembered for many valuable contributions to our legislative reforms,” President Ramaphosa said.
Selfe served in democratic South Africa’s first National Council of Provinces in 1994 and participated in the Constitutional Assembly which drew up the country’s democratic Constitution.
In a statement, Parliament also extended its condolences and hailed his work while serving in the body.
“Mr Selfe’s nearly three-decade tenure in Parliament was characterised by an unwavering commitment to vibrant political debate, robust parliamentary oversight, and accountability.
“His articulate and candid contributions in House debates and committee meetings, particularly within the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, enhanced the work of Parliament and significantly contributed to its robust legislative oversight and accountability.
“His legacy will continue to shape the principles and practices of parliamentary democracy for years to come. May his soul rest in peace,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za
Janine
Fri, 05/24/2024 - 13:51
The most urgent problems that South Africans want their government to address are unemployment, unreliable electricity supply, and corruption, according to a new Afrobarometer (www.Afrobarometer.org) telephone survey ahead of general elections on 29 May.
Citizens also cite economic issues including inflation, poverty, and management of the economy.
As citizens prepare to go to the polls, a majority of them are dissatisfied with the way democracy is working in their country, and they overwhelmingly say their country is going in “the wrong direction.” Even among likely voters, one-third say they have not decided which party they will vote for.
These findings are from a telephone survey conducted 23 April-11 May with a sample of 1,800 South Africans aged 18 and older. The margin of sampling error is +/-2.3 percentage points.
Key findings
Afrobarometer surveys
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Nine rounds of face-to-face surveys in up to 42 countries have been completed since 1999. Afrobarometer's national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent's choice.
While Afrobarometer is known for its face-to-face surveys, which are conducted on a roughly two-year cycle, the organisation is refining methods for more limited telephone surveys on emerging topics between standard survey rounds.
The Afrobarometer team, led by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), interviewed 1,800 adult South Africans selected from a database of more than 14 million cell phone numbers between 23 April and 11 May – the final weeks before the election. A sample of this size yields a margin of sampling error of +/-2.3 percentage points. This is the first publicly-released Afrobarometer telephone survey (http://apo-opa.co/3QUBfWn).
Note: Results from 2011-2022 are from standard face-to-face Afrobarometer surveys, whereas the 2024 survey was conducted by phone.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afrobarometer.
Presentation: index.php (apo-opa.com)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Afrobarometer's pre-election telephone survey in South Africa: http://apo-opa.co/3QUBfWn
For more information, please contact:
Asafika Mpako
Communications coordinator for Southern Africa
Telephone: +2783-979-8299
Email: ampako@afrobarometer.org
Visit us online at www.Afrobarometer.org.
Follow our releases on #VoicesAfrica.
Facebook: /Afrobarometer
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/4bt5jR9
YouTube: /Afrobarometer
Ryan Oosthuizen will represent the Springbok Sevens for the 50th time in the HSBC SVNS in Madrid next weekend, where the final tournament of the 2024 season will be played at the Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium from 31 May to 2 June.
Oosthuizen was named in the Blitzbok squad to play in the Grand Finale, where South Africa will face Ireland, Fiji and New Zealand in pool play, having missed the previous tournament in Singapore.
His return to the squad – in place of Zain Davids – is the only change amongst the forwards, while Springbok Sevens interim head coach Philip Snyman tweaked the backline as well, where Justin Geduld comes in the injured Dewald Human and Shaun Williams for Shilton van Wyk.
Geduld will run out in his 60th tournament for the Blitzboks while Williams, who last played in Hong Kong, will be used on the wing as well as sweeper in a squad that has the versatility and experience to continue a good Spanish streak.
The Blitzboks won both tournaments in 2022, when the world series last stopped in Spain, with consecutive victories in Malaga and Seville.
Snyman said team selection had the Olympic repechage in mind as well, but he also wanted to field a squad capable of winning the Grand Finale.
“Zain and Shilton, who will do some conditioning back home in the next two weeks, are still very important to our final push towards the Olympic qualification,” said Snyman.
“It is great to have Ryan back amongst the pack and Shaun and Justin will bring their own magic to the tournament, so it is an exciting and capable squad.
“Shilton is still suspended after his red card in Singapore and will miss the first two matches, so we thought it would be better for him to stay home and do some conditioning with Zain. The two of them have played in all seven tournaments and most of the minutes as well, so they can do with the rest.”
