MyZA
News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff
Johannesburg 10th August – Inspired Schools South Africa, a leading educational institution committed to providing uninterrupted learning experiences, is excited to announce its collaboration with a highly reputable and well-known engineering company for a major solar energy project. This initiative aims to mitigate the effects of load shedding and drive the adoption of renewable energy, …
Public opening of Past Disquiet, guest curated by curator-writers Kristine Khouri and Rasha Salti Public opening of Seismography of Struggle: Towards a Global History of Critical and Cultural Journals, guest curated by art historian Zahia Rahmani Symposium titled The Poetics and Politics of Archival Practice Launch of Zeitz MOCAA’s latest publication, Radical Solidarity: A Reader …
The European Commission has provided EUR 100 000 (R 2,082,061.93) in emergency humanitarian funding to assist the most vulnerable families affected by the fire that broke out in July 2023, in the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban, KwaZulu Natal.
Around 1,213 families (2,357 people in total) were affected by the fire and more than 1,101 households destroyed. There were two fatalities. Food, non-food items including school uniforms and WASH supplies, and mental health support are urgently needed.
The EU funds will support the South Africa Red Cross Society (SARCS) meet basic needs by providing food and non-food items, WASH (hygiene packs and sanitary towels) and shelter support (smoke alarms, kitchen kits etc). SARCS staff and volunteers will be trained in fire awareness, to help raise awareness in the community.
The project will run for three months, until the end of October 2023, and is expected to reach all the people affected by the fire.
This funding is part of the EU's overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of South Africa.
National Women's month in South Africa is both an opportunity to honour and celebrate the women who decided on the 9th August 1956 that the participation of women in the economy was not only the right thing to do but the only thing to do to build and grow the economy of this beautiful country. Today society has taken that even further to insist on addressing gender inequality and diversity in the workplace, in particular female representation in key, decision-making, leadership positions. This month, therefore, as KFC Africa (www.global.KFC.com) we take a moment to ask the question, “who is seated at your table”?
While efforts to address gender inequality in the workplace have boosted female representation at every level within organisations, the reality is that we are far from being fully representative and as organisations we have to continue to create an environment and culture where all voices are heard, respected, and valued, where the table is big enough for all.
Championing inclusivity and better representation is in fact good for business. Numerous reports (https://apo-opa.info/47uDTZp) comprehensively show that inclusive organisations that boast the greatest gender, ethnic and cultural diversity achieve better commercial returns and are more profitable than their less diverse counterparts. Moreover, more diverse teams tend to exhibit greater complexity in problem-solving and are more innovative.
Yes, the gender gap continues to close globally, with the World Economic Forum's 2023 Global Gender Gap Index (https://apo-opa.info/3YtKbo1) report showing a 0.3 percentage points improvement compared to 2022, which represents a 68.4% in terms of closing of the gap. At this rate of progress, however, it will take 131 years to reach full global parity. In South Africa, where 51% of the Economically Active Population is female, the gap is even wider as women comprise of only 40% (https://apo-opa.info/3s3fdqW) of directorships at state-owned entities, with just 36.7% representation in the professional services industry and only 26.9% of directorship positions at JSE-listed entities. From a broader continent perspective, while sub-Saharan Africa has closed 67.9% (https://apo-opa.info/3OxDoVZ) of its gender gap, it also means that 32% of females on average are less likely to have the same opportunities as males in the region – with individual country performances varying greatly.
As a result of these disappointing stats, KFC Africa has some bold ambitions when it comes making a seat at the table for women.
“Female empowerment is about engraining true transformation into the core of the organisation, and it must be driven throughout the value chain and embedded into the social fabric of the business to ensure it lasts,” explains Akhona Qengqe, the recently appointed first female General Manager for Africa at KFC. “As a people-first business, KFC Africa is committed to becoming the most inclusive organisation in the traditionally male-dominated Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sector and across sub-Sahara Africa, and to actively advocating for allyship in every sphere within the business. As a customer facing business, it is important that our employees, stakeholders and franchise partners reflect the communities that we operate in.”
KFC has placed women at the forefront of its socially led initiatives and its hiring processes. For example, KFC Add Hope has a 60% female volunteer complement and 90% of the Add Hope beneficiary organisations, which KFC work with, are championed by women. Not to mention that KFC Mini-Cricket boasts a female volunteer community of 70%. In fact, today the organisation employs over 40,000 people across 23 markets in sub-Saharan Africa in over 1250 restaurants and 60% of those restaurants are managed by women. This is testament to the brand's commitment to female transformation.
“Giving women leadership opportunities to drive some of the core aspects of the overall business and bringing them into key decision-making roles ensures that their voices and views are represented in a meaningful and impactful way,” continues Qengqe.
But more than simply aiming to meet representation targets, Qengqe explains that KFC is intentional about how it creates an environment where women feel like they belong and can contribute meaningfully at a decision-making level.
“Gender equality at corporate level means understanding issues that women face, be it gender-based violence, single-income households, women-led households and family responsibility, and truly dig deep to ensure that the company provides support mechanisms that speak to real-life issues,” explains Nolo Thobejane, Chief People and Transformation Officer at KFC.
