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Black industrialists honoured for their outstanding contributions

Location: News

Black industrialists honoured for their outstanding contributions

President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended black industrialists who have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to the country’s economy and society.

“Your resilience, innovation and vision inspire us all to reach greater heights and build a brighter future for generations to come,” President Ramaphosa said.

Addressing the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference and awards ceremony at the Sandton Convention Centre on Wednesday, President Ramaphosa called on all black industrialist companies to unite in their commitment to building a more inclusive, dynamic and prosperous economy that where every entrepreneur, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed.

The awards acknowledged the contributions by black industrialists to the economy while reflecting on progress made in advancing redress and transforming a skewed racialised economy.

A total of R261 billion has been committed for procurement from black industrialists companies over a period of five years.

“As we continue to support, invest and collaborate, we will unlock even greater potential and prosperity for our nation,” President Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.

He said through technology adoption, market diversification and strategic partnerships, black industrialists are positioning themselves as leaders in their respective industries and ambassadors of African excellence worldwide.

“As we celebrate the achievements of black industrialists, we must look to the future. Our businesses must not only thrive locally but also compete on the global stage.  

“My challenge to the 239 black industrialists who will benefit from these procurement commitments is to return to this stage at the 3rd Black Industrialists Conference, not as beneficiaries of procurement but as drivers of investment in the next generation of black entrepreneurs.

“These commitments will help to accelerate the re-industrialisation of our economy,” President Ramaphosa said.

The R27 billion committed to agriculture and agro-processing will bring more black farmers into the formal economy, readying them for the export opportunities that lie abroad.

“The R79 billion that has been committed for procurement in the retail sector will see more local products – made by black industrialists – in the hands of South African consumers.

“The R52 billion in procurement commitments in infrastructure will see more black-owned and -managed businesses contributing to the expansion and improvement of our ports, energy infrastructure and logistics networks.

“We are now at the point where black industrialists can be the capital that can fund and support growth in the next generation,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa said the black businesses are a cornerstone of the country’s economy.

“They are creating jobs, exporting goods, earning foreign exchange and helping to lift communities out of poverty.

“We know that the playing field for black business in South Africa is still not level. Yet there has been significant progress over the 30 years of freedom,” President Ramaphosa said.

The Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference also featured exhibitions that showcases proudly South African products manufactured by black industrialists and an awards ceremony that recognised and reward industrialists who have contributed significantly to industrialisation, job creation, poverty alleviation, innovation and transformation efforts.

The Black Industrialists and Exporters conference took place on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (B-BBEE Act).

The objective of the black industrialists programme is to increase participation of black South Africans in the ownership and control of productive enterprises in key sectors and the entire value chain of the country’s economy.

More than 600 firms supported by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition showed a turnover of about R80 billion during the 2023/24 financial year, illustrating the tangible results of drawing more black entrepreneurs into the industrial economy. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Thu, 03/21/2024 - 07:20

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South Africa called to build “a society of equals”

Location: News

South Africa called to build "a society of equals"

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all South Africans to strive for a society of equals, “where none may claim dominance over another, where there is neither privilege nor disadvantage”.

Speaking at the official Human Rights Day commemoration in Sharpeville on Thursday, the President said while the journey over the 64 years since the Sharpeville Massacre has been remarkable and the 30 years of democracy have seen great changes in the lives of South Africans, the journey is far from complete.

“We must strive for a society where neither race nor gender, nor age, nor religion, nor disability, nor marital status, nor sexual orientation, determines the circumstances in which a person lives or the opportunities that they have.

“We must continue our work to redress the injustices of the past, affirming those who have been disadvantaged by unfair discrimination,” the President said. 

He called for the transformation of the economy so that all people may participate and so that all may benefit and share in the country’s wealth.

“This means that we must continue to implement policies of broad-based black economic empowerment, to support small businesses and black industrialists, to promote employment equity, and to use public and private procurement to empower black- and women-owned suppliers.

“It means that we must accelerate land reform and provide emerging farmers with the resources and support they need to be productive and sustainable,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa noted that in building a more equal society, all people of working age must have an opportunity to earn a decent livelihood. 