Snyman said they are also managing the workload of Selvyn Davids: “He is the other player who played in all the tournaments and most of the minutes, so we will manage his workload accordingly.
“We are taking an extra sweeper with us to Madrid and that will give Shaun an opportunity and some valuable game time.”
Each match-up in the pool will have a finals feel about them, but Snyman would not want it any other way.
“Yes, it is the Grand Finale after all,” he said. “Facing Ireland on day one and Fiji and New Zealand on the second day just to get into the semi-finals is a nice challenge, but we have shown in Hong Kong and Singapore that we can get out of pools unbeaten.”
Snyman said their season is far from lost: “I think we have turned the ship. We are in a position to win the Grand Finale and then qualify for the Olympic Games. Those are two pretty big things on our radar, so we still have so much to play for. The season is far from over.”
Pool fixtures:
Friday, 31 May
14h37: Ireland
Saturday 1 June
12h44: New Zealand
15h49: Fiji
Springbok Sevens squad for Madrid:
#1 Christie Grobbelaar - 20 tournaments, 155 points (31 tries)
#2 Ryan Oosthuizen - 49 tournaments, 220 points (44 tries)
#3 Impi Visser - 38 tournaments, 200 points (40 tries)
#6 Tiaan Pretorius - 7 tournaments, 15 points (3 tries)
#8 Selvyn Davids - 36 tournaments, 662 points (85 tries, 117 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#9 Shaun Williams - 16 tournaments, 157 points (25 tries, 16 conversions)
#11 Siviwe Soyizwapi - 52 tournaments, 755 points (151 tries)
#14 Rosko Specman - 35 tournaments, 466 points (86 tries, 18 conversions)
#23 Justin Geduld - 59 tournaments, 1119 points (118 tries, 264 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
#24 Tristan Leyds - 4 tournaments, 52 points (8 tries, 6 conversions)
#28 Dylan Sage - 27 tournaments, 165 points (33 tries)
#30 Quewin Nortje - 5 tournaments, 70 points (14 tries)
#33 Katlego Letebele - 7 tournaments, 5 points (1 try)
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.
Note to editors: Audio notes of Philip Snyman can be downloaded here (apo-opa.co/3KfiIjJ).
Electronic payment system for child maintenance and other services suspended
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) has announced the temporary suspension of electronic payment system for third-party funds – including child maintenance – following “attempts to compromise the system”.
The department said an investigation into the incident is underway.
“In light of this development, child maintenance beneficiaries are urged to promptly visit their nearest court with their original identity documents to receive manual payments until the electronic service is fully restored.
“The Department has assembled a dedicated forensic team to thoroughly investigate any suspicious activity. We are committed to continually fortifying our systems to prevent and mitigate the risk of future breaches.
“We sincerely apologise to all beneficiaries for any inconvenience caused and deeply appreciate the patience and understanding during this period,” the DJCOD said.
Meanwhile, this morning (Friday), DJCOD Minister Ronald Lamola, is expected to preside over the launch and renaming of the refurbished Justice College.
The launch will also be attended by Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, and Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Mandisa Maya.
“Established in 1957, Justice College has grown into reputable institution, offering comprehensive training programs for legal practitioners. From its modest beginnings as Justice Training, it now encompasses diverse aspects of legal education, including specialised training for judicial officers, prosecutors and interpreters.
“[The] Justice College’s influence extends beyond South Africa’s borders. Officials from Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, the Republic of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda regularly attend our courses, fostering regional collaboration.
“The refurbished college boast[s] state-of-the-art training facilities, ensuring an optimal learning environment for future legal professionals,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Fri, 05/24/2024 - 09:31
Three stalwarts have been recalled to the Springbok Women's Sevens squad to contest the HSBC SVNS 2024 play-off tournament in Madrid next weekend, with head coach Renfred Dazel opting for experience for the most important tournament of the season.
Former captain Sizophila Solontsi, playmaker Libbie Janse van Rensburg and wing Veroeshka Grain were recalled by Dazel, who also roped in Byrhandrѐ Dolf in a fourth change to the squad that closed out their previous tournament, in Singapore, with consecutive wins.
Solontsi and Janse van Rensburg were stand-outs in last year's World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, helping South Africa to qualify for the HSBC SVNS Series, while Grain and Dolf return to the squad having last played in Cape Town and Perth respectively.