In this regard, KFC Africa develops, empowers and emboldens women to leverage their innate leadership qualities and take their seat at the table - with the confidence - to lead with impact and fuel results. KFC achieves this through its Women on the Move Program, which aims to build leadership know-how and equip women with the tools and resources that will accelerate the growth of female talent into meaningful leadership roles.
Conceptualised by Qengqe and launched in 2021, this transformative 12-month programme adopts a blended learning approach that includes formal training courses, personal development interventions, mentorship and peer learning circles, all of which results in bench readiness for leadership and drives a high-performance culture within the organisation.
“We have extended the reach and impact of this initiative even further through our Women on the Move Extended Network (WOM.EN) programme, which brings women across the globe together, at all levels, and affords them the opportunity to share experiences, learnings, challenges and create growth networks in the workplace,” elaborates Thobejane.
In the end, rather than rising into leadership roles in isolation, KFC's approach to female allyship creates powerful advocates for true upliftment. This process gives women the opportunity to achieve their goals, and creates a virtuous cycle of support, where women can pull up more chairs to make room for more female voices at the table.
“We understand the unique perspective and values women bring to our company and are bold in our ambitions to create opportunities for more inclusion, equity and belonging. Our commitment to advance more women into senior roles and achieving greater gender parity in senior leadership, globally, by 2030 is stronger than ever and we will continue to make fundamental steps to become the most inclusive brand in SA,” concludes Qengqe.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KFC Africa.
Tourism sector shows signs of recovery
Cabinet has commended recent statistics which show that the tourism sector is slowly but surely recovering from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to June 2023 data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the volume of arrivals, departures and travellers in transit increased for both South African residents and foreign travellers between June 2022 and June 2023.
For South African residents, the volume of arrivals increased by 265 364 in June 2022 to 316 628 in June 2023 (19.3%). Departures increased by 330 327 in June 2022 to 384 972 in June 2023 (16.5%). Transits increased from 305 in June 2022 to 389 in June 2023 (27.5%).
For foreign travellers, arrivals increased from 581 375 in June 2022 to 851 647 in June 2023 (46.5%). Departures increased by 44.3% from 503 997 in June 2022 to 727 207 in June 2023 (44.3%). Transits increased from 24 624 in June 2022 to 30 730 in June 2023 (24.8%).
At a media briefing on the outcomes of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said Cabinet also welcomed Stats SA’s report of a drop in consumer inflation from 6.3% in May to 5.4% in June 2023, which is the largest decline since May 2020.
“This drop shows the resilience of our economy, which has been further buoyed by the South Africa Reserve Bank’s decision to leave the repo rate unchanged at 8.25%," she said on Thursday.
National Development Plan (NDP) Ten-Year Review
In addition, Cabinet welcomed the Ten-Year Review of the National Development Plan (NDP) by the National Planning Commission, which shows that the economy remains structured in a manner that does not serve the interests of all South Africans, which is a major reason behind increasing levels of poverty and inequality.
“Government remains committed to restructuring and transforming the economy to serve the interests of all South Africans,” Ntshavheni said.
Meanwhile, 25 July marked the first anniversary since President Ramaphosa announced the Energy Action Plan.
“Cabinet welcomed the progress made to date to implement the Energy Action Plan, which continues to register an improvement in the Energy Availability Factor and improvement in the stages of load shedding,” the Minister said.
Financial Inclusion Policy
Cabinet has approved the Financial Inclusion Policy for implementation.
The policy forms part of government’s reforms of the financial sector regulations, in line with the Twin Peaks model of National Treasury.
“The policy, amongst others, aims to ensure better market conduct and the treatment of customers in the financial sector. The purpose is to ensure that financial institutions conduct business in ways that are fair to customers, prevent practices that undermine the integrity of financial markets, and build confidence in the financial system.
“The implementation of the policy will ensure that the country strengthens its financial systems to support economic growth and promote access to financial services and financial inclusion for all citizens. It is an acknowledgment that while levels of access have improved in transactional accounts, this has not reflected across many other financial products and services,” the Minister said.
The policy is available on the National Treasury website: www.treasury.gov.za
Cabinet also approved the submission of the draft Amendment Bill to Parliament, which amends the Regulation of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act (RICA), 2002 (Act 70 of 2002).
“The amendments are largely to provide adequate safeguards to protect the right to privacy, as buttressed by the rights of access to courts, freedom of expression of the media and legal privilege in line with the 2021 Constitutional Court judgement that found the RICA of 2002 to be unconstitutional,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 08/10/2023 - 12:03
Recognised as one of the leading business schools for its focus on sustainability and ethical leadership, Rhodes Business School (www.RU.ac.za/BusinessSchool/) has entered into a partnership with eLearnAfrica to develop a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), to fulfil the School's goal of enabling its AMBA accredited MBA to reach into Africa and beyond, like never before.
Professor Owen Skae, Director of Rhodes Business School, says that the eLearnAfrica supported VLE will be operational from 2024. “We are very excited about this as it means our MBA is now more accessible than ever”.
Founded in 2000, Rhodes Business School's Vision is to “transform business for a sustainable world” and its Mission is to “educate and influence responsible business practice, responsibly”.