“We must therefore create jobs on a far greater scale and at a much faster pace. We must provide support to those who want to run their own businesses and remove the many obstacles that they face,” he said.

As the country works together to grow an inclusive economy that provides more jobs and greater economic opportunities, the President said government must continue to provide work opportunities to unemployed people through public and social employment programmes.

In building a society of equals, the President said there can be no instrument more powerful than education.

He highlighted the enormous strides made in securing the right of everyone to a basic education and the progressive achievement of access to further education.

“We have achieved almost universal access to basic education and we have massively increased access to higher education and training.

“But there is much more that we must do to keep young people in school until matric, and improve the quality and the relevance of what they learn. We must continue to focus on expanding access to early childhood development and improving early grade reading,” he said. 

In building a society of equals, the President further said the divide between men and women must be bridged.

“Already we have made important progress. In South Africa today, girls learn alongside boys in primary and secondary schools and receive equal education. Last year, more females passed the matric exams and got more distinctions than their male counterparts. 

“There are currently more female students enrolled at institutions of higher learning than males. Close to half of our Members of Parliament, judges and magistrates are women. More than 60 per cent of public servants are women,” he said. 

The President emphasised that there must be no position in society to which women cannot aspire and attain.

A society of equals means that all forms of discrimination and disadvantage are eliminated.

“We must ensure that persons with disability are free and able to participate in every part of social and economic life. We must confront prejudice and ignorance, providing appropriate education and ensure equal access for persons with disabilities to economic opportunities,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Thu, 03/21/2024 - 14:42

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Large players pull out all the stops to keep Africa connected

Location: News

Workonline Communications
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With only three of the ten undersea cables that connect South Africa to the world still in operation, it is quite remarkable that the region remains as well connected as it is.  This is the view of Workonline Communications (www.Workonline.Africa/), one of the leading providers of wholesale IP transit services in Africa, commenting on recent disruptions to internet connectivity across the continent due to multiple undersea cable faults.

“The cable breaks on both sides of the continent have highlighted the issue of the lack of capacity to support Africa's burgeoning internet requirements,” says Edward Lawrence of the Workonline Group. “There are 574 active and planned submarine cables across the globe, yet South Africa only has 10 that connect it to the rest of the world, and seven of these are currently out of action.”

In February 2024, three vital cables—AAE-1, EIG, and SEACOM—connecting the east coast of Africa to Europe were disrupted, allegedly due to vandalism by the Houthis. Then, on March 14, 2024, four out of the five west coast cables—SAT3, WACS, ACE, and MainOne—were affected, reportedly by an undersea rock fall near Ivory Coast. These incidents have significantly impacted internet connectivity, not only in South Africa but across the entire continent.

The capacity constraints are further complicated by the time it takes to not only repair submarine cables, but also to lay new infrastructure. Lawrence explains that it can take 18 months or longer to plan for new cables, and a further two years or more to actually build and commission them.

“We're fortunate that due to our investment in Africa and abroad we are able to be more nimble than most and can increase our undersea capacity at speed. We've designed our network to be as resilient as possible, acquiring capacity on the most stable routes we can find. Incremental capacity, or augments as they are referred to, require us to acquire hundreds of Gbps of capacity at a time, so we rely on our deep relationships which we've developed across the industry.”

Through strategic partnerships and investments in mega Points of Presence (PoPs) across Africa, Workonline remains at the forefront of delivering high-quality IP transit services to meet the evolving needs of ISPs and CDNs in Africa.

"We understand the critical importance of internet connectivity in today's digital age," added Lawrence. "As such, we are committed to proactively managing network disruptions and minimizing downtime to provide our customers with the continuity they need to thrive in a competitive landscape."

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Workonline Communications.

Follow Workonline Communications on:
X: https://apo-opa.co/4ariq4x
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4crXCeG
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3Vt33UF

About Workonline Communications Group:
Workonline (AS 37271), founded in 2006, is one of the largest IP transit networks in Africa. The company operates mega PoPs across South, East and West Africa, Europe, and Asia, and is continually expanding its infrastructure across the African continent.

