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November, Johannesburg: A community development organisation is calling for more public-private initiatives to improve basic service delivery that can lift communities out of poverty and restore dignity to the lives of the disenfranchised masses in South Africa (SA). The obligation to restore dignity and ensure equal access to basic services has been one of the …
Eskom receives global credit ratings boost
Eskom has welcomed the decision by global ratings agency S&P Global to upgrade the power utility’s credit rating to ‘B’ from ‘CCC+’ with a stable outlook on the company’s senior secured and senior unsecured debt.
In addition, S&P Global also upgraded Eskom’s South Africa national scale rating to ‘zaBBB/zaA-2’ from ‘zaB/zaB’.
Eskom Acting Group Chief Executive Calib Cassim said: “Eskom welcomes the decision to upgrade the company’s credit rating by S&P Global. We continue to work with key stakeholders, particularly shareholder ministries as we implement our turnaround plan with a focus on key strategic objectives which include operations and financial recovery; people, culture and ethics, and legal separation of the business.”
The credit ratings agency cited government’s R254 billion debt relief package as key in the electricity company’s credit quality.
“In their rationale, the credit rating agency stated that the upgrade is due to their expectation that the South African government’s R254 billion financial support package, as part of the Eskom Debt Relief Act signed into law on 7 July 2023, will cover Eskom’s debt servicing and repayment obligations over the current and coming two financial years resulting in an improvement of the company’s credit quality.
“The stable outlook reflects S&P Global’s view that Eskom’s creditworthiness will continue to benefit from explicit and timely support from the South African Government, facilitating a strengthening of Eskom’s liquidity position and less risk of default as the debt relief agreement is implemented as stipulated,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 11/27/2023 - 10:02
HARARE: Rain had the final say in the fifth T20 between Zimbabwe and SA Emerging at the Takashinga Sports Club, with...
JOHANNESBURG: The Board of Cricket South Africa (CSA) met in Johannesburg yesterday and considered a complaint from the Palestine Solidarity Alliance...
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Office of Tax Ombud ready to assist with complaints against SARS
While the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is committed to those seeking assistance with their tax complaints against the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Tax Ombud Yanga Mputa has reminded citizens that the entity is not in the business of helping taxpayers and businesses dodge their tax responsibilities.
Addressing the celebration of 10 years of the existence of the Tax Ombud, Mputa reiterated that the OTO champions taxpayers' rights and tax compliance.
“The office provides taxpayers and tax practitioners with a simple and impartial channel to seek a resolution for a service, procedural or administrative dispute they might have already unsuccessfully tried to resolve through SARS's complaints management channels.
“We play a unique taxpayer complaints resolution role and align with the Public Protector... The Public Protector exists to ensure administrative justice by being a check on the exercise by the government and its agencies of their authority, and on the other hand, the Tax Ombud exists to ensure administrative justice by being a check on the exercise of authority by SARS,” she said on Friday in Pretoria.
Mputa said the OTO is celebrating a decade of making a difference in the lives of taxpayers and a beacon of hope to scores who have tax complaints with the revenue collector.
Taking place under the theme: “10 Years of Making Taxpayers' Rights Matter," the Tax Ombud said until the establishment of the office, there was no independent redress channel for taxpayers, who had exhausted the normal SARS complaints mechanisms.
“The OTO was not a 'nice to have' but a prerequisite institution that has positively contributed to improving our country's tax administration system. Our intervention has saved taxpayers millions of rands, homes and businesses, to mention a few. However, we are not oblivious that we would not have achieved all this without our stakeholders,” she said.
Mputa said one of the important commitments of the Office of the Tax Ombud is the improvement of South Africa's tax administration system.
“Defending taxpayer rights is central to a tax system that follows a voluntary compliance/self-assessment tax system. In a voluntary compliance/self-assessment tax system, if taxpayers believe they are treated or may be treated arbitrarily and impulsively, they may mistrust the tax system and be less likely to comply with the law voluntarily.
“On the other hand, if taxpayers have confidence in the fairness and integrity of the tax system, they will be more likely to comply,” the Tax Ombud said.