Says Skae, “We learnt two things from teaching through the pandemic. Returning to the old ‘business as usual model' of ‘chalk and talk' is not going to happen like it used to. At the same time, running Zoom or Teams sessions and just displaying your power-point slides does not suffice. Students and lecturers want the best of both the digital and the physical teaching world. ‘Phygital' is key! The digital or virtual mode provides convenience and flexibility. The physical mode provides the immersion and human engagement that we still need. We know that our students still value the opportunity to come to Rhodes University, given that it is such a unique and special institution.”
The common denominator is having the necessary technology enablement to provide the best teaching and learning experience for students whilst creating a virtual classroom environment for academic staff to deliver effectively and efficiently, regardless of the mode of delivery.
”Getting the state-of-the-art VLE platform that was needed required partnering with someone who knows what they are doing. Students need the right balance of synchronous and asynchronous interaction that only a top-class VLE can bring. That partner is eLearnAfrica” Prof Skae said.
The VLE will provide the full suite of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning applications to ensure that the Rhodes Business School MBA continues to be the transformative experience it is renowned for. The partnership with eLearnAfrica brings, immersion, flexibility and convenience.
The VLE-enabled MBA will allow the current four two-week block attendances (i.e. two blocks in Year 1 and two blocks in Year 2) to be reduced to one block in each year (i.e. one block in each of Year 1 and Year 2), for the invaluable face-face delivery mode.
The Rhodes Business School's s essence is “Leadership for Sustainability.” Leadership and sustainability principles underline all subjects in the curriculum. Emphasis is placed on business continuity and achieving a balance between economic, social and environmental sustainability. The School applies its unique 4E (Economy, Ethics, Ecology and Equity) model in its teaching and learning practice.
“Management Education is crucial to unlocking Africa's vast potential. Our MBA strives to educate Africa's future business leaders and managers that it ‘isn't about how much money organisations make, but how they make their money'. Getting that right is critical to achieving the African Union's Agenda 2063, whilst simultaneously meeting the Sustainable Dvelopment Goals and gearing up to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement. The favourable rand-dollar exchange is also a compelling reason to get full value for money in studying for a world class MBA”, says Skae.
The Rhodes MBA is a coursework degree comprising coursework and a research assignment. The degree is offered on a part-time, modular basis over two years.
The admission requirements are, an Honours degree or Postgraduate Dipploma, a minimum of three years' work experience and an admission test such as NMAT, GMAT or GRE. Applications close on 31st October 2023.
Rhodes Business School, Rhodes University is located in the rural city of Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Its nearest large city is Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rhodes Business School.
For more information on how accessible a Rhodes Business School MBA is, email mba@ru.ac.za or visit www.RU.ac.za/BusinessSchool
With school tours back on the annual planner, South African schoolchildren can once again look forward to a fun, educational outings that reinforce what’s learnt in the classroom. With an abundance of nature-based, cultural, and animal-friendly establishments along the KZN South Coast, there is no shortage of outing options for KZN schools! “It is wonderful …
The streets of Johannesburg and Durban resembled a ‘sea of pink’ on Wednesday 09 August 2023 with runners and walkers coming out in their masses to participate in the iconic Totalsports Women’s Race, South Africa’s largest Women’s Day celebration. Irvette Van Zyl was the athlete to beat in Johannesburg, while Cacisile Sosibo showed the ladies …
State capture-accused officials cannot be allowed to use the State Attorney as an ATM, write Zackie Achmat and Zukiswa Vuka
Government pilots online platform for protection orders
Government is piloting a system in a number of provinces that will enable victims of domestic violence to apply for protection orders online.
“The violence perpetrated by men against women and girls is an assault on our common humanity. Women do not feel safe in their homes, on the street, in places of work and study and worship,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.
The President made these remarks during his keynote address at the commemoration of Women’s Day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
He told South Africans that government has responded to the call for tougher bail conditions for perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV).
“Effective from earlier this month, no police bail may be granted to persons charged with rape or if the victim was in a domestic relationship with the perpetrator. Such bail applications must be formally applied for in court. If the accused was in a domestic relationship with the alleged victim, the court has to issue a protection order against them before releasing them on bail.
“Also effective from earlier this month, gang or serial rapists face life imprisonment, as do perpetrators of date rape, marital rape, child rape and incest,” the President said.
In addition, as of earlier this month, gang or serial rapists face life imprisonment, as do perpetrators of date rape, marital rape, child rape and incest.
This year’s Women’s Month is being celebrated under the theme: ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment'. This theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavour.
“Women do not feel safe in their homes, on the street, in places of work and study and worship. It was in response to this crisis that the first Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in 2018 made a firm commitment to undertake a comprehensive, effective and united response.
“Through an extensive consultative process, the National Strategic Plan to Combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was launched three years ago. Since then, it has made important progress,” the President said.
More than 12 000 police members have received training to respond effectively to gender-based violence and to focus on the needs of victims.
More than one million DNA collection kits have been delivered to police stations around the country since 2019 and there are now just over 1 000 victim friendly rooms at police stations countrywide.
“Over the last year, we opened three new Thuthuzela Care Centres for victims of gender-based violence, bringing the national total to 62. We are improving access to shelters and associated services for survivors of gender-based violence.
“In January last year, I signed into law three key pieces of legislation, namely the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act,” the President said.
He said these new laws provide greater protection to survivors of gender-based violence, to ensure that perpetrators are no longer able to evade prosecution, and to strengthen measures to prevent gender-based violence.