Workonline (AS 37271) is one of the largest and the fastest growing IP transit networks in Africa. The company is focused on providing highly scalable, high quality, and flexible service options to meet the needs of carriers, Internet Service Providers, content providers, and mobile operators.

Website: www.Workonline.Africa/news
Email: bizdev@workonline.africa

Read moreLarge players pull out all the stops to keep Africa connected

Sharpeville massacre victims remembered 

Location: News

Sharpeville massacre victims remembered 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has encouraged South Africans to continue to honour those who fought for the rights that all enjoy today and hold dear.

President Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the Human Rights Day commemoration in Sharpeville, Gauteng on Thursday, held under the theme: “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights”.

“Sixty-four years have passed since the ground on which we gather here in Sharpeville bore witness to one of the worst atrocities committed by the apartheid regime against the South African people.

“And although many decades have passed, we still remember with great sorrow and pain the 69 people who were killed and the many more who were maimed as they protested in peace against the grave injustices imposed upon them,” the President said. 

Earlier, President Ramaphosa led a wreath laying ceremony at the Sharpeville memorial site in commemoration of South Africans who laid their lives in sacrifice for the struggle for the attainment of human rights and democratic South Africa.

He also met with family members of the fallen Sharpeville Massacre victims during the wreath laying ceremony.

Today’s gathering, he said, was held to trace the journey as a nation over the last 64 years, from a state of discrimination and repression to a land of democracy and freedom.

“Ours was a journey of relentless struggle. We still recall how every black South African – African, Coloured and Indian - was denied the basic human rights to which they were entitled.

“We recall how many generations of black South Africans were denied the right to life and dignity, the right to equal treatment, the right to vote and to be heard, the right to live where they want, to work in the trade of their choice, the right to education and health care, the right to the protection of the law,” he said. 

The President reflected that it was a difficult and dangerous journey travelled by community activists and union organisers, by traditional leaders and religious groupings, by freedom fighters and underground operatives, by political prisoners and exiles, and by friends and supporters across the world.

He added that it was a struggle to realise the rights contained in the Bill of Rights which called for equal treatment of all people, equal access to land, direct representation and voting rights.

“Ours was a struggle to realise the vision of the Freedom Charter, adopted by the Congress of People in 1955, of a South Africa that is prosperous and free and in which all enjoy equal rights and opportunities.

“It was these principles and these ideals, these struggles and these sacrifices, that enabled the achievement of our democracy and the adoption of the Bill of Rights that is at the centre of our democratic Constitution,” he said. 

And as the country celebrates this milestone, President Ramaphosa said the country will reflect on the journey taken towards the full realisation of the fundamental freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights.

“We will count the elections that we have held every five years since 1994, elections that have been peaceful, free and fair and that have reflected the will of the people.

“We will assess the institutions that make our laws, that both represent the views and regularly seek the counsel of the South Africans people. We will point to the independence of our judiciary, the vibrancy of our civil society, the activism of our trade unions and the freedom of our media.

“As we celebrate 30 years of freedom, we will reflect on the progress we have made in progressively realising the social and economic rights contained in our Constitution,” he said. 

The President said the country has much to celebrate as he detailed the progress made by government throughout the years. 

He highlighted that millions of South Africans have been lifted out of dire poverty, while eight out of every 10 households have proper housing. 

“Nine out of every 10 homes have electricity and access to clean drinking water. South Africans are living longer. Far fewer women are dying in child birth and far fewer children are dying in infancy.

“More children from poor families are completing school, passing matric and going on to study at universities and colleges,” he said. 

The President said this has been made possible because the country has focused on correcting the injustices of the past and meeting the needs of the poor and excluded.

He highlighted that working together, nearly 4 million hectares of land has been returned to people who had been dispossessed of their land and acquired over 5 million hectares of land for redistribution and to provide security of tenure for labour tenants and other farm dwellers.

Government has provided social grants for children, the elderly and people with disability, and recently introduced a special social relief of distress grant for unemployed people.

Government also provides free daily meals to millions of school children and has expanded the number of fee-free schools and has massively increased funding for students from poor and working-class families to attend universities and colleges.