Solontsi, Grain and Dolf played for the Springbok Women in the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar earlier this month, while Janse van Rensburg completed her rehabilitation after picking up a groin injury in Dubai, the opening tournament of the 2024 series.
Dazel said the selection of the quartet was easy: “They were always part of the wider selection plan, especially with the Olympics coming into play in a couple of months.
“Injury prevented the selection of Libbie and Sizo earlier in the campaign, while Dolf and Veroeshka did well when they were called upon earlier. It is an honour for me to select those individuals,” Dazel said.
Their experience will also be crucial for the squad's quest to retain their core status next season.
“All four have showed they care for the jersey so much when they last played and that is the attitude I am looking for from the Madrid squad,” said Dazel.
“It is going to be a fight from the first game to the last and will not be easy. That said, I have confidence in this group and how hard they will work for this team.
“The results did not always show the effort, but I am confident going into this tournament. We worked hard, the confidence is good, and we know what is at stake.”
South Africa will face fellow HSBC SVNS team Brazil in their pool, alongside Belgium and Argentina, who qualified through the Challenger Series. The two top sides qualify to the quarter-finals and the four winners of those will get the remaining four slots for next season's series.
“We have played Belgium often in recent years – in fact, they come to Stellenbosch for a training camp every year and have sessions against us,” said Dazel.
“They have tall players and love an off-loading game. Brazil and Argentina have the same South American style of play and they love to play off rucks, for example. We have prepared accordingly, and I believe that we have what it takes to top the pool, so we leave for Madrid with a clear plan and calm heads.”
Pool fixtures:
Friday 31 May
12h00: Argentina
15h06: Belgium
Saturday 1 June
13h51: Brazil
Springbok Women's Sevens squad for Madrid:
#10 Mathrin Simmers (co-captain) - 20 tournaments, 35 points (7 tries)
#4 Zintle Mpupha (co-captain) - 11 tournaments, 55 points (11 tries)
#7 Eloise Webb – 8 tournaments, 7 points (1 try, 1 conversion)
#17 Sizophila Solontsi – 2 tournaments
#96 Libbie Janse van Rensburg - 1 tournament, 0 points
#12 Liske Lategan – 9 tournaments, 15 points: (3 tries)
#16 Maria Tshiremba - 5 tournaments, 35 points (7 tries)
#9 Nadine Roos - 12 tournaments, 207 points (27 tries, 36 conversions)
#21 Byrhandrѐ Dolf – 2 tournaments, 0 points
#24 Veroeshka Grain – 11 tournaments, 85 points (17 tries)
#13 Kemisetso Baloyi - 7 tournaments, 0 points
#3 Ayanda Malinga - 7 tournaments, 65 points (12 tries)
#18 Shiniqwa Lamprecht - 7 tournaments, 0 points
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.
Note to editors: Audio notes of Renfred Dazel can be downloaded here (https://apo-opa.co/4bqV93o).
Stay ahead in the tech world with the latest gadgets and devices from GeeWiz. Whether you’re upgrading your home entertainment system or looking for new tech accessories, GeeWiz has you covered. Pure Sine Wave Inverter for Quality Power For uninterrupted and clean power, consider a pure sine wave inverter. This device ensures that your …
Horizon Shopping Centre is thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for our valued customers this May. We are giving you the chance to win a R500 Econo Foods voucher to help you stock up on all your favourite goodies! Prize Details: One lucky winner will receive a R500 Econo Foods voucher, perfect for purchasing a …
Top Eight Teams to Compete at BAL Playoffs (www.BAL.NBA.com) and Finals in Kigali, Rwanda from May 24 - June 1; Bank of Kigali Joins BAL's Roster of Marketing Partners for Playoffs and Finals.
The 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs will tip off on Friday, May 24 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda featuring the top eight teams (https://apo-opa.co/3wP67QQ) from the league's Kalahari (https://apo-opa.co/3wCKu6N), Nile (https://apo-opa.co/4awYBbE) and Sahara (https://apo-opa.co/3yxDXuA) conference group phases that were held in Pretoria, South Africa; Cairo, Egypt; and Dakar, Senegal, respectively: FUS Rabat Basketball (Morocco), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Cape Town Tigers (South Africa), Al Ahly (Egypt), Al Ahly Ly (Libya), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), AS Douanes (Senegal) and US Monastir (Tunisia).