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said while South Africa has made strides to improve the lives of women since democracy a lot more still needs to be done.
“South Africa is not free…it will only be free when we are free as women. Let us take the District Development Model approach to address GBV. In every ward, every councillor must be at the forefront of the fight against GBV and the religious leader in that ward must also be at the forefront of fighting against GBV.
“Women must have access to justice. They are very serious problems with women accessing justice. The lgbtqia+ community must stop being killed and discriminated against,” the Minister said.
Women in sport
The President paid tribute to the women of the country who are excelling in sport.
“Banyana Banyana and the Protea Netball Team did our country proud recently. Banyana Banyana won the African Women’s Cup and reached the top 16 in the Women’s FIFA World Cup and our Netball Team played very well and are now ranked 6th in the world.
“As a country, we are very proud of our women as they fly South Africa’s flag high. We need to pay them well and their pay must be equal to that of men and even exceed what we pay men,” Ramaphosa said.
Dlamini Zuma echoed the President’s sentiments as she congratulated Banyana Banyana for making history under difficult conditions.
“There is no women soccer league in the country and they get paid less than their male counterparts. The wage gap in South Africa is still there. Our ancestors are happy because Banyana Banyana has made history,” the Minister said.
Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi said the 9th of August is an affirmation that women are special.
“The 9th of August is not a ritual. It is an affirmation that we will empower women, it is an affirmation that will empower and support women,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 08/09/2023 - 15:48
Government committed to advancing the lives of women
President Cyril Ramaphosa has used his address at the Women’s Day event to encourage all sectors of society to advance and improve the lives of the women and girls of South Africa.
“We must mobilise all of society to support the women of our country on their road to empowerment and the improvement of their lives. As government, we are irrevocably committed to continuing the process of advancing and improving the lives of the women and girls of South Africa,” the President said on Wednesday in Pretoria.
He was addressing the commemoration of Women’s Day, which is being celebrated under the theme, ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment’.
This theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavour.
“We call upon other key role players who control resources and can open opportunities for women to do so. Business is well placed to play a key role in this process of helping to improve the lives of the women of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
The President outlined a number of areas that government and the private sector can address to advance and improve the lives of women.
He emphasised the importance of increasing the representation of women in all structures of society.
“Women must be well represented in key positions in government, in management, in the judiciary. The representation of women in decision-making structures continues to improve.
“In Cabinet, half of the Ministers are women. In Parliament, in the judiciary, in the public service, in the armed forces, in the police and in many local councils, we are getting closer to gender parity,” Ramaphosa said.
Acknowledging these gains, he said more needs to be done to achieve a society of true gender equality.
“There must be policies and laws that focus and advance the lives of women. Our laws and policies must have a bias towards improving the lives of women.
“Since the advent of democracy in 1994, we have put policies and laws in place to empower women, improve their lives and advance gender equality,” the President said.
While he called for the prioritisation of the advancement in education, he noted some achievements in that area.
This, as more female learners sit for matric than males. Female learners are achieving more Bachelor’s passes.
In addition, young women make up the majority of students enrolled in higher education institutions.
The President expressed concern on girls dropping out of school, often due to domestic responsibilities.
“As a society and as families and as a nation we must ensure that our girls stay at school and finish school. Women’s health outcomes continue to improve as a result of progressive policies around reproductive health, antenatal care, HIV/Aids and other communicable diseases.
“Even though women’s health outcomes have improved by a number of indicators, women still carry the largest share of the burden of HIV and are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases.
“Despite our laws, women and girls in many parts of the country still struggle to access reproductive health services,” the President said.
Equal representation in the economy
He called for the participation of women in the country’s economy to be improved.
“Our economy remains dominated by men. More women are unemployed than men. Women are more likely to work part-time, unskilled and semi-skilled jobs and for lower pay. Women are disproportionately responsible for unpaid care work.
“As a result of all these factors, women are more vulnerable to poverty, food insecurity and hunger. Even today, nearly three decades after the dawn of democracy, the face of poverty is a black women.
“The emancipation of women therefore cannot be achieved without economic empowerment. Women must also be breadwinners. They must have equal job opportunities and equal pay. They must be able to start, own and manage businesses,” the President said.
He said women need to have the financial security and independence to have control over their lives.
“We are determined to make the most of available resources to make a difference in the lives of young women, women with disabilities, rural women and LGBTQI+ women. We are making a difference in the lives of women in Small, Medium and Micro enterprises (SMMEs), in cooperatives and in the informal sector,” the President said.
Among other things, government is supporting women’s economic empowerment through public procurement.
Government has made a commitment to allocate at least 40% of public procurement to women-owned businesses.
“While government departments are working in earnest to award more contracts to women-owned businesses, we need to do much more. As things stand, less than a third of the companies listed on the government’s central supplier database are women-owned.
“We have trained more than 6,000 women entrepreneurs to take part in public procurement opportunities. The success of this programme has convinced us of the need to train many more entrepreneurs in their thousands.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area will give women-owned businesses in South Africa and across the continent access to new markets and opportunities. We are working with partners on opportunities for women’s employment and entrepreneurship in agriculture, manufacturing, technology, the oceans economy and others,” the President said.