“As our economy has changed, more and more people have been able to exercise the right to freely choose their trade, occupation or profession. Our economy has tripled in size since 1994.

“While unemployment still remains unacceptably high, the number of South Africans in employment has more than doubled in the last 30 years. The proportion of executive management positions held by black people increased almost five-fold between 1996 and 2016,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Thu, 03/21/2024 - 14:39

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Social Development to keep older persons fit and active in Mbombela 

Location: News

Social Development to keep older persons fit and active in Mbombela 

As the country commemorates Human Rights Day, the Department of Social Development will use the day to promote the rights of older persons through dialogue and sporting activities in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. 

The active ageing programme will be held on Thursday in collaboration with the South African Older Persons Forum (SAOPF), under the theme: “Leaving No One Behind during the Decade of Healthy Ageing”.

The programme seeks to improve the quality of life, health, and well-being of older persons by instilling dignity, peer social integration, as well as promotion of senior citizens’ voices and the creation of awareness concerning their ability to express themselves through dialogue, music, sport, and recreational activities.

The active ageing programme will unfold through an interactive dialogue where older persons will have the opportunity to participate in a democratic manner by independently expressing themselves on how they would like to be treated by authorities and society.

Among other topics, they will reflect on the role of traditional leadership in the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons, family care and support.

Older persons will also participate in various sporting activities including soccer and athletics which are an essential component of active ageing programme.

All government departments, tasked with the implementation of the Older Persons Act will be part of the proceedings

“In choosing to concentrate on the human rights of older persons, the department is trying to encourage the country to respect the human rights of older persons as enshrined in the Constitution. 

“The active ageing programme is a platform to inform older persons about their rights; establish cooperation with government so that older persons’ rights, concerns, needs are identified, voiced, and addressed,” the department said in a statement. 

According to the 2022 Census report, the country’s older persons population was estimated at 5.6 million. The report shows an increase in the number of older persons across all provinces, with highest number of the older population being in Gauteng at 1.4 million and KwaZulu-Natal at 940 000.

“This is an indication that South Africa is becoming an ageing society which is not immune from the burden of disease that can cause disability due to an increase in old age-related chronic diseases. 

“In a few decades, the loss of health and life worldwide will be greater from non-communicable or chronic diseases, such as, cardiovascular disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, arthritis and diabetes among others,” the department said. 

The department highlighted that in South Africa older persons are faced with numerous challenges including, gender-based violence and femicide. They are often deprived from enjoying their old age as they are often forced to take care of orphaned and vulnerable grandchildren. - SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Thu, 03/21/2024 - 11:30

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South Africans called to observe International Down Syndrome Awareness Day 

Location: News

South Africans called to observe International Down Syndrome Awareness Day 

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has called on South Africans to observe International Down Syndrome Awareness Day which is concurrent with the commemoration of Human Rights Day. 

Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition. It exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics, or health.

According to the Down Syndrome South Africa (DSSA) organisation, down syndrome affects about 1 in 500 births in South Africa. This means that approximately 1 in every 600 children is born with down syndrome, which is a high incidence rate.

“The Observation of International Down Syndrome Awareness Day on the 21st of March 2024 is concurrent with the commemoration of Human Rights Day. 

“Government calls on South Africans to observe the day in line with the call made by the Bill of Rights that says: ‘The right to life is the most basic, the most fundamental, the most primordial and supreme right which human beings are entitled to have and without which the protection of all other human rights becomes either meaningless or less effective’,” Minister Dlamini Zuma said. 

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa protects persons with disabilities from discrimination. The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act also prohibits unfair discrimination against persons with disabilities.

Protecting and promoting the human rights of persons with disabilities is an underlying principle in all the Articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

Notably, Article 4 unambiguously commits States Parties to ensure and promote the full realisation of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind, based on disability, and to protect all persons against violation of their human rights.

“There are still many misconceptions about down syndrome and those who have it. Observing the day will dispel some of the common myths about down syndrome, including one that says children with down syndrome are born to older parents. We call on stakeholders and roleplayers to work together and bring about an attitudinal shift that will provide clarity to some of the myths.