In 2022, the Office of the Tax Ombud published the country's first-ever Compilation of Taxpayers' Rights, Entitlements and Obligations.
“This document's main aim is to highlight taxpayers' rights and obligations as contained in various laws, including the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and the Tax Administration Act, 2011,” Mputa said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Sun, 11/26/2023 - 10:12
DPWI exploring strategies to improve the management of assets
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Sihle Zikalala, says his department is exploring various strategies to improve the management of its assets.
Zikalala said the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) manages an extensive property portfolio of 28 683 registered and unregistered land parcels on which about 77 537 improvements (buildings and structures) are located across 52 client departments countrywide.
Addressing the Western Cape Property Sector engagement in Cape Town on Thursday, Zikalala said at present, the immovable asset portfolio under the custodianship of the DPWI comprises approximately 30 000 land parcels or 4.7 million hectares of land on which roughly 90 000 facilities (equivalent to 33.9 million m² of floor space) are located.
The DPWI is a custodian of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, 2007 (GIAMA) which provides a regulatory framework of basic principles in terms of which national and provincial departments must manage the immovable assets that they control in executing their mandates.
“We can have a revitalised, attractive state owned property where there is optimal utilisation of state owned buildings, curbing of illegal occupation of buildings, reduced reliance on private leases while promoting longer term lease arrangements that will contribute to property upgrades, and improve energy efficiency.”
Zikalala said in collaboration with industry, the department has an opportunity to put state owned properties into good use to create value, generate income to support the ailing economy, provide sustainable employment, and drive transformation.
“To effectively deliver on our legislative mandate as the real estate agent of the state, we seek to leverage on available expertise, resources, and innovation within the property sector for the benefit of users of the accommodation space.
“We have seen, for an example, how [a] lack of maintenance results in dilapidated buildings and invites social ills such as crime and environmental degradation which in turn affects business; improper surroundings fail to attract investments.
“We only have one country and it is in our hands to work together for the common good. The ‘us and them’ paradigm only creates tensions and misunderstanding and as a result all parties suffer in the process,” the Minister said.
Zikalala said many parts of South Africa lose economic opportunities as a result of the failure to maintain and commercialise state buildings.
“Failure to adopt proactive asset management strategies in the public sector and lack of maintenance of existing buildings speed up their deterioration process.
“As you would know, several government buildings are old and some are more than 100 years old, and the number of vacant buildings is growing. Such vacancy increases the costs of maintaining and upkeep of these buildings without a return on investment,” Zikalala said.
DPWI’s focus is on public land and building assets and infrastructure and the way in which they can be utilised to stimulate and sustain economic growth in the built environment. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 11/24/2023 - 10:23
Have your say on Scrap Metal Policy
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has published a request for comments from interested parties on key aspects of the Scrap Metals Policy.
These aspects include:
On 15 June 2023, a trade policy directive and notice were published that ferrous and non-ferrous waste and scrap metal may not be exported from South Africa for six months from June to December 2023.
In addition, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) suspended the operation of the Price Preference System for the exportation of ferrous and non-ferrous waste and scrap metal for the same period.
The trade directive and notice forms part of Phase 1 of the Policy Implementation Actions on Measures to Restrict and Regulate Trade in Ferrous and Non Ferrous Metals Waste, Scrap and Semi-Finished Ferrous and Non Ferrous Metal Products to Limit Damage to Infrastructure and the Economy published in Government Gazette No. 47627.
Last year Cabinet considered and approved a comprehensive package of measures to address damage to public infrastructure and the economy by restricting the trade of waste scrap and semi processed metals.