He also mentioned that the green economy presents immense potential for women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment, especially in renewable energy.
“In a number of cities and towns there are many women who are established as green entrepreneurs working in recycling, in greening, in climate-smart agriculture and a number of other avenues.
We call on the business community to support women’s economic empowerment by partnering with small businesses as part of their green economy plans. There is also immense opportunity for young women in public employment initiatives,” the President said.
Presidential Employment Stimulus
Since it was established in 2020, the Presidential Employment Stimulus has provided work and livelihood opportunities to more than 1.2 million people. Of the participants in the programme, more than 60% are women.
The President has reiterated that the just transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient society protects the interests of women, as it does for all those affected, and that it offers opportunities for women workers and women-owned businesses.
Government is supporting women-owned businesses to expand and diversify. We are specifically increasing our support for women-owned SMMEs through the National Empowerment Fund, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and others.
“Working with the financial services sector, we are looking to close the gender gap so that women can access banking services and credit for their businesses.
“As a country, we have the right policies and programmes in place. Led by the women of our country, we continue to develop policies that will advance their interests.
What we need now is to intensify the collective efforts of all social partners, including business, to do more to financially empower women,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 08/09/2023 - 14:57
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nasser Kanaani has announced that Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will visit South Africa.
The spokesman said, “Mr. Amirabdollahian will leave for Pretoria on Wednesday with the aim of holding a joint commission on cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of South Africa.”
The foreign ministers of the two countries are in charge of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation Between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of South Africa.
This round of meeting will be held after a three-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Islamic Republic of Iran.
The National Movement of Rural Women (NMRW) joins members of the South African press and public in celebrating Women’s Day on the 09 August 2023. The National Movement of Rural Women (NMRW) is a social movement that advocates for constitutional concerns of rural women and communities and procures funds for existing community projects to sustain …
Young women urged to explore opportunities in oceans economy
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has encouraged young people to explore career opportunities in the oceans economy.
“Given this enormous diversity available through the oceans economy, there are several value chains from which women can leverage opportunities for jobs, develop entrepreneurships, and build their businesses,” Dlamini Zuma said on Monday in Cape Town.
South Africa has a coastline that spans about 2 800 kilometers from Namibia to Mozambique.
Addressing young women who had an opportunity to visit the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Military Naval Base in Simon’s Town, the Minister emphasised that the ocean resource presents various opportunities, which can be commodified for economic development.
In an effort to demonstrate the opportunities for women in the sector, learners from various schools toured a shipyard at the Military Naval Base as part of Women’s Month activities that showcased the role of women in the maritime sector.
The tour was followed by presentations from officials from who work in maritime security, hydrography, as well submarines. This exercise provided an in-depth understanding of the oceans economy.
“Boat builders are required to construct small and large vessels once these vessels are designed by engineers. Maintenance technicians across various disciplines such as mechanical, electrical and others are required to ensure the ships and their equipment run optimally. Marine biologists are required to point out where the best fishing spots are. The fishing nets used by the trawlers need to be made,” Dlamini Zuma said.
She said that all young people, particularly women, should grow up with a firm understanding of three primary sub-sectors, namely, shipping and transport, marine resources and marine tourism.
“We need a skills revolution which draws from Operation Phakisa to cover all the primary, secondary and tertiary economic activities within the Oceans Economy. We also need a curriculum trains them in the value chain of the four secondary industry sub-sectors,” the Minister said.
These include operational support services, which comprise shipping logistics and marine technologies; manufacturing and construction (including civil engineering, marine manufacturing, ship repair and maintenance), as well as business services, which incorporates maritime specialised professionals within the banking, legal, insurance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and the consulting domain.
Operation Phakisa focuses on unlocking the economic potential of South Africa's oceans, which could contribute up to R177 billion to the GDP by 2033 and between 800 000 and one million direct jobs.
“As a department, we have adopted an all-of-society approach to livelihoods restoration and wealth creation toward empowering women, youth and persons with disabilities. This involves a partnership with the SANDF to establish a National Service where young people will be trained across various disciplines, including the oceans economy.
“Let us make the call to the country to join us in supporting and implementing meaningful programmes, plans, policies, strategies and interventions geared towards unlocking barriers of entry for young girls and women, and the largely unemployed population,” the Minister said.
This year’s Women’s Month is celebrated under the theme, 'Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment'. The theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavor.
Oppression of women
Despite various strides which have been achieved toward improving the status of women in society, Dlamini Zuma said the systemic oppression of women over time has left almost indelible marks that need redress.
“In the South African context, women in rural areas and the townships bear the most burden of generational systemic oppression. It is tragic that on the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment plaguing our country, women are the most affected.
“Violence in this country is gendered, with statistics from the South African Police Service indicating that about nine women are murdered daily, with countless others being sexually violated, abused and subjected to all manner of atrocities.
“Women continue to be paid far less than men for work of equal value. Women face food insecurity yet the majority of farm workers in Africa are women who do not own the land they labour and eat the crumbs that fall from the tables of those who own the means of production,” Dlamini Zuma said.
She noted that the World Bank’s 2023 report on 'Women, Business and the Law' reiterates that empowering women is a prerequisite for economic development.