“Persons with disabilities have the right to equal opportunities in all areas of life and have the right to be protected from exploitation and abusive or degrading treatment. They have the right to reasonable accommodation and environmental accessibility in the workplace. They have the right to live in a barrier-free environment and participate in community life,” Dlamini Zuma said. - SAnews.gov.za 

 

DikelediM
Thu, 03/21/2024 - 11:32

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President Ramaphosa congratulates President Putin on his re-election

Location: News

President Ramaphosa congratulates President Putin on his re-election

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, for his re-election to the position of President of the Russian Federation.

President Putin won a landslide re-election victory on Sunday, taking 87% of the vote.

In a statement, President Ramaphosa recalled the commitment of South Africa and the Russian Federation to mutual cooperation at the multilateral level, including the two countries’ common membership of the United Nations, the G20, BRICS and other multilateral bodies. 

“President Ramaphosa concluded by indicating South Africa’s strong belief in the maintenance of international peace and security and that South Africa will continue to engage both the Russian Federation and Republic of Ukraine in search of lasting peace between the two neighbouring countries,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Thu, 03/21/2024 - 09:25

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Deputy Minister Morolong to hand over library books in North West

Location: News

Deputy Minister Morolong to hand over library books in North West

Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong, will on Friday hand over books donated by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) to Mosikare Secondary School in Mahikeng, in the North West province. 

The hand over will take place during South African Library Week (SALW) which is commemorated from 18 to 25 March 2024 under the theme “Libraries Foster Social Cohesion”.

“In response to a national call to improve literacy levels in South Africa, which start with improving reading capabilities, GCIS which has a constitutional mandate to provide information to citizens has donated books from its library to Mosikare Secondary school which has recently been renovated and includes a library,” the GCIS said in a statement. 

The hand over of books will highlight the vital role of libraries in bringing people together , fostering connections and promoting unity through exchange of ideas and lifelong learning through literacy development. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Thu, 03/21/2024 - 09:09

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Work underway to ensure water security: Mchunu

Location: News

Work underway to ensure water security: Mchunu

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has reiterated that water supply at a bulk level is stable, with many projects being implemented to augment the current water supply.

Mchunu said this at a gala dinner hosted by the iMvula Trust on Tuesday to celebrate 30 years of water and sanitation service delivery and beyond.

The celebration took place during National Water Week, and ahead of World Water Day which is celebrated annually on 22 March. 

In his opening remarks, Mchunu said great strides have been made towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on water and sanitation by 2030, and World Water Day is an opportunity to contribute to speeding up progress.

He highlighted some of the projects led by the department, and these include Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, uMkhomazi Water Project in KwaZulu Natal, Olifants River Water Resource Development in Limpopo, and uMzimvubu Water Project in the Eastern Cape, among others.

Mchunu acknowledged that the department is currently facing the challenge of water and sanitation services management, saying while dams are full, some taps are running dry, while other areas have no taps at all.

“The main reason for this current problem is that South Africa has exclusively relied on municipalities for the provision of drinking water to households and businesses, while same have been declining in recent years.

“Government, at all levels, is aware that the capacity of municipalities is found to be wanting in the main, the provision of water could not have been an exception in the decline of basic services rendered by municipalities,” Mchunu said.

As a response to this challenge, the Minister said the department has been assisting and engaging municipalities to deliver on their mandates. 

He said since the Water and Sanitation Summit in 2022, the department has gradually shifted its attention to building, renewing, and in some cases, refurbishing and upgrading water and sanitation infrastructure.

“We recently convened a two-day Water Summit, where we engaged with municipalities, in their capacities as Water Services Authorities, on the findings in the Blue, Green and No Drop Reports released by the department last year.

“During the summit, it was agreed that fundamental changes would be implemented within the existing legal framework, such as changing the allocation of the Water Services Authority function, appointing another municipality to provide the Water Services Provider function,” Mchunu said.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of private sector involvement in water and sanitation services to achieve the SDG goals. 

“Overall, understand us to be assuring you that we are hard at work in ensuring water security and provision for years to come. We call upon you, those in the private sector, to come on board and work with us in making the water and sanitation sector a success.