Below is the link to the new gazette:
http://www.thedtic.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/Scrap-Metals-Gazette-49765.pdf
Comments can be hand delivered to the Director General of the dtic at 77 Meintjies Street, BlockA, 1st floor, Sunnyside, Pretoria or via email on scrapmetalpolicy2023@thedtic.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 11/24/2023 - 10:42
Afrika Tikkun and Microsoft Unite South African Businesses to Revolutionise Youth Employability and Close the Skills Gap Some of the country’s largest corporations at a recent roundtable discussion co-hosted by youth development group, Afrika Tikkun (AT) and Microsoft have questioned whether SA’s unemployment challenges are truly about job availability rather than a mismatch in skills …
Afrika Tikkun Services (ATS) in partnership with HSBC Bank hosted the 5th Annual Alumni Entrepreneur Network (AEN) Business Summit, on 11 November 2023, celebrating their ingenious entrepreneurs. The Summit provided young entrepreneurs with an opportunity to pitch their innovative business ideas or present their existing businesses to a panel of judges and a chance to …
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President Ramaphosa opens Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital
The opening of the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital is a reflection of government’s commitment to advancing the call of the Freedom Charter.
The Charter calls for free medical care and hospitalisation to be provided for all and for the health of women and children to be prioritised.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said this at the official opening of the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital in Kwa-Mashu, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday.
“This facility has been built in response to the growing pressing healthcare needs of the approximately 1.5 million residents of Kwa-Mashu, Inanda, Ntuzuma and the surrounding communities in northern Durban.
“It will relieve pressure on the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Addington Hospital, and will cater for inpatients at a regional level, with referrals from surrounding district level facilities,” he said.
The President highlighted that data from the Census 2022 points not just to a growing population, but confirms that the vast majority of South Africans rely on the public sector to meet their healthcare needs.
Another report published this month by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) furthermore points to the growing healthcare burden of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, cancers and others.
“With more people living with non-communicable diseases, it is essential that healthcare systems respond accordingly at a primary healthcare level, particularly with regards to regular screening to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment. This facility will play a critical role in this regard,” he said.
He added that it is pleasing to note that the hospital has an active primary healthcare outreach programme that is bringing much-needed healthcare services closer to the people.
Services
The commissioning of the hospital was implemented in a phased approach from August 2021. First radiology was commissioned, followed by optometry and dermatology, and the migration of Internal Medicine from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital.
In January this year, the Emergency Department commenced with providing services. Currently all emergency cases in the north of eThekwini are taken directly from the scene, from primary healthcare centers, community healthcare centers and district hospitals.
The facility offers an impressive range of services including critical care, dental, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological services, dietetics, audiology, social work and many more.
The hospital also has a strong academic and research component and is one of the centers for postgraduate medical training, as well as providing rotation for final year medical students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
This hospital is also the first government hospital in the province to adopt an insourced model in components such as security, cleaning, laundry and food services.
With respect to human resources, out of the approved hospital establishment of 1 513, a total of 1 383 posts have already been filled as of end September 2023. The construction of the facility itself supported job creation and small business development.
The President said he had no doubt that the hospital will improve the health outcomes of all the communities it serves.
“We have no doubt that the people of this community and of this province know that we are [a] government that prioritises the needs of all, but especially of society’s most vulnerable.”
President Ramaphosa further said he was honoured to be present at the official opening of the hospital and that there can be no more befitting a name for this facility than that of the great Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme.
He lauded him as a man who was the moving spirit behind the formation of the African National Congress, the oldest liberation movement in the African continent.
“He was a committed Pan-Africanist and a humanist, who famously spoke of a brighter day rising upon Africa; and of an Africa whose sons and daughters who would one day walk in the light of progress, freedom and equality.
Healthcare for all
President Ramaphosa added that the hospital stands as a testament to government’s commitment to ensure that the right to life, the right to quality healthcare, and the right to equality will never be qualified, or determined on the basis of where you live, or how much or little you have.
As the country will mark 30 years of democracy next year, the President said it will be a time to reflect on how far we have come in realising the aspirations of the Freedom Charter, the Constitution with its Bill of Rights, and the National Development Plan.
“That we are a country that is able to provide quality healthcare services, free, to the population can certainly be counted as amongst our greatest achievements.