The complete game schedule for the Playoffs and Finals, which is available at BAL.NBA.com, features four seeding games followed by an eight-game, single-elimination playoffs, culminating with the 2024 BAL Finals on June 1 at 4:00 p.m. CAT. Tickets for the Playoffs and Finals are on sale now at BAL.NBA.com and Ticqet.rw.
In conjunction with the Playoffs and Finals, the BAL and Bank of Kigali today announced a collaboration to drive fan attendance and elevate the in-arena experience throughout the week. Bank of Kigali joins the BAL's roster of partners that also includes Foundational Partners Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand and Wilson, as well as marketing partners Afreximbank, Castle Lite, Hennessy and RwandAir.
Below are notable facts and figures about the 2024 BAL season:
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Contact:
Edwin Eselem
Basketball Africa League
+221 786154287
EEselem@thebal.com
Construction of Stellantis forges ahead
The final building blocks have been laid for the establishment of South Africa’s latest automotive manufacturing site, paving the way for construction to begin at the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay, in the Eastern Cape.
Stellantis, the world’s third biggest automotive manufacturer by volume, and South Africa’s largest development funder, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have concluded key milestones that will lead to a joint venture.
The investment estimated at R3 billion is expected to facilitate the creation of massive employment opportunities in the Eastern Cape.
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC), which is supplying the ground on which the factory will be built, has begun preparing the site for the start of construction.
“I welcome the progress made with concluding all modalities with Stellantis that will enable construction to commence this year and start of production of a new auto model to roll off the assembly line by the end of 2025,” said Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
“The SA auto industry is Africa’s largest producer of cars, bakkies and trucks and this new investment by Stellantis will consolidate the country’s position, helping us to achieve the goal of producing 1.4 million vehicles by 2035.
“The biggest attractions for new investors are the size of the domestic market, together with the auto industry masterplan, which supports local production for both South Africa and export markets,” said the Minister.
He added that Stellantis has a strong growth vision with an excellent range of vehicles in its global stable.
“We look forward through this investment to increasing the range of locally manufactured cars available to motorists,” Patel said.
The Minister said it was heartening to see the manner in which the combination of expertise within the collective of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the IDC, CDC and Stellantis united to form a cross functional team that is making excellent progress.
“It’s this teamwork that will realise not only having Stellantis as SA’s eighth OEM, but most importantly in realising the plans for employment and investment in South Africa and support our industrialisation drive.
“We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship between Stellantis and South Africa,” Minister Patel said.
Stellantis Middle East Africa (MEA) COO, Samir Cherfan, Stellantis SA MD Mike Whitfield, IDC interim CEO David Jarvis, including CDC Acting CEO Themba Khoza agreed with Patel’s sentiment stating that progress made so far was in line with their respective organisation’s strategic development goals.
“The construction of this plant is critical to Stellantis’s Dare Forward 2030 strategy. This strategy also speaks to the South African industrialisation plan which is a very important tool in helping us achieve our target to produce a million units in the MEA region by 2030 – a factor that will help us attain 22% market share in this region.
“Our medium to long-term objective is to ensure that 90% of vehicles sold in the MEA region are sourced from our production plants in this region,” said Cherfan.
The project is a major vote of confidence in South Africa as an investment destination and as a gateway into Africa.
“We are very proud of being involved in this; the construction of this plant is a major statement of faith in this country and the capacity of South Africans to be entrusted with running a project of this magnitude.
“This is a factory of which we can all be proud of, not just because of what it will represent to the people of the Eastern Cape, but also because of the technological advances that it will incorporate and the environmentally conscious way that it has been planned, will be built and will be operated,” Cherfan added.
All fauna and flora have been successfully removed from the site and rehomed as per the environmental impact study conducted by Coega.
Coega Acting CEO Themba Koza said: “Coega is focused on delivering the finest plant for Stellantis, reinforcing the Coega SEZ as an automotive hub in the country, in line with its vision to be the leading catalyst for the championing of socio-economic development.
“The impending construction of the Stellantis factory has acted as a catalyst to other investors. We have had numerous requests to support the automotive sector in Coega and to rapidly grow our planned supplier park.”
IDC’s Jarvis said the new company to house the Stellantis-IDC JV is on track to be registered.
“The milestones concluded thus far will help to kick start a project that will significantly improve the economic fortunes of the Eastern Cape,” Jarvis said.
He added that the IDC is pleased to be partnering with such a reputable automotive manufacturing company of Stellantis’s stature.