“The establishment of the Mvula Trust in 1993 came as South Africa transitioned into its new democracy and fast-forward to present day, we recognise and appreciate your efforts over time and your readiness to engage and work with government to better the lives of South Africans,” Mchunu said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK
Wed, 03/20/2024 - 14:10

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African Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil Celebrates South African Flavours in New Cookbook

Location: MyPR

As a brand that is all about shining a light on local produce, African Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil is thrilled to announce the launch of its new cookbook. The Savouring South Africa cookbook is free to download and a celebration of local flavours and produce, featuring recipes for breakfasts, snacks, side dishes, main meals …

Read moreAfrican Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil Celebrates South African Flavours in New Cookbook

Atteridgeville gets smart licensing centre

Location: News

Atteridgeville gets smart licensing centre

The Gauteng provincial government has moved licensing services closer to communities, particularly in townships, informal settlements and hostels in Pretoria west with a new smart licensing centre.

“Overall, this initiative has the potential to bring convenience, efficiency, sustainability, and integrity to townships, informal settlements and hostel communities, ultimately transforming lives and contributing to the province's renewal service demands,” MEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said on Wednesday.

She was addressing the launch of the smart licensing centre in Atteridgeville, which will expand access to government services, such as licensing services.

“Integrating these smart testing centres into the administration system of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and offering services like other testing centres across South Africa highlights a commitment to improving public service delivery and increasing capacity to meet the demands of license renewals and related services,” the MEC said.

The centre provides full online and cashless services as part of the provincial government's commitment to exploring new technologies and process optimisation.

It is estimated that the licence renewal service will take approximately 10 minutes, implying that more people will be serviced in the most efficient way possible.

“This innovative concept is a game-changer in Growing Gauteng Together through the Smart Mobility Plan. The centre is also solar-powered; ensuring that even during load shedding, services will continue to be provided. This commitment to sustainability further underscores the forward-thinking approach of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) in meeting the needs of its communities,” Diale-Tlabela said

The MEC pointed out that corruption in terms of driver's license renewal is caused by 'runners' who demand payments for booking slots on behalf of residents.

“These operations have ceased to be the order of the day at these smart driving licence testing centres (DLTCs). Here, you come as per appointment, and a law enforcer becomes the centre manager. This approach will assist in mitigating serious issues of corruption, making the process fairer and more transparent.

“The involvement of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) in piloting and rolling out these smart DLTCs along the Gautrain line is a promising approach. The positive feedback from customers at the Centurion station DLTC and others demonstrates the potential success of this model,” the MEC said.

She said launching the initiative in Atteridgeville is a testament to the provincial government’s commitment to act and improve the lives of its residents. – SAnews.gov.za

 

nosihle
Wed, 03/20/2024 - 14:13

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Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Recommends Candidates for CGE Positions

Location: News

The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa
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The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities met yesterday (19 March) and today to deliberate and select candidates from those interviewed to fill six vacancies at the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).

Having conducted interviews and considering all the relevant documentation, including verifying candidate's qualifications (done by Parliament's Human Resources division) and candidates' security screening (done by the State Security Agency), the committee agreed on the suitable candidates it would recommend to the President for his consideration.

The committee agreed to recommend candidates for part- and full-time positions left vacant by CGE commissioners whose terms of office expire between the end of March and July 2024.

In fulfilling their constitutional mandate, the committee nominated and recommended the following candidates for appointment:

 Ms Seeham Samaai

 Full time

 Ms Mulalo Grace Nemathaheni

 Full time

 Mr Mfundo Nomvungu

 Full time

 Ms Yanga Malotana

 Full time

 HRH Princess Royale Eurika Mogane

 Part time

 Mr Kamohelo Rodney Teele

 Full time

 Dr Marion Lynn Stevens

 Full time

 Dr Charnell Ruby Naidu

 Part time

The recruitment process was guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the CGE Act. The process the committee followed was also in line with the Employment Equity Act and Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Committee chairperson Ms Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba said the recommended candidates are representative of race, gender and age groups, provincial distribution and disability.