“It is equally important to prioritise empowering the girl-child, particularly as today’s girls are tomorrow’s women. The success of any meaningful attempt to grow South Africa together hinges on ensuring that women, particularly those who have been systematically oppressed, are able to participate equally in all areas of human endeavor, specifically in the mainstream economy,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 10:00
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, Ms Beauty Dlulane, has congratulated all the 33 players selected to represent South Africa in France.
She said the ambassadorial role of the 33 Springboks has began and will culminate in Paris on 28 of October.
“This is a team that united the nation through representation and deed when it won the Rugby World Cup in 2019, in Japan. We are proud of the Springboks because many of us see ourselves in them, and see what traversing adversity and be a victor.”
Siya Kolisi will captain the 33 men squad when they attempt their title defence in France. The Springboks open their Rugby World Cup title defence against Scotland on 10 September, at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. Ms Dlulane said she speaks on behalf of all South Africans when she wished the Boks well.
“Clearly for the past four years the Boks have done enough to prove their mettle, and show that they will be serious contenders. All South Africans should be behind this team to urge it on until the last day of the World Cup. We are saying ndlela-ntle Mabhokobhoko,” Ms Dlulane added.
The Boks are scheduled to play friendly games against Wales (Principality Stadium) and New Zealand All Blacks (Twickenham) before engaging in a voyage across the English Channel.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
South Africa records 207 Child Marriages in 2021 - Stats SA
South Africa recorded 207 child marriages in 2021, with 188 kids taken as brides.
This was revealed on Monday by Statistics South Africa to the African Union Special Rapporteur, who is currently in the country to monitor and evaluate progress on how South Africa is performing in its campaign to end child marriages.
The South African office on the Rights of the Child within the Department of Social Development is hosting the African Union Stakeholder Engagement Mission on Child Marriages and Harmful Practices in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Stats SA’s Director: Education and Child Statistics, Dr Seble Worku, shared that of the 207 recorded child marriages, 188 were brides and 19 were grooms.
She further revealed that 37 of the child marriages were registered as civil marriages and 19 were customary.
“While Dr Worku showed an improvement in children living in low income households at 2.6 million with 4 million in high income households, pensions and grants were still the highest source of income for children in rural areas.
“She revealed that the number of children who lived with only their mothers continued to rise in the country, while the number of orphaned children declined to 11.5% in 2021 from 14.3% in 2002,” the Department of Social Development said in a statement.
The host, Honourable Takam Kembo of Cameroon, the Special Rapporteur and Social and Health Envoy from the African Union Commission are on a mission to conduct a monitoring visit on the progress that South Africa has made to end child marriages and harmful cultural practices against children.
The mission started its series of high-level engagements with the Departments of Social Development, Basic Education, Home Affairs, and Women, Youth and Persons with disabilities.
Today the delegation will engage human rights institutions, civil society organisations and conclude with a session with children.
These engagements will focus on children's rights to capture current progress, challenges, best practice, lessons learned and make recommendations for fast-tracking progress to end violence against women and children.
This monitoring visit comes before the country launches its Women’s Month programme under the theme, 'Accelerating socio-economic opportunities for women’s empowerment'.
Furthermore, this visit is part of a series of visits that the AU Commission is expected to conclude around the region ahead of the upcoming 4th African Girls Summit in November this year.
They will go to Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Madagascar, Tunisia, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles and Namibia.
This continental perspective will allow them to understand successful strategies and practices in different regions of Africa so that countries can learn from one another.
In 2014, the then Chairperson of African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, launched the campaign to end child marriages in Africa.
At the time, the AU Commission estimated that about 14 million adolescent and teen girls were married. To date, more than 30 Member States have responded by accelerating the implementation of ending child marriage programmes and interventions.
The AU Commission team expressed gratitude for South Africa's hospitality and willingness to share insights into their legislative framework and efforts to protect children.
“The AU mission aims to understand how South Africa is working to protect its children. It focuses on examining the child protection system, its effectiveness, and how it addresses various forms of violence such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, and online exploitation and abuse,” Kembo said.
The monitoring mission will evaluate policies and strategies that the country has in place to end various forms of harmful cultural practices against children.
Kembo noted variations in terms of geographical patterns, provinces with high and low prevalence indicating a need for alignment of strategic interventions to the local context.
The Special Rapporteur is expected to produce a detailed progress report with observations and recommendations for the country within six months. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 12:06
Five people have died in incidents related to the taxi strike, announces police minister Bheki Cele
Women have fought for their rightful place in society
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Director General, Advocate Mikateko Joyce Maluleke, says democracy has ensured that women occupy their rightful position in society.
“Sometimes when there are women in a leadership position, some will attribute it to affirmative action and women empowerment. No! Women fought to be where they are. It was not just given to them,” Maluleke said on Tuesday in Cape Town.
Addressing young women at Transnet’s Cape Town Harbour, Maluleke said women fought for the struggle of emancipation.
“Women have been involved in the struggle for freedom since 1912. In 1956, women marched to the Union Buildings. They were brilliant.
“People do not usually talk about the strategy that women engaged in order to go to the Union Buildings. They could have been arrested before they could get far but because they worked as domestic workers, they had their bosses’ children on their backs and walked to the Union Buildings,” Maluleke said.
South Africa commemorates Women’s Day annually on 9 August to pay tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of pass laws to women.