“Stellantis’s success with other manufacturing plants around the world is well-known. Together, we are highlighting the IDC’s intent to continually participate and drive investment to develop the regional automobile value chain,” Jarvis said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Thu, 05/23/2024 - 12:44
First-ever tour to Africa by one of Carnegie Hall’s three acclaimed National Youth Ensembles to include debut performances in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town from 22 July – 5 August 2024. Program to include big band classics, new arrangements and a new Carnegie Hall-commissioned work by South African composer Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane. Artistic Director and …
In light of the recent cautious stance by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on the prime lending rate and the persisting high inflation and cost of living, Lindie Malan, a renowned business coach, offers her expert advice on navigating these turbulent economic waters. The South African economy, much like the global market, continues to …
As many people continue to celebrate their families and mothers sparked by International Day of Families and Mother’s Day during this month of May, EasyPay Everywhere is highlighting just how the right financial solutions in the current economy can help make things a little easier for mothers, and families by helping them manage their financial …
Trailblazer and legal icon, retired Justice Yvonne Mokgoro laid to rest
President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the late retired Justice of the Constitutional Court, Yvonne Mokgoro, as “a champion of human rights, an outstanding jurist and an icon of gender justice”.
The President was delivering the eulogy at Mogkoro’s Special Official Funeral Category 1 held at the Bryanston Catholic Church in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Mokgoro died earlier this month following an illustrious legal career which included her appointment as South Africa’s first black female justice of the Constitutional Court in 1994 – a position she held for some 15 years.
“We gather here today to lay to rest a great South African, a champion of human rights, an outstanding jurist and an icon of gender justice.
“Through her life and through her work, Imbokodo Justice Yvonne Mokgoro was a pioneer. In so many respects, her legacy is a tribute to resilience, to principled activism and to steadfastness, no matter how great the obstacle or how difficult the climb,” he said.
Mokgoro’s appointment to the Constitutional Court in democratic South Africa was born out of dedication to the legal service over many years.
She was inspired to join the fraternity by Pan Africanist Congress leader, lawyer and anti-apartheid activist, Robert Sobukwe, who represented her following arrest due to her protesting against ill treatment of young black men by the Apartheid era police in the 1970s.
“Reaching that pinnacle was not a simple progression. It did not come easy. It was the culmination of many years of hard work.
“Her appointment to the Constitutional Court was the product of many years of both formal and self-study to better herself and to advance in her chosen profession. It was the fulfilment of a dream in which she never lost faith, even while working in a host of different jobs, as a nursing assistant, a retail salesperson and as a clerk.
“It was a progression from a successful career as a legal academic when she produced ground-breaking research on customary law. This all at a time when our jurisprudence and case law around this subject were still evolving. It was an achievement that followed decades of building a rigorous and demanding career,” President Ramaphosa said.
According to the President, Mokgoro’s life as a black woman and living under apartheid and then democracy is a reflection of the lives of many black women in South Africa.
“The life of Justice Yvonne Mokgoro was the life of untold numbers of black women in this country under apartheid, who bore the triple burden of race, class and gender. She sought to carve a path for herself at a time when the odds were stacked heavily against women, and against black women in particular.
“And yet she went forth with courage, with determination, and with the humility that was her trademark. It is because she understood these struggles so keenly, because she had experienced them first-hand, that Justice Mokgoro was such a passionate and ardent advocate for gender justice,” he said.
Champion for social justice
This, according to the President, triggered the “humanism and commitment to social justice” that she brought to the bench and even after she retired.
This was reflected in her work in South Africa and abroad.
“Between 2016 and 2020, Justice Mokgoro chaired the [United Nations] Internal Justice Council, which is tasked with ensuring independence, professionalism and accountability in the administration of the justice system of the UN.
“In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in the United States in 2020, which gave birth to the global Black Lives Matter movement, the UN Human Rights Council set up an Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law-Enforcement. Justice Mokgoro was appointed as its first chair.
“As South Africa we are immensely proud that our jurists are held in such high regard internationally on matters of human rights, racial discrimination and gender justice,” President Ramaphosa said.
Turning to Mokgoro’s family, the President said South Africans “we share in your sorrow”.
“May you be comforted by the knowledge that Justice Mokgoro’s life and works continue to inspire and to guide.