The report will be debated in the National Assembly before 28 March 2024. Upon the National Assembly's adoption of the names of the recommended candidates, a report will be sent to the President for his consideration.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Read moreCommittee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Recommends Candidates for CGE Positions

Breaking The Cycle: Positive Masculinity Is Crucial To Ending GBV And Promoting Human Rights

Location: MyPR

“Countless human rights violations are rooted in toxic and wounded masculinity, it’s time to man-up and realise human rights for all!’ says a leading NPC, Father A Nation Johannesburg, March 2024 – As South Africa (SA) observes Human Rights Day, a non-profit company (NPC) calls for the need to promote positive masculinity as a solution …

Read moreBreaking The Cycle: Positive Masculinity Is Crucial To Ending GBV And Promoting Human Rights

Ecobank Group Strengthens Leadership Team with Strategic Top-level Appointments

Location: Business
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

Ecobank (www.Ecobank.com), the pan-African financial services group, announces the appointment of key senior executives to strengthen the Group's leadership team and to drive delivery of its new Growth, Transformation and Returns (GTR) strategy. Abena Osei-Poku joins as Regional Executive Anglophone West Africa and Managing Director Ecobank Ghana; Martin Miruka as Group Executive for Transformation, Enablement and Customer Experience; Anup Suri as Group Executive, Commercial and Consumer Banking; Michael Larbie as Group Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking; and Thierry Mbimi as Group Executive, Internal Audit & Management Services.

These top-level appointments are strategically important as Ecobank enters its next phase of growth and transformation, aiming to become the bank of choice and a leader in delivering responsive, innovative and affordable financial services' products and solutions for Africa. Ecobank Group has decided to combine the commercial and the consumer businesses, under the leadership of Anup Suri, underscoring its commitment to strengthening these two business units to drive growth. In addition, the establishment of the new role of Transformation, Enablement, and Customer Experience underscores the Group's determination to prioritizing the necessary leadership for the successful execution of its transformation.

Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Group, said: “These appointments are crucial to the execution of our recently announced five-year Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy. I am delighted that Abena Osei-Poku, Martin Miruka, Anup Suri, Michael Larbi, and Thierry Mbimi are joining our leadership team, each bringing proven, valuable, global and African financial services experience. I have no doubt that they will play pivotal roles in driving Ecobank's future growth and success.” 

Abena Osei Poku joined Ecobank in January. She is an accomplished Pan-African business leader with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her expertise spans Corporate and Investment banking, Business banking and Risk Management across Africa. Her previous roles include Executive Director for Commercial Banking, responsible for Corporate & Business Banking at Barclays Bank Ghana; Co-Regional Head of Coverage, Corporate & Investment Banking at Absa Bank Group, overseeing East and West Africa; and CEO and Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana. Abena takes over from Daniel Sackey who is retiring from the Bank. We thank Daniel Sackey for his leadership, commitment, and effective service across the continent over the past 27 years at Ecobank.

Martin Miruka, who joined Ecobank in February, brings with him 25 years' experience as C-suite executive, business strategist, serial entrepreneur, and angel investor with strong credentials on pan-African transformation. His previous roles include Group Head of Business Transformation, Customer Experience, and Innovation at Equity Group Holdings, where he successfully led transformation by breaking the Group's strategic and operational silos, aligning technology investments with business strategy, and ultimately delivering a branded Customer Experience across multiple African countries. He was also the Founder/CEO of Atom TDF, Kenya's first indigenous brand strategy and innovation consultancy, and Kava Africa, a fintech/Insurtech based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Anup Suri assumed his new role in March. He brings a wealth of over 30 years of senior leadership experience across various industries and organisations in both developed and emerging markets across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the UK, North America and South America. He joins Ecobank Group from HSBC Group where he was Managing Director, Global Head of Retail Sales and Third-Party Distribution. Anup previously held other senior roles at Standard Chartered Group, Standard Chartered Bank and ABN Amro.

Michael Larbie, who assumed his role in March, brings over 25 years of global senior financial services and investment banking experience. He served as CEO of International & Broader Africa at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), prior to which he held the positions of CEO & Managing Director of RMB Nigeria and Regional Head of West Africa, as well as Head of Coverage & Investment Banking for Africa (excluding South Africa). His experience also includes senior investment banking roles at Merrill Lynch and senior project management roles at American International Group. Michael takes over from Eric Odhiambo, who will retire from Ecobank at the end of April. We thank Eric Odhiambo for his unwavering commitment, invaluable contribution, and dedicated service over the past six and a half years, first as Chief Risk Officer and then as Group Executive of Corporate and Investment Banking.