Women’s Month is a tribute not only to the thousands of women who marched on that day in 1956, but also a tribute to the pioneers of the women’s movement in the country
This year’s Women’s Month takes place under the theme, ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment’.
This theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavour.
As part of Women’s Day build-up activities, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), in partnership with Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), hosted an outreach programme with women in logistics at the Cape Town Harbour in the Western Cape.
Established in 2000, TNPA operates container terminals in Durban, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
With the many challenges that women face in society, women occupying leadership positions at Transnet encouraged the young women from various schools across the country to work hard in school and believe in themselves.
Spreading their wings
Transnet Specialist Planning and Development Manager, Zanele Dywibaba, is a qualified town planner. Dywibaba has described the port space as a “dynamic” one that has given her room to thrive.
“The introduction into the port space was something new but I have realised that it’s a dynamic space. I started at Transnet in 2016.
“I have found there is a balance between men and women who occupy leadership positions because the organisation ensures that it meets its Employment Equity targets. They also prioritise women being in the operational space, which historically was male dominated.
“Women are taken seriously at Transnet. We can offer capability than what traditionally women were not seen to be able to handle.”
As someone who grew up in a home where she was raised by her mother, this experience demonstrated to Dywibaba that women are strong and capable of doing anything.
“My mother raised five children single-handedly as a domestic worker. That is where I got my strength. My siblings and I have all gone to tertiary because my mother used to encourage us to follow our dreams.
“She would tell us to dream big and not be discouraged that she is a domestic worker. She made us believe that we would occupy big spaces. Your circumstances do not determine who you become,” Dywibaba said.
Transnet Academy Head, Captain Theresa Williams, narrated her life journey, which begins with her being born in a caravan to parents who did not have an education.
“My mother taught me how to sew clothes at the age of 12 and I was selling them at the flea market and the train station.
“Transnet advertised a bursary and I applied. My bursary covered my university fees. It did not cover my travel so I continued while I was studying to sell clothes so that I have money for toiletries.
“I didn’t allow my birth [circumstances] to define my future. I grabbed the opportunities I was given and I did not waste them. I continuously studied,” Williams said.
She is a marine pilot and is capable of captaining vessels.
“I am one year short in my studies to captain a vessel of any size in the world. I am still studying. Whatever you are going through, everyone has a story. Live a life of no excuses,” Williams said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 16:45
Amid a volatile global economy, weak rand, and interest rates at a 14-year high, South Africans are struggling with mounting financial hardships due to skyrocketing debt, higher electricity tariffs, food inflation, and steadily decreasing household income. South Africans face a debt crisis as several SA banks see credit impairments soar amid high interest rates and …
Introduction Waste management is a critical issue in South Africa, as it is in many countries around the world. Effective waste management is essential not only for public health but also for preserving the environment for future generations. This article aims to explore the various entities responsible for managing waste in South Africa, shedding light …
dtic to host 8th the SA-China Joint Economic and Trade Committee
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will host the 8th session of the South Africa - China Joint Economic and Trade Committee on Wednesday and Thursday.
The two-day meeting will be led by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel and China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao.
Issues to be discussed include investments on both ends, market access in the two countries, cooperation on new energy projects and cooperation in multilateral platforms.
The first day is a closed meeting between senior government officials from both South Africa and China.
On the second day, both Ministers will make remarks and hold a signing ceremony of purchasing agreements.
The signing ceremony will be preceded by business-to-business and match-making between Chinese buyers and South African exporters. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 08/08/2023 - 12:16
Mamahali Peete, a mother of three children, left her marketing career in the vibrant Johannesburg city in the neighboring South Africa and relocated to Lesotho when she got married. Three years in the country she ventured into farming in the rural area of Bela-Bela, and she has never looked back since. She rotates between growing beans and maize on her 30 acres of land.
“Agriculture was not my first choice of business. But realizing the local demand for food I decided to give it a shot. Living in Africa, I now see a lot of potential in agriculture. There will never be a time when people don't need food. The demand for food is even higher in Lesotho,” said Mamahali.
Lesotho is a net importer of agricultural products, with 30 percent of its total food requirements produced locally and the remaining 70 percent imported.
Building mutually beneficial partnerships
Mamahali is one of the first ever bunch of farmers who signed up for Contract farming – a kind of trading arrangement that is not common in Lesotho. The Contract Farming initiative was pioneered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the country as an innovative business model establishing meaningful market linkages between farmers and the market.
Mamahali and 29 other farmers signed the contract with ‘Tasty Food Packers', a leading Pulses supplier in the country. At the end of this season, Mamahali made her first delivery to the company.
“Contract farming brings security and gives us farmers bargaining power. It also motivates us to work hard to honor our portion of the deal. For example, this season we received agricultural inputs late in the season, but I tried everything possible to grow so that I can make delivery,” says Mamahali with a smile of triumph.
Promoting innovations, markets access
Under the agreement, ‘Tasty Food Packers' buys the beans from all the farmers it has contract with at an agreed price for the produce delivered. However, if there are fluctuations in prices during the harvest season, the two parties can revise the prices, and the same can be for the quantities.