“May we all have her courage. May we all have her resilience. May we all, in reflecting on her legacy, be reminded of our duty to help build a South Africa of true equality, of freedom and of human rights,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 05/23/2024 - 13:39
The African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) has arrived in South Africa ahead of the 29 May 2024 General Elections. At the invitation of the Government of South Africa and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, approved the deployment of the short-term AUEOM to assess and report on the conduct of this election.
The AUEOM is led by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of the Republic of Kenya and is comprised of 60 short-term observers (STOs) drawn from ambassadors accredited to the African Union, officials of election management bodies, members of African civil society organisations, African election experts, human rights specialists, gender and media experts, and representatives of youth organizations. The observers are drawn from 24 countries which include Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The AUEOM will base its assessment on the legal framework governing elections in the Republic of South Africa and the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections, the standards and obligations stipulated in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), and the International Declaration of Principles (DoP) for International Election Observation among others.
The Mission shall interact with state authorities, the Independent Electoral Commission, political parties, the media, civil society organisations and representatives of the international community. The Mission will also interact with other election observation missions deployed to observe the 2024 General Elections in South Africa.
The Mission will release its preliminary findings and recommendations on the conduct of the elections on 31 May 2024 in a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. A final and comprehensive report will be released within two months from the date of announcement of final election results and will be posted on the AU Commission website.
The Mission's Secretariat is located at the Hilton Hotel, Sandton, South Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Imagnary House is a boutique publishing house for children’s books and young-adult literature in South Africa. Imagnary House is focused on building a larger market for local children’s book and young-adult book authors and illustrators, by both igniting the local readership and engaging with international readers, media and literary agents. Submit to join a family …
21 former MK freedom fighters honoured
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has officially handed over headstones to 21 affected families of fallen former Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) operatives who died between 1986 and 1990.
The Deputy President described the occasion in Soweto, Johannesburg, as an important and historic moment that must go down in the annals of history.
“We are living up to the constitutional injunction which enjoins us to, ‘recognise the injustices of our past, honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land, and to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights’,” he said on Tuesday.
He said he hoped that the unveiling would bring closure to the suffering and agony of the families who endured the pain.
The Deputy President told the families and the other attendees that the liberation heroes had made enormous sacrifices, including disintegrated families to secure the freedom many enjoy today.
He took the time to pay tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country.
“We will never forget their selflessness, courage, and commitment to defending our nation. They demonstrated remarkable courage and strength in the face of adversity, showing unwavering determination and fortitude in the most difficult of situations.”
He believed that it was unfortunate that many liberation heroes never saw the dawn of democracy ushered in 1994. “However, they have paid the ultimate price with the hope of a South Africa that we have today.”
He recounted the journey of South Africans before 1994 as challenging and arduous.
The country’s second-in-command said the apartheid system robbed black South Africans of the right to exercise fundamental human rights.
These include the right to vote, access to equal access and quality education and healthcare, and the freedom to move around freely throughout the country without restriction.
Despite facing immense challenges and brutal crackdowns, he said South Africans never gave up their fight for freedom and equality.
“As we remember and commemorate their sacrifice, it is important for us to not only honour their memory but also to ensure that their legacy lives on. We must continue to support and care for our veterans and their families. We must strive to create a society that values and respects the sacrifices made by MK veterans and their families.”
He said the country has a collective duty to protect the democratic gains and break free from the shackles of poverty and high levels of inequality.
Deputy President Mashatile said under-development was now the common enemy, which needed a more focused response.
Meanwhile, he expressed regret that some veterans and their families were still struggling with poverty after 30 years of democracy.
“Sadly, most of these brave men and women were never able to save for retirement or their children’s futures by funding health care plans or pensions, or by looking into different options for skills development or financing for their schooling.”
He said government was actively working to bring about the change it deserves.
Through the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans, he said the state was committed to addressing the concerns and needs raised with the government regarding veterans’ benefits, support, and improving access and services to military veterans.
“We are committed to providing support to the families of MK veterans in various ways, including financial assistance, to ensure they can lead fulfilling lives.”
A wreath-laying ceremony took place at five cemeteries, including one headstone in Ga-Rankuwa, two at Crystal Park, four in Tembisa, seven at Avalon and eight at Westpark. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 05/23/2024 - 15:34
A connection to nature in the city is not easy to make. Finding a residential estate just 15kms from the centre of Sandton CBD seems like an impossible find. Yet Helderfontein Residential Estate in Fourways (opposite Dainfern Shopping Centre) offers a unique living experience that harmonises luxurious living with a carefully considered connection to nature. …