Thierry Mbimi, who also started in March, has 27 years of extensive industry and consulting experience, with the last 17 years in director-level roles. He brings with him a wealth of global experience in audit and risk management, complemented by a solid background in technology. Thierry was the CEO & Managing Partner for KPMG Central Africa (Audit, Tax, and Advisory), prior to which he held several roles in the organisation, including Partner and Head of West Africa Financial Risk Management, Lead Partner for the Financial Services Sector in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa and Global Services Lead Partner for the African Development Bank.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.

Media Contact:
Christiane Mbimbe Bossom
Group Communications
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated
Email: groupcorporatecomms@ecobank.com
Tel: +228 22 21 03 03
Web: www.Ecobank.com

About Ecobank Group (or ‘Ecobank Transnational Incorporated' or ‘ETI'):
Ecobank Group is the leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise. Present in 35 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as France, the UK, UAE and China, its unique pan-African platform provides a single gateway for payments, cash management, trade and investment. The Group employs over 15,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels, including digital, to over 32 million customers. For further information, please visit www.Ecobank.com.

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Government working on reforms to develop sustainable infrastructure – President

Location: News

Government working on reforms to develop sustainable infrastructure - President

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is working on reforms to develop sustainable infrastructure, boost business confidence and encourage investment. 

The President was addressing the National Assembly during an oral reply session on Tuesday.

“One of the most important pillars of government’s economic recovery plan is a significant increase in infrastructure investment. This has meant that we have had to give specific attention to effective project preparation and the mobilisation of funding on a far larger scale.

“We have amended the Division of Revenue Act to provide for the pledging of future infrastructure grants to crowd-in private sector finance and to leverage external technical capacity,” he said. 

The President said this will facilitate integrated planning and implementation. It will also enable the development of a funded maintenance programme, a monitoring and evaluation framework, and a governance structure to manage the programme delivery.

He highlighted that he previously spoke about the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape as pilot provinces to address the social infrastructure backlog in schools as well as in housing.

He told the National Assembly that Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) is making use of its project preparation facility to support the two pilot provinces to develop quality business cases for submission to the Treasury Loans Coordinating Committee and the Budget Facility for Infrastructure. 

“Through this mechanism we will ensure that social infrastructure, particularly health and education infrastructure, is delivered in a manner that is cost-effective and rapid.

“It will also help to increases the participation of the private sector, both in terms of financing this build programme and also drawing on its expertise and capabilities,” he said.

As part of capacity building, he said, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) is developing guidelines for municipalities to use for project scoping and packaging. Importantly, the Municipal Infrastructure Grant makes provision for a portion of the grant to be utilised for refurbishment.

The President said through these efforts, the infrastructure build programme is starting to gain momentum.

Infrastructure projects worth over R230 billion are currently in construction, including in energy, water, roads, rural bridges, human settlements and student accommodation.

“These projects are contributing to greater economic activity and creating employment while improving the lives of South Africans and expanding the capacity of our economy,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Wed, 03/20/2024 - 10:15

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Follow the Sun with Southern Sun… and Experience It!

Location: MyPR

Discover romantic date night packages, great value family escapes, unforgettable dining experiences, or the perfect place for after-work drinks with Southern Sun’s selection of specials and packages. Try something new, explore our country’s hidden gems, and enjoy the best Mzansi has to offer. Cape Town Carnival: The Year’s Biggest Street Party Local is Lekker, step …

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A New Era: CliffCentral Pivots to Birth Two New Podcasting Platforms

Location: MyPR

After a groundbreaking decade at the forefront of podcasting in South Africa, CliffCentral.com founders Gareth Cliff and Rina Broomberg are embarking on an exciting new chapter. One on One Productions, the visionary force behind CliffCentral, is proud to announce two strategic pivots which marks the launch of Podcast Party and The Real Network. The Real …

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