“That we are moving ahead with the introduction of National Health Insurance that will further democratise access to healthcare services, is something of which we can be proud,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Fri, 11/24/2023 - 14:21
Ekurhuleni calls for active fight against violence
As the country prepares to mark the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, the City of Ekurhuleni has urged the citizens of the municipality to join hands and actively fight off any form of violence.
Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor, Sivuyile Ngodwana, said it is an unfortunate well-known fact that violence against women and children has been increasing drastically.
“It has become a trend which we are very ashamed of as a country and even more so as men because majority of the perpetrators of these crimes are males. I am raising my hand to be among those who vigorously fight against this continuing scourge.
“The City of Ekurhuleni stands in solidarity with all the activism taking place across the country during this campaign. It must be a daily fight which is not only comes alive during these 16 days but this period should be about intensifying our commitment to this cause,” Ngodwana said.
Ngodwana also called on everyone to stand up, unite and work hard to end any form of violence against women and children within their communities, schools or workplace.
The mayor’s call comes a day before the official launch of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, scheduled to take place at Nsikazi Stadium in the City of Mbombela in Mpumalanga.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile will preside at this year’s launch, which will be commemorated under the theme: “Accelerating Actions to end Gender Based Violence and Femicide, leaving no one behind”, a call to action to raise awareness about the devastating impact that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has on women, children, and the entire social fabric.
South Africa will observe 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children from 25 November until 10 December. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 11/24/2023 - 11:44
Gauteng, South Africa – November 24, 2023 – As the festive season draws near, Rio Perfumes is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated Black Friday deals, offering exclusive discounts to fragrance enthusiasts across South Africa. With an exquisite collection of perfumes and colognes from renowned brands, Rio Perfumes invites you to indulge in the essence …
PRASA employee dismissed for fraud
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has reiterated its commitment to dealing with fraud after the dismissal of an employee that was allegedly involved in fraudulent activities.
“During routine financial review processes, irregular payments were detected, prompting escalation to senior leadership. With the assistance of PRASA Internal Audit department, management engaged an existing independent supplier to conduct a forensic investigation,” the agency said on Friday.
The investigation revealed three fraudulent transactions executed by a PRASA employee totalling R9,547,000.
On being interrogated by the investigators, the employee admitted to committing the fraud and subsequently returned the stolen funds.
PRASA immediately suspended the employee and reported the matter to the South African Police Services (SAPS).
The agency continued the internal investigation and unearthed additional fraudulent transactions by the same individual amounting to R24,976,747.30.
Upon interrogation, the same employee also confessed to these additional unauthorised transactions.
“As an outcome of the process, the employee was dismissed, and a fraud case against him is pending. The investigation helped pinpoint internal control deficiencies that enabled the fraud. PRASA has introduced enhanced measures to bolster internal controls and prevent future fraud.
“PRASA's management remains committed to upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability. Going forward, the organisation will remain vigilant against potential financial irregularities,” the agency said. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Fri, 11/24/2023 - 10:36
“Community radio initiatives are crucial to educating and informing communities” says Bush Radio director
Consumers urged to exercise caution when buying food products on Black Friday
The Department of Health has urged consumers to exercise extra caution when buying goods, especially food products, during the Black Friday frenzy by prioritising quality and safety over quantity and savings to mitigate buying counterfeit and expired foodstuffs.
“It is indisputable that Black Friday deals provide consumers with discounts and savings on a variety of goods. Therefore, it is important for consumers to guard against purchasing counterfeit and expired foodstuffs by thoroughly checking food labelling and expiry dates on food items to prevent ongoing sporadic cases of life-threatening food poisoning.”
The department has reminded consumers to be on the lookout and report any suspicious goods sold by outlets and retailers to environmental health practitioners or food inspectors at their nearest municipal offices or Consumer Goods Council of South Africa.
“Consumption of expired and counterfeit foods can pose serious health risks, including food poisoning, allergic reactions and long-term health complications.”
The department said through its food control and environmental health sections, it has been working closely with other stakeholders to raise public awareness about the dangers of consuming counterfeit and expired food products to keep the public safe.