“I didn't have a guaranteed market for my beans. Every season we have to look for potential markets. Sometimes we are not sure if our last buyer will be willing to buy from us the next season's harvest. I made my first supply of beans to the buyer. It inspires me to work hard and honor the agreement,” says Tlalane Sebeko, block farmer from Berea.
The farmers and the buyer who signed the contract were trained to increase their understanding and knowledge of Contract farming, and their fields were monitored right from planting to ensure good production and productivity, thanks to the support from the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition of Lesotho in collaboration with FAO.
Collateral to access finance
Most financial institutions in Lesotho just like elsewhere in Africa, have provided limited or no credit and insurance to farmers, although farmers represent the biggest opportunity for scale and impact in financial inclusion today. This is largely due to the fact that agriculture is considered a highly risky business undertaken with limited risk mitigation or sharing measures. About 80 percent of Lesotho's rural population depends on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods. With proper investment and improved access to market agriculture has a huge potential to contribute to economic growth and uplift the livelihoods of the rural populations.
Contract farming assists with credit because most of the time financial institutions accept contracts as collateral for a loan directly to the farmer.
“Access to finance has been a challenge to farmers in Lesotho. Banks and Insurance companies here fear to give us loans, yet our saving capacity is low. However, when Banks learnt about this Contract farming, they told us that they were going to tailor-make a product for farmers. I will be applying for a loan soon using this contract,” says Tlalane Sebeko with excitement.
Integrating actors in the agricultural value chain
Nizam Abubaker, owner of ‘Tasty Food Packers' said the contracts will enable his company to get steady supply as he is currently importing most of the beans from the neighbouring south Africa to meet the demand in Lesotho.
“Communication is important during the season so that if the farmer encounters difficulties let's say unfavourable weather conditions or poor harvest, we are aware and can trigger the ‘force majeure' clause in the contract that protects farmers from uncertainties,” says Nizam Abubaker.
Nizam acknowledges that Contract farming is a win-win arrangement for both the farmer and the buyer, however noting that the government should work to establish laws regulating contract farming to protect and efficiently integrate producers and actors down the value chain, such as agribusiness, processors, exporters, or retailers.
FAO would like to see the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Expanding Contract farming to other commodities such as vegetables, maize, and others in Lesotho, which would eventually give farmers the opportunity to diversify into new crops, which would not be possible without available and stable market.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FAO Regional Office for Africa.
Introduction South Africa, known for its diverse culture and stunning landscapes, has a property market as varied as its scenery. From bustling city centres to serene coastal towns, the country offers a wide range of residential and commercial properties. However, affordability remains a key concern for many potential homeowners and investors. This article aims to …
Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict involving the minibus-taxi industry and the City of Cape Town, which has escalated into a strike as a result of impounding of taxi vehicles by the City of Cape Town.
We condemn the violence that has characterised this strike in the strongest possible terms. Those who perpetuate criminality must face the full might of the law. Government will not tolerate lawlessness, irrespective of who the perpetrator is. Our democracy is founded human rights and the exercise of those rights requires that we respect the rights of others. It can never be acceptable for those who are aggrieved by the actions of the City to blockade roads and undermine the rights of ordinary citizens to travel or access schools, places of work and economic activity. It is equally not acceptable for officers of the law to conduct themselves in a manner the violates the law and the rights of citizens including the taxi industry. We will therefore act decisively, working closely with law enforcement agencies and authorities to uproot this criminality.
We call on the taxi industry to denounce any form of violence or intimidation by its members.
I have personally intervened in efforts to find a lasting solution to the impasse through numerous engagements with the taxi industry under the leadership of SANTACO. I have also met with the Premier of the Western Cape, the MEC and the City led by the Mayor and the MMC. We have made strides in addressing the root cause of the current tensions, and we are confident that we will find each other in the process.
The City of Cape Town has introduced conditions of operating licences, which by-laws the taxi industry has expressed reservations on. The Task Team that was established to address the concerns has not made headway, resulting in the City implementing the impounding of vehicles based on these conditions.
It is an integral part of our legal system that administrative decisions must be based on the principle of legality. We have national laws in place that govern the infringements and penalties dealt with in the contested conditions of operating licences. The national laws are in place to ensure that fair rules are applicable to all citizens irrespective of the City or Province they reside in. This is a constitutional mandate to ensure order and effectiveness of the rule of law. It can never be that a City will define itself outside the parameters of national laws and implement penalties that are out of sync with these laws. We therefore call on the City of Cape Town to respect and uphold national laws as they currently stand.
To this end, we call on the City to return to the negotiating table to address the areas of disagreement and demonstrate a genuine effort to find a lasting resolution to the current challenges.
On the basis of these considerations, we therefore call on the City to immediately release without any conditions, all vehicles impounded based on operating licence and leave those impounded in terms of the National Land Transport Act of 2009.
We remain committed to moving with speed in finding an amicable solution that must enable the taxi industry to resume operation and call off the strike. Such an outcome is in the interest of the country and the industry.
Our efforts to regulate the taxi industry must be underpinned by mutual respect of the law and a genuine effort to uplift this industry and ensure that it assumes its place in the broader public transport industry, characterised by respect for the law and the rights of others.
Violence and lawlessness have no place in our society and government will not hesitate to unleash the full might of the law against those who believe they can perpetuate such conduct with impunity.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Transport.