The country, according to the statement, has 1 712 environmental health practitioners, known as health inspectors, spread across 44 districts and eight metropolitan municipalities, serving 62 million South Africans. This translates to one health inspector for every 36 000 people.
“This means the efforts to prevent production and selling of counterfeit and expired foodstuffs detrimental to human health cannot be left solely in the hands of food inspectors, but it should be everyone’s business,” the department said.
People are advised to not buy or consume highly perishable products with damaged packaging or lapsed expiry dates, even if they smell and look good.
Meanwhile, the department said the South African Police Service (SAPS) is empowered to investigate and is also authorised, under the Foodstuffs Act, as inspectors and has powers to collect food samples for analysis as part of their investigation, especially where there is a case of unnatural death.
“Members of the public are not allowed, in terms of this legislation, to take the law into their own hands to conduct any food inspection blitz in food outlets, but they should report any outlet to the relevant authorities,” the department explained.
Tips to identify possible illicit food products:
- Colour would normally differ from the original because incorrect additives were used to manufacture the fake products.
- Inconsistency in the texture, smell and colour of the product.
- Check if manufacturing and expiry date are not adulterated with or damaged, or not clearly visible.
- Check the nutrition label on supplements and food items because in most cases, fake goods contain some discrepancy in listing the ingredients.
- Carefully look at the packaging if it is not suspicious because counterfeiters produce close replicas, but mostly cannot perfect it. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 11/24/2023 - 10:11
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The National Department of Health (NDOH) , in collaboration with provincial health departments, the World Health Organization (WHO) in South Africa and partners such as John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (Jhpiego), the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), convened the National International Health Regulations (IHR) Committee to review progress toward IHR (2005) implementation. The review meeting took place from November 20 to 22, 2023, at The Capital Menlyn Maine Hotel in Pretoria, Gauteng Province.
This review meeting was a follow up of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) meeting which was held May 25 and 26, 2022 in South Africa. The review's objectives were to:
The facilitators included technical officers from WHO South Africa, the NDOH, and the NICD. Participants were multi-disciplinary and included the National IHR Focal Points, Epidemiologists, Communicable Disease Control Coordinators, Disease Surveillance Officers, Laboratory personnel, Port Health Officers, Environmental Health Practitioners from the Department of Health and Border Management Authority, Food Control experts, Antimicrobial Resistance Specialists, Animal Health, Infection Prevention and Control experts, State Security Civil Aviation Authority, and experts from other departments and partners critical to the implementation of the IHR in the country.
During the meeting, participants were updated on the WHO perspective on IHR (2005), as well as the country road map. Participants were also taken through the prioritization, assessment synthesis for quality planning, costing, resource mapping, and budget advocacy processes. The review methodology included plenary updates on the progress report for 2022, as documented on the eSPAR, as well as the status of NAPHS implementation. The participants then worked in groups corresponding to their respective technical areas to update the eSPAR for 2023, review the NAPHS matrix, and develop the annual operational plan for 2024. The recommendations from the first JEE, the after-action review reports, simulation exercises, the one-health national bridging workshop, and the IDSR strategic plan served as the source documents for updating the 2023 eSPAR and the 2024 NAPHS AOP.
This review meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to improve their knowledge of IHR and to commit to jointly strengthening the country's preparedness and response by applying lessons learned from recent emergencies and outbreaks such as COVID-19, cholera, and listeriosis outbreaks. The following proposals from the National IHR Focal Point were adopted by the participants:
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - South Africa.
Productivity SA is pleased to announce that the 6-day strike initiated by members of NEHAWU from November, 13, 2023 has been called off after the parties successfully reached an agreement on Monday, November 20, 2023, for a five (5) percent salary increase for employees at levels 12 and below. The salary increase for the 2023/24 …
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South Africa, November, 2023: Flykids Online Toy Store: Where Imagination Takes Flight Johannesburg, South Africa – Flykids, South Africa’s premier online toy store, is proud to announce its latest range of innovative and engaging toys for children. With a mission to provide “Cool Toys for Cool Kids,” Flykids is dedicated to fostering creativity, learning, and fun …